Berlin (Leo & Allissa International Thrillers Book 3), Luke Richardson [any book recommendations .txt] 📗

“Oh, I see, well, very nice.” Eveline considered Allissa through unblinking eyes. Around them, the babble and chatter of the party seemed to mute.

“It’s nice of you to invite me,” Allissa said after a thirsty sip of her champagne.

“Well, I… it’s important we’re all here. For Lucy. Excuse me,” Eveline said, finishing two-thirds of her Martini in a single gulp. “I must go and get this refilled.”

31

One of the worst things — well, not as bad as the thought of his family grieving his self-inflicted death, but still pretty bad — was the knowledge that everything was ready to go. Minty had been prepared to leave Berlin for weeks. The car, which he’d bought using cash from a man in Spandau, was packed and ready. Minty had chosen it especially to get them out of the city unnoticed; a cheap and inconspicuous ten-year-old VW Golf. Now, just like Minty himself, it was waiting.

He had even planned their destination. He’d actually planned a series of destinations. Each one was mapped out with highlighters in an old German road map he’d found on the bookshelf.

Minty glanced up at the bookshelf. Whoever lived in the house was a fan of fiction. Rows of dusty German paperbacks boasted the excitement of their contents with bright covers and snappy titles. Minty spoke German well and enjoyed reading, but right now he couldn’t concentrate long enough for anything like that.

With a surge of sadness, Minty thought of his family. He was supposed to have been able to tell them by now. He longed to let them know it was all fake, a trick designed to set him up for life.

But, right now, they thought he was dead. He registered the thought like a punch in the chest. He needed to tell them he was alright. He just needed to explain that he was alive and well and free. And share the exciting news behind why he had done this. But he couldn’t. Not yet. He had to wait for a Russian. A Russian with half a million euros.

32

The sound of the toilet flushing drew Borya back into the present. Semion had found out. Semion knew that he had been in the shop with Minty.

This information changed things. Olezka would want to know why. Borya knew that Olezka wouldn’t accept a simple answer. There was no logical reason for him to be at the shop. That wasn’t his job.

Olezka knowing Borya had been at the shop would change things completely.

Borya shuddered as images of the decaying room and the spiralling blood filled his mind.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom. Borya imagined Olezka washing his hands. Soon he would head back this way. Borya needed to do something. He needed to do something now.

His eyes flicked from the phone to a block of glinting knives on the counter. Borya didn’t think he had ever used the knives. He ate in restaurants every night. They would be sharp.

He slid one from the block. The smallest. Its metal handle was cold to the touch. The blade glimmered hungrily.

He could kill Olezka right here in his apartment. Although Borya was smaller, Olezka wouldn’t be armed. But then what? What would he do with the body? Olezka was a big man, much taller and heavier than Borya. Removing the body from the apartment on his own would be almost impossible without being seen. And what if the others found out?

No, he couldn’t kill Olezka here. Maybe somewhere else, where he wouldn’t have to move the body, but not here.

The tap in the bathroom shut off. Borya heard Olezka unlock the door. Then Olezka paused. Maybe he was looking at himself in the mirror.

No, he couldn’t kill Olezka now. That left only one option. Borya glanced at the phone again.

Snatching the phone from the counter, Borya deleted the message.

“I’m glad we have had that discussion,” Olezka said as he walked back into the room.

Borya slid the phone back down onto the counter, face down.

“I will start making arrangements in the next few days. Then we will meet and talk about the specifics.”

Olezka glanced at his phone on the counter. His eyes momentarily narrowed, and his finger extended towards it.

“It would be my honour, Dedushka Olezka,” Borya said, smiling.

“Yes,” Olezka said, picking up the phone and stashing it back inside his coat. “You will be great for this city.”

Olezka placed his powerful arms on Borya’s slender shoulders. Borya felt himself strain against the weight.

“You will be great for this city,” Olezka repeated. “Now rest today. There is a lot of work coming for you and I need you in good form.”

“Thank you,” Borya said, following the older man to the door. Although Borya smiled, inside he twisted and writhed.

He needed to go. He needed to go now.

33

Back in his hotel room, Leo took the grimy phone from his pocket. As expected, it wasn’t turning on. The battery was flat, or the phone was damaged beyond use. It had been in a collision with a train after all. Leo turned it around in his hands. The screen was a spider’s web of cracks, and the back casing was split.

Leo rummaged through his bag for a charging cable. He hoped it would just be a flat battery as that was easy to fix. Fortunately, Leo’s phone used the same charger. Leo forced the charging cable into the European adapter and plugged it all in.

Then, holding his breath, he looked at the screen. Nothing happened. He wiggled the plug. Still, nothing happened. He tried turning the adapter and fitting it in the other way around. Nothing.

With a grumble of frustration, Leo slumped to the bed. Maybe it was just broken. It had been in a collision with a train. If that was the case, then there was nothing Leo could do. There was no way he would even know it was Minty’s.

But wait…

Something on the screen of the phone had changed…

Leo squinted and leaned in. There was something there. Beneath