“Shit happens, but if any of this reaches me and mine I’ll rain down fucking war on everyone. Now, make a start. You know what you need to do, and get yourself a burner because your phone won’t be safe for long.”
Vladek put the phone down with a shaky hand. Mirko was right, that kind of money would bring a shit storm down on their heads, even if the cops never saw him as a suspect. He didn’t know if Dimitri had let his bosses know they’d drafted him in or if they had his name.
But he wasn’t a member of their organization. Years before maybe, he’d been on the route to membership but that was before he got caught with their counterfeit goods. Now he was a nobody and they’d snuff him out without a second thought.
His thoughts turned again to Chloe. She must have kept quiet otherwise he’d already be in a police cell. Dimitri had grabbed her off the street and now she was involved. She’d seen him and knew him, they were the only two left alive.
Would the Bratva approach her, would they even kill her for what she knew and what she’d seen? Mirko was right, the albino Alexei had a bad reputation. He wouldn’t hesitate to have both him and Chloe killed just to tie up any loose ends.
He was linked to Chloe now, he had a responsibility just like Mirko said. He remembered her clear eyes the night before in McBride’s, curious and open. She was sensitive but brave and he wanted to know why she’d protected him, why she’d held her tongue and put herself in even more danger. They needed to talk.
- 9 -
Chloe
She’d been watching re-runs of Friends all afternoon, the crochet hook working furiously between her fingers. She was trying to stay distracted and for the most part it worked but every once in a while she found herself zoning out and running again through the events of that morning.
She was going crazy, she needed to talk to someone about what happened but she also felt guilty about drawing anyone else into her mess. What were the odds of it? That Hottie Hardwood from McBride’s would end up being the getaway driver for the gang that took her hostage. She really did have the worst luck in the world.
She wondered if she’d been incredibly stupid to not tell the police. She didn’t even know Vladek or what he was capable of. He was definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed, why did he have to call out her name like that? He could’ve just let her walk away, definitely not the move of a master criminal. He was impulsive and reckless enough to get involved in something like that, he’d even mentioned it in McBride’s.
Her mind was racing and the hook flew. She’d left the more complicated patterns for when she had more patience. Right then she needed pure distraction and was making a simple hat that didn’t require any thought.
Finally she gave up trying to make any sense of things, there was no point trying to rationalize her behavior or keep all her thoughts locked up in her mind. She needed to vent and there was only one person she could possibly call.
“Oh my God, Chloe!” came Abbie’s loud concerned voice down the line. “I was just about to call you. I heard what happened earlier and that you were the one taken hostage, are you ok, it must’ve been awful.”
“Well, no surprise news travels fast in Norwood. Yeah, but I’m fine really, it was all over so quick. They let me go once they weren’t followed. I just need to talk to somebody Abbie, my brain is going wild.”
“You’re there on your own?! I’m coming right over. You should definitely not be on your own after what you’ve been through.”
“No, Abbie, really it’s fine. I already sent dad home, I just needed some quiet and I have Jackson here to nurse me back to health anyway. Really, I’m fine on my own, I just wanted to talk.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” came Abbie’s skeptical reply “but that’s crazy what happened, you must be really shook up.”
“Yeah, it really got my adrenalin pumping that’s for sure, but they didn’t hurt me or anything. It was just the noise and shock more than anything else I think. But there’s something else.”
“What do you mean something else?”
“The getaway driver, I recognized him but didn’t tell the cops. It was Vladek, from last night.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line and Chloe briefly wondered if they’d lost the connection but then came Abbie’s voice again, full of skepticism.
“Are you actually shitting me Chloe? I mean, that would be totally unlike you so, like, I’m having a hard time believing that but are you actually fucking saying that the guy from the bar was the driver? Are you serious?”
Abbie’s tone of voice had been increasing in shrillness and incredulity and the final few words were so piercing that Chloe had to hold the phone away from her ear.
“Yes Abbie, yes, I’m serious. What am I going to do? I didn’t tell them. He practically begged me before he let me go. I really just think he got caught up in something and got in way over his head. I don’t think he’s like that.”
“Chloe, do you hear what you’re saying? You don’t even know the guy, you only met him once, well twice now, but you don’t know him at all. You took a huge risk, you could get in serious trouble and you might even be in danger. You are the only witness after all. Think about it.”
“I know, you’re right, everything you’re saying is right. It is crazy, I don’t know him. But I don’t want to ruin his life, you know?”
“What about your life Chloe? You were only saying yesterday how everything was going so well lately, don’t let this dumb punk ruin everything. You don’t owe him anything, he’s the one that got involved in the robbery, he’s the criminal who broke the law.
“Yeah, you’re right, I know all that but it’s just..”
“Oh my God, you like him, that’s it, isn’t it?”
“I just thought that maybe, I dunno, that maybe there was some other way.”
“Listen Chloe, I know you. You’re the most responsible person I’ve met, you’re so solid, you always play by the rules, within the lines. This is your future at stake here, everything you ever wanted. Don’t throw it away because this guy you met once had a nice smile or whatever. You know I’m right, you gotta make a statement tomorrow.”
