Darby Stansfield Thriller Series (Books 1-3 & Bonus Novella)

by Ty Hutchinson

  Tav and I were a bit confused. “That’s the answer to what?” I asked.

  “What if Viktor had a twin brother? It would answer all the questions we have about his ability to be in two places at once. It might also explain Viktor’s ability to plan and kill. Two things Ghostface is a master at. He could have been taught by his brother.”

  I was catching on. “If they were identical twins, they could also be interchangeable. Ghostface could be the one who kidnapped Natasha and Viktor the one assassinating people in Moscow. How would we know?”

  “We wouldn’t,” Sokolov said. “We have no idea who we’re dealing with.”

  “It can’t be Ghostface. Viktor has to be the one here in the city. He never left that night; that’s what happened. He went into hiding and his brother went on the offensive.” I was certain.

  “You might be right,” said the detective.

  “I know I’m right. Only someone who has done what he’s done could have such a vendetta against me. While his brother is more than capable, he probably lacks the passion that fuels Viktor’s revenge.”

  “I have a lot to do now that Viktor is here. I need you to drop me off at the station before you go to hospital.”

  I reached for my keys. “Detective, if it’s true that Viktor and Ghostface are twin brothers, how is it you didn’t know this? It made sense not to know anything about Ghostface, but Viktor? He wasn’t an elusive hitman. He lived in plain sight. How did he keep his past a secret?”

  “I don’t know.” Sokolov appeared at a loss.

  “Wait...what about me?” Tav asked. “Is it safe for me to be here? What if he comes back?”

  “He won’t,” Sokolov said.

  “That’s what you said last time, and he did.”

  “And we saved you.”

  “Yeah, barely.” Tav wasn’t backing down.

  This was going nowhere fast. “Tav, calm down. I don’t think he’ll come back here either, at least not right away. He’s injured from the accident, so he’s probably going to lay low for a while. You could always go back to the office, or to your moms.”

  Tav made a face.

  “I’ll put a guy outside just in case,” Sokolov suggested.

  This time I didn’t object.

  Chapter 104

  Viktor knew he had to get off the street, fast. Luck was on his side, but for how much longer? He didn’t know. Dead is what he should have been. At the accident, the detective had the jump on him with his gun but never got a shot off. Viktor didn't bother waiting around to see why. He ran as hard has he could away from the scene, sticking to the alleys behind the houses.

  He popped out onto busy Geary Street, right in the heart of Little Russia. He was dizzy, tired and his body ached all over. More than once he had lost his footing when his vision blurred too much, sending him tumbling on the ground. He had to get out of sight now. Viktor pushed forward into a nearby store.

  Ding-dong the bell on the door chimed. The blond woman behind the desk looked up from her magazine only to see what surely was the devil staring straight at her.

  With widened eyes and a cigarette dangling from her mouth, Elana Voronova said nothing as she stared back at the large figure blocking the only way out. His face was covered with splotches of dried blood; parts of his cheeks were stained black as if burned. His head was a sweaty mess. Heavy breaths moved in and out of his open mouth.

  Elana sat frozen in her chair as she watched the hulking figure slowly take steps toward her. His left arm reached out and grabbed a hold of a shelf for balance. He’s injured. The threat she felt began to slowly subside, even though with each step he got closer to her. She could tell the large man was weak, barely able to support himself.

  Elana stood up and walked around her desk toward him. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. Without warning, Viktor swung his arm up and clamped down on Elana’s neck and shoulder. She reached around and brought his arm around her and allowed him to use her for support as she led him into a tiny back room. In there was a cot where she would sometimes take naps. She laid him down and then fetched him bottled water.

  Still no words had been spoken between the two but trust was developing. Viktor had no choice but to trust. Elana still had a choice. She was the one in control.

  Within seconds the devil was asleep. Elana spent a few minutes cleaning most of the bloody grime off of his face. She stared at him for a few minutes and then left the room to make a call.

