Deadly Interpretations

by Andie Alexander

  “I’m worried about tonight. What if they try to kill me?”

  “I’m going to try to come with you, because Mr. Wing trusts me.”

  That would never work and he should’ve known that. Boris hated him. “No, because then we’ll both be killed. I’ll go alone.”

  He reached up and caressed my cheek. “Harley, I want to protect you, and I know more about fighting than you do, even if you can pin me on the ground when you get lucky. Don’t keep me out on this. I don’t want you alone in there.”

  I sat back and sighed. “I can’t handle all this drama at one time. My emotions are all over the place, not knowing if I’m going to live or die, and not knowing if I’m going to be alone or in jail when this is over. If I am alone, I’ll be a sitting duck.”

  The waitress brought us our sandwiches and drinks and walked away.

  “You’ll never be alone again.” He lifted my hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “I promise with all my heart. You’re going to live, if I have anything to say about it. If you do run away, I’ll worried because we have no way of keeping an eye on you there. If that guard of ours, Anatoli, tips his hand, we’ve lost our only help. I don’t like it, but don’t know what else to do. We can’t bug you, so I’ll try to come with you.”

  I couldn’t let him intervene. It wasn’t him they wanted. “I’ll be fine, I hope. Don’t come with me. I don’t want you hurt.”

  “If it’s any consolation, you’re very tough and have a personality made of brick. It only tumbles when something hits you very personally. Otherwise, it’s solid.”

  “Thank you, I guess.” I picked up the sandwich and smiled. “I’m glad you’re my friend. You’re very logical.”

  “We’re back to being friends again, but nothing more?”

  “Never was. I have to protect your job, remember?” I winked and he smiled.

  “So did you find him?” Jim asked and took a bite of sandwich.

  “Who?”

  “Felix. I know you want to talk to him. I saw you hunting for him.”

  “Did you also see me alone with a Russian guard who wanted to take my necklace to fix it?”

  He stopped chewing. “When?”

  “When Miss Russian Federation was flipping her hair toward you and you were touching her arm, her side, and her butt.”

  “I wasn’t touching her butt. She was blocking my view to you and I was trying to move her out of the way. What happened?”

  I leaned closer. “One of the guards tried to take my necklace to fix it. Kent walked in and saved me. The guard left me alone, but he might try to get it back again. I don’t think it’s transmitting like they want it to.”

  “No kidding. I’m really sorry about not having your back on that one. It’s my fault and I should’ve moved Yelena away more forcefully. It’s all my fault.”

  I sat back and took a drink. “Good answer. I think I’m training you well.”

  “We’re not going back to that, are we?”

  I started to laugh. “It all depends. Do you need to be trained?”

  “Actually, I should’ve learned my lesson when you put your heel on my foot at the party. That still hurts and I think you gave me a bruise.”

  “I’m really sorry about that, but you deserved it.”

  “You’re right,” he said. “I’m not in charge of this relationship and never should’ve thought that. I guess it took me a while to figure that out, but you made your point—more than once.”

  “Good. Even though you have your status, remember, I’m a person too, and no one should make fun of me. Ever.”

  “Noted, and processed,” he said. “I think it even got through this time.” He lifted my hand and held onto it. “I respect you more and more every day, and really do love you. Want me to show you how much?”

  The conversation always went back to sex with him.

  I pulled my hand from his. “Old habits die hard.”

  “At least that’s not a movie title…yet. Just put it all out of your head, and remember, tonight, that no matter what happens, I’m in your corner.”

  I shook my head. “I’m worried about you, too. If they think you’re a threat—”

  “Don’t worry. I have people watching out for me, because one way to make you participate is to hurt me, too. That’s why I wanted to fight with you in front of Boris, so he’d leave me alone and not have you worry about me, but the department thinks otherwise. Dr. White is insisting we date.”

  “He’s so full of himself. Doesn’t he know I’d be better off alone?”