“Yeah, sure, I know it makes sense.”
“Just do what’s best for you, be selfish about it.”
“Thanks Abbie, I really should just do that. I’m gonna go, it’s been a long day so I’m gonna turn in. Thanks for listening”
“Ok, take care of yourself. And call me tomorrow.”
“I will, bye Abbie.”
Alone with her thoughts again she realized how foolish she was behaving. She needed to go back and make a statement. But then why did she feel so guilty about it? She hardly knew the guy, but she didn’t want to ruin his life. Her brain told her one thing, exactly what Abbie had said, but her instinct was flailing around for a different solution. She’d have to just sleep on it and see if things were any clearer in the morning.
After the chat with Abbie and having decided to settle on a course of action in the morning she was feeling a little calmer. Jackson was doing his evening stretches, getting ready for a night of hunting in the neighborhood. She’d have to let him off soon to start his patrols. The hook moved slower in her hands and she felt her lids get heavy. When the knock came on the door it was a total surprise.
She wrapped her robe tight around her and went slowly to the door. She couldn’t imagine who it might be but when she looked through the peephole she saw it was him. Her first feeling was of panic, he was there to silence her, to shut her up so she couldn’t be a witness. She had to call the police straight away and hope they arrived in time. Her thoughts were going wild but the tone of his voice caught her completely off balance.
“Hey Chloe, look I know you’re there I saw your shadow. I just wanted to apologize, I’m really sorry, it’s so fucked up.”
Her throat was dry and her heart hammered but she forgot all about phoning the police for the moment. She wanted to hear what he had to say.
> “How did you find me here, where did you get my address?”
“Bunk’s employee of the month for January, Chloe Walsh. You’re the only one in the book, Ithaca isn’t that big. Look, do you mind opening the door? I hate speaking through it like this. Can’t we just talk a little?”
She didn’t know why she did it. She shouldn’t have done it and didn’t understand what it was about this guy that made her weirdly confident and trusting. It was like she could see him somehow, like all his motivations were transparent. She put on the security chain and slowly opened the door while the one tiny remaining rational part of her brain was screaming at her to stop.
The first thing she saw was his beaming smile of delight and despite herself she immediately began thinking of her appearance and how frumpy she looked. Just at that moment Jackson saw his opportunity and scooted out between her legs.
“Whoa, cool cat, what’s his name?” asked Vladek.
“That’s Jackson, and he’s a killer, so you better not try anything.”
“Look Chloe, it was crazy. You remember I said last night that I was doing a favor for some old friends? I knew it was dumb, it’s a mess. And I couldn’t believe it when I saw it was you. I shouldn’t have said anything, I should’ve just let you walk away but it just slipped out.”
“I wondered about that, why did you call after me?”
His eyes met hers for a brief intense moment and she felt again that tug in her chest. Why did this guy make her feel so alive despite being so bad and wrong in so many ways?
“Look, eh, could I come in? Just for a moment?”
She opened the door fully and beckoned him in, astounded at her steadiness and confidence. Who was this new Chloe and where did she come from?
He came in but stayed politely near the door and it was so strange to have him there in her home. He was so tall and seemed to take up all the space and make her apartment feel tiny.
She felt again a flutter of nerves but she was determined to keep the upper hand. His freedom depended on her after all so he had to behave himself.
“I’m surprised you’re still in town. Aren’t you worried the police will be after you?”
“I covered my tracks and despite everything else that went to shit the guys had a good plan. I’ve got an alibi and the jewels are gone. Even if you did say something I’d just deny ever being there and there’s no other proof. So, just so you know, I’m not out to get you or anything.”
He grinned when he said it which was just confusing more than anything. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not but he just seemed so damned casual, it was infuriating but also made her so curious.
“So what are you doing here then, I mean, if you don’t care if I tell the police or not?”
“Well, that’s not what I said and I’d be really grateful if you just continued telling the cops diddly. I just, I wanted to say sorry and thank you as well. You asked me why I said your name and, well, the truth is, I’d kinda been thinking about you. I was gonna drop by Bunk’s to see if I could get your number and..”
“Are you actually here asking me on a date after what happened? Are you actually serious?”
But despite herself she couldn’t help but feel the thrill that shot across her skin. And why did she feel so relaxed and trusting with him when anyone with any sense would be scared and scrambling for the phone to call the police. This guy was like her complete opposite and nothing but trouble but she couldn’t help the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth.
“Pretty bad timing eh? Look, hopefully in a few days I can pass the stuff on and be finished with it. Maybe then I could drop by the diner or something, just to talk?”
She saw his eyes flick briefly over her body just like hers had when she’d let him in. But she remembered the noise then, the gunshots and the screaming. The circumstances were just impossible, she shouldn’t even be talking to him let alone having him in her apartment.
“This is just too much Vladek, the circumstances. I mean, I don’t know if you’re actually serious or why you’re here. Maybe you just want to keep me sweet, manipulate me, but then I don’t really think that’s it either. Look it’s all just too crazy, you better just go.”
