The Beginning: In the Families Footsteps (A Terri Walker Series Book 1)

by Robert Segulin

  I took their wallets and their photo and as I was turning to go back to my car, Mikhail’s men came in the lot and at a very fast speed. When they got to where the two were laying dead. The one looked up and just said, “nice shooting Miss Walker. Are you ok? Sorry we were stopped by a stalled car was at the last intersection.”

  I nodded with a yes then said, “just shook up, do you two mind much following me to my place, so I can get a drink. I definitely need one right about now.”

  We drove to my building and as I pulled into my space, I saw a group of men coming my way. I thought that I think today may just be my last. Then in the middle of them out came Mikhail. He was in the middle of them and came running now towards my car.

  As he came closer, he asked me, “are you ok Terri? My men called and told me what happened. You are a very brave woman and I am thankful that one of your past friends taught you how to shoot. I owe him.”

  He gave me a hug that I thought would squeeze all the air out of my body. Then I said, “sorry to get you worried but I am confused why would anyone want to shoot me. I didn’t even know them. Do you?”

  That was my opening to get him to talk about Laurie and what part he plays in her disappearance.

  Then Mikhail said, “Terri lets go to your place and we can talk.”

  I nodded with a yes but then said, “who are these men, are they all your security?”

  He shook his head no then said, “they are now yours. They will be guarding you night and day. Terri you mean too much to me, and I want nothing to happen to you.”

  I looked at him and said, “like being taken!”

  His face became pale and said, “you know of my previous friend Laurie?”

  I said, “yes, but not much. Your employee Lana told me some of what you and the rest feel may have happened to her, when she came running with me. Were you ever going to tell me about her or just hope that nothing happens to me and you wouldn’t have to.”

  He gave me a look and said, “we will talk after we are in your place.”

  I nodded with a yes and we made our way up to it.

  After we arrived at my door, I thought that just maybe these guys are qualified enough to do an electronic sweep of the rooms. I knew that I had to use the switch as I enter the room. On the door frame is a small button or switch. That will turn off and then turn back on all my electronics surveillance things that are scatter around the place. Bedroom, living room, kitchen, and yes even the bathroom. Each room has a switch, in case of, well, some privacy.

  I opened the door and let all the men and Mikhail in, and as I entered the door way, I flipped the switch. Now all electronics are off and when they leave, I will turn them back on. I know that Mikhail will probably want to stay so we can have that talk that he said we would have after we got up to my unit.

  I was right because Mikhail then said to me, “Terri I hope that you don’t mind but these men are going to do electronics sweep of your unit. That way you and I will be sure that there is no one listening in on your privacy. Because also after the terrible situation that you were in today, don’t you want to be sure that no one is listening or watching you?”

  I chuckled to my self because I know people are watching and listening to my every movement. Here and when I am out.

  His men did their job and as they were leaving, I went to the door to let them out. I made it look as if I was looking in both directions when they left and then I flipped the switch back on. Now I am secure again.

  Time to get this guy talking and soon. I want to know everything that he knows or feels he knows of Laurie’s disappearance. And to have the whole conversation on video and recorded. I know that he may say some mushy stuff to me, but that is all part of the job.

  Chapter 27

  For what seemed like a lifetime, we both stayed silent. He looked at me with puppy dog eyes, and mine well, like daggers.

  So, I went first. “Mikhail, who was this woman and how close were you two? Lana told me that the rest of your people felt that you were smothering her and that is why she left. But you said to one that you felt that she was taken. Taken by either an associate or competitor. So, you thought they would soon use her as a bargaining chip in some type of deal. Am I correct so far?”

  He cleared his throat and responded to me and said, “Terri first I want you to know that I have much stronger feelings for you than any other woman that I may have been with in the past. I really don’t know if she left because of me or because of another that wants to hurt me by hurting her. I have made a mistake by not guarding her as I am you now. If you feel that my people are taking up too much of your space, please let me and them know. I only want what is best for you. Do you understand what I am trying to say, and what I am trying to do for you so far?”

  I nodded with a yes, then started to say something but he interrupted me by saying, “Terri what I am trying to say is that it has only been a short time since we met. Nothing has happened between us, only a quick kiss. But I am so much head over heals for you. Yes, you can call it love or an infatuation. I really don’t know yet, but I do want to know for sure someday soon.”

  Sitting there hearing him talk was uncomfortable because I know that my brother and the general were getting an ear full now. So, I shifted in my seat and said, “Mikhail, I feel a special attraction to you also. I have no idea how special just yet that it really is, but we can take our special relationship slow and see where it goes. OK?”

  With a huge smile he nodded with a yes, I feel at this moment he was a bit choked up after me saying special relationship, and not that I don’t want any part of him.

  And I do have a special attraction to him, if he wasn’t a crime boss, then maybe, just maybe this relationship would be real instead of one of necessity. One to bring down a newly forming syndicate and finding Laurie.

