Ian Wainscott and Martin Blain a journalist/ author arrives in Vienna to meet an old friend, and vacation only to discover that his friend has died under suspicious circumstances. Soon Friday and Melanie arrive to join in the fun. Determined to unco...
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It's official, I'm never having kids. They are horrible beastly things that should never have been invented. Unless it's Bella she's an absolute angel, and Binky and Ingrid's kids. They haven't actually had kids yet, but I know they will be perfect like their aunty.
What I'm talking about are snotty six-year-old boys who have their grubby ipad playing baby shark on full blast. To make it worse he was consistently kicking the back of my seat. I might be able to fall asleep in harsh some conditions, but a blue light, child infested, bumpy, airplane is just too much to ask.
I'm used to flying first-class, but this time Daddy's plane was already booked, and these were the only seats we had.
Friday wasn't enjoining it either, a five-year-old was sitting across us playing reading eggs on her mum's phone (Melanie's note: If you don't know what reading eggs are, you didn't have a childhood). And for some reason this kid couldn't spell 'banana' if her life depended on it. She spelt it B...A...N...A, then Bahnahnana, then bananER! By the fourth try she gave up and spelt it bananananana. Honestly, I don't know how Reggie keeps his patients.
Friday leaned fowared and whispered "it's spelt b.a.n.a.n.a. One 'b', two 'n', three 'a' "
"I know that" the kid snapped back in a British accent. (Melanie's note: The accent made her ten times more unpleasant) Friday frowned a leaned back into her seat. She thought she was trying to help.
"If it makes it any better, she was lying" I whispered.
"I know" she mumbled.
We both sat back and stared up at the ceiling. This would be a long flight.
Meanwhile Ian was currently located at a bar, in the heart of Venna.
"What are we doing here" Ian whispered to Marty as they hopped out the car.
"Getting a drink" Marty laughed as he held the door open for Vlad and Ian.
"But... I'm seventeen" he said as if he wouldn't dream of under-age drinking.
Marty laughed "Ha-ha! You could say your 13 and they wouldn't care this is Vienna they let toddlers drink"
"I don't think that's tru..."
Martin didn't bother to listen to the rest of what Ian had to say.
You might be thinking wow that's good of Ian, how responsible of him for following the law. Yeah no ... Ian knows the taste of alcohol, just ask Mr. Fontana where his secret stash of VBs went.
(Ian's note: THAT'S NOT TRUE! Parker and Tristan took them I had no part in it!)
Ian took his seat at the bar staring obliviously out the window. The police car pulled up and the officer hopped out. He entered the bar and stood watching the group.
"So" Vlad started "what brings you two Vienna."
"Harry had offered me a job, something about IT" Marty said pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
Vlad frowned his eye's twitched "Were you ... friends with Mr. Smythe"
"Best friends" he spluttered his voice raspy from the sudden down flow of whiskey "ever since we were 12 and 11"
(Friday's note: This story just gets more and more relatable)
"Oh, my condolences" Vlad said, almost sarcastically. Ian could recognize sarcasm if it were surrounded in a field of sincerity.
"It's a real shame" Martin choked "him dying"
"Best thing that ever happened to him" Vlad snapped.
Martin head shot up making sure he had heard right "I'm SORRY"
"Your friend was a downright criminal" Vlad said pouring a glass of whiskey for himself, although their more ice and water then whiskey; you know a McDonalds stile drink.
"What are you a cop or something" Martin snapped, his fist clenching.
"Detective Arkhangelsky, I work in cyber crime department" He replied flashing a I.D in their face "and my most recent case, is to investigate all of Mr. Smythe's shady dealing's"
"What did he do take a five dollar note from your underwear draw" Ian snickered.
(Melanie's note: that reminds me Ian, you owe me ten bucks)
Vlad smiled and opened his phone
"Actually, according to his record, he had a range of illegal activities. For example, data smuggling, cyber espionage, manipulation of social media algorithms, illegal surveillance technology development, blackmail operations, connections to organized crime, crypto mining and money laundering, and most importantly faking identities and documents."
Martin's jaw dropped "I don't believe you!"
"You don't have too" Vlad said getting up "We've got all we need on him to do a full investigation."
Anger bubbled up in Martin, how dare this self-absorbed Austrian, trench coat wearing prick, speak so ill of his dead friend.
He lifted his arm up so slowly that even Ian new what he was gonna do next.
He attempt at a punch was so pathetic it made Ian want to cry. Vlad just simply stepped out the way. The officer who been standing silently in the corner, suddenly leaped towards Marty socking him the jaw with one smooth blow. It was perfection. Ian felt like applauding his efforts, but he didn't want to be next.
"It's ok Sully. He just a dumb American with too much whiskey in him." Vlad said giving Marty a hand up "The best thing for you two to do is leave Vienna there's nothing for you here"
"But it's my holiday" Ian whined.
(Melanie's note: You just came back from 2-year holiday, you'll be fine)
"Sully can you organise a hotel for Mr. Martin Blains and the little blonde boy over there" he said nodding towards Ian.
(Ian's note: I'm 6,1 I don't know what about that makes me little.)
Sully gave a big smile towards Marty "Martin Blain's, like the author" Ian frowned, Sully had just spoke in a soft kind pomy accent, it sounded as if it should belong little librarian not a 6,4 muscley police officer.
(Melanie's note: Did we just find the Austrian version of Binky)
"I do apologies for punching you, it's my job you see. I have read many of your books sir" he chuckled giving Marty a pat on the back.
"Oh... thankyou... I mean your all good" Marty stuttered brushing his hair back.
They all started file out of the bar, when Ian remembered about me and Friday.
(Melanie's note: How kind of him)
"Hey Vlad, do you think we can stop at the train station to pick up my girlfriend and my friend."
