Jia took the glass of water from Katia with a nod and said, “Those monsters killed my son, Semion, and I’m convinced they’re also responsible for my sister’s disappearance, and Larry’s, and that doctor. Not to mention the loss of a very profitable business for my family. I want justice, not a distant relative.”
Semion folded his hands in his lap and said, “Jia, you know I respect family above all else but you must believe me when I tell you I have reasons for keeping Pembury isolated, for now. There are too many prying eyes and too much is at stake. We can’t yet make any trouble there. Your continued cooperation in this regard is appreciated. It has also been rewarded, has it not?”
“Nothing can reward me for what I’ve lost,” Jia said, “Larry’s businesses are not replacement for my son, or my sister.”
Katia tapped the rim of her glass, flashing a hand sign that asked permission from her father to end this old bat’s bullshit. She was growing impatient and couldn’t understand how her father could be so accommodating with this rude suka.
Semion tried again, “The Hogan boy is going to Canada to visit his great uncle. I’m interested in that boy and want to talk to him. It’s premature for us to touch Pembury, but we can certainly touch Canada if we’re careful. Are you interested in being a part of this, or are you not?”
Katia could tell her father was finally getting close to his limit as well. He rarely raised his voice. Typically he just raised his finger instead, and things were resolved quickly.
She smiled at Semion and put her arm on the back of the couch. Her fingers were not far from the hidden panel’s release catch.
Katia casually looked down at her tablet, which showed a video feed from outside her office. She saw her assistant sitting at his desk, and Jia’s bodyguard sitting across the room in one of her reception chairs. Her assistant would have his hand less than an inch from his pistol. The bodyguard would not be a problem.
Katia let her mind wander a bit as she looked at the huge dark man. He was wearing a full length leather coat, and had a shiny bald head. She wondered what would happen if her assistant failed. What if everyone’s guns jammed? How would she fair against such a large man as Jia’s bodyguard? Could she disable him and then toy with him, or would her hands be full just trying to kill him? What if they were naked when they fought…?
Amusing as this train of thought was, she put down her glass of beer and willed herself back to the present. Maybe Jia had been right about the kvass. Or maybe my father has me working too many late nights, she thought.
Jia said, “What I want is to go to Pembury and kill everyone on that damn farm but if you’re only offering me the boy when you’re done with him, and the uncle, well that’s acceptable. For now.”
Semion looked at her, and at his daughter. He folded his arms in front of his chest and thought for a moment.
Katia had her thumb on the release catch. The MSP assassin’s pistol hidden in the back of the couch had a round in the chamber, safety off, and the hammer was already pulled back.
Finally, Semion pressed his massive hands together in front of him as if in prayer and said, “Jia, please trust me when I tell you that I am just now giving you a gift. Speaking frankly, your son was an idiot. He stole accelerator formula from me with some of your other Tiandihui gang mudaks, and then had the balls to try to sell it back to me. I should have castrated all of them. Also, that was some really unsavory shit you and your sister had going on in Pembury and I can’t blame that family for torching your son and somehow taking out your sister and Larry. If they did it, which I still doubt, at least not single handedly. You’ve been handed Larry’s very lucrative dealings worth at least…,” Katia held up four fingers, “…four million a year. More than fair by any measure. And let us not forget you are still in business in the states because you are of use to me.”
Semion smiled at his daughter. He knew she wanted him to succeed but would also be happy if this went off the rails. He wasn’t entirely sure he didn’t want the same, and would enjoy watching her work. Soon enough, my lovely lethal daughter, he thought, Soon enough.
He continued, “Jia, I want you to go to Canada and retrieve young Ben Hogan for me. You have to be discrete and you can’t bring an army. Just you and my best asset, and your associate in the lobby if you wish. We’ll take advantage of the border crossings your snakehead has already established for smuggling in your workers so there won’t be any flags raised.”
