He picks up on the first ring.
“What you got, boss?” he says, which means he is already aware of at least some of the situation.
“I need five men to guard the apartment,” I say. “Our most trusted. Call in Stepan, Yuri, Boris, Denis, and—” I thought for a moment, who would Alex and Evie feel safest with? Who wouldn’t the men watching recognize as one of mine? “Bring in Vera, she will be the least inconspicuous to post inside Alex’s.”
“Consider it done,” David says, and I can hear his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. “Where do you want them?”
“Tell them to go in separately, different entrances, different intervals. Plain clothes, nothing that would link them back to our organization. Anyone watching the building sees nothing more than visitors and residents moving about.” I keep my voice even and low, aware of Alex and Evie’s presence in the small space of the car.
“Two on exterior rotation – I want to know every move those Koshkin men make without them knowing they’re being tracked. Three inside, one in the lobby, one in my apartment, and Vera goes in through the front door straight to Alex’s apartment once we get back. She will be their guest, a friend visiting, staying with them while she’s in the city.”
“Understood. Anything else?”
“Yes, arrange a dinner for the board. Tonight. Make it look impromptu and important — a summons that requires attendance. No specifics. Everyone,” I take the last turn toward our apartment building, “including Pavel.”
A pause. “And where will you be?”
“You and I have an errand to run while they are all pre-occupied.” I park the car, glancing at Alex. “Two hours. Meet me at north side, we go together. And pull up everything you’ve got on Pavel’s house.”
“His house?” There’s a tone of amusement in his voice now, “Why do I have a feeling we are going to play burglar?”
“Because we are,” I pause, looking in the rear view mirror at Evie, she’s looking out the window still, “but the only thing we are going to be taking is information.”
Another pause, shorter this time. “Victor. As soon as you don’t show up to the dinner Pavel’s?—”
“By that point it won’t matter David.” My tone is pointed and serious now.
“Understood.”
I hang up the phone and slip it into my jacket pocket. Alex’s eyes are locked on me from the passenger's seat.
“Who are you?” Evie asks from the back seat. Not alarmed, but also not impressed. Her tone is that of a suspicious and somewhat judgmental tween.
I glance in the rearview mirror. She is looking at me with her arms crossed and one eyebrow lifted.
“Same man I’ve always been, Evie.”
“Uh-huh,” she says, “you know what I mean –who are you?”
Alex makes a sound beside me that she immediately tries to disguise as clearing her throat, but fails. I feel the corner of my mouth turn up as I meet her eyes. I can tell she’s still processingeverything that’s happened, but the glimmer of humor lightens the mood in the car.
“Five guards,” she says. It’s not a question. Just her brain accepting what was happening around her aloud.
“I trust them completely,” I tell her. “Vera, she’s good. You’ll barely notice she’s there. She’ll stay out of your way, but will be there just in case anything else happens. If I’m not with you, she will be — at least until this is over.”
Her expression shifts, “And the others?”
“They’ll be there,” I reassured her. “Just in case.”
There's a moment of silence in the car as I check all the mirrors, looking for any signs of Koshkin’s watchdogs.
“I need you and Evie to stay inside tonight.” I meet Alex’s eyes again and then look at Evie in the rearview mirror. Impressing upon them the seriousness of my command. “You go nowhere without me.”
Alex swallowed harshly, turning to look at Evie, who only nodded in response.
Good.
“For how long?” Evie asked quietly.
