The Return of Daniel Burkard, Part 1
Angela’s apartment, Deuteron, Constantinople – October 8, 1994, 7:28 AM
Anders pulled up to Angela’s apartment and got out. Police were everywhere already. The complex was surrounded with yellow tape, and the other tenants stood on the lawn, asking each other if they saw anything. Anders showed his badge to a policeman, who let him through. He went up the front stairs and looked at the broken window. He saw blood on the wall on the inside and his own reflection in the glass. He didn’t pick up the phone last night. If he had just woken up and answered the phone, he might have gotten Angela help sooner. But he didn’t until about an hour later. And now all that was left was this empty room.
Shaking the unwanted thoughts out of his head, he walked in. More officers and forensics analysts milled around the apartment, taking pictures, collecting blood samples, putting items in evidence bags, and dusting for fingerprints. He walked over to the glass table in the middle of the room, finding part of it cracked and bloodstained. Another analyst took a picture of Angela’s destroyed phone on the floor, while another snapped a photo of her Walkman and audio tapes, lying on another table. Not wanting to be here any longer, he made his way to the door. Aunt Magda Sharon Hansen (neé Humboldt) and Demetrios Papadopoulos were there, arguing with a stubborn police officer.
“I'm sorry, ma'am, sir,” the officer said, “But you can't disturb a crime scene.”
“But this is my daughter's apartment,” Magda said, “Let me go, I have to get through. I have to get in!”
“She’s my girlfriend too!” Demetrios insisted. “What’s wrong with you guys?!”
Anders approached them.
“Aunt Magda?” he said. “Demetrios?”
He put his hand on her shoulder, but he noticed her staring at the blood on it. He looked at the blood on his jacket for the first time. He took a deep breath.
“She's not in there,” he said.
“Where is she?” Magda demanded.
“Is that my jacket?” Demetrios said.
Anders didn’t respond.
“Where is she?!” Magda said.
“Is that my jacket?!” Demetrios repeated.
7:45 AM
Outside the house, reporters and cameramen filed onto the front lawn, throwing questions at the policemen and forensics teams shuffling around. Anders sat down on the street curb next to a sobbing Magda. Demetrios stood next to his car, staring at a picture in his wallet.
“I knew it would happen this way,” Magda said, “I had this dream about Angie being taken away from us. I, uh... I was going to call her but I was afraid I was going to scare her.”
Magda sighed. “She would have laughed at me anyway. She doesn't believe in that kind of thing, you know. She’s like her dad in that way.”
“Don’t worry, Auntie,” Anders said, “I’m sure she’s okay. I’m working on a way to find her.”
“Find her?!” Demetrios said, approaching Anders. “You’re the one who got her into this mess!”
Anders stood up. “Excuse me?”
Demetrios shoved him. “If it wasn’t for your stupid UFO hunting goose chase, she wouldn’t have been abducted by some madman last night!”
“It wasn’t my fault that madman escaped the hospital and found his way here!” Anders said, raising his voice. “Would it have changed things if he was at St. Eudokimos with you guys?”
“But why did he target Angela?” Demetrios said, his tone agitated. “Why?! How did he know where Angela lived? Why did he go after her?!”
Anders didn’t know how to respond. One part of him wanted to say it was classified, while the other simply didn’t know the answer. Demetrios, fed up with Anders, shoved him again. Anders promptly punched him in the face. A gasp went up from some of the reporters, including the one from
Die Zeiten. Demetrios rubbed his cheek and massaged his jaw.
“Anders!” Magda shouted. “Stop it!”
“You punch hard,” he said, grinning, “Who taught you? Your mad father?”
“You do not mention Walter’s name now,” Anders gritted, “Not after what happened!”
“Frak you, this is a free country!” Demetrios said. “I can say what I want! You can hide it as much as you want, but that isn’t going to change things! Admit it or not, Angela’s gone because of you!”
He stormed off towards his car. Anders took off his bloodstained jacket.
“Hey, you forgot your jacket,” he said.
As Demetrios got into his car and drove away, he flipped Anders off.
Erich’s office, Omar Mukhtar Building – 8:03 AM
Erich and Pavel sat in front of Erich’s desk as the Assistant Director looked through the case reports from both Pressburg and Deuteron District. The expression of the normally stoic man alternated between fear, sorrow, and rage every several seconds, and Anders shifted in his seat, not knowing how to respond to what Erich might say. The smoking man sat near the window, smoking as usual. Director Schulz sat next to Erich, looking over the same files.
Erich finally looked up and locked eyes with Anders. “According to the reports I reviewed, Agent Hansen’s research states that Daniel Burkard's propensity for violent, deviant behavior is due to brain damage from a bullet wound in the head. Is this the operational opinion?”
