Everyone got into the van and Scott started the engine. He hoped there was gas in it; and luckily; there was almost a full tank. As Scott started to drive away, Alexei spoke.
“He was right. There are other people on the way here. They were going to take us to St. Petersburg. It looks like we were going to be sold into slave labor and eventually sent to camps in Siberia.”
“I had a feeling something like that would happen. Regardless, whether they got their money or nae,” Scott replied.
“Wow, this is scary,” Alexei gasped.
“What’s that list? Chris asked, pointing to the screen.
“It seems to be a list of Bratva from all over the country, that have worked with them. There are all sorts of people on here, Police Commissioners, top ranking Military people, Politicians, Border Patrol, damn they have contacts everywhere!”
“Aye, it does nae surprise me,” Scott said, as he continued to drive.
“The guys we just killed, were not the leaders then?” Alexei said.
“Nae, they said tae me earlier that they were former Russian Special Forces. But, I dinnae think they were.”
“Where are we going Scott? They are going tae come after us, yer do know that, reet?” Chris asked.
“What time were the other people supposed tae arrive Alexei?” Scott responded.
“It says about 7:00 a.m.”
“Och, it’s just after four now. We’ve got time tae get back tae the hotel. We need tae get our passports.”
“I still have the room key, they didn’t take that when they searched me,” Chris said, holding up the card.
“Guid, I just hope Tom has nae checked oot yet. But, I dinnae think he will have.”
“Who’s Tom?” asked Kyle.
“The guy who set us up. But, dinnae worry aboot that. We’ll explain everything tae yer when yer safe. What aboot yer room at the hotel Kyle, how long did yer book it fer?”
“A week, I’m supposed to check out on Saturday. What day is it today?”
“It’s very early Saturday morning. Do yer still have a key tae yer room or did they take it with yer wallet?”
He checked his pockets, and pulled something out.
“Yup, my room card is still here. I was only there for a couple of hours. I can’t even remember what my room looks like.”
“Check oot in these places in usually aroond noon. Is yer passport in the room?”
“Yes, it is and my e-tickets to fly home.”
“Yer will nae need them. But, yer’ll need yer passport. We have tae get our passports too. We cannae fly oot of here on any flights that have already been booked. They’ll have people everywhere. They’ll have people waiting fer us at the airport. I’ll figure something else oot.”
“Have yer any idea where we are Scott?” Chris asked.
“I’m pretty sure we’re still West of Moscow. When the van pulled away from the warehouse it definitely turned tae the reet, and I dinnae remember any other big turns. Alexei, look oot fer road signs and tell me what they say.”
“Okay, I will. There’s one coming up.”
“Aye, here it is,” Scott said, slowing down as they neared the sign. They had been driving for about ten minutes and hadn’t seen any other vehicles.
“We’re ten miles outside of Ruza and forty-five miles from Moscow. I’m not sure where Ruza is.”
“Can yer pull up a map on that computer,” Scott asked.
Chris took the laptop from Alexei and pressed a few buttons. It took a few minutes but he found what he was looking for.”
“Aye Ruza is West of Moscow; it looks like a pretty straight road in tae Moscow although it does look like we’re on a back road. Aboot fifteen miles North or South of Ruza it looks like there are major highways we can get on.”
“Back roads are guid, as long as we’re heading the reet way, I dinnae think we can miss Moscow.”
“Scott, how do you know my Dad?” Kyle asked.
“It’s a long story Kyle, but I promise I’ll tell yer everything when I know we’re all safe. At the moment, let me concentrate on driving and figuring oot exactly how we’re going tae get oot of this country.”
“Okay, I wish I had my phone. There’s a girl I was supposed to meet in Moscow. She was being bullied by some people. I really wanted to meet her and help her.”
“Yer mean Tatiana?”
“Yes, do you know her?” he asked, excitedly.
“There’s nae Tatiana, Kyle. I’m sorry lad.”
“Yes, there is. We’ve been talking for weeks.”
“Have yer actually physically spoken tae her on the phone?”
