considered the biggest train station in Europe.
Nick stood on a row of seats to get a vantage point over the menagerie of travelers mulling about. Out of all the hundreds of people in the station that day, a few really stuck out to him. He saw a mother with pink streaked blonde hair talking on her phone while walking ahead of a screaming child. Nick turned in another direction and saw a group of Chinese businessmen in a rush to catch their train. He turned for the third time and saw a couple with black hair wearing jeans and navy blue pea coats. They were walking with their arms around each other and carrying duffle bags. Nick felt a tap on his leg. He looked down and saw a police officer.
“Komm, bitte, nach unten,” he asked Nick to get down. Nick shrugged his shoulders that he did not understand. “Komm, bitte, nach unten,” the officer repeated, this time motioning for Nick to come down from the chairs. Nick finally understood and did as the officer asked. Once he was down, the officer left. Nick felt sick again and made a dash for the restrooms.
Otto peered down from the second floor balcony. He was using the glass elevator for cover. He had received a call that Nick had gone to the train station. Otto suspected that Andrew had made arrangements to meet Nick and proceed with their plans to go to the castle Gothic. But so far Andrew was a no show. Otto moved a little further over when he saw Nick go into the rest room. A few minutes later, a dark haired couple stopped in front of the restrooms. The man kissed the woman and walked in the men’s room. She stayed outside and waited.
Nick was washing his face in the sink when the guy he had seen earlier walked in. He smiled at Nick. “Bonjour,” he said before going into an available stall. Nick simply nodded and continued splashing cold water on his face. He heard the toilet flush and saw the man come out and walk over to the sink next to him.
“Je vois que vous ont ete suivies. Vous n’avez pas idee de qui je suis,” the man said.
“I have no idea what you just said.” Nick shrugged.
“Vous ne parlent pas francais,” the man said.
“French,” Nick recognized the word ‘francais’. “No I do not speak French.”
“Too bad,” he said. “You really should learn another language Nick,” the man replied.
“How do you know my name?” Nick was shocked.
“Kara and Talia are counting on us,” he continued.
“Andrew?” Nick took a closer look at the man with the black hair and full, trimmed beard. “Holy s-” Nick gasped when he finally knew it was Andrew beneath the disguise. “What the hell are you doing? The cops think you killed Fred. Did you?”
“Fred was a Knight of VanHelsing,” Andrew said. “Talia killed him to save me. I was knocked out and they set me up to make it look like I was a Knight of VanHelsing.” Andrew moved closer to Nick. “When you leave the restroom, I want you to get out of the station and take a cab. Have the driver take you around for a few minutes and return. By that time, the police will have left the station to follow you.” Andrew reached inside his coat and took out an envelope. “Here is your ticket. Don’t be late.” Nick took the ticket and put it in his coat pocket.
“Who is the girl?” Nick finally asked.
“Emma Strauss,” Andrew answered. “I met her when I came to the station early this morning. We sat down and started talking. Emma told me she attends the University of Berlin. She was on her way home to Zwickau. I asked if she would do me a favor. I offered her five hundred euros to help me out. She needed the money.”
“You are something else.” Nick shook his head.
“Now you’re going to leave first,” Andrew instructed Nick. “I will follow in a few minutes. Just meet us on the train.”
“Okay,” Nick agreed. Nick left the bathroom. Andrew followed a few minutes later.
Otto saw Nick come out of the restroom. A few minutes later the other man came out. He walked up to the girl and gave her a kiss and then they walked in the direction of the train platforms. Otto was disappointed. Andrew had never showed up to meet with Nick. Otto called on his radio to follow Nick and to keep an eye on him. The officers radioed back that Nick had gotten into a cab. Otto radioed back that they should follow him. Satisfied, Otto took the glass elevator to the first floor. He was headed towards the exit, but suddenly stopped. Otto thought back to the case he had worked on with Andrew. He recalled that Andrew always traveled with a suitcase with a variety of disguises, clothing, and identifications. Otto even witnessed Andrew’s transformation into a disguise on that case long ago. Andrew could blend in anywhere, anytime. Otto slapped his forehead. “Dummkopf! Andrew war der andere Mann im Badezimmer,” Otto realized that Andrew was the other man in the restroom with Nick.” Otto shouted in his radio to stop the cab Nick was riding in. He also told them he was going after Andrew. When the elevator doors opened, Otto took off in a full run towards the train platforms.
