Terror On Tour Chapter 11

Terror On Tour

Chapter 11

Van came out from his shower in his jammies (Batman) and crawled into bed, exhausted from his ordeal at the Eiffel Tower. I, on the other hand was too wired to sleep. I dug out my laptop and booted it up while Van snored quietly in his bed.

It had to be Darius or Remy, or someone else at the record company TopFlight. Who else knew the band’s itinerary?

I did a search of TopFlight records and found something interesting almost immediately. It was in the business news section of a business website.

TopFlight was nearly bankrupt!

So they had a lot riding on the success of ComfortZone. Did this revelation fit into the trouble the band was having? I didn’t really see how, TopFlight would want ComfortZone to succeed, not fail.

I almost logged off the website when my eye caught a sidebar article. I quickly read it. It proved very interesting.

I knew who was helping Seth Teller.

And I knew where Seth Teller was at this moment.

I logged off the computer and locked it away. I left a note for Van  then changed back into my shorts and t-shirt. I pulled on a jacket and my high-top sneakers, then left the room. It was now after 10 pm. Corey and the rest of the band were most likely sleeping as they had a busy day tomorrow.

Justin? A voice behind me as I headed to the elevator. I turned to face Dylan. He was still dressed in cut-offs and tank top.

Hey, Dylan I thought you guys would be asleep, I remarked.

No, I couldn’t sleep, he said. I was going to come to talk to you but you’re going somewhere? What’s up?

I think I know who’s helping Seth Teller and I think I know why, I said. I have no proof, only a theory. I have to go and check it out.

Can I come along? I mean, I feel bad that I didn’t tell you about my connection to Chris and Seth. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I remember Seth from school, but he’s changed a lot since then. Chris as well. When we were in the band together he wasn’t such a bad guy.

I know, I said. Sure you can come with me. We’re going to TopFlight records office. It’s only a few blocks from here, near the River Seine, I said. I need to check something out. Maybe it’s good you’re coming. We need to settle something with Seth once and for all.

Dylan grabbed a denim jacket and pulled on his combat boots and followed me to the elevator.

We descended to the lobby and asked the desk clerk to call a taxi for us. It arrived about 10 minutes later and we got in.

The trip to TopFlight was short. It was now almost 11 pm but the offices were still open. I guess they never slept in Paris.

The taxi let us off and I paid the driver and he left. We headed to the entrance and went inside the lobby. Laughter could be heard from down a side hallway and I realized some kind of party was going on.

Great, that’s why they’re still here, I whispered to Dylan who nodded.

What are you hoping to find? He asked as we made our way to the elevators. I checked the directory next to the door and found the name I was looking for.

The office was on the 15^th floor and the elevator ascent was slow. When the doors opened I could see light coming from an office about halfway down the corridor that stretched out in front of us.

I motioned for Dylan to be quiet. The elevator doors opening had made more noise than I had hoped as a familiar voice rang out. Who’s there?

Dylan glanced at me, a look of confusion on his face. That sounds like—.

I nodded and stepped out of the elevator. The door closed behind us as we headed down the hallway towards the lighted office.

Someone’s there, another voice remarked. Seth Teller.

One of the kids downstairs probably pushed all the buttons to make the stupid elevator stop at every floor, the other voice remarked. No one is here. Don’t be so paranoid.

I wouldn’t be so paranoid if you had just taken care of things back in London, Teller muttered.

You were supposed to take care of things back in Canada and they weren’t supposed to even make it to Europe, Darius Waldman remarked. My mind was racing. It was Darius all along. TopFlight had no intention of dropping the band. They wanted ComfortZone to succeed. Darius wanted to ruin the band—and in turn TopFlight Records would most likely go bankrupt. He would swoop in and buy the company from under their noses at a cheap price and then TopFlight would be his.

When you contacted me last year about ComfortZone, Darius remarked, I had no idea you would be so valuable a resource. You hated ComfortZone, so ruining their career would benefit both of us. I needed a band that was on the rise and had a great future and ComfortZone fit the bill.

Yeah, Teller muttered. They were only on the rise because of grant money they got and were supposed to use on another band.

The one your friend Chris was a part of? Darius said in a bored voice.

Yeah, Teller said again. That idiot Dylan Price drove the band into the ground so he could take the grant money and start his own band—which he did—ComfortZone. What a stupid name. I’ll take them out of their comfort zone—permanently.