“Shit, yeah you’re right, of course. I really just wanted to apologize and say thanks again, you really saved my skin. I shouldn’t have said that other stuff. That was dumb, I’ve been doing a lot of dumb things lately. I’ll just go. Maybe I’ll drop by Bunk’s for a coffee in a couple of weeks if I’m still a free man. Ok, sorry, I’m going. Bye Chloe, and thanks.”
He reached a hand and squeezed her fingers before turning to leave again. Their eyes met briefly before he turned but Chloe had no idea what to say, the words just stuck in her throat. Then he was gone and she was just left there with her mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Who the hell was this guy, so charming yet unpredictable, who just broke the law if he felt like it. And why did he bring out her own confidence in strange and surprising ways? How was she supposed to deal with this guy who’d just flown into her life?
- 10 -
Boris
The room was dark but Alexei liked it that way because of his condition. The curtains were always drawn, the blinds down. Alexei shunned daylight like a vampire. He was a creature of gloomy spaces and the way his red eyes glowed with menace, it was enough to send a thrill of fear through even the toughest of his underlings.
Boris didn’t get scared easily but he liked things to be predictable. The one thing Alexei wasn’t, was predictable. Boris had always felt secure of his position, mainly due to his undoubted talents and reputation for getting results. But the albino made his skin twitch.
Alexei was in charge and he accepted that and would always carry out his orders, no matter how illogical or insane they were. That was just the way things were. They didn’t work in the type of organization where you questioned your boss. Respect and strength were everything and if someone thought you were undermining them you could expect a swift and brutal response.
But Alexei wasn’t predictable and at any moment he was liable to choose a random target in a sudden burst of rage. Boris didn’t like Alexei, he was a mad dog and it was bad for business in the long term.
When Mirko had been Fyodor’s second in command things had been smoother. With Alexei running the day to day operations their power had expanded rapidly, but it had been a wild and violent growth, a raging fire tearing through brush. Boris missed the old times.
Something had gone wrong with the raid in Ithaca, Alexei’s own pet project he’d been planning meticulously for months. Boris had been there as the news filtered through and watched him grind his teeth in frustration.
The call they were expecting from Dimitri never came but soon after they heard the latest news reports and from their police contact. There’d been a shoot-out, there were bodies.
Boris had stayed impassive as the news came in and watched the rage boil through Alexei’s blood. He had no wish to be Alexei’s punching bag and took care not to show even the slightest flicker in his eyes that might make him a target.
Alexei sat behind his huge desk, fists clenched and stretched out tense on the wood. Boris didn’t move a muscle but he wished the moment would pass and he’d be given an order. It didn’t really matter what the order was, as long as he had an excuse to leave the room and get to work, as long as he didn’t have to continue second guessing a psychopath.
“Why the fuck didn’t we know about the new driver? Blaze never even made it to Ithaca with the others so why the fuck didn’t Dimitri check in for fresh orders? Do we even know who the fucking driver is who’s holding the stones?”
Boris knew why Dimitri didn’t check in about their driver problem. It was because he was terrified of Alexei and what he might do. He probably thought he could sort out the problem himself and had sourced a replacement.
Boris saw a chance but he had to be careful what he said. He had to be sure not to imply that it was in any
way Alexei’s fault. He needed to keep it simple, offer a solution.
“Dimitri never told us about a new driver, I can go there and find out.” It was about as much as Boris trusted himself to say. He didn’t want to say any more and run the risk of provoking Alexei.
He dared to flick his eyes towards his boss. The feral gleam of rage seemed to have lessened slightly in his pink, bloodshot eyes and the fists had unclenched on the wood. Somebody was going to suffer soon at those hands but it wouldn’t be Boris and it wouldn’t be now.
“You go there Boris,” spat out Alexei “and find those fucking stones. Talk to our contact with the cops, follow up on their leads and talk with anyone else who worked with Dimitri and might know the driver. Whoever that fucker is he surely can’t be stupid enough to think he can fuck us. There was a witness as well, a hostage. Apply some pressure there too, that bitch must know something. I want those fucking stones, and Boris?”
“Yes boss?”
“No fucking loose ends. You clean all that shit up before you come back with my property.”
“Yes, understood.”
PART TWO
- 11 -
** One Week Later **
Vladek
Vladek poured the remaining paint from the tray back into the large tin and knocked the lid into place with the handle of an old screwdriver. He’d spent the last few hours painting the apartment, losing himself in the detail of the work.
He’d taken even more care than usual, eager to focus all his concentration on the relatively simple task of applying the color and staying within the lines. It was a week since the robbery and he was trying his best to continue on as normal.
Mirko had left town with Karin and their young son and gone to the cabin they had a few hours east. They’d only return once everything had blown over. In the meantime Vladek was continuing their latest project that was due on the market the following week. Apart from some work in the bathroom that Hank would take care of over the weekend all that was left were the fittings that he’d attach once the paint was dry.
Rough Diamond (A Mafia Romance) Page 5
