The Quest for Valhalla

Chapter 15

Nina parked the 4x4 under the towering, dark trees just as the evening took on a coolness that announced the cold night to follow. Quite a distance away and well hidden from view, she watched Val enter the house and decided to play the supportive, concerned friend angle at first. Waiting to see what would ensue before she went to see her friend, Nina found that all was quiet at the house. About 50 or so motorcycles stood parked all around the house in the yard. She saw no models like the ones at the robbery, though. From a distance, she watched.

Four black vehicles approached the property not more than 20 minutes later. They made no secret of their presence and blocked off the entrance by parking sideways in front of the gateway. It was an odd thing to do, but they had reason to. From the last car in tow emerged a skinny bald man with a long black coat and leather boots. In his hand he held a walking stick, not for any handicap, but for his personal sense of style. He did not knock at the door, but instead motioned for his men to surround the place and mind the exits.

“Gunnar Joutsen!” he cried in the mild evening air, his voice remarkably strong for his frame. Nothing happened. Again, he called out to Gunnar and waited, impatiently tapping the end of his stick on the gravel in front of his feet. He looked up to the window where the curtains had moved aside slightly, but could not see anyone there, peering down on them.

The heavy front door opened and Gunnar stepped out. He was alone.

“State your business, I am eating dinner,” Gunnar roared at the intrusive nuisance with the stick.

“You are Gunnar?” Slokin asked cordially.

“I am,” Gunnar replied, “And you are trespassing.”

“You are the leader of The Brotherhood, correct?” Slokin said as he slowly walked closer to the large biker with the braided beard.

“No, I am the leader of Sleipnir Motorcycle Club. There is no ‘Brotherhood’ here. You must be mistaken,” Gunnar replied, growing ever intolerant of the asshole who had the audacity to park in front of their gate as if he owned the place.

“Listen, friend. Please don’t waste my time. I know who you are and you know I know, so let us not engage in childish games,” Slokin pressed.

“Listen, prick, I don’t know what you are looking for or what you are talking about, so I suggest you and your girlfriends pull out of here while you can all still walk!” Gunnar threatened in his robust voice, drawing the attention of his brethren. One by one, they emerged through the door behind him, immensely intimidating in their heavy biker boots and club colors.

“You can come willingly, just you, and nobody will get hurt. The Brotherhood knows the location of a place we are looking for. All I want is you, Gunnar, to come with us and show us where. It is not rocket science. It should be exceedingly simple for a man of your… intelligence… to point your finger, right?” the thin skinhead insisted, his words dripping with insult.

“Don’t patronize me, you little fuck,” Gunnar smiled coldly as he walked up to Slokin and grabbed him by the throat in a brutal grip that took the air out of Jasper Slokin’s trachea before he could utter another word.

“Are you deaf? I don’t know what the hell you are talking about!” With that he released Slokin with such force that the thin man fell to the ground.

Slokin’s men mobilized and went straight for Gunnar before his brothers could react. They did not know about the other soldiers Lita had sent to assist Slokin, standing in wait against the walls of the house. Briskly, two of them took hold of Gunnar and held a gun to his head, ordering the furious bikers to hold back or else Gunnar would come to a horrible end.

Having no alternative, the brothers of Sleipnir stood down reluctantly, having no idea who the annoying bastard and his men in black were or what he was referring to. They took Gunnar to one of the black cars.

“If you follow us, we will blow his brains out. Good evening, boys,” Slokin said, dusting himself off and then he casually walked off and got in his car.