Anders hesitated. He didn’t know how to respond. His uncle was fiercely protective of Angela, especially after Vienna, and the easiest way to set him off was to do something to Angela. And Anders did not want to set Uncle Erich off, because then he would be so screwed.
“Yes, sir,” Pavel filled in for him.
“Is there another?” Schulz asked.
“He's convinced he's going to be abducted by aliens,” Pavel said, “That by taking someone to the abduction site back in Bohemia, he won't be abducted himself.”
“That he's following orders from alien voices in his head,” Schulz said.
Pavel nodded.
“Well, that's an interesting spin on the Vijayangara defense,” Erich said, “Which explanation do you subscribe to, Anders?”
“There's a question of how he could've gotten to her in the first place,” Anders said.
“And you think these alien voices told her?” Schulz asked.
“Agent Hansen was carrying a small piece of metal that was removed from Burkard’s abdomen,” Anders said, “An implant he described as a tracking device.”
“Agent Hansen thought that you had made a major miscalculation in Burkard’s psychosis,” the smoking man said, “Is that true?”
“Yes, but that still doesn't explain how he could have found her,” Anders said.
Pavel glanced over at the smoking man.
“Where would he be taking her?” Erich asked.
“I don't know,” Anders said, “He talked about a mountain where he was first abducted, but he wasn't specific about the location.”
“Well, however he got to her and whatever his motives, he took Agent Hansen's car and weapon,” Erich said, “I think we all understand the seriousness of this matter and should proceed ahead quickly with all possible resources. I need you to turn over your files to human resources…”
“I'd like to brief them myself...” Anders said.
“Go home, Anders, you've been up all night,” Schulz said, “Get some sleep.”
Anders stood up.
“Director, I know Daniel Burkard,” Anders said, “I've been in his head, I know how he thinks...”
“You're too close to this case,” Erich said, “She’s your cousin. If we can use you, we will.”
“She’s your daughter, Uncle Erich!” Anders said.
“That's an order, Agent Humboldt,” Erich said, “You heard Director Schulz.”
He looked at Pavel. “Make sure he gets home safely.”
Anders and Pavel walked out.
Outside Nysos, Morava – 11:23 A.M.
Daniel Burkard sped down the mostly abandoned Autobahn in Angela’s car. The radio played "Hongyoushou" by Cai Dongxue and the Huaizhongzi at the maximum volume. He made a very sharp left down a bridge and sped off. However, a police car pulled out of a side road and followed him, sirens blaring and lights flashing. Reluctantly, Daniel pulled over and rolled down his window. The patrolman adjusted his dashcam and walked over to the car, his hand on his gun in its holster. He looked at Daniel.
“Sir?” he asked. “Can you turn off your radio?”
“I would, officer, but I got to keep going,” Daniel said.
“An Athanatoi APB has been issued for a suspect in the abduction of an Athanatos...” a man reported over the police car’s APB.
“Sir, I asked if you mind turning that off,” the patrolman repeated.
Daniel reluctantly turned it off.
“Okay,” he said, “But could you just give me the ticket now so I can go? I got to be someplace.”
“Where?” the patrolman asked.
“I'm not sure but...they'll tell me when I get there,” Daniel said.
The patrolman looked at Daniel’s hands, seeing his knuckles were bloody and that his hospital ID band had blood on it too. He drew his gun and aimed at Daniel.
“Sir, put your hands on the steering wheel where I can see them!” he ordered.
“You don't understand,” Daniel said, “They're waiting for me, I, I can't be late.”
“Put your hands up and exit the vehicle!” the patrolman demanded.
“No, I got to keep moving,” Daniel said, “Please? For your own sake? Don't stop Daniel Burkard.”
“Sir, put your hands up!” the patrolman repeated.
Angela, regaining consciousness, banged on the trunk hood.
“HEY!” she shouted. “GET ME OUT OF HERE! OR I’M GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER CADAVER TO ELECTROCUTE WHEN I GET BACK TO THE ACADEMY!”
The patrolman turned around and started walking to the trunk. Daniel pulled out Angela’s gun and calmly shot the patrolman in the head. He then got out, took the patrolman’s gun and ammunition, and opened the trunk, where Angela lay bound. An impromptu tourniquet had been tied around her bloodied midsection. He raised his gun and shot her in the leg, and she screamed in agony. Daniel coldly took the patrolman’s handcuffs and cuffed her left arm to her right leg and then tore off part of the patrolman’s uniform to gag her.
Leza Atsumi’s office, Video Production Unit, Omar Mukhtar Building, Constantinople – 3:11 PM
Anders pointed to the monitor, where footage from the patrolman’s dashcam showed Daniel looking into the trunk with the patrolman dead on the ground.
“Right there,” he said, “Back it up a few frames. Can you magnify this area?”
“This isn’t Law & Order,” Leza Atsumi said, “I can’t just enhance an image.”
“Well, just zoom in then!” Anders said.