  “No, because with backing, Boris is less likely to hurt you. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re probably right.” I finished my sandwich and drink while Jim paid the bill. We then headed back to work with our arms around each other. As soon as he dropped me off at my desk, he gave me a big kiss, right in front of Yelena.

  The woman was in shock. “You? You’re dating him?”

  Jim backed away, lingering on my eyes for an extra moment before addressing her. “Our date’s off, Yelena.” He whistled as he went to his desk and threw me a kiss. I smiled, playing the girlfriend I had to be.

  “What happened?” Yelena asked.

  “Lover’s quarrel,” I said. “It happened over the weekend, but we’re good again.”

  “I see that.” She stared over at Jim, who was putting his headphones on his head and talking to Hassam. “You’re one lucky girl. He’s a real catch.”

  “He sure is.” I put on my headphones and went back to work.

  We worked through the afternoon, and it seemed like both Mr. Wing and Boris were just agitating Felix. No matter what was said, they always turned everything back to Felix, blaming Germany.

  The Secretary-General even noticed and reprimanded them more than once for their behavior. I hated having to translate nasty words, but it was my job. World Peace was the goal but not today.

  Chapter 32

  After work, as I was getting my purse from my desk, a man from the Russian delegation approached me.

  “Miss Black, Boris wants to see you.”

  “Who are you?” I had to make it personal. It was my new mantra. I just wished I’d done that to the guard wanting to take my necklace.

  “My name is Oleg,” the man said. “I work with Boris and he wants to have a word with you.”

  So, he was Oleg. The nasty, conniving, rapist Oleg. I should’ve guessed, because he was the one in the bar when Elizabeth was on the floor of the bathroom.

  I eyed the man up and down, realizing the guy made football players look like pansies. He had dark hair and dark eyes sunken into his head, giving him a very evil look.

  There was no way Elizabeth could’ve fought against him. I wished I had a knife so I could castrate him for what he did to her.

  Jim walked up behind me and took hold of my hand. “I’ll go with you, sweetheart. We have a date tonight, remember?”

  Oleg held him back, his hand on Jim’s chest. “No. She goes alone. She’ll be out for an hour, and then will be returned to her apartment.”

  This was it. I swallowed hard, and Jim pulled me to him, hugging me. “You’ll be fine,” he whispered into my ear.

  I nodded, but didn’t want to go. My life could be on the line and I knew it. I liked my life and had so many opportunities ahead of me. I wanted to see Jim’s house in Arizona. I even thought about marrying him, having his kids, and settling down. Life didn’t seem fair.

  He leaned back with a smile and then kissed me. I tried to smile in return, but it wasn’t going to work. His eyes tried to tell me something, but I couldn’t read it. He really had to work on telling me things with his eyes.

  As Oleg took my arm and we left the office, I saw Sami running toward the glass enclosure with a gun in his hand. Oleg yanked on my arm and I had to leave, knowing Sami wanted to kill someone. I couldn’t even see if Jim was the one he wanted, either.

  Oleg dragged me to Boris’ limo in the parking garage, makin
g me think I was going to my death. With every inch he made me walk, I felt like I was being surrounded by sharks, forced off the gangplank. I just hoped they told the story at my funeral, because I intended to haunt each and every one of these people until they died of fright.

  After Oleg pushed me into the car and shut the door behind me, he got into the front and the car took off.

  Boris was seated beside me in the back of his limousine. “We need your help again. This won’t take much time, and I promise you’ll be back with your boyfriend before long.” He spoke only in Russian to me.

  I put my fears aside and took a deep breath. “I think he’s making steak tonight. I wouldn’t want to miss that.” I replied in Russian, so he’d understand everything.

  Boris laughed. “No, you don’t want to miss that. Mr. Wing and I have some things to discuss and you have to swear to secrecy.”

  I looked him right into the eye. “You know I will.” I wondered if they thought about the commune and knew what I knew. If so, I was in more danger than ever. If they knew I was in league with the DHS, my fate would be sealed.