Semion took a drink from his bottle of water and then said, “This Quebec job has to be done with local talent and I need your gift for motivation and creative problem solving up there. We can’t draw attention to this. It absolutely has to look like an unfortunate accident happened. Beyond that, what you do with his uncle is your business. Do this for me and I will hand you Pembury on a platter when the time is right, which should be soon after you’re successful.”
Katia massaged the button on the back of the couch. She wanted her father’s persuasion to work, of course, but it had been a while since he had allowed her to get her hands dirty. Katia picked the small triangle gang tattoo just below the woman’s left ear as her target. Thinking more about it, she might forego the gun altogether and just snap this bitch’s neck with her bare hands.
Jia wasn’t anyone’s errand boy, and she certainly had no interest in chasing off to the cold north in January to kidnap a kid and an old man.
She felt her temper rise and had a less than pleasant reply ready, but as she looked up to answer the big Russian she saw something in Semion’s face.
Cursing her old senses for letting her down, she hoped it wasn’t too late. Jia wanted to walk out of this room with a deal they could both live with, but she still felt the hem of her dress and the flexible knife hidden there. It would be a shame to be forced to kill his daughter in front of him if this conversation went badly.
“Mr. Mogevich,” she said with a slight bow, “I must apologize. This business with my family has affected my judgement, and my manners. When I found out about the theft, and that you were behind Orthus, we immediately told my son to return your property. I was as shocked as you to find out he hadn’t. It was probably the doing of that American idiot he was running around with. Still, we take full responsibility for that unfortunate situation. You have been nothing but fair with us. I would be honored to carry out this task for you, and for Katia.” She put her water glass on the table and smiled at the girl as she planted her back foot and picked a target just below Katia’s ear. She said, “Pembury shall wait as long as you deem it necessary, of course.”
There was a long pause. No one spoke.
Semion exhaled loudly and smiled at his daughter without moving his hands.
Katia tapped a button on her tablet.
Semion said, “Alright, Jia. I truly appreciate this, and am happy we could reach an agreement. Katia has the details.”
Semion said goodnight to Jia and to his daughter, tapped a button on his desk and was replaced by the Orthus company logo.
Katia trailed her hand away from the back of the couch, stood, and took her tablet to her desk. As the bar closed in front of the monitor she nodded towards the door and said, “He will make sure you have what you need. You leave tomorrow.”
Jia turned to look in the direction of Katia’s nod and beside her stood a handsome young man in a suit. He was close enough to touch but she never heard him enter the room or approach her side. She gave him a quick look over and noticed the expensive suit, almost imperceptible holster bulge, and custom looking tactical boots that could be mistaken for dress shoes when only casually viewed. Jia was impressed. The young man was a professional.
Chapter 13
Dan hefted the Wagoneer’s rear gate and gently shoved it closed. He climbed into the driver’s seat, turned the heat up, and rolled down his window as he watched his wife and son.
Aila was giving Ben his third goodbye kiss and another stream of do’s and don’ts as he flapped his arms under her tight embrace.
“Mum, can’t, breathe,” he gasped.
“Turn the boy loose, mother,” Dan said, “He’s gonna miss his train.” He pounded on the side of the jeep and whistled to the pups who were hanging out with One Ear and a few of the smaller coyotes on the other side of the goat pen.
Spot and Smudge bounded around the rear of the jeep and leapt through the open back seat door together.
Kelcy came up to their door to give them a last kiss. “Take care of Ben,” she said as she closed the door, and a little louder through the window she said, “And each other!”
Ben twisted out of Aila’s grasp, swatted Kelcy on the bottom, and ran around the Wagoneer to the passenger side. The Hogan women stepped up to the driver’s window as Mimi came out of the house carrying a small plastic grocery bag.
