The Imperial Diadem
1091 Words
New York City
The month had flown by amid the rush of preparations. The documentation of the case had been sent to Bluthund and was being reviewed by linguistic and European history experts.
The case, code-named "Imperial Diadem," had been formally accepted by the Bluthund Community's management committee and a meeting had been scheduled for the beginning of spring.
Four prominent members of the Russian community in Vienna had been appointed by their peers to travel to New York City to the Bluthund plenary meeting to form a so-called "steering committee" that from its constitution would carry out the design and the day by day management tasks. The representatives who came from Europe were Golovkin, Naryshkin and Demidov in addition to Igor Fiodorov, Irina´s cousin.
“Another meeting and one more committee! In my company after each meeting follows a season of action.” Thiago growled.
"The actions that are carried out in your company do not include endless trips through deserts, steppes or the Siberian taiga or other sub polar regions, nor do you expose your skin every day." was Jack's rude response.
The building was located on Park Avenue in a high-profile business and residential area. The first three floors were occupied by a well-known international insurance company whose CEO was Dr. W. Richardson. One of his side secret activities was acting as Master of the Bluthund Community in New York, an informal organization of which he had been co-founder some twenty years before.
In the past, members had had to meet in an old, abandoned garment manufacturing factory in Brooklyn, in a less-than-desirable area, so being able to move to the new headquarters in an accessible and elegant location had been a great qualitative leap. Through Richardson's efforts, the company made its offices available to Bluthund on Saturday mornings, on the condition that no other commercial activity was planned.
Irina and Thiago had arrived at the door of the building a few minutes earlier than agreed but almost immediately saw Lakshmi Dhawan and her husband Jack getting out of a taxi. Immediately they were announced with the security guard in the lobby of the building, who already knew them and had instructions to let them in.
"Hi Lou, how are you?" Jack shook his hand.
“ Well, Mr. Berglund. Go to the meeting room on the third floor. Dr. Richardson and Mr. Watkins have already been making preparations for half an hour.”
Jack led them to the elevators, and then after passing through a short hallway they entered the main meeting room with a large rectangular table and about twenty chairs, and at the back part of it there was an adjoining projection room that was separated from the first by about removable screens. In the latter, two men in shirt sleeves were busy preparing a projection equipment with a large screen, a flipchart and accommodating some fifteen chairs in a semicircle.
The older man went out to meet the newcomers.
“Dr. Richardson. Thanks for having us.
“Welcome Jack, Lakshmi. You´ve arrived just on time.”
Jack made the required introductions and they were soon joined by the other man who introduced himself as Jerome Watkins; Jack knew him as the Master of ceremonies at all community events.
When they got away from him he commented to Irina and Thiago.
“ With all his gentle ways he is a former Marine.”
At that moment Richardson's cell phone rang and when he took the call the host answered.
“Thanks for advising Lou. Make them come up.”
Then, addressing those who were already in the room, he clarified.
“Von Eichenberg and Suzuki have just arrived. Only Madame Swarowska is missing.”
When the appointees entered the room Richardson once again introduced them.
“Dr. Dieter von Eichenberg, specialist in western and eastern esotericism and Mr. Taro Suzuki, among other things, philosopher and expert in martial arts.”
Richardson shook himself in an unexpected hug with the Japanese, which broke some molds of sobriety on both sides.
Interested Thiago asked.
“What martial arts do you cultivate, Mr. Suzuki?”
“In principle Karate.”
"Suzuki San cultivates other more deadly arts as well, some of which have no name," Added Richardson.
Again the cell phone of the homeowner rang, who stepped aside a little to take the call and then approached.
“ Madame Swarowska is here. When the guests from Europe arrive in the room we can start.”
Indeed, a beautiful blonde lady in her fifties elegantly dressed entered the room. Richardson rushed to meet her, kissing her hand, though then they kissed each other on the cheek, which Thiago found more predictable than the hug with Suzuki.
"Madame Nadia Swarowska," Announced the homeowner with evident pride.
“Madame Swarowska was also born in Austria, although from a Czech family.” Jack Berglund whispered in Irina's ear.
“I get it. And what is her specialty in this case?”
Jack ignored the hint of rivalry that the Russian's question showed and replied.
“She is a specialist in finance and has a doctorate from an English university ... although we all suspect that she is also a clairvoyant.”
“You suspect? Just suspicious? ” Thiago had joined the conversation in a low voice.
"She never stated it and what's more, she always emphatically denied it," Said Jack.
“Who dared to ask her if she was a clairvoyant if she never commented on it?
“William ... that is Dr. Richardson.” Jack replied. “He has a special relationship with her.” Jack winked meaningfully.
A new phone call from the Englishman told him that the guests from abroad had arrived.
When they showed in the room it was Irina's turn to make the introductions.
“The Duke Ivan Golovkin, a reference of our Russian community in Austria and in Europe. General Dimitri Naryshkin, Baron Boris Demidov, my cousin Igor Fiodorov and his wife Frederika.”
Watkins coughed for attention and moved to the front of the meeting as everyone sat in the semicircle of chairs.
“Everyone is aware of the purpose of this event. As we have a very long agenda, I will not delay with preambles and we will start with the projected activities. The first presentation will be made by Duke Golovkin. I have already received a flash drive with a PowerPoint presentations, so we will start immediately with the projection.
"Good, brief and concise," Thiago whispered in his wife's ear.
- Writer
