«Mr. Deveux, are you in here? Walter Kaminsky sent me over.»
William turned joyfully to his roommate, perhaps Walter sent someone to pick them up. It might be the end of their imprisonment. Lucinda remained serious and that time it was her that asked her companion to keep quiet. «Wait, don't move», she suggested. After more seconds of absolute silence, the curious visitor asked his questions again to anyone who was listening.
«Anyone there? I come on behalf of Walter Kaminsky, my name is Richard Flower. If someone can hear me, please come meet me here in the courtyard! I wouldn't want to get lost in this... dump.»
The guy checked his shoes again and pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket to clean them, although there was no need. William, more and more enthusiastic, told Lucinda to follow him downstairs to meet him, but she grabbed him firmly by the arm and warned him not to move. William could not understand her hesitancy and so Lucinda went to retrieve the gun supplied by Kaminsky and then explained her theory to him.
«Step one: if Walter really sent him, why doesn't he know where we are? If I were Walter, I would have given that guy a map of the zone to make it easier for him to trace us. Step two: if his intentions are good, why doesn't he come looking for us? I'll tell you why», the woman stated, loosening her grip on her man's arm. «Because he knows we're armed and he doesn't want to risk a firefight. If he did not fear for his life, he would have no qualms about walking away from the car. The vehicle will surely be armored.»
The smile painted on William's face disappeared in an instant and the muscles of his face began to contract again. Lucinda, however, had not yet finished.
«Last thing: it might be a coincidence, but it would be too many coincidences all together; 'Richard Flower' is the name of that stupid character of the soap opera they broadcast on Channel 3. This smells like a trap, if you ask me.»
His heart started to beat faster. After moving from joy to terror within a fraction of a second, William got back to his position near the window to watch the man from above.
«What do we do then?», he asked Lucinda.
«Nothing. We just wait.»
The dandy without a tie circumnavigated his car to better observe the industrial complex, always keeping a safe distance from the vehicle. He screamed the name “Deveux” a couple more times, then began to curse in a low voice, but enough loud to be heard up to the first floor. He was clearly losing his patience and his self control.
«Do as you please, Deveux. I'll tell Kaminsky that you didn't want to follow me. Goodbye.»
The stranger calmly returned to the car. Lucinda and William could no longer see what he was doing because the car windows were dark. One thing was sure: the vehicle remained motionless in its place. Lucinda meanwhile joined William and leaned on the other side of the window. The two exchanged glances, waiting for things to develop. More seconds of cold silence, then a roaring and rough voice ripped through the air with its arrogance.
«Fuck! Mitchell, you're an idiot! I knew this thing was just bullshit!»
«That voice!», Lucinda shouted, risking to be detected. William looked at her puzzled. Three other men made their appearance in the open space. The hair-slicked guy came out of the vehicle again.
«Stop playing hide and seek, Deveux. If you give yourself up without pissing me off, we'll take you to prison and we'll end this peacefully. Otherwise...»
Lucinda put her hand to her mouth. «Zakhar Sarkov. That bastard...» «Do you know him?» Lucinda nodded.
«Deveux, can I ask you something?», the New Georgia citizen pressed him. «The whore is there with you, isn't she?»
William turned again, waiting for clarification, but Lucinda shook her head: it was not the time, they had to think about saving themselves.
«Did she tell you that I banged her and she liked it?»
Sarkov laughed out loud, involving his men. William began to get upset and risked blowing their cover: that time he demanded to know more. His eyes made an imperceptible movement in the direction of Lucinda's belly. For a moment he was touched by the thought that the baby was not his, but he pushed it back as quickly as it came. «He's just trying to make you nervous», Lucinda assured him. William had no reason to doubt it, yet he felt like Lucinda still owed him a confession. «I'll tell you everything, but now let's stay still and concentrated.»
Sarkov stopped laughing and exchanged a nod with the henchmen who accompanied him. «Listen up, Deveux, we'll do it this way: I'll give you three minutes to come out, after which we'll spread out across the field and shoot anything that moves. Do you like the plan for today? You can avoid it, if you do the right thing.» He paused and armed his laser gun. «Three minutes, Deveux!»
William motioned to Lucinda to move away from the window and return to the center of the room. He put his hands on his hips and puzzled over the situation to try to find a quick solution. «We have just one gun and they are four. Fuck. What do we do?» «Let's try to escape, I don't think they'll spare us like that bastard said. Maybe if we walk along the perimeter we can reach the exit without being seen. Once we're out, we'll think of something.» «But can you walk all that way?» «I'll try. We have no choice.» William stopped to think about what they could take with them, but Lucinda urged him to give up: they didn't have to weigh themselves down. A foolish but perhaps effective idea struck William when he noticed an empty bean can left on the table. «A weird thing popped into my head. It could work. On the ground floor, behind the stairs I saw a big hole in the wall, near that homeless man. If we throw the can, the noise will attract them to that spot. They will find the homeless and this thing could buy us time so we can escape through the hole.» «And what if they kill him?», Lucinda protested. «They have no reason. They'll probably try to extract some information from him, but they'll realize that he's mentally incompetent. It's the only chance we got.» «Let's hope so, I don't want blood on my hands.»
