by Laura Acton
A shy smile crossed Misha’s face as he took the string which was barely long enough to tie the underwear so they would stay up. Misha attempted to fasten it but found it difficult to do one-handed. Another boy came over and offered to hold the garment for him so he could knot the thread.
Mike’s wish was granted by one of the other kids causing a huge grin to display on his face. He witnessed several acts of kindness with the kids as they got dressed. It became clear to him they all looked out for each other to some extent. Mike worried that being in this place and experiencing the abuse each must’ve endured might leave them entirely jaded, but their actions showed they still held onto their humanity and kindness.
When Elsa tugged on her dress, Anastasia peered down. “Yes, little one?”
Elsa pointed to Misha and said, “I’m glad he has clothes. He gave me his blanket and food. He protected me from the mean men and took care of me when I cried for Mommy. Is he coming too?”
Mike crouched and smiled at the precocious girl. “Yes. All of you are going to leave here in a little while. I promise.”
Elsa reached out her arms wanting to be picked up. When the man lifted and held her close, she said, “You are good like my daddy. Not bad like the one in the room who got sick. He had blue eyes just like Daddy, but he said mean things, and he is scary. I like yours better.”
The grin set on Mike’s face. This little girl wiggled her way into his heart as he responded to her innocent words. “You are wrong about the other blue-eyed man. He only said those things to stop the bad men from hurting any of you. Remember he stopped the nasty man from hitting you?”
Elsa touched Mike’s coppery-blond hair, winding her little fingers through the short strands. “Are you sure he is nice?”
Mike nodded wondering why Elsa fingered his hair but did not stop her. “Yes, I’m positive. He’s one of the best men I have ever met.”
She played with the kind man’s hair, just as she did with her daddy’s. “His golden hair is the color of the lady. Yours is the same as Daddy’s. I like your hair better too.” Elsa laid her head on his shoulder. She felt safe with him. He reminded her of Daddy. “I want Daddy.”
Anastasia smiled. Two blond, blue-eyed men sure made an impression on this sweet girl. Anastasia didn’t think Elsa would ever completely forget Mike and Dan, but Anastasia sincerely hoped Elsa wouldn’t remember most of what she had been through in the past three days and go on to live a happy life. She caught a noise near the door they entered and said, “Mike, we have company.”
Mike enjoyed holding and comforting Elsa, but he set her down and said softly. “I need you to go over with the other children and stay there until I tell you it is safe. Alright?”
Elsa gazed with trusting eyes at the man, wanting to stay with him but she nodded and did as he asked.
Misha picked up Elsa and held her protectively. She reminded him of his niece. He couldn’t wait to return home to his family and forget this ever happened. Misha wished he had never left home. His parent’s rules did not seem restrictive now, especially the curfew they set for him which he had been so mad about he decided to run away. Misha now understood their rules were set to keep him safe.
Anastasia and Mike prepared to handle whoever was coming in. Both hoped it would be Blaze and Winds but positioned themselves close to the entrance in case the guards had returned.
Cherry Club – Hidden Passageway & Vetting Room
Winds and Blaze went down instead of up at first. They wanted to check out the hidden basement room on the off-chance Dom’s girls or Mike and Anastasi were there. They found it empty, so headed up to the third floor.
Blaze couldn’t believe their luck at not encountering any guards in the dark passageway. The narrow passage, only wide enough for one man at a time, would make it difficult to deal with guards they might have encountered.
They maintained stealth as they checked each room. Again, luck remained with them, thus far each area had been empty—no one to yell out for guards. The places they cleared all contained several bunk beds and a small closet, and they surmised the spaces were sleeping quarters for the women and men who worked in the brothel.
Winds knelt to pick the next lock and stopped when he caught a sound from within. He signaled Blaze.
Blaze raised his weapon and gripped his knife in a manner which would allow him to throw the blade at a target if needed once the door opened. Prepared, he nodded to Winds.
Resuming his lock picking, Winds smiled at the tell-tale click and shoved his tools in his pocket. He stood and hefted his blade with one hand as he gripped the door handle with the other. He pushed it open.
