by Rachel Dylan
That sat quietly on the couch for a few minutes. Then he was the one to break the silence. “We should talk about what our first move is.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder and made eye contact. “Shouldn’t we put eyes on him? Get an idea whether he has a routine in place.”
“I spoke with our New York field office. They’ve got a huge file on him. He works in an office building near Times Square. But from what I’m hearing he doesn’t actually work that much. He’s a real playboy. Always wining and dining with the ladies.”
“Great,” she said, sarcastically.
“He has his favorite restaurants. And he drops by his casino on occasion in Atlantic City.”
“Seems like he has it really tough. Doesn’t look like he’ll be taking over the family business with that cavalier lifestyle. Makes me wonder if he even wants the job.”
“Don’t be fooled by his antics. He’s power hungry. And intensely competitive with his brother. He still takes his father to dinner once a week. He’s not stupid. He’s just playing a different game than Igor.”
“Making him no less dangerous than his brother.”
“Exactly. Just with a prettier face and a flashier manner.” He sighed. “The FBI is having an awful time getting any evidence against him. We thought about sending in one of our guys undercover, but no one thought they could pull it off.”
“He’ll slip up. All criminals do eventually.”
“Yeah. The FBI has a bigger beef with Igor. There’s no evidence tying Artur to any human trafficking. The whole network needs to be brought down, but Igor is our top priority. I don’t believe he’s going to quit his trafficking operation. He just needs to readjust his business strategy to make sure he’s paying off the right drug lords in Mexico.”
“Another reason we need to stop him. But I don’t think we want Igor to kill Artur. And if we bring Igor evidence of Artur working with the FBI, that’s exactly what will happen. I have no doubt about that.”
“Yes. But how do we provide proof that Artur is not cooperating with the FBI? We’re the ones that came up with the story to begin with.”
“If we can say that we’ve had him under surveillance and can account for all of his meetings, I think that might at least satisfy Igor for the short term.”
“You ready to explore the city?”
“Yes.” Kip looked down at his watch. “Artur should be coming out of the office building within the hour. So we should get in place.”
“Have you been here before?”
“A few times. But I’m not totally familiar with the city. How about you?”
“Same.” And that was true. This is where she was born, but she only lived in New York for the first eight years of her life. Once she went into Witness Protection, she’d been sent to Oregon—basically the farthest location she could get from New York and stay within the continental United States. She didn’t have many specific memories of the city at all. And New York was one place she had been forbidden to visit.
She didn’t enjoy all of the crowds of people and the hustle and bustle. El Paso was much more her speed. However, it would be easy to blend into the New York crowds. But she couldn’t help the feeling that if someone wanted to find her, that she wouldn’t be safe anywhere.
“Just a few more blocks,” Kip said.
While not as hot as Texas, the New York sun was still strong, and Sadie felt sweat bead on her brow. For some reason, Kip had set a very fast pace as they walked down the bustling city streets.
“You’re practically jogging,” she said, trying to keep up.
He slowed down. “Sorry, I think I got a burst of adrenaline and wasn’t thinking that we have plenty of time.” He laughed.
“This is perfect,” he said, pointing. “We can sit at that bench over there. We’ll have eyes on the main exit.”
“There will be a lot of people exiting this building. We’ll need to make sure we don’t lose him in the crowd.”
They waited for what seemed like an eternity. She watched closely as person after person left the building—most dressed in suits, carrying briefcases. All seeming as if they were in a hurry. This was the New York lifestyle she’d heard so much about. Is this how she would’ve become if her parents had lived? What career field would she have chosen? Perhaps she would have been an accountant or lawyer. Living in the big city, in a small but trendy apartment? It made her wonder. Would she have been happy, normal and well-adjusted?
“There he is,” Kip said, breaking her out of her thoughts.
He grabbed her hand, and she knew they were going to follow Artur. Artur didn’t look anything like she expected. He hadn’t been in the courtroom years ago. He’d been too young. He didn’t resemble Igor at all as he had much darker features. He was a bit taller and more muscular—he probably hit the gym a lot. That was consistent with his lifestyle. His brown hair was cut short and neatly styled. His dark designer suit probably cost a month’s worth of her regular P.I. salary. He walked briskly with his head held high—seemingly oblivious to everyone else around him. Unlike Igor, he did not travel with a security entourage on a regular basis. She wished she could get inside his head. He seemed so different than his brother. She wasn’t so foolish as to think he was one of the good guys, but he had to be better than Igor.
“Where do you think he’s headed?” she asked.
“You’re not going to believe this,” Kip said, squeezing her hand. “He’s walking straight toward a Broadway theater.”
“He’s going to see a show?” Just when she thought things were already strange. Now they were even stranger.
“Maybe.”
“We’ll lose him in the crowd.”
“We’re not going to go in,” Kip said. “But focus on the exits. If he leaves we’ll tail him.”