“Only once, but not for long, she had to go work. We’ve texted and emailed a lot though.”
“Kyle, the girl yer had a photo of was nae the one that was talking tae yer. It was the guys who kidnapped yer. They may have had a girl call yer once, but it was nae who yer thought it was. Tell him Chris.”
“He’s reet Kyle, dinnae worry aboot nae being able tae help the lass. She does nae exist.”
Kyle slumped back in his chair. He was confused, disappointed and embarrassed.
Just over an hour later, they entered the outskirts of Moscow. Scott pulled over and changed places with Alexei, it was better if he drove. He understood the road system and the signs. Scott helped Chris work out the route to the hotel. There wasn’t much traffic about in the early hours so it didn’t take long to get there. Scott told Alexei to drive to the very far end of the parking lot, behind the hotel. The van was very distinctive and he didn’t want it to be recognized. He and Chris looked out for Tom’s car as they drove around the lot but neither of them saw it anywhere.
“I’m going in with Kyle. We’ll get his things and then we’ll go and get our things from the safe in Tom’s suite. Chris, yer better stay here with Alexei, yer shirts still covered in blood. We dinnae want tae alarm the staff on the front desk.”
“Aye, guid idea. I’ll change when yer get my bag.”
“Come on Kyle, let’s go,” Scott said, getting out of the van.
Scott noticed that Kyle had been quiet after he found that Tatiana was not real and that he had been tricked. He’d endured a rough week. He still remained in the same clothes and had not washed or shaved for a very long time. But, apart from that, he didn’t look too bad for what he’d been through.
“Will I have time to have a shower?” Kyle asked, as they walked to the hotel.
“We’ll see. I’m sure yer need one, but there are people who are going tae be coming after us. Yer do understand that they’re going tae be trying tae kill us, reet?”
“Of course, yes. It would still have been nice,” he said, trying to smile a little.
It was a little before 6:00 a.m. They entered the hotel and took the elevator up to the room. Kyle slid his card in the lock and pulled the handle, the door opened. He quickly packed his small suitcase, making sure he had his passport and they left the room. Scott led him up the corridor to the suite where Tom stayed, he wasn’t sure if there would be anyone inside. He cautiously slid the card into the door’s lock; he slowly and quietly tried to open the door. It opened. It hadn’t been locked from the inside. Scott quickly checked the rooms, the suite was empty. Tom wasn’t there. He quickly gathered up their bags, opened the safe and withdrew their passports and wallets.
“I know yer wanted a shower. But, Kyle, we really should get moving. At least now yer can change yer clothes in the van,” Scott said.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
A knock on the door to the suite interrupted them. Scott told Kyle to move into one of the bedrooms and get down behind the bed. After he knew Kyle was out of sight Scott moved slowly towards the door.
“Scott, mate, it’s me,” the voice on the other side of the door was a familiar Scottish accent.
Scott checked through the door’s spy hole to make sure Chris was alone. And, opened the door.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Tom’s here! He pulled in
tae the lot a few minutes ago. He didn’t see our van.”
“So, yer left Alexei on his own in the van?”
“Aye, he’ll be okay fer a few minutes. I did bring the keys tae the van just in case. Plus, he gave me his shirt so I could come in.”
“Okay, where’s Tom now?”
“He was talking tae the girl at the front desk. I slipped behind him and in tae the elevator. I did nae really want tae leave Alexei. But, I know Tom’s armed. I did nae want him coming in here and taking yer by surprise.”
“Aye, guid man.”
“So, are we going to try and avoid him?”
“We cannae now. He’ll know we’ve been here if our things have been taken. We’ll have tae wait fer him now and take care of him.”
“I thought yer were close tae him. How are yer going tae react, if yer have tae kill him?”
“Dinnae worry aboot that. He made that problem quite easy fer me when he betrayed us, and left us fer dead.”
“Aye, I know. He deserves everything he gets as far as I’m concerned.”
“Aye,” Scott said, as he looked out the rooms spy hole again.
