CHAPTER TWO
VANISHED

Klaus was vaguely aware of voices in the room. They sounded muffled and very far away, although he was certain they were not. He was very groggy and struggled to concentrate, to remember where he was and what had happened to him. He must’ve made a noise, because suddenly one of the voices was talking to him.

“Major…?”

Klaus gave a low moan as he struggled to open his eyes. He was partially successful but was unable to focus properly on the face that seemed to have a golden glow around it. It was like one of those pictures of angels he’d seen while growing up. “Well, this isn’t hell,” he muttered darkly.

There was a laugh in response to this. “No, Major. You’re still in Italy.”

The Major gave a small grunt. “Just as bad,” he said weakly, having recognized Eroica’s voice. “Where…?”

“You’re at the house of the surgeon I told you was coming,” Dorian explained. “The local Don was contacted by Don Volvolante. He’s bending over backwards hoping to score points in Rome. You have two of his best men as your bodyguards, Major.”

Klaus nodded and closed his eyes to think this through. The next thing he knew, it was several hours later and Eroica was gone. Justin was in the room and gave him a nervous smile when he gave him an unfocused look. Goddamn drugs, Klaus thought in annoyance. They were preventing him from staying awake long enough to think straight.

This time he was awake long enough to learn the doctor had had difficulty stopping the bleeding. He had been given three blood transfusions, donated by various members of Eroica’s gang. He found himself grateful he’d had the brief conversation with Justin ahead of time, otherwise he would’ve been screaming the walls down about AIDS tainted blood. He was certain he should be upset now, but did not have the energy. He drew a deep breath and closed his eyes, wondering if this still meant he should get himself tested. Shit, how will I explain this if I test positive?

“How long before he can be moved?” Klaus heard Eroica asking. He cursed himself when he realized he had had fallen asleep again. Then he realized the doctor, whom he had yet to meet, must be in the room, and he fought to open his eyes again.

“Major?” Dorian said softly when he heard the officer give a low moan.

“How long have I been here?” Klaus asked.

“Nearly a day.”

“What?” This was enough to rouse Klaus almost to full consciousness.

Eroica gave him a small smile and then introduced him to Doctor Antonio. The Major was sure the name was probably an alias, but could not deny that the man had done an adequate job in insuring that he did not die from shock or blood loss.

Dorian asked again about moving the Major, something he knew the doctor would want to do as quickly as possible. The police were still looking for him, and the longer he stayed in one place, the more likely it would be that he would be found.

“Not for another day, at least, Lord Gloria,” Doctor Antonio replied. “As soon as he’s able, I’ll be sure to tell you. The Don gave me strict instructions to look after your friend as if he were his own family.”

Once the doctor had gone, Dorian turned to the Major. He was surprised to see he was still awake. In fact, Klaus himself was surprised he was still awake.

“How are you feeling, Major?”

“I feel like hell,” Klaus replied truthfully.

“Almost your old self again, then?” Dorian joked, receiving a dark look in reply. He crossed to the chair at the bedside and sat down.

“Shut up and give me a cigarette.”

“You’ll burn the house down if you fall asleep.”

“Then don’t let me fall asleep.”

Dorian sighed heavily. “Fine.” He produced the Major’s cigarettes, handing him one and then lighting it. “You were right about your men being in custody,” he informed.

Klaus closed his eyes, taking a long drag on the cigarette. There was nothing he could do for them while he was laid up and in hiding.

“Not to worry, Major,” Eroica went on to say. “The police couldn’t find any reason to hold them. And they are with NATO intelligence.”

“Do they know where I am?”

“No.”

Klaus gave the thief a questioning look and wondered if this were a good or bad thing.

“I thought it would be safer for you if your men continued to believe you were missing. I’ve sent some of my men along to ‘help’ in the search.”

“Your men?”

“Of course. If they learned I was here and didn’t join the search, they’d get suspicious, don’t you think?”

Klaus closed his eyes and sighed, grudgingly agreeing that this was true. He gave the thief a steady look. “I assume your Mafia friends can smuggle me out of this bloody city.”

An enormous smile blossomed across the Earl’s face. “Actually, Major, I have a way of smuggling you out of the country altogether.”

The Major’s eyes narrowed. “I can tell by your smug expression that I’m not going to like it.”

The smile on Dorian’s face widened. “Oh, I can guarantee that you’ll hate it, Major.”

“Wonderful.” Klaus heaved a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. “Tell me what it is when I have the strength to yell at you.”

* * *

After leaving Justin to look after the Major, Eroica returned to his hotel. Not the dive that the Major had found him in, but the proper hotel suite that his clothes had been retrieved from.

“My lord,” James moaned the moment the Earl arrived, “all these added expenses are going to make this trip—”

“James, dear,” Dorian said calmly, “do you want me to cancel the job?”

“No! That would be even worse!”

“I thought not. This trip will more than pay for itself, don’t you worry.”

“How? Now that you’ve involved that Machine Maniac in this…”

Dorian gave his accountant a dark look. “I didn’t involve him, James. In fact, if you hadn’t insisted that I get cleaned up at the horrible place rather than coming back here…”

“But they would’ve charged more for cleaning the room,” James objected. “I told you not to dance on the fountain.”

The Earl heaved an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes. “Anyway, the Major’s involved now. And I don’t see how you can object to that. With the police concentrating on finding him, they’re not bothering with us. In fact…” He gave a bright smile. “I’ve added something special to the list of things I’m going to acquire and I’ll be able to have us all taken back to England at no charge.”

Suddenly James was very interested. “What? How? What have you added?”

Bonham exchanged a knowing look with the others and immediately withdrew into the next room. A minute later, they heard James exclaim, “You’re stealing what!”

* * *

“No.”

“Major…”

“Major…”

Dorian sighed heavily. “I told you you’d hate it.”

Klaus was sitting up in bed, looking considerably more alert than he had the day before. He had his arms folded and was glaring at the Earl. “Hate is too mild a word for what I’m feeling now, Lord Gloria.”

“It will get you out of Italy.”

“There is no fucking way I’m gonna—”

“I have your microfilm.”

This was like a bucket of cold water. The Major’s mouth dropped open and he stared at the thief for several seconds. “You really are a man of pure malice, aren’t you?”

“Oh, Major. You know I always get what I want.”

“Through extortion.”

“You’re the one who says he’ll do anything for a mission,” Dorian pointed out. He could not prevent a smug tone from creeping into his voice. It wasn’t often that he had the Major over a barrel like this.

“And I always keep my promises,” Klaus replied coldly. “Mark my words, Lord Gloria. One of these days, I will kill you.”

Dorian returned the angry look with a bright smile. “And this is the thanks I get for saving your life.”

The Major’s eyes narrowed but he remained silent, taking a long drag on his cigarette. After more than a minute, he said through clenched teeth, “What are your terms?”

* * *