“I’m guessing he’s using this as a diversion. Do you think he’s paranoid?”
Kip laughed. “It really isn’t paranoia. We’re following him, right?”
“Yeah.”
They stood outside the building in front of the main exit.
“One of us should go to the rear exit,” he said.
“I’ll go.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m ready for this. I’ll text you if he comes out. You do the same.”
Sadie was grateful to have a few minutes alone to collect her thoughts. Her moment of respite didn’t last long. Artur stepped out of the rear exit. He looked back over this shoulder and started walking.
“I’ve got you,” she whispered. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. This was the type of assignment she was made for and excelled in. Perfect for a P.I. Get the information but be invisible. She hung back long enough to put some space between her and Artur. She fired off a text to Kip. Then she made her move.
She headed briskly down the street, making sure not to lose him. He was headed west toward a construction area. He walked around the corner and into the narrow alley. She paused again and then followed. The alley was dark. In all black, she blended right into the darkness. Artur was up ahead, leaning against the side of the building. A man was approaching him. Artur didn’t seem concerned. That must have meant he knew him.
She had to get a bit closer. She needed to know what they were saying. No sign of Kip. She took a few steps, not making even the slightest noise. The two men appeared to be focused on each other and were oblivious to what was going on around them. It was clear to Sadie that they thought they were totally alone. She walked a couple more steps then crouched down behind a smelly Dumpster. Now she was close enough to hear the conversation.
“You’ve got problems,” the man said to Artur.
“Don’t I always,” Artur replied. “Tell me. What did my loving brother do now?”
“His operation down in Mexico has garnered a l
ot of attention. My guys were upset that you didn’t give us the heads-up on what was going on down there. Human trafficking? Running against the local drug lords? Our people are getting antsy. They’re concerned you’re holding back on us. Remember we have a deal. You have to follow through, though, or there is no deal.”
“I know we have a deal. You have to understand, my brother doesn’t exactly trust me right now. He’s trying to succeed our father. He’s not going to be giving me all the operational details on his ventures—I’m the competition.”
The man poked a finger into Artur’s shoulder. “Our deal was clear. You help us bring him down, you get complete immunity. Every other government agency is investigating the whole family’s operation. We can protect you, but only if you get us something we can work with. It has to be airtight. You know what our top priority is.”
“And why should I trust the DEA? I hear that the FBI is now running the show.”
The man shook his head. “No. The FBI is focusing on the trafficking angle. We have the power, authority and ultimate jurisdiction here as far as you’re concerned. You have to help us put an end to your brother’s drug business, and that’s what we need to focus on. Rest assured the FBI and plenty of other government agencies will deal with the rest.”
“So what are my options?” Artur asked.
“We need evidence. Concrete evidence of your brother’s drug business, especially the cross-border operations. We have to have something that can stand up in federal court. I know you’ve refused to wear a wire in your face-to-face meetings. But I seriously urge you to reconsider. Once this offer is off the table, you’re on your own. And I can’t do a thing to stop anyone else from coming after you—including your brother. Work with us and I can guarantee your safety.”
“You know if I wear a wire, I might as well sign my own death warrant.”
The man laughed. “Artur, I think that’s already been signed. Once your brother finds out you made the first deal with us, it’s all over. You’ll be dead to your brother. To your whole family. The only way out is to cooperate fully with us, and we will then help you.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?”
“I don’t know because when I get additional reporting from other sources that you haven’t provided me, it starts making me get a bit nervous about you. I wonder why you even started working with us to begin with.”
“It was the right thing to do,” Artur said softly.
“Yes. You’re the Vladimir brother with a conscience. We recognize that. But now’s not the time to get nostalgic over family ties. I have a job to do and so do you. You can turn around your family businesses and make sure they are all of the legal variety once Igor is locked up. In the meantime, we need that evidence. And we need it now.”
“I’ll get back to you soon.”
Sadie tried desperately to process what she had just heard. Artur turned around and started walking back in the direction of the theater. She stayed low and out of sight. Just as she was about to stand up, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
NINE
Kip pulled Sadie to her feet. He couldn’t believe this. The DEA was running an entirely different investigation—and had been doing it for some time now based on what he’d heard. As he and Sadie walked back to their hotel, he felt a bit in the dark. The DEA had to have very good reasons for not informing his FBI team of their specific investigation with Artur. Must mean that they had something big—even bigger than what the FBI had. Cross-border drug smuggling was huge. And the funds from that business directly aided the trafficking network. This was all part of the governmental maze of putting away the bad guys.
He looked over at Sadie. This had been a surprise to them both. He could tell that the wheels were turning in that head of hers. She was smart, and she wanted to understand all the dynamics at play. Well, he could tell her one thing she already knew: this operation just got a lot more complicated.
They went to her room since, thanks to Igor, she had a suite with the large living room.