They left everything and went down, carrying only the gun and the encrusted and smelly can. On the ground floor the homeless snored, William hoped the noise would wake him up otherwise the story would be not credible. He located the hole, then moved into position with his face turned towards the main entrance and threw the metal object firmly. He then took Lucinda by the hand and moved towards the hole. William remembered it bigger, they would have to bend down to pass through. He went first to help his woman out more easily. They chose to go to the right and walk near the perimeter, keeping close to the wall, but the worst surprise was there waiting for them.
«Then there you are, ugly assholes. Don't move! Put the guns down!»
Lucinda and William did not reckon with a fifth man who secretly went on patrol, while Sarkov and his men were waiting in front of the administrative building. A short, filthy guy, with an unkempt beard, but with a high caliber rifle. Lucinda and William looked at him resigned and dropped the gun. «The other one too!», shouted the mercenary. «We have no others», Lucinda justified herself. «Bullshit! Don't play games, come towards me slowly, with your hands up. Very slow!» He spoke with a very pronounced Russian accent. The two fugitives obeyed and when they were near the corner of the building the henchman ordered them to continue in the direction of the courtyard. He would target them from behind.
«I found them!», shouted the Russian, satisfied.
«Very well Grigorij!», Sarkov congratulated him. «When we return home you can choose all the women you want.»
Lucinda and William walked up to him slowly and silently. Sarkov greeted them with arms wide open and a hypocritical smile. «Please, please lower your hands, there is no need anymore. Now that you've surrendered spontaneously, you don't run any more dangers, is that right Vasilij?» Sarkov's beefy bodyguard burst into laughter as if he listened to the funniest joke in the world. «Oh, but what a surprise, Miss Merritt is here with us too», the magnate said, very pleased. «I have to admit that even without make-up you're always a very attractive woman.» Lucinda glowered at him. «What's happening? What's all th
at silence? Oh, I see... what is it you always say in this country? Oh yeah, the cat stole your tongue, right?»
«What do you want?», William finally shouted. «I didn't do anything to you, I don't even know you!»
«Oh, but he knows us well... am I correct, Zakhar?», Lucinda replied with surprising calmness. «When you hired me it was to spy on us, wasn't it? Who pays you?»
«Woa woa slow down, my dear. First too silent and then too many questions. Who pays me is none of your business, but he pays me well and that's what matters. I want to be completely honest with you: after you proved to be a total disappointment, crying like a sissy instead of joining the choir of angels to celebrate a great night of passion with me...» Zakhar Sarkov took a dramatic pause and raised his arms to heaven, like a preacher. «Well, I haven't felt the slightest excitement, not even a little quiver at the thought of staying with you. There was nothing left for me but to return to the mother country. No one makes me do something against my will.»
William listened in amazement and, as it had already happened in the hiding place, turned back to her to demand explanations, forgetting for a moment he had a few assault rifles pointed at his head. Lucinda paid no attention to him and continued to investigate.
«Who told you we were here? And what convinced you to go back to East Eden?»
«Wait, wait, my dear. Yes, I will satisfy your curiosity, but there's no need to hurry after all. How did we find you? Well, that young man who tried to protect you... too inexperienced, he wanted to manage something bigger than him. It was not difficult to tail him, he thought that changing direction a couple of times was enough to throw off any pursuers. But we are too clever.» He gave a mocking laugh and his men joined him. Mitchell Lamontaigne, on the other hand, remained silent: for his taste, the matter was taking too long.
«Walter... what did you do to him?», Lucinda protested.
«You shouldn't worry about him right now.» He laughed again. «But let's go ahead, will you? Good. A few days after we got back to our homeland, they contacted us again. They still needed us to complete the work. You know, some things are always better to entrust to professionals...» Sarkov rearranged his jacket as if to show off power and determination. «Of course, I sent them to hell. I have a reputation to defend, a reputation that inspires fear and demands respect.» The Georgian emphasized his words almost spitting them out. He wanted to stress the fact that he was not the one to mess with.
«In the end they convinced me, making me offers that I could not refuse. Unimaginable benefits for me and my family!»
«So you put on that show at Leroux City Center just for a handful of money... the limousine, the champagne, the courting. A business meeting as fake as the holy water they sell in those suburban shops. Unfortunately you and your contractor didn't do your homeworks. I knew absolutely nothing about that story. William told me only a few weeks ago», Lucinda concluded, pointing to her man.
«Okay, okay, it doesn't matter now», Sarkov cut it short. His face turned suddenly serious, that unnatural happiness in his eyes faded in a second. Vasilij gave him the rifle and he got closer to the couple. «We'll do what we gotta do.» Sarkov rubbed Lucinda's left leg with the barrel of the rifle, going up and down her torn jeans. «Of course there's another option for you: you could become the crown jewel of my personal collection. You surely got what it takes. I could forgive you for that weakness...» Lucinda, in response, spat on his jacket. «I'm expecting a baby and I surely won't raise him with a swine like you!»