“He’s coming, go in tae the bedroom, stay with Kyle and keep quiet. I’m going tae turn off the light and wait behind the door.”
About thirty seconds later, the door slowly opened. Tom turned on the light and walked into the room. Scott noticed he looked a little unsteady on his feet. He tapped Tom on the shoulder. Tom was startled and turned around taking a sharp breath as he did.
Scott didn’t wait, as Tom turned Scott’s right fist was already on the way. It connected flush on Tom’s nose, breaking it instantly. Once again, there was blood everywhere. Tom stumbled, and fell back onto the floor. Scott jumped on top of him and removed his gun. He checked him thoroughly for other weapons and then, sat on top of him. He called to Chris and Kyle to come into the room and handed Chris the gun he’d just taken from Tom.
“Another Makarov 9mm. I bet this one has real bullets in it though!”
“Aye, I bet it does,” Chris said, smiling.
Tom was still stunned but started to come around. It was obvious he’d been drinking, a lot, and looked like he hadn’t had any sleep.”
“Did yer have a guid night, Tom?” Scott asked.
“No, not really.”
“Well I promise yer, It’s nae aboot tae get any better.”
“It was business Scott. You know I like you, it was nothing personal,” he said. He started to sober up, quickly.
“That’s bull, yer would nae sell someone oot fer money if yer liked them. Nae matter how much it was.”
“How the hell did you get away?”
“Yer know me Tom, I’m resourceful. Hey Chris, I’ve got an idea. Go doon and get Alexei. Bring him up here and bring everything of ours oot of the van. We’re taking Tom’s car. It’s less conspicuous. And take Alexei a shirt oot of his bag.”
Chris smiled and left the room. While Kyle sat on the couch in the main room and listened.
“Come on Scott, let’s work something out, for old-time’s sake,” Tom said, as he looked up.
Scott shook his head.
“So tell me Tom. When did yer decide tae do this, be honest.”
“After I met his parent’s. I asked for a ridiculous amount of money and they easily agreed to it. They told me about all their businesses and their family. I knew they had way too much money. And I’d had enough of my job.”
“So yer called yer friends in Moscow! Yer never told me yer Russian friends, were Mafia.”
“They weren’t when I originally met them. I found out much later they’d got into this lifestyle. I called and mentioned what was happening and they offered me money if I could get him to Moscow, and help to deliver a ransom.”
“So, how did yer know Kyle would bite on the Tatiana scam?”
“We didn’t know for sure. But, he’s young and obviously naïve, so there was always a chance. And if that failed then I’d have got him to Moscow somehow.”
“Yer were getting a quarter of a million dollars fer a week’s work! Was it really worth it?”
“I thought so at the time. You were never meant to come out here Scott. I thought that they would just wire the ransom money.”
“But, then they’d have asked fer more. Yer know what these people are like. They would nae ever have let him go. We just read a message saying there were people on the way tae take us all somewhere else. Then, we’d have all ended up at some slave labor camp in Siberia.”
“I don’t know anything about that. I just got ten percent of any ransom they raised from his family. I thought they’d let him go. I wasn’t a part of any of the other.”
There was a knock on the door. Scott asked Kyle to look through the spy hole. It was Chris and Alexei so he let them in.
“Bring the laptop over here, mate.”
Chris moved towards Scott and sat down with the computer on his lap.
“Bank account details Tom. We’re transferring yer payment back.”
“No way! That is my retirement fund.”
Scott took the Glock out of his holster and held it against Tom’s temple.
“I’ve killed three people in the last few hoors Tom. I have nae problem in making yer number four.”
“Come on Scott, you’re not going to shoot me. I sat with you in Baghdad talking to you when you were in a coma.”
“I know, that’s why yer still alive now. I’ll count tae five then I shoot, I promise yer.”
“He said that tae a guy a few hoors ago and he only got tae three afore he changed his mind and blew his brains oot. So, I’d make yer mind up pretty quickly if I were yer,” Chris said, grinning sarcastically at Tom.
“One………two…..”