  Then I decided to as they say hit him right between the eyes with my next question. I gave him a stern look and asked Mikhail, “did you have anything to do with that girl going missing? And who are you and what do you do?”

  Mikhail sat straight up for a minute and with no smile from him either, only that sheepish look on his face he responded with, “I am Mikhail Petrov, and my father is Alexander Petrov, he still lives in Russia and is what you might say a very powerful and controlling man. He rules an empire there and is feared by many, even many in the government.”

  I gave him no indication that I was satisfied with what he has told me so far, I motioned for him to continue. And he did with, “in Russia he rules his people with an iron fist and here in your country I am the controlling figure in the family business. But even though I command respect and trust, I am not like my father in being what some there and here call him a monster.”

  Now it was my turn to shift a bit in my seat. I am hearing first hand now of possibly all about the Russian Mafia both in Russia and here in the United States. I must remain calm and let him tell me all that he feels that he can without giving up too much of the family business. And I bet that Charlie is sitting on the edge of his seat right about now. He is now hearing some of the inner workings of the Russian Mafia and possibly who else is in this new Crime Syndicate. I bet that he lets the romance stuff go for now, if he gets what they need.

  I didn’t want to push Mikhail to much about his business, but I just needed a little more so that I and headquarters can put a better connection of leaders and others, of this new group.

  On his own without me prodding for any more Mikhail started again and said, “I and my family own an import and export business, which does business all over the world not only in our two countries. We have been doing this for some time and along the way yes, we have made some enemies. No business dealing is clean. That is why I feel that what happened to Laurie, may happen to you. So, the reason for more security at this time, especially after your encounter with those two that you shot today. I fear that more will try and again Terri I am fond of you and that is why I think that they want to take you as they
did Laurie, leverage. I assume that they have not gotten anything good, so that is why they came after you.”

  I then asked him, “do you think that they may kill her or have already?”

  He shook his head with a no and said, “if they wanted to take her and kill her, I would have known already. You see to do that would be a warning or an example of sorts letting me know that they can get anyone that is close to me. But the problem was that Laurie didn’t want any security, she said that she could take care of herself. Now with you I would agree with you can defend yourself, but I feel that she was not as good as you.”

  “So, Mikhail, if you feel that she is still alive, why are you not trying to find that poor girl. Who knows what she might be going through with whomever took her. And do you have any ideas of who? You feel you know a reason but where could she be?” I said with a sad face and breathing hard with each sentence that I said.

  I have put the word out with the entire Russian community and nothing. I have asked the new associates that are forming a new company with me and others, and they say that they do not know anything of any woman being taken. Now I know that is a lie already because I have asked and many that I know have asked each group that I am getting with to form this new business the same question, if you know tell me, if you have her, what do you want, and as of this day, nothing.”

  Then I asked a question that I hoped would be answered but knew that it probably wouldn’t. And when I was asking it, I could see Mikhail’s face turn cold, not a mad cold but a face that knew the answer to my question but was not going to tell me what I wanted, I mean needed to hear. I asked, “Mikhail, who are these people that you are doing a new business deal with, and how do you not know that it wasn’t one of them?”

  He stumbled with his words at first but then came right out and said, “Terri, that is a question that I cannot and will not answer. What goes on with my family and any business is ours to do with what we choose to. So, you question will not get an answer as you may want but let me tell you that with any knowledge would come even more trouble I feel, so again my love, the answer is that it is none of your business and I do mean that with affection and not being a monster as my father is. He would have just walked from the room with nothing from him and I am not him.”

  I knew that I should just end this whole conversation for now before he becomes his father. I leaned over and gave him a quick but passionate kiss and told him that we should have this night end on a good note and we can see each other tomorrow.

  He gave a nod and had a smile that seemed to go from one side to the other side of his face, I now know that a little here and there and I will get all the information that I want.

  I let him out the door and as I did, I noticed that at either end of the hall was a man sitting in the chair that was there. I looked at Mikhail and all that he did was shrug his shoulders and said, “I will protect you, I will not take no for an answer as I did with Laurie.”

  Then he walked down the hall and I went back into my unit and headed straight for the iPad to check in.

  Chapter 28

  As I waited for the meeting to start, I went over all that Mikhail had told me of his family and this new syndicate that was about to begin here in my country. Because we were waiting for the general to get on line with us, my brother Charlie could only say as we waited, “good job Agent Terri Walker, the general was correct in picking you for this assignment, but please be careful, I know that you feel that you have him under control but remember that he is his father in some ways.”

  Just then the general came online with Charlie and me, and said, “great job Agent Walker, you are getting more information from that guy then Agent Laurie did. But in her defense, she did have to start at the beginning and you have just picked up the ball and heading for the endzone. But remember that you can fumble the ball and end up with Agent Laurie or worse.”

  Without hesitation I said, “yes general, I do understand, and I am taking all the precautions that I can. The hardest thing is to seem as a civilian with skills that I learned at the shooting range.”

