Critical Play (Michael Cailen Book 3)

by Mel LeBrun

  “Yeah, I hear you. I'll do what I can.”

  Thirty minutes later, Corvo called back. A few minutes after that, and Jeff's phone was ringing.

  “What did you find out?” Michael asked.

  Jeff sighed and took a moment to respond. Michael knew he found something.

  “It was him, wasn't it?” Michael said.

  “I believe it was,” Jeff replied. “He had more than $12 million deposited to his accounts the days around the sale.”

  “I'm going to need his bank information.”

  “Michael, yesterday he withdrew $400,000,” Jeff said, ignoring his request.

  “Is that unusual behavior?” Michael asked, not knowing what the significance was other than it being a large sum of money to withdraw all at once.

  “Word on the street is he's used that money to hire mercenaries.”

  “For what purpose?”

  “If Grekov was behind the sale, which I think we can all assume he was, then he has a vested interest in finding your friends. He won't be in the clear until they're dead. The longer they're alive, the greater the risk that what he did will come to light.”

  “So he's hired mercenaries to find and kill Dmitri and his teammates?”

  “So it appears. Grekov has contacts in the government who have been feeding him information on the investigation that the SVR is conducting. Most likely they have no idea Grekov was involved in the sale. In light of that, we can assume Grekov knows more about the situation than we would like.”

  “Well, now I'm really glad Jessica isn't home.”

  “Me too,” Jeff agreed.

  “How did you find out all of this?”

  “I have my own contacts.”

  “Do you think it's smart to be asking around about Grekov?”

  “I know how to be discreet. Don't worry. I've been doing this a long time.”

  Michael was silent as he thought about everything that was happening. He was worried about Jessica. She would be arriving later that day and he knew she wouldn't be in good shape.

  “Jessica has been under a lot of stress,” Michael said after much contemplation. “She hasn't been sleeping well and she's having trouble eating.”

  “I can imagine,” Jeff replied.

  “When she arrives … She's going to be cranky. Could you please refrain from pissing her off and adding to her stress?”

  “My being alive pisses her off, Michael. What exactly can I do about that?” Jeff replied annoyed.

  “You know what I mean. Don't react to everything she says. Give her space. Respect her wishes. Just let her relax.”

  “Contrary to what you and Jessica might believe, I love my daughter.”

  “Then act like it.”

  Jeff grit his teeth. Over the years since finding his daughter alive, Jeff had repeatedly tried to prove his love for her only to be consistently rejected. He felt indescribably frustrated.

  “Is there anything more?” Jeff asked, wishing to end the conversation.

  “I need the bank information.”

  “Do you have a pen and paper?”

  Michael took down the information and thanked Jeff. He hung up the phone and sighed as he stared at the paper in his hands.

  “What's the verdict?” Josh asked.

  “It's him,” Michael answered.

  “So what now? Tell David?”

  “No.” Michael stuffed the paper in his pocket and started the car. “If they know for sure it was Grekov, they may take him out before we can clear Dmitri.”

  “You have a plan?”

  “Yeah, we continue with the original plan. We approach Grekov as terrorists and get him to incriminate himself.”

  “Think David will go along with it?”

  “It's the only way they will know if Grekov was involved or not.”

  “What if they decide the evidence is thin and they don't want to follow the lead?”

  “Then I'll have to do it alone.”

  “Ah, the certain-death route,” Josh joked.

  Michael just gave Josh a look and shook his head. “There's something else. Jeff thinks Grekov has hired mercenaries to look for Dmitri.”

  “That doesn't sound good.”

  “No,” Michael agreed. “I think maybe Jinx should stay somewhere else for a while.”

  “That's what I was just thinking.”

  “We'll call Lance. He'll make sure she's safe.”

  “Yeah, how about we do that now,” Josh said anxiously.

  They called Corvo to update him on the situation and ask him to stash Jinx somewhere safe. Corvo assured them he would get in touch with Jinx and make sure she got to someplace secure.

  When they returned to the hideout where David was waiting for them Michael broke the bad news that they were unable to locate any other accounts belonging to Grekov that might incriminate him. David had a hunch Michael was holding out on him but with no evidence to back his suspicion he was forced to take Michael at his word.

  “I'll have to run it by my superiors,” David said. “Approaching Grekov as a terrorist group will be extremely risky, especially if he is innocent.”

  “He's anything but innocent,” Michael replied. “He would try to pay us off before turning us over to the authorities. He has too many skeletons in his closet. He won't want the attention.”

  “All we have is your word on that,” David remarked hoping to get Michael to divulge the reason why he was so confident.

  “I'm willing to bet you've conducted operations on far less than that,” Michael countered.

  David grinned. “You have more, don't you?”

  “Wish I did.”

  David pursed his lips, still feeling that Michael was holding out on him. “OK. I'll see what I can do.”

  AFTER CONSULTING with his superiors, David returned to the hideout to deliver the verdict. Michael read his expression and already knew what the answer was.

  “They said no,” Michael said.

