Love Was Not an Option

Chapter 3-2

Niko surveyed the apartment from a building across the street. He could see shadows of two people moving behind the drawn curtains in what he presumed was Ms. Gatschet’s living room, given the size of the window. One was distinctly male from the build. The other shadow was too indistinct for him to make a judgment.

“Time to find out,” he murmured as he left his perch on the roof. When he was on the street, he crossed and entered the apartment building. He took the elevator up to the floor he needed. The image of Caitlin’s stepfather, from the photo she’d shown him, was firmly imprinted in his mind. It wouldn’t do to deal with a man who wasn’t him.

What he heard, as he eavesdropped on the couple from the hallway, told him he had chosen correctly when he’d decided to try Ms. Gatschet’s place first. Sometimes, well usually, my instincts are correct.

The woman was saying, “How do you know we’ll be safe there?”

After a pause, the man replied, “I can’t guarantee it, but can you think of anywhere else? Either way, we need to get out of here, and out of town, now!”

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Niko asked as he entered the room. “It’s a lovely city. This however…” He swept his arm around and sneered. “I’ve seen better apartments in tenements, but that’s only my opinion.”

Ms. Gatschet bristled angrily. The man Niko now knew was Caitlin’s stepfather exclaimed, before she could reply, “Who the hell are you, and how did you get in here?” while backing toward the kitchen.

Niko harrumphed. “If you only knew how many times I’ve been asked that question. Why can’t people be a little more original?” He reached the man before he made it to the doorway. “We have to talk—all three of us.” He turned his gaze on Ms. Gatschet. “Did you know he murdered his wife?” he asked her.

“The b***h deserved it,” the woman spat back.

“Her daughter disagrees, and so do I.” Niko pointed to the sofa. “Sit.” He already has the stepfather under control, despite the man’s trying desperately to free himself from Niko’s grip.

Defiantly, Ms. Gatschet replied, “Make me.” So Niko did after planting the man on the sofa.

“Now, as I was saying, we have to talk. Or more to the point, I’ll talk, you’ll listen. One word, one sound out of either of you and I’ll kill you here and now. Understood?” The couple nodded mutely, terror contorting their faces. Niko smiled before laying out exactly why he was there. When he finished, he locked his eyes with the woman’s saying, “You don’t really want to go with him, do you?”

“No,” she whispered. Then she clapped her hand to her mouth in horror.

Niko lifted an eyebrow. “What did I tell you about speaking? I think, however, I’ll wait until we’re where I plan on dealing with your…” He looked hard at her. “Lover? You, my dear woman, have lousy taste in men.”

“She does not,” the man protested. Those were the last words he uttered.

An hour later, Niko called Kasper. “We have nothing to worry about anymore. At least not from them.”

“Excellent. I’ll let Caitlin know in the morning. I don’t think she’ll be crying over losing her stepfather so soon after her mother’s death. By the way, I don’t suppose you found out where he left her body.”

“I did. His mistress is now buried in her grave. If you watch the news in the morning, I’m sure you’ll see something about a horrific auto accident which ended with the car bursting into flames, totally incinerating the driver and his passenger beyond recognition.”

Kasper chuckled. “I’ll look for it. Nice work, Niko.”

Niko thanked him then hung up and went to bed. His sleep was undisturbed by any nightmares about what he’d done. But then that was normally the case. He had no regrets when it came to keeping him and those he’d vowed to protect safe from discovery.