“Okay, let me see the computer,” Tom said, reluctantly.
Chris handed it to him. He sat on the floor and pressed buttons for a couple of minutes, then looked at Scott.”
“I’m in, give me the account details and I’ll transfer it back.”
Scott gave him the details and Tom performed the transfer. Within a few minutes all of the money was returned to the Robinson’s account.”
“So, I’m left with nothing at all,” Tom said, frowning.
“Yer lucky I’m going tae let yer live, after what yer did. Plus, I know yer were given fifty grand up front.”
“That’s virtually all gone.”
“Nae my problem Tom. Chris, do yer thing and make sure there’s nae trace of anything we did left on that computer. I want nae trace that we were even here. The bank transfers, any maps or anything we looked up. And make sure all that Mafia information is easily accessible.”
“Aye will do.”
“Keys, Tom. We’re taking yer car.”
“You are leaving me here?”
“Aye, what did yer expect? Like I told yer. Yer lucky tae be alive. I dinnae owe yer anything after what yer did.”
Tom handed over the keys. He was angry and started to get aggressive. Although, he was in no position to be doing so.
“So you did all this just because you’re screwing their daughter, eh Scott?” Tom said, as he slowly got up to his feet.
“Quiet,” Scott responded.
“Are you seeing my sister? I thought you said you were a friend of my Dad’s.”
“I met yer Dad first Kyle. Then, I met yer sister. And yes I’ve been dating her fer a few weeks.”
“You’ve been doing more than dating. I know you!” Tom said, sarcastically trying to cause trouble.
Scott moved close to Tom and without warning, punched him violently on the side of the head. It was a stunning right hook, which rendered Tom unconscious before he hit the floor. Scott wiped his prints from the Glock he had been using on his shirt, bent down and placed it in Tom’s hand.
“Okay, let’s go. We have all of our things. Chris, leave that laptop here.”
“What are you going to do with him? Kyle asked, looking down at Tom.
“He�
�ll be oot cold fer quite a while. But, he’ll be fine. When we get oot of the hotel we’ll call the police and tip them off aboot a disturbance in this room. When they get here they’ll find the laptop with all the Mafia information on it. Tom will have tae try and explain that, and why he’s carrying that gun.”
“Guid idea, but what if the police that come are Mafia too?” Chris asked.
“We’ll have tae take that chance. It will nae affect us, it’s now Tom’s problem. He deserves it.”
“Yeah, he does,” Alexei added.
“Come on, let’s go. Have we got everything we came with?” Scott asked, looking around at everyone.
“Aye, were guid,” Chris replied.
Alexei and Kyle nodded and everyone walked towards the door, leaving Tom’s motionless body lying in the suite.
Soon they were in the car and headed out of Moscow. Alexei was driving and the roads started to get busy. Scott asked him to stop at the first payphone that he saw so they could call the police. Alexei made the call. He was the only one that spoke the language, so he was the obvious choice. Scott told Alexei to say that he was in the hotel and heard gun shots and screams coming from room 524, and that the police should come urgently. He did and then hung up. He didn’t leave any other details. After a few minutes, they were back on the move.
“Where should we be heading, Scott?”
“I dinnae want tae head tae the airport here, just in case. It’s after seven. They could have found the bodies at the farm house. Who knows who’ve they’ve called. There could be lots of people looking fer us by now,” Scott replied, turning around to talk to his friend who was riding in the backseat of the car with Kyle.
“It’s probably best tae drive oot of the country then. Dinnae yer think?”
“Aye, Chris, that’s what I was thinking. I thought at first tae maybe head doon South towards Alexei’s area, but they may have thought aboot that.”
“Closest border tae the West is Belarus. Can we get across there?”
“Aye, maybe. But, again it’s possible they’ll have someone watching fer us there. Plus, I’m nae sure aboot the visa situation in Belarus. We dinnae want tae get tied up in red tape at the border and have tae sit there fer a few hoors.” Scott stated.
KILTED DESIRE 2 - Russian Roulette Page 18