Sarkov stepped back, as if surprised by her revelation, but then he showed his evil grin again. «Oh, that changes everything. You're no longer of use to me, my dear. Even more so if you're carrying the child of this gutless.»
William felt the anger rise and was about to explode, but Vasilij anticipated his intentions and pointed a laser pistol an inch away from his face. «Don't move, asshole, or I'll have the pleasure of sending you six feet under.»
A gust of wind blew the empty pipes of the plant. The eastern sun began to brighten up the whole area, transforming the courtyard into a grotesque theater. On the one hand the bad guys with guns, on the other the good ones, unarmed; in the middle the director, Zakhar Sarkov, who first told lies spiced up with hopes of salvation, then patted the loyal servants on the back, and concluded with fake indulgence. A kind of way out that was more like a pact with the devil: safety in exchange for slavery. And a pat on the shoulder was just what Sarkov granted his loyal Vasilij to urge him to stay calm: it was not yet time to execute the sentence; he wanted to bask a little more in his redundant cynicism.
«I think it's pretty obvious that I don't like killing pregnant women, but I have no other option. Anyway, I can grant you the privilege of choice: who wants to die first? Come on, don't be shy.»
Sarkov smiled, showing his teeth, while Vasilij kept aiming at them. «Bastard!», Lucinda vomited to him, tears in her eyes. William held her tightly against him and, defiantly, leaned his forehead against the barrel of the gun. Suddenly a dry sound cut the air and Vasilij collapsed to the ground, like drained of energy. There were moments of bewilderment among all the people present, Sarkov stared perplexedly at his lifeless bodyguard, then looked around to try to understand what was happening. «What kind of trick is this, Deveux?» The Georgian bent down to check Vasilij's condition and only then did he notice a hole in the right temple, from which blood flowed. «What the fuck...» He had no time to finish the sentence because a second blow hit Grigorij too, who had meanwhile approached Sarkov, forgetting about the two prisoners.
«A firearm! Find some fucking cover!», the godfather commanded, losing his aplomb. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to reach a shelter because, inadvertently, he ran right in the direction of the sniper and a third shot caught him in the chest, causing him to slip on the dirt road. The only ones who escaped it were Mitchell Lamontaigne – who, after the first blow to Vasilij's head, sensed the danger and crouched behind the car, on the driver's side - and the fourth man in Sarkov's mob who managed to throw himself inside the car while Lamontaigne rocketed in reverse.
In less than a minute Lucinda and William found themselves alone, huddled on the ground and still stunned by all that commotion. William tried to act as a shield for her while out of the corner of his eye he scanned the area to find the murderer hidden in the shadows; ruthless and particularly efficient, as he fired very few shots to wipe out Sarkov's gang. Lucinda was not clear which weapon he used. It was not a laser gun, it had to be some type of air rifle, but its power and precision was surprising. Vasilij's temple wound said a lot about the type of weapon: unusual, perhaps even outdated, but very effective. William, in a faint voice, asked his companion if she could crawl backwards to get herself out of the firing line. Better try to return to the abandoned building, just in case. They then dragged themselves on the damp and uneven soil, keeping low in the hope that it would help to prevent the assailant from striking an easy blow. A voice coming from the back of the concrete plant told them to calm down because it was all over. Thinking of a trap, Lucinda and William got up and ran to the administrative building. The homeless man was still there grumbling. Fortunately they spared him or, more likely, they had no time to think about what to do with him. A uniformed man with a rather dated rifle appeared in the courtyard.
«Miss Merritt, Deveux, you can come out now!», the guy insisted. Lucinda pulled William by the jacket and told him she wanted to take a look. The guy showed a remarkable self-control, for somebody who had just performed a massacre. He reached the middle of the courtyard and checked the men on the ground to make sure they had passed away. When the man in uniform saw Lucinda peeking from the main entrance door, he waved his hand in greeting. The woman then went to meet him, forgetting William for a moment, who quickened his pace and stood before her to protect her.
«Good morning, Lucinda, do you remember me?» The man grinned happily though the grisly scenery around him. Lucinda stared at those ice blue eyes and had a flashback of a
past life that seemed not months, but centuries old.
«But... are you that officer... Tony?»
«Good, you didn't forget me», he said, still smiling.
«No, wait, wait!», William interrupted them. «Lucinda, you're telling me that you know this one too?»
«Hey, Deveux, I don't think it's a good idea to call me 'this one' considering I just saved your life and I'm still holding a gun.»
«You're the one from Guild of Transportation who asked me to light the cigarette... What are you doing here?»
«Yes ma'am. Third Degree Officer, I remind you. But, to be honest, I am more involved in security than transport. We could say we're almost colleagues, Miss Merritt.»
The officer then turned to William, as if to apologize for his rudeness. «Forgive me, Deveux, we have already met but not been officially introduced. Anthony Julian Ferronetti. To serve you.»
Ferronetti remained with his arm outstretched for several seconds, waiting. William shook his hand, eventually, but with little conviction.
«I guess we have to thank you», Lucinda admitted, «but it's still not clear to me what this has to do with you.»
The Ruling Impulses Page 35
