Page 14 of My Russian Protector

“I’m not here to cause any trouble, Constable. I’m just here to bring him a message from a long-lost relative. That’s all.”

“Alright, then. The Village Assembly is meeting today. He’ll be tied up most of the day. His secretary will be there also. She’s the notekeeper. Will you still be here tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’m staying at the Inn,” I give the information freely so that I can keep him at ease.

“Call or come by tomorrow then. He should be in the office.”

“Thank you, Constable. Enjoy the rest of your day,” I reply and he turns and walks away.

So, local law enforcement suspects their fine Mayor of something illegal. It’s no surprise. Dimitri was never very good at covering his tracks. I have no doubt that Anna’s life was made easier by his absence. I get back in the car and drive off before he decides to ask any follow-up questions.

The factory workers have already picked up their morning coffee, and the restaurant is empty when I arrive. The waitress rolls her eyes when she sees me. I guess she’s finally gotten the message. She takes my order and moments later hands me my bag. I drop the money on the counter and tell her to keep the change.

The woman isn’t at her desk when I arrive at the motel. I climb the stairs and pass two men in the hall who look at me and scurry by as if they’ve seen a ghost. Concerned, I pick up the pace and rush toward my room. The door is open when I get there, and I drop the food and pull out my weapon. I slip through the door and call out, “Anna?” but there’s no response.

The curtains are still closed, and the room is dark so I click on the lights and nearly fall over when I see the mess. There was a struggle and Anna lost it. Someone has taken her.

I retreat to the hall and rush down the stairs. The two men who passed me see me coming and their gaits quicken, but my height advantage affords me a greater stride. I catch them before they can exit the building. I grab one man by the back of the neck and push him against the wall.

“What do you want? Let go of me!” he shouts as the other man runs out into the street. That’s okay. I only need one of them.

“What did you see?” I snarl.

“Nothing. I saw nothing,” he cries.

I pull him toward me and then smash him into the wall. The air escapes his lungs and he gasps for breath.

“Tell me what you saw or I’ll remove your eyes,” I warn him.

“It was two men. They took your lady friend,” he winces.

“When?”

“About ten minutes ago,” he replies. “Please, I don’t know anything else.”

“Did you see which way they went or what they were driving?”

“No,” he says but the beads of sweat forming on his forehead tell me it’s a lie.

“Lie to me again and you’ll lose your tongue, too. Which way did they go and what were they driving?”

*Black suits, a black sedan. They went north,” he pleads.

I loosen my grip on him, but before I let him go, I say, “You’ve wasted time that I could have spent hunting them down. If I don’t get to her in time, I’ll be back to kill you.”

The price on Anna’s head has to be awfully big for those two degenerates to risk running into me again. I’d like to tell myself that Dimitri wouldn’t hurt his own daughter, but who knows what a person would do to protect their new identity?

My hands shake as I fumble to put the key in the ignition. No job has ever put me out of sorts this way. Not even when someone had a gun pointed at my head. I have to get a grip on my emotions so I can keep a clear head. One mistake could mean the difference between life and death for Anna, and that’s not an option.

I drive north, not knowing where I’m going. I have to get Anna back and ensure that no one can touch her again. I tell myself that the best place to start is the Mayor’s office.

8

THE FAMILY REUNION

ANNA

Ican see nothing when the men drag me out of the car and set me on my feet. They placed a black hood over my head and tied my hands behind my back before speeding away from the hotel so I have no idea where I am.

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