Page 53 of Seth
“Check this out,” Diego’s voice rang with childish excitement as he covered himself with the shield. Gustavo’s jaw dropped as Diego’s body melted from view.
“My fucking god,” Gustavo stashed the folder back into the rack and strode to his friend. “That’s how he did it, huh?”
“I’ve heard about them,” Diego handed the shield to Gustavo. “The technology is called Quantum Stealth. It was developed by a Canadian camouflage design company, but I’ve never heard that they sell to private individuals.”
Gustavo ran his finger over the rough rims of the shield and the tiny air bubbles trapped beneath the top layer. “This doesn’t look like industrial production. How much time do we have?”
“Maybe a few hours?” Diego shrugged.
“I want everything here photocopied.” Gustavo pointed to the rack. “Let’s go and check the rest of the house.”
“Sure.” Diego pulled a phone and dialed a number. “Send a photographer upstairs.”
* * *
To Ignaz’shomeand later to his work, they drove in silence. Only when the boy thanked him for the lift and attempted to exit the vehicle, Seth seized Ignaz’s wrist. He instantly released it, realizing he broke one of the stupid rules, but the boy was already staring at the skin Seth had touched.
“I’d like to see you again,” Seth said instead of an apology. When the boy didn’t answer, Seth leveled him with a direct look. “Is that a problem?”
“No. Not at all.” Ignaz dropped his chin hiding a gentle smile.
A strong desire to reach forward and entwine his fingers with the soft locks of his honey-blond hair stirred in Seth’s chest. To keep his hands in place, he gripped the steering wheel, waiting.
“Then…” Ignaz lifted his face; a feverish glint returned into his eyes. “Would you like to meet tonight? I finish at ten.”
Seth wasn’t sure what the glint promised, but an excitement settled in his bones. He swallowed, nodded. “I’ll pick you up.”
Ignaz smiled and exited the car.
Seth waited for the slender form of the boy to disappear behind the swinging doors of the mall, then started the car.
* * *
“Did they wireevery room?”Gustavo queried. Sitting in the car in front of Seth’s villa, he thought about the second basement room beneath the living quarters. The concrete, rectangular room possessed unique acoustic qualities, reminding Gustavo of antique Greek amphitheaters where the sound got carried around, amplified on the way. He wasn’t sure what caused this effect, an inch-deep grooves in the tapered walls, or the concrete finish that reflected his footfalls even if he tried to move silently. The same grooves in the floor were filled with something white, solid. The door, locating in the middle of the wall, split the room into two even halves. At the end of one wing, a St. Andrew’s cross glinted with shackles. Opposite to it, a wooden pillory occupied the other wing. Between them, a few chairs and spanking horses mixed with workbenches and racks. The smell of leather and antiseptic reminded Gustavo of his last visit to the BDSM club. The number of paddles and whips empowered the resemblance. Sex dungeon or torture room, whatever it was, Gustavo couldn’t thrust it out of his mind.
“Of course not. Don’t expect miracles. The building is too big, and we didn’t have much time. Only a few rooms. The ones that looked most used and only from a few angles.”
Gustavo nodded, zooming out on the garden. Overgrown and thick, it carried wild charm and didn’t look untidy, more like it descended from a fantasy movie.
A red glint caught Gustavo’s eye and forced his attention from the mirrored glass of Seth’s villa to Diego lounging on the driver’s seat. With a casual flick of a wrist, Diego threw something in the air then intercepted the object with quick fingers.
Narrowing his eyes, Gustavo watched Diego repeat his ministration. The smooth glass sparkled in the setting sun as it flipped in the air and landed into the palm.
“What’s this?” Gustavo asked.
“Umm… A souvenir.” Diego’s tawny eyes disappeared into a grin. He held up a piece of red glass between his thumb and index finger. Smooth and polished, it absorbed the evening sun and glowed from within with a warm, steady light.
“A degenerate gambler and now a thief, you are progressing, Diego.”
Diego’s elbow connecting with his ribs pushed a loud snort out of his lungs. “Fuck off. It just lay there, begged to be taken. I don’t think he’ll ever notice it’s gone.”
“What do you need it for?”
“When Mayr is exposed and arrested, I’ll sell it to my close friend, a collector of rare artifacts, as a last piece of glass left behind by his beloved psychopathic serial killer, Loco. He’ll pay me millions.”
“Diego, I don’t get it. Do you gamble away all your money? Where did this maniacal wish to rip me off came from? Should I give you a raise?”
“I don’t need a raise. Who wants an honest payment when I can rip you off?”
