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TITLE: Something Lost, Something Found. By : Aryea Chapter 3 Dr. Gremmel wasn’t too hard to find and easily remembered Sydney and Nigel. He was horrified to learn that the young man’s body had gone missing and was willing to help in any way that he could. He did mention that there were rumors of an underground organization that sold human organs on the black market, which appalled and incensed Preston; the idea of his little brother’s body being sold off in pieces to the highest bidder made him physically ill. Sydney had suspected something of that nature, but wanted to be sure before mentioning it to Preston. “Do you know anyone we can talk to about this black market operation?” Dr. Gremmel smirked. “Frankly, I don’t usually socialize in those kinds of circles, but I may have the name of someone who does, or at least may have information on the subject.” “That would be great, Dr. Gremmel,” Sydney afforded him a small smile, the best that she could do under the circumstances. “Oh, please, call me George,” the older man offered, rising from his chair and moving to his roll top desk. “I want to help.” He paused and turned back to them, his eyes on Sydney. “You know, I was rather surprised when you told me that your friend had died. After I checked you out and had the nurse attend you, I checked on your friend in the emergency room. He didn’t seem that bad off; of course I didn’t examine him so there were possibly complications.” “Head trauma was the main cause, so they said,” Sydney commented, sadly. “Yes, those are always hard to guess at; some people come out of them just fine others…” He shrugged and returned to rummaging in his desk. “It’s a damn shame; really, he seemed like a nice young man.” Both Sydney and Preston nodded, but remained silent, Nigel was the nicest of nice young men, certainly in their eyes. There would never be another like him. “Aha! Yes, here it is, buried under all my other papers.” George turned and walked over to them, smiling. “A friend referred this fellow to me when I needed some work on my car and my regular mechanic was unavailable. He was not the nicest of people, but he did a good job on my vehicle. I’ve heard from others that he’s involved in all sorts of things, I don’t know why I even kept this.” Sydney accepted the business card. “Lucky for us you did.” “Just be careful, he might be dangerous,” George frowned and nodded at Preston. “You’ll be going too, I suppose?” “Yes,” Sydney returned as she and Preston rose from their chairs. “And don’t worry; I can take care of myself.” George smiled again and handed her his business card. “I’ve no doubts. You call me if you need anything else.” Preston shook his hand. “We appreciate your help, George.” George bid them farewell and the pair headed out to the truck that Preston had rented. Sydney slipped behind the wheel, watching as the older Bailey slid in beside her. There was no playful argument of who was going to drive, just…compliance. It was so strange looking over and not seeing Nigel. She’d taken her assistant for granted; she wished that she could make it up to him.
Sydney was undeterred; she had met many men like this Danidr and his hostile demeanor and sarcastic innuendos only confirmed that he was a little man, with a dull mind who couldn’t pay women to be with him. “So you’re saying you don’t know anything?” Danidr leered at her and tossed his grease rag back and forth as he spoke to Preston. “You should teach your woman to respect the man, not talk when not spoken too.” Sydney smirked and in one swift movement had kicked the mechanic’s legs out from under him and had her boot across his throat. “You should learn to listen when a woman talks. Now, do we do this the easy way, or the hard way, Danidr?” The man grunted as some of the natives paused to watch the scene with interest. Sydney reached down and hauled him up, slamming his face into the wall of the garage. “Let’s talk about respect, then. How much will these people respect you when they watch a woman kick your sorry ass all over this compound?” “Joe Blount!” Danidr hissed, trying to struggle, but unable to fight past Sydney’s iron grip. “Talk to him.” “Where can I find him?” “I can’t!” Sydney twisted his arm back further and he cried out. “Talk or I’ll rip it off!” She was through being nice, she wasn’t about to let this little ferret detain her any longer from finding Nigel. “The Pharaoh’s Chalice.” “Where!” “That’s it, I swear on the Gods, it is a drinking place, and he is there every day. It is in the lower end of the city.” Sydney released him and shoved him against the garage, turning back to Preston, who was looking at her, impressed; much the same way that Nigel did the first time he saw her fight. Sometimes, you could see a family resemblance after all. “No wonder Nigel liked you.” She smirked. “I’m just getting warmed up,” she assured.
Joe Blount, Sydney recognized as the orderly that she had seen at the hospital rolling Nigel’s body away, and was a much harder man to convince than the ferret-faced mechanic, and he was not easily swayed by Sydney’s sex, she wanted a fight and she got one; four of them against her and Preston. Sydney managed to take care of the first two easily enough, which was a good thing because Blount was 6 feet two and all muscle; she was throwing everything she had at him and he still kept coming like a damned bulldog. Preston had knocked out the other assailant by smashing a chair over the man’s head, and as one of the men Sydney had knocked down started to climb to his feet; Preston cuffed him in the jaw, leaving him out for the count. With a mild grunt, Blount, whose thick arms had wrapped around her, lifted Sydney off her feet. Preston picked up the leg of the chair he had smashed and whacked the Egyptian across the skull. Together, he and Sydney managed to get him down, and then Sydney was holding the chair leg against Blount’s throat, her knees keeping his arms pinned to the floor as Preston held him from below. “Tell me where you took him!” she demanded, fully prepared to kill the bastard at this point. She was a mess, her knuckles were bloodied, she had a cut on her cheek and was covered in the dust and dirt from the bar floor. Nigel’s shirt had been ripped open; the buttons flying to the four winds, and that had really pissed her off. “Tell me or I’ll rip your heart out.” “The Temple of Isis!” Blount croaked; his face turning purple from lack of oxygen, amazed at how strong this American woman was. “How do we get there?” “You can’t! Heavily…guarded…” “You have two seconds to tell me or….” Blount struggled, but they held him down. “The Outlands of Nelpa! The river will lead you there!” Sydney stood and stepped back, snatching up the satchel she had lost in the struggle and whipping her hair out of her face. “If you’re lying…” Blount was gasping in air and shaking his head. “No, it is true. On the Gods, it is true.” Sydney turned on her heal and walked out, Preston moved to follow; walking backwards to make sure they were not attacked again. “Your friend was very lucky,” Blount croaked. “I beg your pardon?” Preston asked, pausing in the doorway. “To have such a woman love him so, to go to such lengths, it is a gift.” Preston considered his words, and then turned and hurried after Sydney.
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