Blaze entered ready for anything, well, almost anything. He strode into the same room Blondie and the others had been in when they viewed the video. Kneeling on the floor was the guard who had been out cold when Blondie vomited. Another guard stood with his submachine gun trained on the kowtowing guard. Neither Winds nor Blaze understood the Russian words, but the intent was crystal clear and beyond sickening. The one on his knees licked up Blondie’s puke as the other guard threatened his life.
Winds entered just after Blaze and witnessed the scene. “Gross!” He flung the throwing knife at the startled guard holding the SR-2 Veresk. A direct hit to the jugular and the sentry dropped to the wooden flooring as his blood gushed out. Gurgling sounds emitted as he took his last breath.
Blaze stepped forward and dispatched the shocked, vomit-eating guard with a deep slice to the neck. “He should thank me for saving him from finishing his job. Damn, Panin’s one sick bastard.”
“Agreed. Some things I wish I could un-see.” Winds shuddered as the memory of Blondie’s captivity came to mind and his tale of having to re-eat the maggots he threw up knowing he wouldn’t be fed for days on end. He had to fight the surge of anger welling up. He needed to stay focused.
Blaze nodded, his thoughts similar to Winds’, as they moved to the next room and Winds started to pick another lock.
Cherry Club – Third Floor – Children’s Room
Mike prepared to attack as the secret door began to open. Relief flooded in as familiar figures emerged. “Damn glad you guys are here.”
Blaze sheathed his Rhys blade and handed off his second pack to Mike as he scanned the bedraggled children. “Likewise. Is this all the kids?”
As he shed his dress shirt, pulled on a long-sleeved, black shirt, and his Kevlar vest, Mike reported, “Yes. Fifteen kids. Misha, the oldest boy, said this is all. We discovered a little Canadian girl. Someone snatched her from her family three days ago while they vacationed at the beach.” Mike pulled his balaclava mask on leaving only his blue eyes visible.
Winds took up a lookout position on the door after an initial scan of the room. After sheathing his knife, Winds tossed a pack over to Anastasia. “Lioness, your gear is in there.”
“Lioness?” Anastasia eyed Winds as she kicked off her high heels.
Grinning, Winds said, “Yeah, you needed a code name.” His eyes shifted to Mike. “Lioness and Skyboy.”
Shooting Winds an evil glare, Mike retorted, “I’m not going by Skyboy. You suck at naming. Just call me Knight.”
Anastasia smiled as Winds and Blaze chuckled. Without delay, she dressed in black pants and boots, tugged her slinky dress over her head, put on a black top, and donned a protective vest. She drew her hair into a ponytail, and with practiced ease put it into a bun before covering her face with the balaclava.
She shoved her previous clothing into the bag and took out her assault rifle, checking it before attaching the strap to her vest and withdrawing an Akela knife. She tested the weight of the double-edged blade she knew Russian SWAT units used. Anastasia preferred the smaller knife, the size allowed for easier concealment, and the rubber handle ensured a firm grip. She glanced up to find the kids wide-eyed with fear. To ease their concern, she said in Russian, “Do not be afraid. These are only to protect you from the evil men.”
Mike put his clothes in th
e backpack as Anastasia spoke. He glanced over at the children, noting they relaxed at her words. His eyes landed on one of the older girls who wore only a skimpy bra and panties. Mike pulled out his light blue dress shirt and went to her. He handed her the garment with a smile. “Cover yourself, sweetie.”
She took the shirt with a tentative smile and in a flash covered her body. Misha put Elsa down and helped the girl roll up the sleeves. When finished, he held Elsa’s hand again and waited for instructions.
Witnessing the act of gallantry, Anastasia rose and strode to Mike. “Neither Skyboy or Knight are quite fitting.” Withdrawing her blade, she cautiously touched each of his shoulders as she intoned, “I dub thee, Sir Galahad.”
Winds snorted. Blaze grinned. Mike blushed. Elsa giggled. The sound of her laughter warmed the adults’ hearts and each refocused on the task at hand when Anastasia asked, “Do we have a way out of here? Fifteen is a lot to keep safe if bullets start flying.”
