Tomb of Odin

Chapter 31

“Her name is Hilda Kreuz, a German national trained by some clandestine organization that promotes the development of scientific and technological supremacy in the youth of Europe,” Special Agent Lorna McLean reported to Paddy over Skype.

He and Cassandra sat on the couch of the TV room where Cassie was attacked by Hilda that night, talking to Lorna at the Glasgow office.

Paddy had contacted MI6 headquarters to assure that Detective Inspector Williams made contact. He wanted to be sure that Williams handed over the device that had to be analyzed by Exova. Shortly after his call to his superior, his MI6 colleague, Lorna, Skyped him to inform him that the woman who attacked Cassandra and tried to kill him in the hospital was suspected of killing DI Williams the night before.

“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Paddy sniffed, “how many more will she attack? How did he die, Lorna?”

“He was en route to the local precinct, because he called the station commander that he was filing a request to get permission… to go to Glasgow to speak to Mrs. Lancashire and officially submit the device to her care. But from the way they found his vehicle abandoned only two miles from you, we assume he ran out of petrol. His throat was slit and the device missing,” she reported.

“And the hospital security and staff where I left her?” Paddy asked. He could not believe that the assassin could get out of the predicament he left her in so quickly so that she could drive to his house and find Williams still there.

“Two dead, four badly injured. She branded a semiautomatic and they could not impede her escape before the cops arrived,” she sighed.

The landline rang in the kitchen, and Cassie excused herself to answer the call.

Lorna shook her head and sighed, “Pat, I’m so sorry about your old friend and partner.”

“Thanks, Lorna,” Paddy said, but he could not hold back the tears. It was not so much about Williams dying in the line of duty for what Paddy discovered, but for all the innocent people who perished while getting in the way of this evil woman. Had he only relinquished it, all these victims would still be alive.

“Pat, don’t be so hard on yourself. You did your job and they did theirs. Just relax, okay?” Lorna consoled her colleague.

“I wish I could. But I…” he stuttered. His expression changed positively and he asked, “Lorna, this organization Hilda Kreuz belongs to… where is it situated?”

“Stockholm, Sweden. I would tell you the name but,” she smiled sheepishly, “regrettably I cannot pronounce it.”

Paddy smiled, “No worries.”

“I have to sign off, Pat. Talk to you soon!” Lorna smiled and waved. She waited for Paddy to wave back and then ended the call.

“It doesn’t matter what her organization is called, because I’m going to rain hell on that little bitch and not even God will save her this time,” he vowed, looking at his own reflection in the black computer screen.

“You will do no such thing, Patrick Smith,” Cassandra said from behind him. He swung around and saw his beautiful wife eavesdropping. For the first time in days he looked at her, really looked at her. Practically fully recovered, she was staring at him from the doorway with two mugs in her hands. “Not before I give you Nina Gould’s phone number so that she and Sam can help you.”

Paddy’s face lit up, “What?”

“She and Sam called a few minutes ago, asking if we are all right. Guess where they are, as we speak?” she smiled with a raised eyebrow. “Sweden.”

“You are shitting me!” he grinned.

“And they know someone who knows this Hilda Kreuz witch… and hates her with a passion,” Cassandra gloated.