"I think I'd rather go with Mr. Viktorov," you say. "We'll try to kidnap Marcus's mother." "Yes," Viktorov agrees, "I think maybe good idea. So let's go. What do we do, Carlos?" "I will show you to the rooms where Marcus's mother lives. You will take her, and I will give Mar- cus an ultimaturn he cannot refuse." "Okay," Viktorov says. Carlos leads you through the mansion's darkenend halls to the upstairs. "Go into that room," Carlos says, pointing. You open the door. It is nearly dark inside. In the dim light you can make out that you are in some kind of an office. "Come in," a deep voice says. You notice a tall man standing off to one side of a wide bay window. He stands very erect, wearing a military uniform and a holster for a pistol. The pistol, at this mo- ment, is pointing at you and Viktorov. "Ah, Viktorov," he says. "I thought you would take the bait. And you've brought a friend. Lovely. As you may have guessed, I am Marcus." Viktorov tries to speak, but Marcus silences him with a wave of the pistol. "I'm not interested in what you have to say. Or in you. Except to see you removed." Then a wolfish grin spreads across his face. "I have a very special way to do that. Good night, my friends." Continue...