“Where do we even begin?” she asked as she made some coffee. He took a moment to compose his thoughts. He didn’t want to take his anger and frustration out on Sadie. She didn’t deserve that.
“You’re upset that you weren’t fully in the know,” she said.
He started to talk and she held up her hand. “Don’t even deny it. I get it. Let’s talk it through. First, why don’t you tell me what you heard? I’ll let you know if I heard anything more or different.”
She poured him some coffee. He took a sip and looked at her. “I heard this.” He paused and leaned toward her. “The DEA has made a deal with Artur. Artur brings them concrete evidence that could hold up in court against Igor, and then Artur is a free man.” He took a deep breath. “And, of course, the DEA has been conducting their sting operation unbeknownst to the FBI.”
She took a sip of coffee. “They want Artur to wear a wire to get Igor to provide specific information on his human-trafficking operation. He’s reluctant. The DEA cares about the connection to the drug business,” she said matter-of-factly.
“This is tricky. Both organizations think they are taking the lead. The real question is—who is actually in charge? The FBI believes this is their investigation. Our investigation. They’re operating as if it is. The FBI thinks the DEA is merely playing a supportive role, and only as needed, for the drug angle.”
“Where does that leave you?” she asked.
“I really have no clue,” he replied softly. “I don’t know what the right thing to do here is.”
“If the DEA is actually in charge, and running a secret investigation, you wouldn’t want to blow that cover over some inter-agency issues. Even if you have issues with how it all went down.”
He knew she was right, as much as it pained him to acknowledge her assertion.
“And this is even more reason why we can’t let anything happen to Artur. We need something to take back to Igor to help prove his innocence. Which is a problem since we’re the ones who said he was guilty.”
“See, this is why agencies need to talk.” He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “If I’d been in the loop, we would have never put the idea in Igor’s head that there was an issue of loyalty with Artur. We’ve put him in danger—the DEA’s star witness has a bull’s eye on his back. Thanks to us, Igor could try to kill his brother.”
She flinched. He wondered what he’d said to bother her.
“And we thought we had problems before,” she said. He watched her as she twirled her hair and tied it up in a knot. In the midst of all of this, he still couldn’t deny his ever-growing attraction to her.
“But we’ll get through this,” she said. “Together.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. He couldn’t help himself. He leaned closer to her and pressed his lips gently to hers, his hand cradling her face. They really were a team.
He pulled back, and they sat in silence. But not an awkward silence. A silence that he could see himself wanting on a Saturday afternoon. Just the two of them enjoying each other’s company. At what point had he fallen for her? He knew it couldn’t work—wouldn’t work in the long-term—but he was going to enjoy her company while it lasted.
“The question now is, how do we help Artur?” Sadie asked. “The game has changed. He’s no longer a totally guilty party like Igor. He’s working with the DEA, so we need to make this right.”
“If we don’t report back in to Igor, he’s going to be suspicious. That is if he’s not already. I have a bad feeling about the risks here.”
“I’ll send him an update that we tracked Artur to a Broadway show. I won’t mention that we saw him leave. Hopefully, this will quench his thirst for immediate information. But we’re going to have to figure out what to do next. Do you actually think Artur is trying to do the right thing?”
; “Or do I think he’s trying to save himself?” he asked.
“Right.”
“You know, I’m not sure. It’s possible that he really does have some good in him, and that he wants to do what’s right. But on the other hand, he could just be looking out for himself. Don’t forget he runs a big part of the Vladimir drug-business. So an immunity deal would look very attractive. If it’s between him and Igor, I’d say he’s going to look out for number one.”
“Yeah. Maybe it’s too much to hope that one person in the family isn’t evil.”
“I wonder how long the DEA has been working with him?” he asked more to himself than to Sadie. “The wire part was interesting.”
“Why not just do it? Wouldn’t that be the easiest way to get the evidence?”
“Because if something went wrong, then Artur would be toast. And he knows that. He’s smarter than anyone probably gives him credit for.”
She looked beautiful, but he could also see that this was starting to wear on her. There was a touch of dark circles forming under her eyes. He had to remind himself that they’d been through a lot in the past few days. “Why don’t we call it a night?”
“You sure?” she asked.
“Yeah. I know I’m tired.” He was tired. And he thought if he admitted it, she might be more willing to get some much needed rest. “I’m right next door if you need me.”
“Good night, Kip,” she said.
He thought about kissing her again. He really wanted to. But thought better of it. He needed to make sure he was a gentleman.
* * *
Sadie’s phone kept buzzing. Who in the world would be calling her in the middle of the night? She looked at the hotel clock on her nightstand and it showed three thirty. She groaned. If Kip needed something, he would’ve just knocked on her door.
She picked up her phone and saw the number that she was familiar with. No name associated with it, but she knew it was Jay. What did he want now? A sense of dread washed over her.