“Here,” Mimi said, handing the bag to Dan but speaking to Ben, “Some sammies for the road for you lot. Now listen to me while I tell you something.” The dogs came forward and jammed together over the center console as Mimi punctuated each point with a wagging finger, “Keep your wits about you and never leave each other’s side. No carrying on for Hamish. Do as you’re told and don’t be a crabbit. But also don’t listen to a word he says, especially the four letters ones. Don’t let him drive like a madman. Call every day. Wash your bums so you’re not boggin.”
The grandmother paused and thought for a moment before continuing. “Listen boys, and girl,” she said, “You’ll know when, or if, it’s the right time to show Hamish your gifts.” She gave Ben and the pups a long look, and blew them each a kiss as she said, “You’ll know.”
As Dan started to roll down the driveway he winked to a misty eyed Aila, and Ben shouted, “I’ll be back before Burns’ Night! Love you guys!”
Chapter 14
Spot poked Ben awake as the train pulled into North Station. He stuffed his water bottle into the side mesh pocket and shouldered his heavy backpack, nodding to the pups as they exited the train together.
The dogs kept close as they wound their way through the morning crowd. Aside from there being more people on the train, the ride into town had gone pretty much like their last one. Most commuters just gave the boy and his service dogs a friendly look or a curious smile. The pups were already bored with train travel so they mostly napped clustered at his feet.
Ben had been in North Station a few times. It was located under the iconic Boston Garden sports arena and he had been to concerts and Celtic’s basketball games there. The station was not as nice as South Station but the lobby had the same basic food kiosks, self-serve ticket machines, waiting area, and small ticket counter. Announcements droned from crackly speakers but they were almost impossible to decipher.
Ben needed to transfer to Amtrak’s Downeaster but there were only ten tracks in the station so it was pretty hard to get lost. He checked the monitors and their train was waiting on track nine. It didn’t leave for an hour but they walked onto the covered train platform just to make sure. The huge hissing gray engine was head-in to the station with ‘Downeaster’ plastered across the front in large white letters.
Spot and Smudge agreed with Ben that they were in the right place so they went back inside and found a bench away from the human traffic. He rummaged through the front section of his backpack and pulled out the first of four envelopes. It was labelled ‘North Station’ in Mimi’s perfect scroll. At the top of the envelope was a name and a telephone number. Ben hoisted his bag again and led the pups to the Amtrak ticket window.
A round man with round glasses leaned into his microphone and in a dripping Boston accent said, “What can we do for you, little man?”
“Hi” Ben said, “is April here?”
“Yah must be Ben Hogan,” he said, and then shouted over his shoulder, “April!”
A side door opened and a pretty woman walked out into the station. She wore a crisp blue Amtrak jacket with a matching tight blue skirt and a lanyard with a dozen keys and badges hanging from it. She walked towards Ben but her feet only moved a few inches with each step so it seemed to take her forever to cross the concourse. When she was halfway the pups looked up at Ben but he ignored their raised eyebrows.
She smiled a full white smile when she finally reached them and said, “Hi Ben, I’m April. You ready?” Her head of thick, cascading shiny black curls shook when she spoke.
Spot and Smudge nodded to her, and to each other. The pups were ready but April didn’t take notice.
“Sure,” Ben said.
April took the paperwork from Ben’s envelope and led them to another ticket window manned by a short blonde woman with really pink cheeks.
“Hey girl,” April said, and handed the paperwork through the slot as the woman smiled at Ben. When she leaned on the little metal counter April’s ample hip cocked out and almost completely obscured Ben from the pups’ view.
The dogs leaned far to the side and raised their eyebrows again at Ben from around the woman’s curves.
Ben scowled at them.
The woman behind the window shuffled the papers and typed a few keystrokes. A printer whined and she folded something back into the paperwork and slid it through to April. “Thanks love,” she said to the woman, and then made sure Ben tucked the papers safely back into his bag.
April led Ben to the center of the terminal where she pointed to the large overhead board. “You are on the Downeaster, Ben,” she said, “Track nine. You can board in about a half hour. We’ll announce it. Do you want me to wait with you?”
