The Pursuit of Emma, Dave Moyer [best contemporary novels txt] 📗

expensive an area it is.

The hotel itself is unobtrusive, at least from the outside. It looks grand enough but there's a quiet confidence about it that says ‘I know I’m good, I don’t have to boast’. The white surface of the building is draped with flowers all year round and the sign over the entrance is classy and dignified, without looking gaudy. All in all, it seemed to embody my definition of class and I could see why the Kozlovs would want to stay there.

It probably took quite a long time to get there but I didn’t notice it. I was in the zone. Something was happening to me. I was closer to death than I had ever been potentially, but I wasn’t afraid. I was focused. The events of the last few months had been building up to this moment. I looked up at the building and paid the taxi driver what I owed him. Presently, I was alone again. One deep breath, one quick straighten of the suit and I was away. Confidence.

I breezed through reception and noticed the hotel was still brimming with activity. I’ve heard people say London never sleeps and I was beginning to agree. I waited until the ladies on reception were relatively free and approached.

‘Hi there,’ I smiled. ‘I think the phones aren’t working. I’ve just been up in 104 and the boss wants some champagne up there pretty quickly, his girl is sobering up.’

‘Charlotte’ from reception looked confused. ‘Have you been trying to call from 104? I’ll send someone up to look at the phone if you like?’ she said helpfully.

Confidence, Tom. Confidence.

‘Listen, Charlotte you don’t know what he is like. He doesn’t want anyone disturbing them all night. OK? But he needs some champagne now! The best you’ve got. Charge it to the room.’

Charlotte looked flustered but understood. She must have dealt with hundreds of arseholes with too much money before.

‘Of course, sir, it’ll be there in just a minute.’

‘Thanks Charlotte, I’ll make sure he knows how helpful you’ve been,’ I said and with that, I turned and was gone. Part one, done.

I strode confidently up the corridor and found a sign that pointed me towards rooms 101-109. It didn’t take me long to find Room 104. Behind this door stood one of the men responsible for ruining my life. I was shaking but I kept calm. I was preparing myself for what I had to do next.

Charlotte kept true to her word and just a minute after me, a member of staff appeared pushing a trolley with champagne and all manner of chocolates and fruits. It looked beautiful. Part two.

‘Thank God you’ve come,’ I said, in an over-friendly tone. ‘Is this for 104?’

‘Yes Sir.’

‘Oh thank you so much, you’ve saved my arse,’ I cried and hugged him tightly. He looked shell-shocked but didn’t stop me. I released him and told him I would take it inside.

‘The boss doesn’t want to be disturbed; let me do it,’ I whispered and he nodded with understanding before disappearing.

My research had clearly worked. The hug may not have been the most convincing acting but it had allowed me to unclip his door card. It wasn’t that difficult, but I didn’t know what I would do if I had failed. I wanted to run away and not go in there, but I had no choice. I had to do this. For Emma.

I knocked on the door and called out, ‘complementary room service.’ It wasn’t the most original thing but I needed a line to get me started. At first I heard nothing and I was worried he wasn’t in but eventually someone grunted their approval. I let myself in with the door card; the green light flashed briefly and the lock clicked open. I was in.

Nobody was in the bedroom but I could hear water running from the bathroom.

‘Leave it and go,’ called a deep, Russian voice.

I had to use my time wisely. I raced around the room checking for a weapon. Mob bosses always have a weapon hidden somewhere. I was somewhat surprised to find it so easily, hidden under his pillow. I unclipped the magazine from it and hoped that meant it had no bullets left. That made me feel a little safer. Now all I could do was wait. For this to work I was going to have to be completely in character.

In the corner of the room was a small, silver sofa that would barely fit two at a squeeze. It wasn’t particularly comfortable but it would serve as a good vantage point. I pulled out my own gun, cocked it and rested it on the sofa’s arm. I hoped I wouldn’t have to use it.

It took three or four minute for a Kozlov to appear from the bathroom. That was three or four minutes of torture, trying to control my nerves and breathing. Eventually, in just a dressing gown, he walked straight past me and picked a piece of fruit up off the trolley.

‘I don’t think you can underestimate how easy it would be for me to kill you right now,’ I said quietly. I think it sounded confident and collected.

Kozlov froze quickly, but he didn’t turn around.

‘I wondered how long it would take for you to join us, Tom.’ His accent was deep but he spoke perfect English. His response threw me for a second but I wasn’t going to let him know that.

‘Do you mind if I sit?’ he asked casually. I knew he wanted to edge nearer to his gun, but I played along.

‘Of course, please do.’