Blaze answered, “We’ve been lucky so far. There is a hidden passageway to Panin’s office, and we haven’t encountered any guards. The risky part is the move from his office to the back stairway leading to the kitchen. We have not heard an alarm raised, but it doesn’t mean the dead sentries have not been discovered. Brody and Patch are in position in the back alley.”
Mike attached the sheath for the Smersh-5 knife to his belt and checked the PP-2000 submachine gun. They possessed an eclectic mix of Russian weaponry, though given the fact the Jackals included many defective pieces, they were fortunate Dom managed to procure additional items within hours. His gaze roamed over the children and though armed to the teeth, he hoped they could exfil without the young ones witnessing death. They had been traumatized enough.
“We need to move now and get these kids out of this damned place so we can return to help Blondie, Mason, and Ripsaw,” Winds said.
Liking Anastasia’s name for Mike, Blaze nodded and said, “Winds and Galahad, take point. Then the kids with Lioness, and I’ll cover the rear.”
Mike wondered if the Galahad moniker would stick. Until now he rarely used a codename and used Knight when necessary. He could live with Galahad … more preferable than Skyboy and a helluva lot better than Blondie and Thumper. Pushing thoughts of codenames away, Mike motioned to the youths and translated the instructions, urging them to go quietly and for the older ones to hold the hands of the younger ones as they entered the passageway.
The Auction
33
May 29
Cherry Club – Fifth Floor – Auction Room
Dan surveyed the spacious room which seemed cramped with Panin, six of the man’s guards, Mason, and him. White marble tiled floors, inlaid with ceramic cherry mosaics, covered the space. The back wall held a short, but well-stocked liquor cabinet. Dan noted several bottles of the Visinata which Panin claimed to be his house specialty.
Waving his hand toward the center of the room, Panin bragged, “Do you like my table? It is made from rare pink ivory wood which is the royal tree of the Zulu people, and only royal family members were allowed to possess it until the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The chairs are made of the same wood.”
“Interesting,” Dan remarked as he continued to scan noting a machine on the pink tabletop, and four leather chairs placed facing a glass wall.
Mason went to stand near the full glass partition which was black on the other side. He figured that was the viewing area they had been told about. He began plotting an exit strategy if they needed to fight their way out.
Dan wandered to the table to check out the strange machine. He presumed it might be a bidding device since no other means of communicating for an auction appeared to be in this room. He ran the bank account number through his head again, glad he possessed strong memorization skills, especially when it came to numbers.
He wanted to win and simply stroll out of here with Dom’s daughters. Doing so hinged on whether Winds and Blaze made it to Panin’s office and the program Dom supplied worked. Otherwise leaving here would be incredibly messy. Though prepared for otherwise, Dan hoped for the girl’s sake they could exit without bullets flying. “So, when will we begin? And how do I make my bids?”
Panin went to the mobile bar and poured double shots of Visinata for him and Maks into two cordial glasses. He ambled to his prized table and handed one to Maks. “The sale will begin shortly.” He went to the machine and explained, “Simple. You enter and submit them using this.”
Dan lifted the cordial and pretended to sip and swallow. He was not about to imbibe another damned thing, but now he had another glass from which to remove prints. Maintaining his persona, Dan grinned. “Sounds easy enough.”
Eyeing Maks, a giddy sensation started to overtake Panin as the arrogant blond consumed more of the spiked Visinata. He kept the final dose for after but this would make him pliable. Panin explained the rules governing his private sales. “When bidding stops, funds must be immediately transferred to one of my holding accounts. Failure to transfer the full amount is dealt with harshly.”
Fingering the fragile glass, Dan got an idea how to dispose of both the alcohol and prints. Setting the vessel down on the edge of the table, Dan moved in to examine the calculator-like machine. Purposefully, but making it appear accidental, Dan bumped into a chair, which knocked the glass to the marble floor. The crystal shattered, scattering around the floor and pale red liqueur splattered on Dan’s and Panin’s pants, shoes, and coated the tile. Feigning an expression of indifference, Dan said, “Add that to my bill.”
