“So, you are not resigned to death,” said Kalakia. “You have only already surrendered to it. And you come here and ask to join our organisation. Why?”
“I’m not asking for anything,” replied Frederich. “My path crossed with Elias Khartoum’s, for whatever reason. Things turned violent. I proved to be the better man on the day. Again, for whatever reason, he happened to be tied to you. I sensed an opportunity, and I took it.”
“You are telling me that fate has brought you and I together?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Kalakia looked deeper into Frederich’s eyes. Neither of them flinched.
“So?” asked Frederich.
Kalakia gave Frederich a cold, contemptuous grin then stood and walked back to his seat. “I am not convinced. You can kill, and you do not fear death. How do I know you can be loyal? How do I know you have the discipline to work for me? And there is still the matter of you killing one of my soldiers. I cannot overlook that. Do you assume Felipe here will forget it?”
“No fucking way,” Vivar blurted.
Frederich knew if he wanted to turn Kalakia, he would have to raise the stakes. He was also aware of the weak link in the room. He came up with a plan to kill two birds with one stone.
“Firstly, I don’t believe a man like you has gotten where he is without his instincts,” said Frederich. “If I did have potential, you would have already seen it. You’ve been watching me closely enough. Secondly, I have a way to settle Khartoum’s death.” Frederich turned and looked at Vivar for the first time. “You're a hunting man, right? Besides the obvious, the clothes and the knife, I see you have the killing… spirit. So here’s my proposal.” He turned back to Kalakia. “We set a time, a place and an even playing field. Felipe can have his chance to hunt me down and kill me. If he succeeds, then it’s decided. Problem solved. But, if I get the best of him, then the girl goes free, and we assume that fate decided that I join your organisation.”
Vivar began laughing loudly and hysterically, his shrill voice filling the room.
“Yes!” he yelled. “An old-fashioned hunt. It’s perfect!”
Kalakia finally abandoned his poker face and chuckled lightly.
“Let me have this,” said Vivar, turning toward Kalakia. “For Elias.”
Kalakia’s face turned serious again. He clasped his hands together behind his back and began walking to the other side of the room while Vivar followed, pleading to him with a low voice. Kalakia stopped thirty feet away and stood listening to Vivar, who was leaned forward and speaking directly into his ear while signalling toward the shelves. Kalakia appeared to be thinking for a long time until he finally gave Vivar the nod he had been waiting for. The two men then walked back toward the middle.
“Weapons?” asked Frederich as they approached, not wasting time.
“Knives, guns, booby traps, your mother’s rolling pin if that’s all you can get, I don’t care,” said Vivar.
“Location?”
“Let’s do it at Tiergarten,” said Vivar, referring to the inner city park not far from where they were. “And don’t worry, the police won’t stick their nose in.”
Frederich nodded. These guys love to flaunt their power in public spaces. He had explored Tiergarten during his first week in Berlin. It was a park with low-density trees and various walking paths and open areas throughout. They would be fighting to the death in a place frequented by tourists, locals and the homeless. A logistical challenge, but workable without police interference.
Frederich still could not shake the feeling that something sinister was at play. He had been allowed to dictate terms almost without resistance. It was not what he had expected from what was supposedly the world’s most powerful organisation. Most unsettling was Kalakia’s stare. What was he looking for?
Frederich turned and noticed that Vivar had retrieved a metallic bracelet from a case on the shelf. Vivar crouched down in front of Frederich and lifted his pant leg and locked the bracelet in place around his ankle.
“For you, my little rabbit,” said Vivar, his beady eyes now almost a pinprick in size. “A little invention of mine.”
Vivar stood up and stepped away, and someone else came from the side and stuck a swab in Frederich’s mouth and began rolling it around inside his cheek. Caught off guard, Frederich leaned back and tried slapping the man’s arm away. The man was unfazed by Frederich's reaction, taking a plastic cylinder filled with liquid and placing the swab with Frederich's saliva inside.
“Be there at midnight,” said Vivar. “That’s when we will activate the device. If you stand still for longer than a few seconds, it will make a noise and tell me where you are. I don’t want you hiding out.”
“The game should be done before daylight,” said Kalakia. “Stay within the park boundaries. The ankle bracelet has a tracking device. I will be watching. And do not worry, nobody will give Felipe your location. That would spoil the fun.”
“Enter from the east side of the park by the Brandenburg Gate,” said Vivar. “I’ll come from the west.”
Kalakia turned to Frederich’s chaperone.
“Francois. Show young Frederich the way out.”
Frederich turned his head quickly and looked at Kalakia with wide eyes. He knows my name?
“Do not overestimate your power, boy. You are a long way from Tartu,” said Kalakia.
The words hit Frederich like a gut punch. He knows where I’m from.
“Look at his face!” said Vivar with another chuckle. “He has no idea what he’s gotten himself into!”
“Oh, and one last thing,” said Kalakia. “Did you expect you could keep Ms Garcia safe inside your apartment in Charlottenburg?”
Frederich’s body went cold. Ida. Francois placed a hand