  He injected with, “Agent, just be yourself and if you come across to some as a bad ass girl, then just tell them you had a hard life and had to become more than a beauty contest winner.”

  Charlie laughed at that statement and responded with, “Agent Walker is good looking enough for a contestant but in no way have I seen or heard any wanting to be one. I think she is right where she wants to be and belongs.”

  I then said, “you never know I just might become a contestant with my next assignment.” Then gave a chuckle and then the general spoke.

  Then the general expressed to me, “Agent Walker, I mean Terri. Let’s not be so formal Ok?”

  Charlie and I agreed, then the general continued with, “Terri, you are a skilled agent but remember what Mikhail said about his father being a monster, he was not exaggerating one bit. His father is very powerful in Russia and in most of the world too. He is evil and would shoot a person in the street and not worry about any repercussions from the law, because he owns the streets and almost all law and governmental agencies. Money may not buy happiness, but it sure does by power. And as they say the apple does not fall far from the tree is true also about Mikhail. He has not done harm to anyone that we know of by his own hand, but he does have his people do many horrific things to those that oppose him or are not loyal. With that you should know that it may just be possible that he had something to do with Agent Laurie’s disappearance, because he would not need any body as a sign if he was the one that had her taken and possible killed. He may just have found out somehow that she was with the government. So, be careful.”

  We talked for an hour or so longer and as the other two told their stories and theories of what is happening here, the more that I knew that the key to this whole thing is Mikhail and his family.

  No one with that much clout in the world would not be able to find her, or at least know about the whole situation. I am going to be careful, but I am also going to move a little faster in the direction of some of his associates. I know that anyone who will try and take advantage of me well knowing that in theory I belong to Mikhail is not a friend but a possible enemy, one that may just have done harm to Laurie or at least as Mikhail feels, be keeping her for future negotiations.

  We all decided to continue tomorrow after more information comes forward from me, Charlie or any other asset that we have involved. We all signed off and I went to bed knowing that tomorrow will be interesting.

  Chapter 29

  In the morning as I woke up, I heard a knock at the door. When I went to peek through the eye hole in the door, I saw that it was Lana, my running partner and security that Mikhail has for me.

  I opened the door for her and with a smile she came in with a large box with a bow on it. I gave her a look and she said, “a present from Mikhail. He hopes that you like it and it fits.”

  I looked confused for a second because of Lana’s smirk when she said that he hopes that it fits. We sat down on the couch and I started to open the box when Lana said, “this was not my idea at all, so please if you are mad with the gift be mad at Mikhail.”

  I now opened the box and I took out a form fitting bullet proof vest. By form fitting I mean a place to have my chest fit comfortably not having the vest make my chest look flat. I looked at Lana and all I could do was laugh, then with that she broke out in laughter too.

  Together we could not stop for some time. I held it up to me and said, “so how did he know my breast size?”

  Lana said, “I made a guess at that for him, since he admitted that you two are fine together but not intimate yet. I hope I guessed right, if not you can always have Mikhail buy you a smaller or larger size vest, or maybe even breast.”

  Again, we laughed, and I said, “Lana, I so much enjoy you being around, not that the others aren’t qualified, but they lack the personal touch in security as you do. We went jogging together, talk, and now you buy me b
ullet proof lingerie.”

  I gave her a hug and thanked her for it and told her that I will have it on when I get dressed. I then said, “go get some coffee or tea, and I should be ready in a few.”

  With a nod she went into the kitchen and I went to get ready.

  I was dressed and went into the kitchen where Lana already had coffee in a cup for me some fruit cut up and a scrambled egg on a plate. And with a smile said, “oh my Lana, what have you done? You are security not my chef.”

  She smiled back and said, “Miss Walker, I mean Terri, you are more than a person that I am hired to make sure of your safety, I feel that we have become friends also, no?”

  I could only go to her and give her a hug and say, “yes, yes, we are friends too.”

  After we ate the two of us were to embark on another day, hopefully one without any questionable people following or shooting at us. When we got to the door, she went out first.

  She looked both ways and then motioned for me to come out of my room.

  I noticed what she wanted to see, and that was the two men on either end of the hallway sitting in a chair, just waiting for us to leave.

  As we were walking down the hall towards the elevator, I asked Lana, “do you or Mikhail know something that may happen soon and that is why so much extra protection?”

  She without a smile said, “yes, he has knowledge that someone in his organization is a traitor and has confessed to knowing that they want Mikhail to back down as the head of the new company that is being formed as we speak. I have no idea that any harm is directed at you but with the other friend of Mikhail missing he is not taking any chances with your safety.”

  I responded with, “but another thought that I came up with as I was falling to sleep was, what if Mikhail himself did away with that woman. What if he knows that he doesn’t need proof of her death because he caused it, either by his own hand or by another that was directed too. After all he did say that his father was a monster and just maybe he is also.”