Seething inside, Panin finished his liqueur in a single gulp. I’ll add quadruple the cost to the clumsy idiot’s bill. Fiddling with the half-full vial in his pocket, Panin’s reptilian smile appeared. “Do not worry about a trifle thing. Accidents happen.” Switching to Russian, he ordered a guard to clean up the mess. Reverting to English as he strolled back to the cabinet, Panin said, “Let me pour you another. If you have no further questions about my process, we can begin previewing the merchandise.”
“No questions. Let’s start.” Dan didn’t decline the offer of another, but he wouldn’t be touching another thing without gloves. He could avoid consuming anymore by claiming to be focused on the silent auction.
When Panin snapped his fingers, bright lights came on in the center room. Dan realized the room must contain microphones in addition to the cameras. He turned to reconnoiter the now illuminated room. A strange tingling occurred in Dan’s legs as he stepped to the one-way mirror. He attributed the sensation as an emotional reaction to viewing the little girls lying on a rotating bed on full display for the sick perverts.
Mason clenched his fists in an effort not to react further. There were Dom’s innocent girls laid out on a bed. It made his stomach turn the way they had been positioned. He wanted to punch something. Hell, not something, someone, namely Panin Savelievich Volkov. Mason inhaled and gradually released his breath keeping his cool. Now is not the time to lose it.
They are so still. Dan asked, “Are they sedated?”
Panin used the diversion to dump the remainder of the poison into Maks’ drink. This will kill the arrogant bastard quickly. “Yes. I find products are much easier to handle this way. Should you win, you will possess your docile merchandise as requested, and you will be able to do what you will with them. I can offer you rooms here if you would like to inspect your goods fully. If you wish, I’ll arrange shipment of your purchase anywhere in the world.”
Dan’s stomach threatened to relieve itself of the cherry liqueur he consumed in the foyer as he listened to Panin’s dehumanizing terms for two sweet, little girls. It took everything Dan possessed to remain in character. Turning away from Nicolette and Anna-Marie, Dan held tightly to the Maks persona as he smiled. “I’ll take them with me when I leave. Thank you for the offer of a room, but I prefer to engage in my activities in private.”
Grinning Panin stated, “I trust they are to your satisfaction?”
“They’ll do. Let’s get started,�
� Dan said as he strode to the device. He withdrew a pair of gloves from his jacket pocket and put them on. “Cannot be too careful. I like my anonymity. The Canada debacle taught me I must be more cautious in my dealings. I hope you don’t take offense.”
Panin chuckled, covering his skepticism, and wondering how much money Maks paid to arrange his departure from Canada. Authorities were not above being bribed, something he knew quite well, having a few in his pocket. But to arrive without a passport … well, perhaps he had one made.
Maks won’t need one where he is going. With sleight of hand, Panin poured the remaining half of the poison into Maks’ glass. This will surely kill him fast, so I need to wait until after our transaction is concluded before I offer him this celebratory aperitif. Leaving the beverage on the counter, Panin strode closer to Maks. “You will have to tell me about that sometime. I understand the need for security, so no offense taken. Begin the bidding.”
As the screen lit up with bids from six buyers, Dan waited a moment before topping the highest offer by ten percent. Over the next few minutes, five of the six outbid him. His fingers tingled weirdly as his legs had earlier, as Dan entered an excessive figure. This time the increases came at a slower rate, but four others bid more. Dan submitted another amount and continued to put forth bids as the other buyers boosted their submissions.
One by one the field of contenders dropped away as the price climbed astronomically. After ten minutes it came down to only two. Each time the other auction-goer inputted a number, Dan responded with a higher one. Dan wanted to end this and get the hell out of Dodge, so he keyed in a figure fifty percent higher than the other contestant.
He waited for a counter bid as the timer ticked down. Anticipating winning Dan’s shifted his mind to their path out. Hopes dashed as a new entrant joined and offered a more considerable sum than him.
“Damn,” Dan said as he wiped sweat from his brow as a tension headache grew. He pursed his tingling lips together as he increased his bid.
