Page 90 of The Outcast
“Are you calling Victor?” Freya asked me.
“Yes, but he keeps declining my call.”
I had barely spoken the words when a message came through. “Wait, he just wrote me. Huh, that’s weird. Victor wants us to come to his apartment.”
“That can’t be true,” Freya said with a skeptical wrinkle of her nose.
“I know where he lives.” Aubri was already marching on.
“Everyone knows where he lives,” I muttered. “He had a whole fucking park named after him.”
It took us a little under twenty minutes to walk from the tiny airport to the tallest and most prestigious building in France. With a penthouse apartment that offered a view of Victor Park, Victor was treated as royalty.
His hair was wet when he opened the door. From the sight of his bare feet and his fingers fastening his blue vest, it was clear that he was only getting dressed.
“Come in,” he muttered and opened his door wider.
“How nice of you to invite us to your apartment. I was always curious to see the view from here,” Indiana said and walked in, heading straight for the large floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room. I felt the same way and took in the apartment, which was at least ten times the size of my small underground condo.
“I got a bit distracted and forgot about your visit,” Victor said and sat down on his sofa to put on a pair of socks.
“Hmm, it’s hard to believe that your memory span is that short. I wrote you less than eight hours ago,” Freya pointed out.
Just then the door to Victor’s bedroom opened and a woman popped her head out. “Oh, bonjour,” she greeted us and then she turned to Victor asking him in French if she could take a quick shower.
He muttered a low “Suit yourself,” and finished putting on his socks.
“I’m sorry if we disturbed something important,” Freya said with her cheeks flushing red.
I wondered for a moment why seeing a half-naked woman made her so flustered, but it just showed that Freya was as uncomfortable with nudity as the rest of the Northlanders.
“You said it was urgent, so what’s the matter?” Victor, now fully dressed, said and rose to his full height. “Is it about the Explorers?”
“Yes, and no.” Thor moved closer. “We wish to meet with your prime minister to discuss an urgent matter.”
“You can’t. Moreau hasn’t been available for weeks. He’s sick.”
“How sick?” Thor asked.
“Sick enough that he’s unable to do his work for now. If you have something to discuss, you can tell me. I’m already responsible for all communication with the Northlands.”
Indiana angled his head. “Why is that?”
Victor shrugged. “I’ve been the leader of our summit delegation since I was eighteen. Anything relating to you people is seen as an extension of that responsibility.”
“Are you the contact person when it comes to the Motherlands as well?” Thor asked.
“No. We have much more business with the Motherlands. I wouldn’t have the time.”
“So, are you capable of making decisions on behalf of your country?”
“To a certain extent. Tell me your business and I’ll let you know if I need further approval.”
“All right.” Thor’s expression was serious as he squared his shoulders. I felt the collective understanding among the rest of us that the negotiations were about to start.
“There’s been a recent development and we’re here because we need a guarantee from you.”
Without looking at Thor, Victor moved to his kitchen and activated a machine that I’d seen in the Northlands but never here.
