Chapter 85
1419words
The footage scrolls in reverse. I stop it periodically, staring so hard at the screen that my vision blurs. Camila peers over my shoulder while the man in front of me, tapping his computer keyboard, hunches ever closer to the screen.
Nothing ... Nothing ... Come on ...
'Asher, what is all this?" she asks.
After leaving the in-progress dance studio, I didn't say much about what she sparked in me. I was busy formulating the plan while my excitement grew higher and higher. It's a miracle we didn't get stopped for speeding.
I rushed into the mansion, cornering the short, bearded man who often reminds me of a Schnauzer dog: Matvey, the tech guy who's in charge of all my networks. I texted him while driving back. Now, he's bent over his double monitors while I lean in close enough to smell his shampoo.
'Asher," Camila prods again. 'Talk to me."
'When you mentioned the security camera, I remembered the ones Mila and I shot outside the Winter Palace." I tap Matvey on the shoulder. 'Slow down; that date looks right." He does as asked—I keep talking to Camila. 'Matvey here has wormed his way into the data. We're looking for proof."
'Proof of what?" she asks tensely.
I turn to her. 'Proof that it was a trap."
Matvey sips from a can of Coke as he scrolls through the long video clips. Each time we reach the end, he starts up a new timestamp. 'Pakhan," he says, tapping away, 'there are hours of footage to navigate."
'I know," I say simply.
He pauses, then continues to scroll. Watching closely, Camila and I examine the videos until my back begins to ache. My neck has a cramp.
Camila slaps my arm. 'Stop! Look right there!"
I see what she did a split second afterward. On the screen, in only somewhat blurry pixelation, are a pair of people. One of them, a man, is dragging the other out of the front doors of the Winter Palace. I don't recognize Katinka right away, but I'd know Yannick anywhere. 'Yes," I laugh sinisterly. 'Here we fucking go."
Matvey freezes the frame as the woman looks at the camera. 'That's Mom," Camila whispers.
'What's the timestamp?" I demand.
'Wednesday the twelfth," Matvey says.
My fist slams into my palm. 'That's the day Madison arrived here."
Camila's expression morphs from excitement into slow distress. 'Which means Mom wasn't at the Winter Palace at all when you went there with Mila."
Rubbing my jaw in deep thought, I walk around the room, stretching out my sore back. 'Matvey, I need you to hack into the video feeds of every security camera in that area. I want to try and track Yannick's footsteps to see where he took Katinka."
The other man scratches at his beard and coughs. 'Pakhan … that's a tall order. Even with all of my team, it could take a day to complete."
My tone is hard as granite. 'I want it done by tonight."
With a long, slow exhale, Matvey picks up his phone, swearing. 'I'll call the boys."
There are five computers in the room. All of them are being manned. In every corner is another hacker crouched over a laptop. The constant tapping of keyboards would drive me mad if I wasn't already on the edge of my seat, waiting for news—any news.
Camila and I wander the space, staring at screens until our eyes water. Matvey was right; it's been hours, and we've barely put a dent in the amount of footage we have to review. Some of his team murmurs about ordering pizza, and I feel irritation dance across the back of my neck. I don't want to encourage any breaks, but if people burn out before the work is done, that's not helping anyone.
'I found something!" a young man shouts, motioning at us.
Camila and I rush over, squeezing close, our shoulders touching.
'Show me," I say eagerly.
'Well, there's Yannick," he replies.
The sound of tapping stops. I peer at the screen. And sure enough, I recognize the unmistakable face of Yannick Grachev. I feel my hands tighten into fists as the man continues to talk. The others are watching now too.
'From this network of cameras," he says as he brings up a map dotted with pins on his second screen, 'I was able to triangulate his position. And then I found him along this road in this car … here." He points as he moves through the video.
My heart is racing as I get snapshots of the car going through the city. It moves from different angles, depending on the camera. A front shot, a side, a rear view. Bit by bit, I'm getting closer to tracking this bastard down.
He's moving, if the cameras are right, to the southwest. They lose him for a bit, and my stomach sinks. But then the man taps a few more keys, and Yannick's face is back on the screen. My pulse speeds up further when I recognize the park where I picked up Camila. Then there are back roads and houses in a cul-de-sac. There's no more footage once the bumper of the car goes half off screen.
That's the best angle the last camera can capture.
'That bastard hasn't moved …" I breathe.
That arrogant fool.
'I know where to find him!" Camila blurts. 'I know where that house is!"
I stand up and survey her with a burst of hope. 'You're sure?"
'Yes!" Her eyes light up in wonder. 'I thought for sure that he'd go elsewhere like he did before, but maybe he didn't want to upset—" she suddenly stops herself, darting a nervous look at me.
Unsure of what's gotten her so uneasy, I want to ask more, but now isn't the time. My body is thrumming with excitement that all of this is about to end right now. I'm ready to act.
'I'm going immediately."
'You're just going to show up at his house?" Her jaw drops.
'Much less noticeable than bringing a bunch of boeviki with me. Alone, I can sneak in, catch him off guard, and do what's necessary."
Plus, I need to save up my manpower after the last failed attack on the Winter Palace. But I don't want to admit that. I don't need to saddle her with more worries about things that she can't control.
Camila is chewing her bottom lip ragged. I take her hand into mine and speak to her in a gentle voice. 'I'm going to save your mother and reunite your family. Just like I promised."
In spite of my encouraging words, she still looks anxious.
'You're dismissed," I say to Matvey. 'I need a moment alone with my wife."
'Pakhan?"
I scowl viciously. He half falls out of the computer chair, waving for the others to copy him. They all flee the room, shutting the door, leaving us alone in the sweltering box full of glowing monitors and computer fans. The digital glow creates a halo around Camila's head when I tilt her back to stare into her eyes.
'You don't have any reason to be worried."
'Don't I?" she asks miserably. 'Every time I let you out of my sight, you come back bleeding and hurt."
'I could say the same for you," I reply. Her narrowed eyes belay her annoyance. Pressing my cheek to her forehead, I breathe in and out. 'Camila, I'll be fine. I promise."
She lowers her eyes away from me.
Cupping her chin, I make her look my way while speaking in a gentle voice. 'Your future, our baby's future …" I lay my palm on her belly; she starts, but then leans into me. 'That's all I see when I close my eyes. Soon, that's all I'll have to think about too."
'You mean it…" she whispers. It's not a question.
'With my entire being, I do." Through the years, I've learned many skills. Weapons … schmoozing … finances … and lying. There's no better tool in the criminal underground than the ability to keep secrets with a straight face. Lying can be the difference between life and death. Because of this, I can convince anyone of what I want. I've lied convincingly to both friends and enemies. I've even lied successfully to a priest. More than once.
But when I tell Camila that her future is all I see …
It's not a lie.
It never has been.