As planned Nick had managed to lose the police that were following him. He had just entered the station when he saw Otto running towards the train platforms. Nick also saw that Andrew and Emma had just boarded the “Red Train” Thalys for Zwickau
Andrew hustled Emma onto the train when he saw Otto rushing towards them. Andrew also saw Nick. The voice on the speaker announced that the train was now departing.
Otto saw Andrew and the woman board the train. He sped up his pace to get on the train and stop Andrew before he got away. He had just reached the steps when the train began pulling out of the station.
Nick was almost to the train when he was pounced on by several uniformed police officers. They pushed Nick to the floor to restrain him. He looked up to see Andrew moving towards the back of the train. Otto was closing the gap between them.
Andrew was practically at a full run. He glanced back for a second to see Otto getting even closer. The train was picking up speed and the scenery began to move past still faster as it headed on the way. Andrew had just reached the door of the last passenger car and was about to enter the sleeping compartments sections.
Nick’s heart sunk when he saw the train leave the station. Andrew was certain to be captured by Otto. There was no way he could escape. The uniformed officers shoved Nick along as they approached the exit. If Andrew did manage to escape Otto, he would have to face the Knights of VanHelsing alone. That prospect worried Nick greatly.
Andrew rushed past the sleeping compartments and paused briefly at the exit door. He looked back to see if Otto had caught up with him, but he hadn’t. Andrew exited the sleeping car, crossed the platform and forced open the door to the baggage car. He quickly closed it behind him. He threw down the duffle bag and began to strip off the beard and wig.
Andrew knew he only had a few minutes before Otto arrived.
Otto exited the last sleeping car. The rush of the wind from the speeding train almost sucked him out. He had to hold on tightly to the railing of the steps. Otto pushed open the door to the baggage car and jumped inside.
Andrew had managed to change his clothes and identity, but it was too late. When he turned around, Andrew saw Otto standing there.
Otto pointed his gun at Andrew. It was the end of the chase and he was glad. Otto moved away from the door, all the time keeping his distance but gun trained on Andrew. He was well aware of Andrew’s martial arts skills and wanted to keep as far away as possible.
“I have you now,” Otto spat out his disgust for Andrew. “How could you do that to Fredrick? How could you shoot him from behind like that? You are a coward!”
“I didn’t do it,” Andrew answered in his own defense. “Talia shot him to protect me.” Andrew moved closer, but Otto threatened him with the gun. Andrew retreated. “Fred was a Knight of VanHelsing. He and the two others with him were kidnapping Kara. I had trailed them to the place by the river.”
“Liar!” Otto cursed. “I knew Fredrick since he was a young boy. I would have known if he were one.”
“Was Fredrick ever gone for at least a year or more?” Andrew asked.
“Ya,” Otto answered. “But he told me it was for school.”
“That’s when he had his training,” Andrew said.
“Just shut up,” Otto threatened with his gun. He reached for a pair of handcuffs on his belt and tossed them at Andrew. “Put them on,” Otto ordered.
“I will not.” Andrew threw them to the floor.
“Pick them up,” Otto stared wild-eyed at Andrew.
The door opened unexpectedly, causing both of them to look. Before Otto or Andrew could react, they were attacked. Otto tried to fire his gun, but one sword blade tore it from his grasp and the other slashed him across the chest. Otto stumbled as blood began to seep through his once white shirt. Andrew had just managed to grab his duffle bag as a shield only seconds before the Knight of VanHelsing swung at him with both razor-sharp blades.
