Chapter 2.6
Beryl followed the instructions from the message she had received the previous night. She didn't tell anybody and when the time has come she headed to the blue house.
It was a strange thought she might find help in the house that her father had built for her. She wondered whether that was a coincidence or the sender of that mysterious message knew.
She felt fear and anger when approaching the house. What if it was a trap? What if the kiddnappers were behind this? She's going to find out in a few minutes.
When she opened the door quietly, she half expected someone to jump at her and knock her down or aim a gun at her. Luckily neither of it happened. She entered the room that was supposed to become her own kitchen some day.
There was an elegantly dressed man standing at the window, facing away from her.
There was an elegantly dressed man standing at the window, facing away from her.
In the corner of her mind she's been hoping it would be someone she knew, who offered to help her. But when the man turned to face her, she realized she had absolutely no idea who he was.
"Good evening, miss Heffner. I'm glad you could make it."
In that moment Beryl couldn't contain her frustration and anger any longer.
"Who the the plum are you? Where is my brother, you son of a llama?!"
"Who the the plum are you? Where is my brother, you son of a llama?!"
"Hold it right there, lady. I have nothing to do with the kiddnapping of your brother, but I came into possession of a piece of information, that would lead to your brother's safe return, if we can strike a deal here today."
"So it's about money again. Why am I not surprised?" Beryl spat. "My family doesn't have money or we would pay the ransom, for plum's sake! Why does everyone think we have so much money?"
"So it's about money again. Why am I not surprised?" Beryl spat. "My family doesn't have money or we would pay the ransom, for plum's sake! Why does everyone think we have so much money?"
"Money?" laughed the man. "I'm not interested in your money, miss. Not that I didn't like it. But I know precisely how much of it is currently on your family account."
"How...?" she gulped when she thought of other "things" he might want.
"Let's just say I made it my business to know such things."
"What is it you want then?"
"Well, my business partner loves to... collect things," he paused when he saw Beryl's expression. "Not the things you probably have in mind right now, I assure you," he laughed again. "I'm talking about a collector's item, that is in possession of every legacy family. I can see you're finally getting it. Yes, I'm talking about that old suit of armor that's probably stored somewhere in your attic."
"You want that rusty old armor in exchange of saving my brother?"
"I thought I made myself clear, miss Heffner. Do you need it in print? Do we have a deal?"
"How...?" she gulped when she thought of other "things" he might want.
"Let's just say I made it my business to know such things."
"What is it you want then?"
"Well, my business partner loves to... collect things," he paused when he saw Beryl's expression. "Not the things you probably have in mind right now, I assure you," he laughed again. "I'm talking about a collector's item, that is in possession of every legacy family. I can see you're finally getting it. Yes, I'm talking about that old suit of armor that's probably stored somewhere in your attic."
"You want that rusty old armor in exchange of saving my brother?"
"I thought I made myself clear, miss Heffner. Do you need it in print? Do we have a deal?"
"I... I suppose we do, mister...?"
"Corleonesi."
"Corle..."
(sigh) "You can call me Meatball if my name is too difficult for you to pronounce."
"We have a deal, Mr. Corle-o-nesi, under one condition."
He raised an eyebrow at her quizzically.
"I want to go with you or with whoever is going to rescue my brother."
"You don't trust me, I presume?"
"No."
"Good!" he laughed. "I can't take you with me, miss Heffner. It's too dangerous. There will be shooting most likely."
"I'm coming with you or no deal."
"Corleonesi."
"Corle..."
(sigh) "You can call me Meatball if my name is too difficult for you to pronounce."
"We have a deal, Mr. Corle-o-nesi, under one condition."
He raised an eyebrow at her quizzically.
"I want to go with you or with whoever is going to rescue my brother."
"You don't trust me, I presume?"
"No."
"Good!" he laughed. "I can't take you with me, miss Heffner. It's too dangerous. There will be shooting most likely."
"I'm coming with you or no deal."
He shook his head disbelievingly. "You are either insanely brave or utterly stupid. As you wish, you can come with me, as long as you do exactly what I tell you."
"Then we have a deal, sir."
"Then we have a deal, sir."
"Meet me here tomorrow. Same time. And may I suggest a different choice of outfit? And no high heels, please."
Beryl: (glares)
Beryl: (glares)
Meatball (to himself): "Oh, Tony, what have you gotten yourself into this time? You never take tourists with you for a job."
