retrieved everyone’s luggage.
Once in the main lobby, they all walked up to the desk. The front desk clerk, a young looking woman with coal black hair and attired in a crisp, clean hotel uniform, greeted them with a wide smile, “Guten Tag.”
“Guten Tag,” Andrew smiled back. He asked if she spoke English. “Sprechen sie Englisch.”
“Ja, ich spreche Englisch,” she answered ‘yes’.
“Reservations for Knight,” Andrew continued.
“Just staying for tonight?” she said looking at the computer screen.
“Yes,” Andrew answered.
“The Hotel Augusta located in Berlin’s elegant Charlottenburg district, offers individual rooms and suites. All rooms include a safe, minibar and TV. Some also had a balcony or terrace. This family-run hotel offers free Wi-Fi access and free parking. It stands beside Uhlandstrabe underground station, just a few steps from the famous Kurfurstendamm shopping street,” she recited for all of them. She took a breath and continued, “Breakfast is served in the Augusta’s bright breakfast room each morning. Many restaurants, bars, cafes and shops can be reached on foot. The ICC (congress centre) and the exhibition grounds are a 10-minute bus ride from Hotel Augusta.” When she was finished, Andrew and the others chuckled.
“Thanks,” Andrew said as she handed them their room key cards. They left the lobby and took the waiting elevator to their floor.
The day was near an end, when Otto and Fred were finally able to make it to the hotel.
Kara greeted Otto and Fred when she opened the door. From there they saw a table filled with a variety of food and beverages. A little further in the room was a laptop and projector screen set up in the seating area. Andrew, Talia and Nick were chatting by the fireplace. They were snacking on some of the food.
“We’re set up in the sitting area.” Kara stepped aside to let them in.
They entered and Kara closed the door.
Andrew and the others greeted Otto and Fred. Andrew put his drink and plate of food down. He went over to the laptop and called up the PowerPoint presentation. Soon the first slide was on the screen for all to see. First, Otto and Fred grabbed some food and a beverage. They sat down with Kara, Talia, and Nick. Andrew remained at the laptop to run the PowerPoint presentation.
“What you see is a digital copy of the map I found in the book at Kara’s home,” Andrew explained the first slide. “It was in a book about the Knight’s of VanHelsing.” He took a drink. Andrew pressed the button and the next slide appeared on the screen. The map from the book was super imposed over a map of Germany with a red star on it. “What I’ve done is superimpose the map from the book over a map of Germany,” Andrew said. “The red star indicates the location of the Gothica castle.” He changed it to the next slide that had zoomed in closer. “Gothica is located in the Ore mountain range. There are very few roads in the area. Gothica is only accessible by air.”
“They would see anyone coming,” Kara added.
“Exactly,” Andrew put up the next slide. It was a detailed itinerary.
“Tomorrow morning we take the train to Zwickau,” Andrew explained. “I’ve booked two compartments.” His throat was parched and he took a drink. Andrew continued, “Once in Zwickau we will meet with the local authorities.”
“All arrangements have been made with Captain Brewster,” Otto spoke up this time. “We are to meet him at the local police station.”
“So how do we get to Gothica?” Fred asked.
“From Zwickau we go by helicopter to here,” Andrew pointed to a place on the map about twenty kilometers from the castle. “They will drop us here and we go the rest of the way on foot.” Andrew called up another slide. It was a satellite photo of the Gothica castle.
“How did you get that?” Otto asked, nearly spitting out his drink.
“A friend of mine works at the CIA,” Andrew answered. “He owed me a favor.”
“How do we get inside?” Fred asked. He got up to get more refreshments.
“This is the plan,” Andrew finally said. “Talia will be the diversion. She will be in her Knights of VanHelsing clothing and gear.” Andrew stopped to wait until Fred returned with his food and drink. Andrew continued, “The rest of us will be entering the castle through the secret entrance here.” Andrew pointed to a section of the castle wall.
“Where will Talia be?” Otto asked.
“They will take me to the main hall,” Talia answered. “There I will meet with our leader. From there I will be taken to the debriefing room.”
“Talia will neutralize anyone in the room,” Andrew shot her a stern look, “And no one is to be killed.” He went on, “Talia will activate her locater beacon. And we will join her in the briefing room.”
“From there Kara and Nick are to open the main doors so the authorities can storm the castle,” Talia added. She recalled and went on, “Once the facility is neutralized everything will be fine.”
“And that’s where we come in,” Otto said.
“What about the rest of those Knights of VanHelsing?” Fred asked worriedly.
“If there are any there,” Talia smirked. “Andrew and I will take care of them.”
“What about tonight, here?” Otto asked all of them. “What are your plans?”
“We’re going out to dinner,” Andrew closed out the program and the screen went blank. “Our train leaves tomorrow at around noon. I think we need to have some much needed fun and relaxation.”
“We’ll take our leave of you then,” Otto stood up, and so did Fred. They put their empty plates and cups on the table. They said their good byes and left.
“So where are we going for dinner?” Talia asked. She gestured towards Kara and herself. “And what should we wear?”
“I had some dresses delivered to your room,” Andrew smiled. “So you can decide.”
“What about us?” Nick asked.
“I had several tuxes delivered for us as well,” Andrew answered. “I think we should get dressed for dinner.”
Kara and Talia immediately left to go and try on the dresses. Andrew laughed at how giddy they were. He and Nick also went to get dressed.
When Talia and Kara exited their hotel suite, Andrew and Nick were waiting for them. They smiled and each thought, Andrew and Nick looked very dashing, in their chalk stripe two button notch tuxedos, with snow white shirts and matching ties. The look was completed with square-tow, lace-up black shoes.
Andrew and Nick were waiting out in the hallway when Talia and Kara came out of their hotel suite. Both were just blown away at how stunning the two women looked. Andrew smiled at the choice of dresses each wore. Kara had chosen the red satin banded strapless cocktail dress. Its sweetheart neckline with a folded bow highlighted her features. Her hair was swept up and held in place with a matching hair comb. Andrew glanced at Nick, who couldn’t take his eyes off of Kara. She walked up to Nick and slipped her arm in his. Talia stood there as if waiting for Andrew’s approval. She had chosen a ruche black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress with cap sleeves, and a hemline that fell above the knee. The black ruche material flattered the curves of her shapely figure and the sparkling jewels created a stunning focal point on the neckline. Talia walked up to Andrew and he offered his arm to escort her.
“So where are we going?” Talia asked.
“The Vox,” Andrew answered.
The four of them got on the elevator and took it to the lobby. Andrew had arranged a limo for the evening. He thought they all needed a night to just have some fun and enjoy each other’s company before things turned serious. They thanked Andrew and got inside. Andrew instinctively looked around first. He didn’t know why he had done it. He thought it was probably from all those years of being an investigator, either way, nothing looked suspicious, so he climbed inside. The limo took off and easily glided into traffic. They were on their way to the Vox.
The Vox, located inside the exquisitely detailed Hyatt hotel, was the height of German fine dining. The tables were dressed in their finest whites and complimented with black lacquered chairs and soft table candle lighting. Patrons gathered to enjoy a grand meal and visit with each other. They were treated to the superior service by the wait staff. Each one of them was attired in crisp-looking white shirts adorned with black bow ties, along with neatly pressed black trousers and shiny flat black shoes. The waiters and waitress glided effortlessly through the room like swans on a smooth lake, all the time smiling and making sure everyone was taken care of.