  Chapter 105

  When I got to the hospital, Natasha was sleeping in a recovery room in the emergency ward. The doctors said that she had some bruising but nothing serious. The seatbelt had prevented her from any real harm.

  I sat near her bed and tucked her hand into mine. “Natasha,” I whispered.

  The girl’s eyes fluttered for a moment and then opened. It only took a slight moment before she was able to respond. “Darby, you came to visit me.” She squeezed my hand.

  “Of course. You are my guest. How did you like the visit to the hospital?” I joked. She giggled a little and then reached up to her head with a wince.

  “Does it hurt much?”

  She shook her head. “Only when I laugh, so behave yourself.”

  “The doctors said that they want to keep you here for a few hours, for observation.”

  “After that we go to The Vic?”

  “Yes, we go to The Vic. But this time, you will not be left alone. I want you to feel safe. I don’t want you to worry.”

  “I feel safe with you and Tavish. What about Viktor? Did they catch him?”

  “No Natasha. Viktor escaped, but the police are working on it.”

  Before coming to the hospital, I wondered if I should have told Detective Sokolov about Grigory Orlov and the apartment and the visitor or even about the brown car that followed me the night Viktor went on a rampage. I had turned over this information to Ivan Renko, trusting he would deal with it. I couldn’t risk the detective discovering my connection with a known criminal.

  “Darby, I will have to leave soon. I spoke with Papa. He insists I fly home as soon as I can.”

  “I understand. It’s probably best that you go.”

  “I don’t want to go. I was having so much fun. I wish I could stay. I’m not afraid of him.”

  “No, you’re not, but your father knows best.” Truth is, I didn’t need her father blaming me for anything happening to his daughter. He was a powerful man with a long reach. No need to create enemies in my business. What I need are allies.

  Chapter 106

  Elana brought Viktor food and tended to his wounds for two days in the back room of the travel office. Still he told her nothing about himself. He didn’t care for conversation when she initiated it. It didn’t matter; she knew who he was. She knew he was member of the Vory v zakone and that he had ties with the Mafiya in Moscow. She also knew he was responsible for the death of Tatiana Galanova.

  There he slept, helpless. She thought of killing him. She even held a large knife to his throat as he snored. Revenge was the best medicine, no? Tatiana was like a daughter to her. She was a bright girl who was working hard to improve her life. She wanted better for herself. She even talked of coming to America for a new start. But now none of that was possible, all because of that pig that lay on Elana’s cot. It disgusted her how he could sleep so calmly, with all of the harm he had caused to others. Where was his conscience?

  Later that day when she returned with Viktor’s dinner, she discovered the cot was empty. Viktor was gone. No note, no sign that he had been there was left behind—he simply vanished.

  Thankfully, she had a plan.

  Chapter 107

  Viktor hobbled up the front steps of Orlov’s apartment complex still clutching his side. It was a bruised rib most likely. He had waited for the blond woman to leave before making an escape. He had already stayed too long.

  Once inside the lobby area, he rested against the wall and peered outside through the glass door. He was c
areful about being followed here.

  The accident was an anomaly. Viktor had not expected it, nor did he have a contingency plan. Thankfully he found a kind Russian who knew not of his background. A miracle he thought, considering the circumstances.

  He was rested but still needed to recover. The detective had identified him. The ruse that his brother Sergei had so conveniently pulled off was over. Whether or not it was discovered that Viktor had a twin brother didn’t matter at this point. The detective would focus on hunting him here. But worse was the girl escaping him once again. He had planned on a marvelous evening with her back at the apartment, one that would violate her in ways she dare not imagine.

  Viktor needed to make a decision. Was it worth staying in the city or was he better off cutting his losses and heading back to Belarus? Darby was no threat to him, nor was the girl. Well, there were plenty more where she came from. Everything he was doing was unnecessary and only put him, and now his brother, at risk.

