Baril de Singes [Barrel of Monkeys]

  ***

  "That's quite a story. Much like a marriage." Pat looked from Ethelene to me. "Honestly, I can see where you two might be allies. Then again, it's obvious there's not much ground for trust."

  "I trust Baron completely," Ethelene protested, "it's he who has the issues of conviction."

  "You'll receive no argument here." I allowed Ethelene to recount the entire narrative to Pat, filling in the obvious blanks only as necessary. For the sake of self-preservation, I omitted the fact I now possessed the Machu Picchu CerebStix, noting with interest that Ethelene put forth Bridgework himself still retained it. "The reality is we're all pursuing the same items while pursuing one another. A circle of tail chasing dogs, as it were."

  "Another reality," Ethelene snapped, "is the fact Sondheim's been in touch with me for as long as he has with you."

  "I have my doubts."

  "You're entitled, but you're selling yourself short, Baron. We've been teamed together since the moment Sondheim dispatched you to Ocho Rios. The sooner you realize that, the quicker we'll settle this entire mess. I'm off to have a smoke!" Her attempted dramatic exit failed when she snagged her cuff on the aisle armrest, ripping her blouse sleeve to the elbow.

  "That's not all of it, Pat," I said, after Ethelene sealed herself inside the miniature powder room. "I've secured the Machu Picchu CerebStix. Bridgework knows this. That's why Moeziz sent a gang of Armani clad Holsteins to Tumultuous Manor, the ones who bungled my kidnapping. They made off with Stinky Kornblatt, instead."

  "They have Stinky? We have Ethelene," Pat said, readily comprehending the situation. "She's probably monitoring your activities and reporting back to Bridgework headquarters. She makes a useful outlet for misinformation, I'd say. One working both ways."

  "True enough. And I'm skeptical of her alleged association with Sondheim, though I can't entirely discount it. Troubling." I rubbed my brow, feeling the onslaught of weariness set in. "Prior to that Moeziz issued an ultimatum to me, the CerebStix for Angel. I'm afraid I missed the deadline for that exchange."

  "Your concern's unfounded , Baron. If as Ethelene claims, the flash drive holds the key to unlocking Bridgework's electronic vault, your bargaining chip trumps all. They're not going to force a swap to spare Angel. They're not going to kill her. Kidnap and kill you? There's another issue altogether."

  "Hence my contacting you, Pat. Your backup is needed on this one and, unfortunately, the danger level is exceedingly high." I fished the cryptic note from my pocket. "Our destination is Tunis, hopefully arriving before the Bridgework caucus."

  "Caucus or circus?"

  "Either and both. Once there, we must locate the Tunis CerebStix, aided in part by deciphering the phrase, 'Final drive! Carthage links.'"

  "Final drive? There are four, aren't there?"

  "Indeed. And we can discount any connection with the cloven hoof sus scrofa. I tend to believe --"

  Pat interrupted me with a nod toward the aisle where Ethelene appeared in a smoke ball.

  "You know, you two, there are more people in the race to collect these CerebStix --"

  "Flash drives."

  "Than just Wayland and the Baron here. Do you realize possession of the right CerebStix translates to a lifetime supply of money? Total global control at your fingertips."

  "This is not news, Ethelene." I closed my eyes with a goal of sleep finding me.

  "Wayland is shaking in his boots right now."

  "I'm sure Stinky has him backed right up against a wall as we speak."

  "Listen, I didn't know anything about Rico nabbing tubby Kornblatt!"

  "Funny," I replied adjusting my pillow, happy that Pat and I had Ethelene surrounded on both sides, "I never mentioned Rico by name." Drifting off to sleep, I listened to Ethelene's assertions of her innocence, her claims that Angel was safe with Chip/Silly and her tight connection with Sondheim. All the while, from far behind me over the whir of the plane, a single monotonous voice carried on about snow blowers, diva concerts and family holiday gatherings.