Leza magnified the image several times until there was a somewhat blurry head shot of Angela with the gag in her mouth. It wasn’t crystal clear, but it would do.
“Mein Gott…” Leza said. “Has Law & Order lied to us this entire time?!”
“She's still alive,” Anders said, “Print this up and get it out.”
X-Division office – 4:08 PM
Anders sat at his desk, listening to a tape recording of yesterday’s hostage situation in Pressburg on Angela’s Walkman, which was partly covered in dried blood. He looked at the photo of Angela in the trunk.
“I just want to go back to the place,” Daniel’s voice said on the Walkman.
“What place?” Anders’ voice said.
“Where it first started,” Daniel’s voice said, “Where they first came and got me.”
“Where is that?” Anders’ voice said.
“A mountain,” Daniel’s voice said, “We went, uh, up... and up. Ascending... ascending to the stars.”
Anders rewound the tape. “Ascending... ascending to the stars.”
Pavel walked over, carrying two Starmarks coffees.
“Want one?” he asked.
“Sure,” Anders said, taking one, “Thanks.”
“Yeah,” Pavel said, “How'd you sleep?”
“Slept as I normally did,” Anders said, “Didn’t hear about it till I woke up. Now I feel a bit guilty about it.”
He rewound the tape. “You're not taking Daniel Burkard again.”
And again. “A mountain. We went, uh, up... and up. Ascending... ascending to the stars.”
Again. “Ascending to the stars.”
“What is it?” Pavel asked.
Anders paused the Walkman. “Where was that patrolman killed again?”
“Outside Nysos, Morava,” Pavel said, “Autobahn Route 229.”
“Doesn't Route 229 lead to the Blue Danube Parkway?” Anders asked. “Up where Illyria becomes Austria?”
“I don't know,” Pavel said.
Anders walked to his bookshelf and picked out one of his many phone books.
“What?” Pavel asked.
Anders finally landed on the page he wanted. He pointed to an ad that read:
Ascend to the Stars!
LUFTBERG
[REDACTED]-7684
Spectacular views and a full service grill!
Gondola rides to the peak every ten minutes!
Anders tore the page out. “Ascend to the stars. Luftberg.”
“You know where he's going?” Pavel asked.
“Get your car and meet me downstairs,” Anders said.
“Where are we going?” Pavel asked.
“Just get your car,” Anders said, “I’m booking a charter Kongruenz to Temeschberg.”
“What about Hansen and Schulz?” Pavel asked.
“I'll deal with Uncle Erich,” Anders said, leaving his office, “Schulz will understand.”
Pavel took out his phone and dialed a number.
“He thinks Hansen's been taken up to Luftberg Mountain in the Carpathians,” he said, “I'll hold him off until they locate her.”
He hung up as Anders returned.
“Come on, let's go,” he said.
They went to the parking lot and got in Pavel’s car. Pavel got in the driver’s seat and drove off. As they turned out of the parking lot, they passed a parked car, where the smoking man sat in the driver’s seat. He tossed out his cigarette and drove after them.
Route 211, Outside Temeschberg, Banat – 5:43 PM
Anders and Pavel sped down the road. This time, Anders was in the drivers’ seat. His eyes, however, did not want him to drive and started closing. He struggled to keep them open, but he fell asleep. Pavel heard a honking and saw a truck speeding towards them. He pushed Anders, who woke up and swerved out of the way. Pavel sighed.
“You're dozing off,” he said, “Maybe I should drive.”
“I'm fine,” Anders said, “I got enough sleep last night.”
“You sure?” Pavel asked. “I know sleep deprivation when I see it. You know, Exxon Vijaya, Kyshtym, Flight 19, even the stealing of the Angeloi nukes... they were all linked to sleep deprivation. The Bureau of Transportation estimates that over 190,000 fatal car crashes every year are linked to sleep deprivation.”
“Did they estimate how many people are put to sleep listening to their statistics?” Anders said.
“I'm just trying to keep you awake,” Pavel said.
“Look, I know you think we should have told Uncle Erich, but if he sends in the whole cavalry, Burkard might go over the edge,” Anders said.
“You're right,” Pavel said.
“If we find him first, we'll notify the Athanatoi, alright?” Anders said.
“Sure,” Pavel said, “You really think he tracked her down with that implant?”
“Well, that's the easiest explanation,” Anders said, “It's also the most implausible.”
“Is there another possibility?” Pavel asked.
“Somebody could have given him her address,” Anders said, “I don't know who.”
Pavel looked ahead and pointed to a sign that read "Ascend to the Stars, Luftberg Mountain."
Luftberg Mountain, Banat – 6:54 PM
Anders and Pavel walked with the tram operator, who looked at a mug shot of Daniel Burkard.
“Have you seen this guy?” Pavel asked.
“Yeah, he was here,” the operator said.
