TS 2 Book V Chapter 9

Chapter 9

July 10^th , 2009

Buenos Aires

Pedro hated the situation with all his heart. The news about kidnappers asking for so much money was very strange indeed. Verón also distrusted the new development in the case, against all logics hated much more that the Duke had refused to get the police involved. 'Not that and I can blame him. Lintorff has enough of the locals trying to drive him mad or accusing him of killing Guntram.'

His mobile rang and he picked up as the ID caller showed the call was from a young army captain in the intelligence service. “Hi, Claudio, how are you?”

“We must meet in five minutes. It's urgent. Usual place,” the officer said and hung up when normally his manners were exquisite, according to Pedro. The lawyer sighed and told his secretary to cancel all his appointments for the afternoon as he put his loden overcoat and gloves on.

The café was in an old local, near the Stock Exchange and Pedro liked it with it old ambiance and marble round tables, nothing like the modern and fashionable place his friends loved to go. He saw Claudio, in civilian clothes, a dark blue suit, reading a newspaper and walked toward him, sitting at the table with the easiness and familiarity of former lovers. “Hi, Claudio, I came as soon as I could.”

“Your star customer is in great troubles.”

TS 2 Part V. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

July 4^th, 2009

Buenos Aires

The black Land Rover parked in front of the other four vans where people dressed in paper tissue white jumpsuits were busy downloading equipments from them. Konrad descended from the car and his hand gripped the door till his knuckles turned white. The large, pseudo Gothic crystal watchtower had not a single window standing, as he took in the destruction caused by several blasts of automatic ammunition over the outside walls. He took a deep breath and walked toward the entrance where already four men were working looking for lost shards.

TS2 Part V Chapter 7

Chapter 7

June 22^nd, 2009

Buenos Aires

The three men sitting around the conference table at Konrad's suite bore stern expressions as the old lawyer read the simple paper, written in Spanish and decorated with many stamps, that had arrived in the morning.

“Although the translation for declaración indagatoria is “unsworn statement” it really means that the prosecutor is already considering you as a suspect. Most probably you will be charged of something during your testimony, my Duke.” Verón explained Konrad after he read the simple paper, left in the morning by a clerk. “The good thing is that they're giving us enough time as to prepare ourselves and read the case. We are finally in.”

“Am I accused of something?” Konrad asked in shock.

“I don't know so far. My team will start to read the prosecutor's investigation. Good news is that I got rid of the original judge -he is very good friends with Martínez Estrada and I accused of prejudgement as they were partners in 1992- and we have now a serious woman, with a real career in the judiciary system. Maria Helena Posadas was a very good student of mine and a great teacher in my cathedra. She's a fair woman but you have to tell me everything in advance. Surprises are very bad in this business. Why would the prosecutor accuse you of anything? Were there any troubles between you and Mr. de Lisle?”

The Chosen Story

Monopoly

September 2005. Thursday

Zurich

The hands placed over his eyes, made Guntram giggle. “How old are you really, Konrad?” He grabbed the hands and kissed the fingers with tenderness.

“The idea is that you are surprised and take your time to guess who it is,” the man said but quickly bent his body over the crouched man on the floor to kiss him deeply under the astonished and curious looks they received from their children.

“Konrad, the babies,” Guntram said a bit shocked, quickly looking at his eighteen months old sons. “You're early.”

“I'm playing the ant,” Konrad said very proudly. “At forty-seven.”

“You are a dangerous rebel indeed,” Guntram joked. “Can I do the same?”

“No if you want to be able to sit during the next week,” Konrad smirked. “How is the University going by the way?”

“Konrad!” Guntram whined.

“It's a simple question.”

“Fine,” the young man grunted sullenly.

“You still need to practice a lot more, Guntram. One word sentences are the top in the human art of communication. Your “fine” should had come out a bit drier and commanding.”

“Impressive lecture, Konrad,” Guntram answered softly, hoping to divert his attention from the topic.

“Anyway, I already saw your preliminary grades. Good work.”

Guntram had to take a deep breath before he would have expressed his opinion on Konrad's “constant meddling” with his own school life. 'My lawyer was a hundred times better than him. He only wanted to know if he had to pay for any extra tuition or not.' With a forced smile he said ironically, “I'm glad you approve of them.”

“Indeed,” Konrad replied in a haughty tone, calculated to make Guntram smile at his tactics. “But there was a good reason for my “constant meddling” as you call it.”

“Which is?” Guntram asked as he buried his smile in his love's chest, giving him a light hug as the boys looked at them again.

“Checking that they were fine, and that you didn't need to study this weekend.”

“No, I don't. I'm just finished with the first round of exams.”

“Then, I have a surprise for you and these two gentlemen,” Konrad answered with a smile. “We fly away tomorrow at dawn.”

“Don't you have to work?”

“Yes, but I can finish everything in the plane.”

“Where are we going?” Guntram asked almost dying of curiosity, but quickly removing a toy from Klaus' mouth before it was chewed into nothing.

“Surprise. Curiosity killed the cat, Guntram.”

* * *

TS2 Part V Chapter 6

Chapter 6

June 28^th, 2009

The sunlight woke Guntram and the arm laced across his waist killed his hopes that all had been a nightmare. He was in Constantin's bed and he also wore no clothes. The images of the previous night assaulted his mind and he remembered how he had kissed him back and how he had moaned under him. 'I'm worse than a whore. Konrad will never forgive me this. How could I do it? Just for a fix? Lord, I'm a piece of shit.'

“It seems we have company, angel,” Constantin interrupted his musings, chuckling before he started to caress again his boy. “You should name it.”

Guntram gaped at him dumbfounded until his eyes found the kitten, sleeping on the farthest corner of the large bed, curled like a ball. To hide his embarrassment, he sat on the bed, grimacing a bit at the pain that shoot up through his spine, and touched the furry animal, waking it up. It stood on its four legs and stretched its back before it purred and jumped out of the bed to become distracted by the long curtain tassels. Guntram smiled weakly at the sight and only gasped when Constantin kissed him on the cheek.