  “We’re going to guarantee your secrecy,” he said with an evil grin. “Not only do we have a guarantee from upstate, but we’re going to make sure you understand.”

  Upstate. The commune. He knew I knew about it, but I put shock on my face. “What about upstate?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. I’m sure you know about your brother and nephew and how we’re holding them hostage.”

  I could tell in a split second that he didn’t know if I knew or not, but I had to play the game. I forced tears to my eyes, thankful that Jim had made me practice that skill.

  “You’re holding them hostage? Jonquil and which brother?”

  “Scotty.” He studied my face. “You don’t know about that, do you?”

  I shook my head. “Not until now. What have you done to them and why?”

  “Nothing…yet. Play like a nice girl and they’ll be fine.” He looked up ahead. “Now, this will make sure you play nice, because this could happen to Scotty and Jonquil.” He touched my arm with a puzzled look on his face. “Why would anyone name their son after a flower?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” I muttered. “But please don’t hurt them. They’re only innocent kids.”

  “Ah, but this one we’re about to see isn’t innocent. Let it all soak in, Harley.”

  The driver pulled into a driveway, lowered his window, and honked the horn. Boris wound down my window and pointed. “Watch what happens if you don’t do as we say.”

  Felix walked out of the front door of his house, still dressed in the same outfit he’d been wearing for work.

  He looked right at me with a smile. “Harley. Did you finally come to see me?”

  The driver in our car pointed a gun out the window and Felix started running back into the house. “Call the police.” The gun went off and Felix fell. My hands flew to my mouth in shock, drawing in a quick breath. His wife ran out of the house and screamed as we drove away.

  “You’ll be quiet about everything.” Boris’ tone didn’t change from before. I couldn’t understand how he could be so evil.

  I turned toward him, in utter shock from what I’d just seen, the sting of tears filling my eyes. “You just killed him. Why?”

  “He didn’t like our way of doing things,” Boris said. “He also was your friend. We know your weaknesses, Harley. Friends and children. Probably even helpless pets.” Like Elizabeth’s pets. I wondered if maybe they did have a mole in MI6, after all.

  He continued. “You’ll do anything to protect them. Remember that when you think of Scotty and the boy-flower.”

  He was right, but I couldn’t show it on my face. I pointed back toward the house, the tears starting down my cheeks. “But you just killed him. I wouldn’t have told anyone.”

  “We know that, but this was just extra insurance. What we have to discuss will go nowhere else. We have other ways to make sure you keep it quiet and don’t you ever forget it.”

  “I’ll keep quiet.” I couldn’t believe they’d actually go through with it. This would cause an international incident once Germany found out. Felix was loved everywhere, and there would be mourners all over the world ready to lash out at the killer. I knew I had to do whatever they said, just to save the commune. Poor Jonquil and Scotty. They probably had no idea what was right or wrong any more.

  That’s when it hit me. I was truly alone, dealing with all these evil people who might want to kill millions, according to Jim. I missed him and wished he could be in the car with me.

  I’d been thrown to the wolves and there was no way I’d make it out alive. The fate of the entire world was on my shoulders, and I couldn’t let anyone down. Speaking of pressure.

  We drove to Boris’ home and the driver pulled into the garage. I was helped out of the car by Oleg, who grinned as he lowered his eyes over my body. I cringed just thinking about it, because I was sure he did the same thing to Elizabeth. I was very happy that Jim had given me different birth control pills, even though I was sure the ones I was taking at the moment were placebos. If I was raped in the future, I could cope, and wouldn’t have to worry about having a baby that was a product of a rape.

  As soon as I walked into the house, one of Oleg’s men searched me, and then ran a wand over me.

  “No bug,” the man said in Russian.

  “None? But Yelena—” Boris cut his sentence short, staring at me. “Are you wearing any feminine protection?”

  So Yelena was doing their dirty work. “That’s kind of a personal question.” I crossed my arms.

