The Pact (A Sarah Roberts Thriller Book 17) (16 page)

A thought hit her. “Clara? What city did you live in in Denmark?”

“Skanderborg.”

The name felt like a punch to the gut. That was exactly where Vivian had instructed Sarah to go. Skanderborg. What the hell was in Skanderborg that was so important? Could Pain be there? If the person behind all this lured Clara to Toronto, why did Sarah have to go to Denmark? Maybe he was luring her away from Skanderborg. Ansgar holding her here kept her away. Or maybe she was grabbing at straws.

Aaron touched her shoulder and gently turned her around. “You have to get ready. You’re running out of time.”

Sarah touched his hand, then rested her cheek on his shoulder.

“I know. But I don’t want to leave you. It wasn’t that long ago that I thought you were dead.”

“It’s Vivian. Look what she has done in the last twenty-four hours. There’s no way I’d be alive today if it wasn’t for her. I understand Vivian saw your death, too.”

Sarah lifted her head and stared into his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. I can’t do this. Why is Vivian not talking to me? Why is she talking to everyone else but me?”

“I don’t know. But you have to do what she says to stay alive. That’s what I’d go with.”

After a moment, Sarah nodded. “You’re right.”

“Who’s Vivian?” Clara asked.

“Aaron can tell you about Vivian after I leave.”

The phone in Alex’s hand buzzed. He looked down at it, then held it up for Sarah and Aaron to read it.

Are you still secure?

“How do we respond to that?” Aaron asked.

“That’s Ansgar’s boss,” Sarah said. “He’s the one behind all this. He may even be the guy we’re looking for.”

“What should I type back?” Alex asked.

Sarah stared at the ceiling for a moment. “Whoever it is might see something on the news about emergency services responding to this hotel. That might be the reason he’s asking if everything’s secure.”

“We need to locate this guy,” Aaron added.

“Agreed.” Sarah punched her open palm. “Antagonize him. Tell him we’re secure and waiting for further instructions. Maybe we’ll be able to set up a meeting.”

Alex typed. They waited for a response. The phone dinged.

“It says, ‘What about heavy presence at the hotel’?” Alex read.

Sarah stepped closer to Alex. “Type back. ‘Pranksters. Nothing to do with us.’”

Alex typed. They waited again. After a couple of seconds, Sarah moved closer to Alex’s chair again.

“Add this. ‘Too risky to stay here. Moving her. Will contact with new location soon.’”

Alex nodded and typed. The phone buzzed a response. He handed it to Sarah.

She read it out loud. “Stay put if the authorities are not there for you.”

Then she typed,
You’re not calling the shots anymore,
but hovered over the send button.

“Does this work, Aaron?” She showed him the message.

“If you’re riling him up, it works. But to what end?”

“We have to get him out from behind this number on a phone. In the meantime, when I leave for the airport, give this number and everything else you have to Darwin and Rosina. Let’s see if they can trace anything. You guys stay with Clara until this is over and stay in touch with me. As soon as I get to Skanderborg, I’ll find out what this is all about and then come home. Three, four days max. Cool?”

Aaron nodded. Then each martial arts teacher nodded as she turned to look at them.

She hit send on the last message.

“Why are you going to Skanderborg?” Clara asked. “Does it have anything to do with my father?”

“Not sure,” Sarah said as she handed the phone to Aaron. “I just know I have to.”

“But why?”

Sarah smiled. “Too long a story to explain right now. Aaron will fill you in while I’m away.”

“I’d like to go home. Maybe I can just come with you.”

Sarah shook her head. “I’m sorry. Until this is over, I need you to stay with these men. They’ll protect you. Think of them as bodyguards for now.”

Clara shrank back from Sarah as if she was trying to become part of the wall.

“So I’m still being held against my will, just without the restraints?”

Sarah frowned and moved closer to the bed. “No, you’re not. You’re being kept safe while someone named Pain is out to hurt you. That man, Ansgar Holm, is a military contractor hired to kidnap you. Staying with these guys,” she gestured toward the men, “keeps you safe. Sending you back out there makes you a target.”

Sarah couldn’t tell if what she was saying was getting through to Clara. It was obvious the girl just wanted it all to be over.

Internal conflict raged within Sarah. Vivian was gone. No longer directing her with information, answers. Since Vivian had always been there, an emptiness was left in her wake. The loneliness of not having her sister in her head and having to leave Aaron for the next few days ate at her heart, like a cold wet towel in her stomach.

“I don’t want to leave,” she said to Aaron. “It’s not right.”

He cocked his head sideways. “Come on, Sarah. You of all people know Vivian. You have to go. I accept that. Why can’t you?”

“You’re right, but I still don’t want to leave. Whether I have to or want to—there’s a big difference.”

“Who is Vivian?” Clara asked again.

“They’ll tell you after. I’m out of time.” Sarah moved toward the door. “Aaron, where can I get a change of clothes? I can’t go to the airport dressed like this.”

“You can’t leave the hotel room dressed like that. What’s your size? I’ll go buy something and come back.”

“I’ve got clothes,” Clara said from the corner. “Take some of mine. We look like we’re about the same size.”

Sarah looked Clara up and down, then at Aaron. “She’s right. That’s perfect. Someone take Clara to her room. Get me clothes.”

Clara got up off the bed and headed to the door. Aaron came over and eased it open. He glanced down the hall, then shut the door.

“There are a few hotel employees by Clara’s door, still working in Ansgar’s room.”

“Authorities?” Sarah asked.

He shook his head. “Didn’t see any.”