So everything is in place? Darius remarked. That was a dumb risk, causing the gas leak at the hotel. Now your friend is in jail.

Not for long, Teller muttered.

What do you mean? Has he been released on bail already?

No, Teller said mysteriously. I’ve planted some evidence that implicates Price and his pals on the leak. Once the police have this evidence, the band will be arrested.

This was not part of the plan, Darius remarked. We should stick to the original plan.

That’s not going to work, Teller said exasperated. All we need is for the band to be arrested—they’ll miss the concert later tonight, then TopFlight will be furious—once again.  Then you move in for the kill—convince TopFlight that they are too much of a risk, then, voila! The wheels are in motion for them to declare bankruptcy.

I like our original plan, Darius remarked.

It was never going to work. This is better, Seth replied.

Darius was silent for a moment. I don’t like changing plans like this, but I see your point, he said finally. Very well. You do what you have to do. I’ll work on the boys downstairs.

Suddenly I heard a noise behind us, down the hall. The elevator doors were opening again. Someone was coming.

Quick, hide! I muttered to Dylan

There’s that elevator again, Darius mumbled. I’m going to check it out.

A second later he was in the corridor—facing us. We didn’t have time to hide. We were caught!

What are you doing here? He blurted out.

Who is it? Teller said, coming out into the corridor. He had shaved his mohawk and was now bald. Oh, you! He hissed. How long have you been here—listening?

Long enough, I said. Another man, a security guard came up to us. Heard about some unauthorized use of the elevator, he said to Darius. Got a report of two guys coming in off the street and heading up here. It would appear these are the two? He said, sneering at us.

Right, Darius said warily. I’ll deal with it, George, he added.

Should I tell Mr. Renaud?

No! Darius blurted. I’ll tell him. Thanks George, he said. George just shrugged and left and got back on the elevator. Darius turned to us. You’ve been a thorn in my side ever since this thing began, he said. I tried to get rid of you back in London.

You wanted to send me home, I remarked and Darius just nodded.

I tried, he said finally.

You won’t get away with this, Dylan blurted. The band isn’t going to fail. We’ve come back from everything you’ve thrown at us. He advanced on Seth. Even your poisoning the fruit basket, he added. You really hate us that much? Over some stupid grant money?

Suddenly Dylan lashed out to hit Seth, but Seth saw it coming. He blocked the punch and landed one on Dylan’s chin and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

There, that jerk is taken care of, Seth seethed, turning to me. Now to take care of you. He tried the same punch on me, but I was quicker than he thought and I landed one on his nose before he even knew what was happening.

Aww! He cried out, grabbing his nose, blood gushing out and splashing on the tile floor.

You deserved that, jerk face! I exclaimed.

Shut up! Darius said. Enough, we’ll take care of you here and now. Like I should have taken care of you back in London. This was never meant to get this out of hand.

He grabbed me by the arm and tried to pull me into the office, but I naturally resisted. My arm swung around and almost connected with his forehead, but he ducked at the last second. Seth came at me and landed a punch to my midsection and I keeled over, the breath knocked out of me.

Another blow to the back of my head and I was sprawled on the floor. I wasn’t knocked out, but lay there trying desperately to breathe. I felt my hands being pulled together and tied up with some twine.

Dylan moaned and tried to sit up. Another blow by Seth and he was out cold again. How were we going to get out of this one?

Take him into my office, Darius barked at Seth. And get cleaned up. You’re getting blood everywhere.

Seth grunted and pulled me to my feet. He pushed me into Darius’s office and closed and locked the door. What are you going to do with Dylan, I yelled through the door. No response.

It was all quiet now. Darius and Seth left with the unconscious Dylan. I was tied up and couldn’t get my phone from my pocket. What a right mess I had gotten into.

What were Seth and Darius planning? They had a definite plan, Seth had confirmed that. Dylan now being a captive was probably helping their plan. They were going to ruin the band once and for all. And in turn ruin TopFlight.

I was able to breathe again, recovering from the sucker punch to the gut, but my abdomen hurt as did the back of my head. I had removed the bandage from my previous injury but it hurt now as well.

I quickly scanned the office. There wasn’t much there. Darius had cleared most of it out, probably this was an empty office he had commandeered for his meeting with Seth. He was part of TopFlight London after all. There was a large wooden desk and a chair and a file cabinet in the corner. Just then I smelled smoke. Where was it coming from. A second later the desk burst into flames!