Page 15 of Catching a Con Man

“Gentlemen, we are beginning our descent,” said the pilot via the intercom. “I do hope you enjoyed flying Electro Airways.”

Ade smirked. “He says that every time. Better buckle up for landing.”

Having gone up, the way down wasn’t nearly so scary. Even as we descended through the clouds and I saw that we were over the Alps. The sun had set and the little light left on the horizon made the white-topped mountains look blue.

“And there’s an airport around here?” I asked.

“Not…as such,” Ade said. “Ah, look.”

The plane was heading toward a landing strip in the distance, on a flat plane between two mountains. And attached to it…was something that looked like a Bond villain’s residence. A squat building of glass and metal that melted into the mountainside on one side, three stories of unequal sizes with overhangs and balconies.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“I thought it might be familiar to you,” said Ade. He was smirking. I hated that smirk. It made me feel like I was two steps behind. Though in this case, it seemed I definitely was.

The plane swooped lower, and as the wheels touched down with a grumble, I gripped onto the edge of my seat. Ade reached forward to clasp my hand in his, and it felt like sparks of electricity ran between us as he massaged between my fingers. The plane slowed, and we were stopped right outside the building. It was lit up so brightly inside that after the dim lights of the cabin and dark night outside; it seemed blinding. I averted my eyes, but Ade was smiling.

“This place is like paradise,” he said. “It’s been too long.”

“And you still won’t tell me where we are?”

“It’ll all become apparent,” smiled Ade. God, he was being infuriating. Ade stood up and dusted himself off, and I unclipped my seatbelt. The pilot had emerged from the cockpit, and we were assaulted by a cold blast of air as soon as the door lowered to become stairs once more.

“Thanks, Jose,” said Ade.

“I’ll let myself into the guest accommodation,” replied the pilot. He tipped his cap to each of us as we left.

“Fucking hell, it’s cold!” I said.

“You think?” Adrian rubbed his hands up and down his arms. “I really should have brought us warmer clothes. Ho-our host should have some spare clothes that fit both of us, though. Come on!”

He ran across the tarmac to the house. Outside of the house there was a thin layer of snow and we crunched over it.

“Jesus Christ,” he chattered. The doors were hidden in the glass side of the house, and slid open as Ade touched an instrument panel.

We both stepped inside, and as soon as the door closed behind us with asnickI could feel my toes again. The interior of the property made me feel even more certain that I’d stepped into someone’s James Bond villain fantasy. Two walls were entirely glass, and the back wall was rough mountainside, complete with moss and streams of water which ran through divots in the floor, past a living room of rounded, retro-futurist furniture that straddled the 1960s and 2060s. A fire was crackling away in a metal grate in one corner, dangerously close to the expanse of glass.

“Who’s there?” came a voice. My eyes were drawn to a severe set of metal stairs without a banister that seemed to float over the living room. They led into a dark void above, from which the voice was coming. “Darling, did you invite visitors? I certainly haven’t asked anyone round, not since that ghastly experience with Delia in twenty-thirteen.”

A set of slippers emerged from the gloom and I watched with trepidation as they were followed by a pair of bare, skinny legs. I watched as an older gentleman with a thick shock of white hair emerged into the space, and my heart dropped into my stomach when I recognise this face. Older and more lined than the most recent photo I’d seen of him, but it was unmistakablyhim.

“Oh, Addison, dear!” he said. “It’s been too long. Or perhaps not long enough. But who’s your friend?”

I wanted to bolt out of the room and take my chances in the snow, knowing Ade’s response before he could open his mouth to utter it. “Holden, this is Tyler. Tyler, meet your grandfather.”

Ade

Ididn’t know why I’d gone quite so theatrical with the reveal. Tyler and Holden’s faces were both pictures, though. Which made it worth it. At least until Tyler’s face morphed from shock into fury and he closed the little distance between us with his fists bunched at his sides.

“Youbastard!” he shouted. “If you wanted to humiliate me you could have fucking done that at home!”

“Well you said you wanted to…” I began, but his expression silenced me. He was angry, yes, but there were tears pricking at the corner of his eyes too. I really had embarrassed him with this stunt.

“You bastard, you complete and utter bastard.” Tyler turned away, and seemed to remember Holden was there. “Sorry, I’m Tyler by the way.” He reached out a hand to shake Holden’s, his tone change so sudden that I had to hold back a laugh.

“Pleasure,” said Holden. “Though I don’t understand why Addison junior seems so keen to foist an imaginary grandson onto me when I haven’t felt the touch of a woman since about 1973. And even that was just a bit of slap and tickle with Betty Jones behind the bike shed.”

“Sorry, Holden. Bad joke, this is Tyler. He’s my…” I hesitated, not sure what to say. Tyler’s silent seething was magnificent in its ability to permeate the room. “…business partner,” I managed.

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