“Okay. Go.” She touched Clara’s arm. “You’re allowed to enter your own hotel room, but remember, if anyone asks, you were at a party. You drank too much. Aaron’s a friend. Got it.”

Clara nodded her understanding.

“We’ll be right back,” Aaron said as he slipped out the door.

For the five minutes they were gone, Sarah stared out the tenth floor window. The rain subsided while she shook with nerves. Why leave Aaron now? Why fly all the way around the world to a small town in Denmark? For what?

Vivian had always proven herself hard to like, hard to get used to. This was one of those times.

“They’re back,” Benjamin said.

The door clicked. Aaron and Clara slipped into the room. A small pile of clothes dangled over Clara’s arm. Aaron held her suitcase.

“Thought she might as well vacate that room,” he said. “We’re leaving this hotel at sundown.”

Sarah took the proffered clothes and headed into the bathroom. After trying on several pieces, she stopped to examine the look.

“There,” Sarah said to her image in the mirror, wearing a white shirt with a flower on the left shoulder. “I look Danish now.”

When Sarah stepped from the bathroom, Clara let out a small laugh. It was good to hear her giggle.

“You look like me, now,” Clara said. “My dad bought that shirt for me two weeks ago. He liked the flower.”

Aaron and Alex smiled and nodded at her.

“We could be twins,” Sarah said as she walked to the door and looked through the peephole.

Sarah grabbed her small wallet and her passport, then took Clara’s hands and stared into her eyes.

“Clara, listen to me. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m sure I’ll find out when I get to Denmark. You have to promise me something.”

Clara licked her lips, then nodded. “Go ahead.”

“You have to promise me you’ll stay with my friends. Do what they tell you to. Go where they tell you to. When I get back, everything should be over. Will you do that?”

“I don’t know what’s going on either,” Clara said. “I came here to meet a man I fell in love with and got tied up in a hotel room. Sarah, I’m scared and I want to go home.” She cleared her throat and swallowed. “I saw what you did for me in that room. You took a great risk to save me from that man. For that, I will listen to you, even though I don’t know you. I will listen to you because that man is still out there somewhere and he scares me.”

Relief swept through her. This is what Vivian asked of them. Protect the Danish girl. It would be good to do that without a fight from the Danish girl.

“Good. These guys will stop at nothing to keep you safe. You have my word.”

Clara leaned in close and Sarah took the opportunity to hug her. After a moment, they stepped back.

“Is there anything I should know about Skanderborg before I go? Biker gangs? Muslim extremists? Anything?”

Clara smiled and shook her head, hair flying.

“No, there’s nothing dangerous in Skanderborg. It’s a small town. I love my little city. It’s right on Skanderborg Lake. So beautiful. You’ll love it.”

“What about your father? Is he there?”

Her expression turned serious. “Are you going to see my dad?”

Sarah shrugged. “I have no idea. I’m just supposed to go.”

It was Clara’s turn to frown. “You’re going to Skanderborg and you have no idea why?”

“That’s about it.”

Clara licked her lips again. “Sarah, that seems strange. Or do you just not want to tell me?”

“I assure you, if I didn’t want to tell you, I would tell you it was none of your business. As I said earlier, it’s a long story. Aaron will fill you in.”

Sarah reached for the door.

“Sarah, can you check in on my father?” Clara added, her tone softer.

Was Clara on to something? Was this about Anton Olafson? If it was, why have Clara come to Toronto?

“Where would I find him?” Sarah asked.

“Just down from the train station. Two houses away from the rowing club by the lake. Here, give me the hotel pad of paper there and a pen. I’ll write the street name and draw a little diagram.”

Daniel grabbed the pad and gave it to Clara. After a minute of doodling, she handed it to Sarah. It was easy to see the train station, the road leading away and how to walk to the rowing club. A large X was drawn over the house two away from the rowing club.

“How do you pronounce that street name?” Sarah asked.

Clara said, “Sølystvej. The sound of the O with the line through it stays in your throat. Like you swallow the sound.”

“Okay.” Sarah glanced up from the paper. “Not sure I’ll learn Danish on this trip.”

“You won’t have to. Everyone speaks English in Denmark. Only a few of the older generation don’t. You won’t have a problem.”

Sarah took a deep breath, then grabbed the door knob.
 

“Wait,” Aaron said, his voice like the crack of a whip.

He moved behind her. They embraced, long and hard.

“Take care of yourself,” he whispered.

“You too, fucker.”

They kissed. He let her go and she opened the door, then closed it and turned back to him.

“I can’t go.”

“Why not?” Aaron asked.

“I thought I’d lost you forever. And now I have to fly to Europe for who knows how long. It’s just wrong somehow.”

“Sarah, you of all people understand. We have to listen to what Vivian wrote for us. There’s no other way. I’d be dead right now if I didn’t.”

She eased back into his embrace. The others in the room looked away.

“She saw my death, though. How am I supposed to live with that?” a soft chuckle escaped her lips when she thought of what she’d just said.

“You just have to,” Aaron said.

She leaned away, lowered her head and looked up at him with a half-smile.

“What?” she asked. “You trying to get rid of me?”

“Stupid.” He yanked her close. “Never.”

She wanted to stay, be held by him, and let the worries of the world fall on someone else’s shoulders. What also troubled her was how soft she was getting. She wasn’t the same girl from the days of fighting madmen in the crypts of Italy and Hungary with Parkman. This wasn’t the same girl who fought Gert and won all those years ago. Who managed to live through Rod Howley and his successor from the Sophia Project. No, this new Sarah was in love and wanted kids and wanted to be married. Maybe even have a nice home one day, an average job.