  He moved up closer to my face—so close, I could smell the vodka on his breath and see the hairs sticking out of his bulbous nose.

  “If you don’t tell me,” he said. “I’ll have Oleg search you. It won’t be pleasant, either.”

  I sighed. “Yes, I am. I bought some in the restroom.”

  Boris nodded. “I see. Do you need another one?”

  “Yes, I do, actually. Do you have any in your personal stash?” I batted my eyelashes, but he didn’t get the joke.

  “Why not use one in your purse?” he asked.

  “I used all of them already. You never know when you’re going to need those things.” This discussion was disgusting, to say the least, but I had to play along or I’d be killed.

  “Oleg,” Boris yelled. “Take Miss Black to the restroom.” He turned to me. “I think you’ll find what you need in the bathroom.”

  “Thank you, sir.” I followed Oleg toward the bathroom, just flexing my fists in case this guy got fresh. He opened the door and pointed.

  “I think you’ll find what you need in there.”

  “Thank you.”

  I started inside, but he grabbed me and leaned toward my ear. “After you’re done with Boris, I think we should have some fun upstairs.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “In my condition? That’s disgusting.”

  “Oh yeah. Maybe in a few days?”

  “I don’t think so,” I said. “I don’t think my boyfriend would like that.”

  Oleg laughed. “Forget the boyfriend. He’s on death row anyway.”

  “He is?” I asked. “You’re going to hurt Billy?”

  His eyes flashed in anger. “You’re not with Billy anymore, so don’t play games with me, although he would’ve been fun to kill. No, it’s Jim. We can’t wait, either.” He laughed in a deep evil voice then shut the door behind him. I heard a lock turn, knowing I was stuck in the small room. What kind of builder would create such a home with no way to get out of the bathroom if locked in from the outside? One on Boris’ payroll.

  Chapter 33

  I turned toward the window and tried to lift it, but it was nailed shut. I searched through the bottom of the sink and hunted for something to remove the nails. Nothing but feminine stuff, which made wimpy weapons. So, I had to play along. I took care of my problem and turned the doorknob. It was locked, as I suspected, so I
knocked.

  Oleg opened the door and I walked out. There was no way I’d give him any indication that I wanted anything to do with him. He was scummy. Plain and simple. It was just a shame I couldn’t find a gun or a knife in the bathroom. Why don’t people know to stock those things? They’re just as important as everything else to hostages. Everyone knew that.

  I was taken into the same office we’d been in on the night of the party. Mr. Wing and Boris were waiting for me, and all I could think about was Jim. Was he dead already? I was worried for his life, but tried to remain calm. Maybe Oleg was lying.

  Boris motioned for two other guards to close the door and I wondered which one of the men was Anatoli. I’d have thought he’d wear a nametag or something.

  The lack of nicotine was really getting to my head, thinking of such things.

  “Miss Black,” Boris said, pulling me back to the present. “Mr. Wing and I want to have another meeting, as you know. This has to remain secret and you promised secrecy.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He went to speaking in Russian, while Mr. Wing spoke only in Chinese and I interpreted between the two.

  “Our men are ready to set up bombs in various cities in the United States,” Boris said.

  I hesitated, staring at the man. He glared back at me, and I turned to Mr. Wing, telling him what Boris had said, but in Chinese.

  Mr. Wing grinned and nodded. “Good. Our men are ready for the diversion. We have various gangs willing to help, and even if the U.S. government does find them, it’ll be too late. They don’t know where or when, and the gangs are sneaky.”

  “Which cities?” Boris asked.

  “New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Minneapolis, Denver, Kansas City, and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.” I tried to memorize all seven cities and places as I spoke, but was so worried, I knew I’d forget one.

  “All in shopping malls?”

  “Yes,” Mr. Wing said. “The biggest one in the city or outskirts, except for Central Park. There, it’ll be where they play chess and checkers. It’s ironic because chess was invented in China.”