  Viktor entered the creaky lift and pressed the fourth floor button. The light had burnt out on it. Two… three… four… Ding. The bulky door slowly revealed an empty hallway. What a piece of shit this building is, he thought.

  Viktor made his way down the hallway while he fumbled for the key. He was tired and wanted off of his feet. He slipped the key into the lock and closed the door behind him. The drapes were drawn shut and the apartment was dark and quiet, but Viktor’s senses were already in full alert. He was not alone. Mistake one.

  He stood still, his mind working out how many men were in the apartment with him. The average person would just see the outlines of furniture, but Viktor had learned a lot from his brother, including one important rule: never walk blindly into a room. The other rule Sergei had taught him was to always keep your hand on your weapon, especially if you’re injured. His gun was still tucked in the back of his pants. He might as well have left it in the car. Mistake two.

  The third rule, and this one was the most important of them all, never ever underestimate your enemy—he is everywhere. Mistake three.

  Sergei told him that one mistake was survivable. Two mistakes required that all odds be on your side for survival. With three mistakes, Sergei said, comes trouble. He could not tell Viktor what to do with three mistakes because he himself never ever let it get past two.

  A lamp in the living room flickered on. Sitting in a chair next to it was Ivan Renko. There were six other men spread out about the apartment, each with a gun trained on Viktor.

  “I sent two men over here to check on Orlov and did not hear back. Now I know why. They are lying in your tub. How long does the lime mask the smell?”

  “Three, four days at the most.”

  “And then what?”

  “Another location must be found.”

  “So you found a location for Orlov then?”

  “I did.”

  Ivan reached into his jacket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “You don’t mind do you?”

  “No.”

  He lit the cigarette with a match and inhaled deeply, holding it for a beat and then released it through his mouth and nose. “You know why we are here, yes?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “No, but I like for people to understand why I am visiting them.” Ivan then pulled out a tranquilizer gun and shot Viktor in the thigh. He was out in seconds.

  Viktor awoke sometime later to find himself stripped of all his clothing and tied to a chair in the bedroom. The door was closed and the bed had been overturned and leaned up against the window. In front of him was a metal tray on a stand. On top were various tools and instruments, even a blowtorch.

  “You know who you are dealing with, yes?” Viktor said.

  “Is that fear I sense in your raised voice?” Ivan responded.

  Viktor spat. “Fear? It is you who will experience fear like none other.”

  “I highly doubt that, Viktor. Your reign has come to an end.”

  One of Ivan’s men walked over to the tray and picked up a small pair of pliers. Another grabbed Viktor’s hand and pinned it against the arm of the chair.

  “Oh, and Viktor, feel free to scream as loud as you want. The pain will be unbearable and I don’t want you to hold back. The other apartments around us… The inhabitants have been cleared. Noise will not be an issue.”

  “This will not solve your problems. It will only bring on more.”

  “Be that as it may, no one comes into my territory unannounced and does what they please—not even you…the notorious Ghostface.”

  Ivan and his men laughed. “Who would have thought it would be this easy to take down the feared Ghostface,” he continued. “You are just a man built out of flesh and blood like us.”

  You stupid men, if I were the real Ghostface, you would not be laughing.

  Then from out of the shadows behind the men, Viktor saw movement. Making her way to the front was the blond woman who helped him. While Elana had wanted to slice his neck, she knew her brother Ivan could do worse, much worse. She had notified him immediately but Ivan knew Viktor had no place to go but back to Orlov’s apartment. He had figured everything out. He wanted Viktor to be aware of what he would do to him. Though it sickened Elana to continue to care for this bastard, she knew what her brother had in mind would give her the satisfaction she craved, so she nursed and fed him as Ivan instructed.

  A smile formed on her face. Finally, justice for Tatiana.

  One of the men used the pliers to grip the tip of Viktor’s middle finger.

