Noud reluctantly dragged himself up to the sixth floor. He pressed his lips together to make sure he wouldn’t accidentally speak. In his current state, he was only capable of whining about the suffocating, urine-scented stairwell, or cursing about their destination.
In front of the flashy silver door, Noud pulled a final grimace before forcing a smile onto his face. Bernard smirked at his partner’s exaggerated suffering.
“Come on,” he whispered. “You know we need him…”
“You might,” Noud grumbled, still sulking.
Before he could continue, the door swung open wide.
“The sexiest chameleons on the planet!” screeched the pot-bellied, red-haired man with a thick beard.
“Timothy, my friend,” Bernard greeted their host warmly.
With his strong, fleshy arms, Timothy hugged his guests one by one and ushered them inside. Noud nearly dropped his jaw at the sheer luxury and the sharp contrast with the stairwell. The spacious living room with glass walls was overflowing with crystal decorations: mirrors, ornaments, and a grand chandelier hanging in the center. White and silver furniture, plush rugs, and a huge white leather sofa radiated wealth. The ocean view, like a massive poster, completed the perfect bachelor pad. Noud’s whole body was flooded by a bitter blend of disgust and envy. Without hesitation, he grabbed the crystal glass offered to him and knocked back the contents in one go.
“Whoa!” Timothy cackled in his piercing voice. “Someone was thirsty, huh, my friend?”
Noud sheepishly raised his hand to his forehead.
“Sorry, I zoned out,” he mumbled.
He avoided Bernard’s gaze—he didn’t want to face his partner’s inevitable look of reproach. They both knew—actually, all three of them knew—that Noud couldn’t stand the fleshy, filthy-rich, show-off man.
“There’s no need to apologize for anything here,” Timothy replied cheerfully.
He refilled Noud’s glass.
“Come on,” the hefty man beckoned. “Let’s go out to the terrace and toast to this wonderful reunion!”
The three men stood for a while in silence, enjoying the endlessly captivating view. They savored the warm sunlight caressing their faces, the peace, and the luxury surrounding them. The brief moment of quiet and the spiced gin even managed to calm the usually hyperactive Timothy.
“So, do we have time for a friendly chat, or are you boys in a hurry?”
Bernard glanced quickly at his partner.
“We’re not in a hurry at all,” Noud smiled.
Bernard let out a barely perceptible sigh.
Most of the conversation revolved around Timothy and Bernard, reminiscing about the good old days when the two had spent three months together in an American university exchange program. Their friendship had lasted ever since and later evolved into a professional collaboration. Thanks to Timothy’s exceptional code-breaking skills, he had been contracted several times by the same organization that employed both Bernard and Noud. He had also worked on numerous cryptography projects, his contributions practically invaluable. Timothy’s genius and irreplaceability always stirred jealousy in Noud. No matter how respected and valued he was within the organization, in the presence of the flamboyant redhead, he always felt insignificant.
The sun had already started its descent toward the horizon when Bernard finally pulled out the laptop with the recording. Timothy watched with great interest as the elderly men on the screen exchanged their peculiar hand signals. Then he chuckled softly and winked at the two Dutchmen.
“I’ve got good news and bad news.”
“Let’s hear it,” Bernard leaned forward eagerly.
“The good news is that although I don’t understand everything—because they’re using some sort of mixed signaling system—I was able to piece together the essence.”
“And the bad?” Noud asked.
“The bad news is that the old foxes have brought in a specialist, and they’ve started an aggressive sweep for bugs and cameras. By the time they get home, you can kiss your so-called perfect surveillance system goodbye.”