Istambul, Turkey
In a few minutes the aircraft was about to land at Sabiha Gökçen. After a long and exhausting trip of more than nine hours, all they could wish for was to be on solid ground. But as it turned out, the Universe had another surprise just waiting for them. As Enzo slept with his cell phone on the app playing his music on, Vini noticed something very interesting. And as soon as the flight attendant woke him up to adjust his seat to the landing position, Vini asked.
- Do you listen to Westlife?
- How so? - Enzo answered, still a little sleepy.
- Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You.
- So what, asshole?
- You like a boy band?
- Yes, Vini. I listen to Westlife.
- I can't believe it. "Flying Without Wings", "My Love", "Beautiful In White"...
- Yes yes. "I'm Already There", "Unbreakable", "Uptown Girl". - Enzo added.
- So the whole Phil Collins and Elton John shtick is all a hoax?
- Of course not, Vini! I still think they are the greatest of all time. But I like the old boybands too.
- Backstreet Boys too?
- Of course.
The landing at Istanbul Airport was not in the usual place. Actually, Silva had other plans, as Ana and her friends went with him to a restricted area of the airport, in a shed away from the other parked airplanes. A green Jeep pulled up right next to the military man. The rear door opened and the driver had a brief conversation with Silva. After the chat, he signaled with his hands.
- You may enter.
Ana sat down near the window. Enzo, Vini and Belgium took a seat next to each other. The Jeep picked up speed further away from the airport and closer to the center of Istanbul. During the journey, the quartet couldn't help but admire the unsettling Turkish city. A mix of excitement about being so far from home, in a different country, and completely unaccompanied, something Kevin may have felt in Home Alone.
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- What a beautiful city. Lots of beautiful women too. - Enzo remarked, to Ana's protests.
- What an idiot you are, Enzo. - Belgium complained.
- What's the matter? Enzo can't say anything? - Vini stood next to Enzo.
- Isn't it? I mean, Adam did something stupid by eating the forbidden fruit, instead of eating Eve, when he was the only man on earth and would have no competition.
Historical references - or not - aside, the Jeep driver took them to a neighborhood away from the center, in Aksaray. Ana assumed it would be a quiet and touristy neighborhood, but her expectations were soon unfulfilled. The streets were poorly lit and somewhat sinister. The four were minors, so Vini thought that Silva would not have any stupid ideas. His mistake, because the Jeep stopped on a one-way street, right next to a neon green hotel.
- This is it. - he said.
- Here? - Vini questioned. - What the fuck is this place?
- Vini, be quiet. - Belgium complains. Again.
Silva took them to a very, very strange bar, with the smell of alcohol and naked dancers. It literally smelled wrong. A man approached Silva and exchanged a few words with him. As soon as the conversation was finished, he pulled Ana by the arm, even if against her will. Vini's intuition told him that this was where the plan would go south. Despite their protests, there was not much they could do, except to pray that Ana had remembered to turn on the tracker on her cell phone.
- This is our only hope. We will follow her every move.
As soon as they returned to their hotel in central Istanbul, Belgium charged her cell phone. And noticed something else. Immediately she called Vini, who smiled.
- Winner winner chicken dinner.