“He's wanted for kidnapping an imperial agent,” Pavel said, “Did you let him go up in the tram?”
“No way, it's been shut down since early summer,” the operator said, “I told him to take the back road up.”
“How long ago?” Pavel asked.
“About forty-five minutes,” the operator said.
“Did he have a woman with him?” Anders asked.
The operator shook his head.
“How long does it take to drive to the top?” Pavel asked.
“Little over an hour,” the operator said.
“You have to get me up there,” Anders said, pointing to the gondola.
“No, no way,” the operator said, “We just got done refitting the cable. It hasn't been tested with passengers yet. You'll have to drive.”
“I don't have the time,” Anders said.
“You don't have a choice,” the operator said.
Anders drew his gun. “No,
you don't have a choice.”
Five minutes later, the operator stood in his control booth, where he turned a key to start up the main engines. He then flipped a switch, while Anders got in the gondola and bolted the door.
“Okay, I can't stop you from going up there, but if there's a problem with the cable, I'm shutting this down,” the operator said, “I'm not going to be responsible for your death, even if you do act like an equalist.”
“What are you doing?” Pavel asked.
“Stay here and whatever happens, don't let him stop the tram,” Anders said.
“Okay, you hit your ‘run’ and ‘up’ button on the panel,” the operator explained, “Speed indicator controls your ascent. Now when you want to slow down—”
Anders immediately hit both buttons, and the gondola lurched away from the station.
“Don't crank it faster than fifteen!” the operator yelled.
Anders moved the indicator from “slow” to “fast,” and the speedometer shot up from fifteen to twenty and then twenty-five. The operator cursed.
“What the hell's he doing?” he said. “I told him not to go that fast.”
He picked up the intercom transmitter. “Base to car one, pick up. Pick up, you idiot!”
Behind Anders, the noise from the machinery grew louder. His radio buzzed.
“Do you hear that sound?” the operator said. “At this speed, the cable can't hold.”
The speedometer now read 30, and Anders couldn’t hear the operator at all. He adjusted the frequency to improve the signal.
“Go ahead,” he said.
“Slow down, you suicidal idiot!” the operator shouted.
“WHAT?!” Anders said.
“Slow down or the cables'll jump when you hit that tower!” the operator said.
Anders looked and saw a tower approaching. He slowed down to 25, and the gondola passed the tower without incident.
“Slow it down for the next tower,” the operator said.
Anders slowed down to 15 as he passed the next tower.
“How close is he?” Pavel asked.
“Should be up top in a minute,” the operator said.
Pavel drew his gun and pistol-whipped the operator in the face, knocking it out. He sighed and fixed his hair. Then he turned off the machinery. The gondola rocked back and forth in position.
“What are you doing?” Anders said on the transmitter. “Turn it back on. Novak, what's happening down there?”
Meanwhile, Pavel took out his cell phone, raised the antenna, and started dialing.
“Novak, do you read me?” Anders said. “Tell the operator to restart the tram. Hello?”
“I've got him stalled up there,” Pavel said, “I'll hold until you advise.”
“Is there an emergency system on-board?” Anders said. “Can you read me down there? Can anyone read me?”
Anders put down the transmitter and went to a small compartment. He took off the lid and threw away a tag that said “screamer suit.” He pulled out a harness and threw it out. Then he pulled down a ladder and climbed on top of the gondola.
In the base station, Pavel stared at the monitor and then turned the key, restarting the engine. The gondola restarted, nearly throwing Anders off the tram. He grabbed onto the side of the roof and pulled himself up, narrowly avoiding the next tower. Finally, the gondola reached the peak and halted. Anders ran up the hill and found Angela’s car abandoned. The driver’s side door was left open. The radio was still on. There was blood on the steering wheel. He popped open the trunk and found it empty as well, except for a bloody rope and Angela’s trench coat, the one Hans gave her. A bright white light flashed behind him, and he looked up and saw a dark object speeding off into the night, followed by Daniel’s laughing. Anders found Daniel standing a few feet away, holding his hands up in the air in triumph. Anders drew his gun and aimed at him.
“Imperial agent!” Anders shouted. “Freeze!”
“YES!” Daniel shouted skywards. “YES, YES, YES!”
“Where is my cousin?!” Anders shouted.
“I'm free at last, you motherfrakking sons of dogs!” Daniel shouted. “You can't touch Daniel Burkard anymore! Free at last, thank God Almighty, I’m free at last!”
Anders handcuffed Daniel. “Don’t move!”
“I'm not going anywhere!” Daniel said.
“Where is Angie?” Anders demanded. “Where'd you leave her?”
“They took her,” Daniel said.
“Who?” Anders said.
Daniel pointed at the sky. “Them! I told you they would take somebody else. They did! Too bad it wasn’t Herman!”
A helicopter flew overhead, its searchlight locking on them.