  “Wait,” said the man holding Viktor’s hand. He walked over to a bag and pulled out a large contraption. “Nail gun.” He placed the tip against Viktor’s hand and shot three-inch steel nails through his hand in four places to secure it to the wooden chair. Viktor let out yell each time a nail punctured sinew and bone.

  “Okay, now we’re ready.”

  •••

  A few days later, a tip to the police sent them to apartment 401. The stench from the bathroom overwhelmed the first responders. In the bedroom they found a lump that at first glance might not have been recognized as being human. A before-and-after photo left next to the chair told the complete story and confirmed the decaying mass of human tissue had been that of Viktor Kazapov.

  The team left everything as they had found it until Sokolov could get to the scene. He wanted to be able to see that Viktor was dead with his own eyes.

  Sokolov’s initial assessment was that Viktor had been tortured for hours. His death was a painful one. Sokolov knew immediately that the Russians were behind the killing; the torture was typical of what he had seen in the past with enemies, except this was worse.

  All he could think was, Which one was dead? Who was sitting in front of him?—Viktor or Ghostface? He had yet to share his twin theory with others, wanting to spend more time with it. Sokolov had a strong hunch though. Either way, it would be upsetting to many to know that there might be two of them.

  Chapter 108

  About two months after they found Viktor’s body, things seemed to return back to normal. For a few weeks after Viktor was discovered, I kept in close touch with Detective Sokolov. I called him at least twice a week trying to find out if the twin theory was closer to being proven true and whether any new Ghostface information had surfaced. I was still edgy, considering everything that had happened.

  Sokolov said there was no hard evidence to go either way—just a strong suspicion. Even his partner, Kyle Kang, seemed to agree. But there wasn’t much they could do now that Viktor was dead and there were no imminent threats on the horizon.

  The head of the Russian Mafiya was still in protective custody and no attempt had been made on his life, so that was a good thing. With Viktor gone, whoever was responsible for the assassinations in Moscow might have either gone underground or stopped completely, especially if Viktor had hired that person. That would completely debunk our twin theory.

  Time always helps one forget, and that’s what happened with the Viktor/
Ghostface ordeal. I thought less and less about it as the days went by without any mortal danger. I can’t say for sure if Tav had completely gotten over it, though he appeared normal on the outside. But I know he’ll never forget and this will always be a source of contention between us. The good news is Tav and Ralphie are still living with me at The Vic. I never asked them to leave and they never bothered packing. It worked.

  I’m still having weekly luncheons with Ivan Renko. It’s unusual; my gig with them should have ended long ago. Three months is always the deal but Ivan asked that I consult longer since they tended to move slower in the decision making than we all had anticipated. He felt there was more that the gang could learn.

  Ivan never discussed Viktor with me. I didn’t know for sure but I had a feeling he was responsible for what happened to him. The police have come up empty handed in their investigation since then, and the case seemed to be collecting dust. Probably best for everyone involved.

  Anyway, thanks to Ivan’s extension, I’m still a heavy-hitter with Teleco. Had he ended my consultation when he should have, I’m not so sure I would still be taking the elevator up to the twelfth floor. Things were so crazy back then; I had no time to look for a new client. It’s not like I could just start cold-calling folks.

  “Knock, knock.”

  I looked up to see a statuesque blond standing in my doorway. “Are you ready for lunch?”

  “Starved,” I said. “I should be ready to go in a few minutes.”

  “Okay. I have to use the bathroom anyway. Be right back.”

  It’s funny how relationships start. I remember meeting Izzy at a company picnic. She was Tav’s friend at the time and didn’t even know I existed. A “hi” there and a “hi” here led to IMing, and then lunches at work, and then “Swing by! We’re firing up the hot tub.” Of course it helped that Tav was also her friend and he moved in with me.

  Izzy and I promised we wouldn’t rush things, even though things were going well between us. I think that might have been the problem with my past relationships. I’m taking this one slow and enjoying the ride.