‘I think you must agree that if I wanted you dead, you would be right now,’ I continued, coolly.

‘I am not sure you have the heart to kill a man,’ he replied. He was now on his bed, his hand under the pillow.

‘I think you underestimate me.’

‘I never underestimate anyone,’ he replied. ‘It’s a weakness!’ and with that he drew his gun out from under the pillow and aimed it at me.

I didn’t flinch for a second. I gave him a wry smile and for once, I could see his confusion.

‘I’m impressed with you Tom. I heard you ran away to Mexico but I must have been wrong. It’s a shame all your hard work will go to waste.’

He stood up and pulled the trigger. As he did it I accepted whatever would happen, would happen. Luckily for me, nothing happened. He looked down, confused for a second and when he looked back at me I was waving his magazine at him.

‘That’s the problem with you, Kozlov. No imagination.’ I picked up my gun gently and pointed it at him. ‘Now, do I have your attention?’

‘Completely.’

‘I want you to call your brother now, and get him in here. I threw him my phone and added, ‘In English.’

Kozlov looked concerned for the first time. He wanted to get control back but he had been outwitted once and didn’t want to test me again.

‘Igor, come here,’ he said and then threw the phone back at me.

‘When he comes in I want you to ask for his gun and then as soon as you have it, you drop it in on the floor. Try anything and I will put a bullet through the back of his head. Underestimating me again would be a very big mistake.’

He glared at me, but nodded silently. I unlatched the door and stood behind it where he would not see me. Hopefully. This was the make or break moment. I could hear footsteps approaching and held my gun up towards Kozlov. He was likely to try anything. I was definitely out of my depth, but I wasn’t going to show him that.

The door opened noisily and I slid back to avoid it hitting me. If it had I may've be forced to use my gun. That wasn’t part of the plan.

‘What do you want?’ a voice called from the doorway. A slightly larger and uglier version of the first Kozlov strolled in, oblivious to the fact I was there. He was swaying slightly. Had he been drinking? If so, did that help me or not?

‘Give me your gun,’ called the first simply.

‘Why..?’

‘Just give me your gun.’

Igor looked confused but reached into his jacket and pulled out a cold, black weapon. There was no room for error here. Either he could turn and attack me if he knew I was there or the first Kozlov could shoot me when handed the gun. I had no doubt he knew how to use a weapon a lot better than I did. Igor handed it over and to my delight his brother dropped it on the floor and kicked it out of reach of both of them.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ I heard Igor shout.

‘Exactly what he is told,’ I said quietly.

Igor spun round fast and raised an eyebrow at me. He could see me holding the gun but if he was feeling fear, he did not show it. I had a sudden realisation of what I was doing. I was holding two of the most dangerous men in the world at gun point. It occurred to me that I could shoot them both dead and track Emma down, hoping their men wouldn’t follow us. I knew I could never do that. I was not a murderer and I would have to find another way to deal with them.

Igor shot an angry look at his brother for allowing him to be called into a trap. I had to keep in character. Confidence.

‘Please feel free to sit down, you will be more comfortable, I’m sure,’ I offered, picking up the Igor’s gun as I did so.

They did as they were told and both settle on the bed.

‘I have a little problem,’ I said. ‘For whatever reason, you have a problem with my wife and that problem is now my problem. And because I have a problem and a gun, it is now your problem.’

I paused and tried to stay calm. I think it was going quite well.

‘I want you to tell me what your problem with Emma is and what you have done.’

Neither of them spoke.

‘Do I need to give you an incentive?’ I asked, lowering the gun and pointing at Igor’s knee.

‘You're out of your depth, Thomas,’ Igor muttered, clearly not wanting to lose a knee-cap.

‘Your brother made the mistake of underestimating me, don’t be as foolish,’ I replied, ignoring his brother’s scowling.

‘OK, what do you want to hear? We kidnapped your little girl and she will stay in our custody until we have everything we want. Does that make you happy?’

‘Actually, yes,’ I replied, pulling out my phone and indicating I had been recording the message the whole time. I pressed a few buttons and muttered ‘send,’ before returning my attention to them.

‘You think you can walk in here and save her. Go ahead, kill us. You will never know where she is. We have men that watch her and unless she does everything we say, they will kill her, whether we're alive or not. Understand that.’

I stayed silent for a second.

‘Do you agree that I could shoot you both dead here if I chose to?’

They both nodded.

‘And do you both believe in honour and pride?’ I continued.

‘Of course,’ chipped in Igor, taking control of their side of the negotiations.

I lowered my gun and tucked it into the back of my trousers. I felt a lot more nervous without it.

‘Well then, I have a proposition for you.’