“No thanks,” Ben said, “That’s it?”
“That’s it,” April said, “You’re all set. Did you call your grandmother yet?”
“No, but I will” Ben said.
“Okay,” April said, “Don’t forget. Do you need anything else? Bathroom?”
Ben looked at the pups, and then said, “Nope, I think we’re good.”
“Food, beverage?” April asked.
Ben patted his bag, and the pups nodded.
April did notice the dogs nodding that time and laughed. She touched Spot on the nose with her long silver fingernail and said, “You sure you don’t want me to wait with you?”
“No thanks,” Ben said, “We’re fine.”
“Okay” April said, “I’m right over there if you need anything, stay here in the station, ‘kay?”
“Sure, thanks again,” Ben said.
When April walked away Smudge told Spot her backside looked like she was smuggling two fighting puppies. Spot shook his head and walked away, he didn’t want his sister to see him laughing.
They returned to their empty bench and Ben poured a little water into a bowl and split one of Mimi’s sandwiches with the pups. He unzipped his jacket, pulled out his cell phone, and scrolled down to the farm’s number.
“Hey Meem” he said, and proceeded to convince her everything was fine. “Yeah, we’re good…no, no problems….yep, she’s nice….yep, she’s waiting with me….yep….yep….yes. I know….yep…okay…okay….I will. Love you too, bye.”
Ben group texted with his Mom, Dad, and Kelcy, and received thumbs up and hugs and kisses.
He put away his phone, folded his jacket under the backpack and packed the water bowl away, and finally settled back onto the bench with the pups at his feet.
It had been a busy few days. In addition to just being super excited he had to work out his assignments with his mildly annoyed teachers and figure out exactly what to bring, and not bring. The family had helped him get ready, but at the same time had suddenly clammed up about anything related to the ranch. “You’ll see,” was their stock answer to any of his questions, followed by a big grin. It was maddening, and also kind of fun. They did make sure he packed plenty of warm clothes, and his mom was pushing him to take a rolling bag but he hated that idea so Kelcy had borrowed a really cool black backpack from a bud. It had a single wide sling strap and large pockets for everything, and even a padded section for his tablet and sat phone. It looked a little big on him, but everything fit
and it wasn’t too heavy. Mimi added zippered pockets inside the pups’ vests so they were able to carry some of their own gear. Spot insisted on carrying their little tablet and Smudge carried her little stuffed chicken. It was the first thing she took out and put away whenever they stopped.
Forty five minutes later a commuter in a crisp business suit sat with a plastic spoon in her mouth and a very confused look on her face. She was sitting on the bench across from where Ben and the pups had just been, and she was trying to wrap her head around what she had just seen.
She had grabbed a yogurt and a candy bar from the snack kiosk and sat down to wait for her train. While she licked the tear-off lid and stabbed at the cup she watched the kid and his two service dogs napping on the opposite bench. He was leaning against his backpack and the two dogs on the floor had their chins on his feet. They were all sawing lumber, and it was pretty darn cute.
Somewhere overhead the horrible speakers screeched and mumbled last call for the Amtrak Downeaster.
She watched one of the medium-sized black service dogs sleepily raise its head and cock an ear towards the ceiling.
The announcement came again and this time it clearly called out, “All abooooard.”
The dog shot up and pawed the boy a few times on the knee. He didn’t move and the dog tapped him again. The other dog woke up and the woman swears the first dog pointed angrily at it. The second dog shrugged its shoulders and shook its head, seemingly equally annoyed. Both dogs put their paws on the young man’s legs and shook him awake. He sat up, rubbed his face and looked down at the dogs who were still pawing at him. The dogs shook their paws like they had broken them.
The boy yelled, “What?!” He grabbed his coat and slung his backpack as they bolted through the lobby towards the train platforms.
The Glasgow Gray: Spot and Smudge - Book 2 Page 8