  David frowned and shook his head. “They said the evidence just isn't there. They don't want to risk an incident without more cause.”

  Michael and Josh gave each other a look. They had more evidence, they just didn't want to share it.

  “There is nothing more you can tell me about Grekov?” David asked. “Something that could get my superiors on board?”

  Michael agonized over whether to tell him the truth or not. He needed David's help but just couldn't risk telling him what they learned. He shook his head. “No. There isn't.”

  David sighed. “I'm afraid I can't help you then. I'm truly sorry.”

  “It's OK,” Michael replied. “It was a long shot anyway.”

  Michael locked eyes with Josh. They both knew what the other was thinking. Going this next part alone could likely prove fatal. However, their chances of success were still greater than if they told David everything they knew. Mossad wouldn't care about clearing Dmitri's name or that of his teammates. They would just assassinate Grekov and make it look like an accident.

  “Thanks for all your help, David,” Michael said. “I appreciate it.”

  “I haven't done much, Michael,” David admitted. “What will you do now?”

  “Go it alone somehow,” Michael answered.

  “If it would have been dangerous with our help, what will it be without our help? If you don't succeed, your death will be meaningless.”

  What could Michael say? David was right. If he failed and ended up dead, Dmitri would still be wanted and likely killed eventually. His family would be left without him and it would have been for nothing. But while thoughts of his family weighed heavily on his mind, walking away and telling Dmitri, “Too bad, so sad,” was something Michael just couldn't do. It would haunt him for the rest of his existence. Not only did he owe his own life to Dmitri, but Jessica's as well. Dmitri had stuck his neck out on more than one occasion for them and no matter what the cost, Michael was going to do everything he could to save Dmitri.

  “If I don't tr
y,” Michael replied as he looked David straight in the eyes, “it will go against everything I believe in.”

  Michael thanked David again before he and Josh turned to leave. Josh was just about to close the door behind them when David yelled, “Wait!”

  They both looked back.

  “Come back,” David said, appearing immensely frustrated.

  “What is it?” Michael asked as he stepped back inside.

  David shook his head and released an irritated sigh. “They approved the operation.”

  “You just told me they wouldn't greenlight it unless we had more proof,” Michael said feeling confused.

  “No. They agreed.” David seemed to be more angered by the news than pleased by it.

  “Which am I supposed to believe?” Michael asked.

  “I know there's more you're not telling us,” David said.

  It was then Michael realized what David had done or rather, attempted to do. Though he had gotten approval to go ahead with the operation, David claimed they couldn't help without further proof in the hopes of forcing Michael to divulge his intel. Michael's stubborn refusal to do so was maddening. David stared at Michael, waiting for a response.

  Rather than deny it, Michael simply said nothing.

  “Why won't you tell me?” David asked, more than a touch of anger in his voice. David was used to having things his way. Not being able to manipulate Michael the way he wanted was exceptionally infuriating to him.

  Michael hesitated to give him an answer. He glanced at Josh and then back at David. “If Dmitri doesn't get cleared then I'm doing all of this for nothing. In the end, you and I are not after the same thing.”

  “You don't trust me,” David summed up his words.

  Michael took a deep breath and looked away, not agreeing with David but also not disagreeing.

  “I trust that you will do what you're supposed to do,” Michael finally said.

  “So you believe I'll put country before you?”

  Michael shrugged. It was in fact what he believed.

  David pursed his lips as he looked at him and Josh. “I'll give you this. You know me well.” David stepped closer to Michael. “But not that well,” he said softly. “I know what your friend means to you. And I respect what you're trying to do. If your friend is innocent, I will help you clear him.”

  “So help me then.”

  “The arrangements are being made as we speak.”

  “I won't forget this, David.”

  “For your sake, I hope you do,” David responded, realizing Michael's loyalty to those who help him was a major liability now that he had a family to think about.

  AFTER THE call from Michael and Josh about Jinx, Corvo called in to the office to speak with her since he hadn't yet made it in himself. He was following up on leads for a case he was supposed to be working for the FBI part of his job. Something that had been lacking the past few days.

  He was told that Jinx hadn't come in to work that morning and that no one had been able to reach her by phone. They were just about to send an agent to her house to make sure she was all right. A huge pit formed in Corvo's stomach.

  “No need,” he said. “I'm not far from her apartment. I'll go.”

  He hung up the phone, turned on his emergency lights, and raced to Josh and Jinx's apartment. He sprinted up the two flights of stairs to her apartment and ran down the hallway. He pounded on the door so loud her neighbors on both sides came to the door. When they saw his gun and badge, they quickly retreated back inside their homes. He called out to Jinx through the door and pounded again. There was no sound from inside.

  He nervously picked the lock and let himself in. He called out again to Jinx as he began to search the apartment. The first thing he noticed was her purse and keys on the kitchen table. Not a good sign. He searched the apartment but she was nowhere to be found. There was no sign of a struggle or forced entry. She just simply wasn't there. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

  “Special Agent Corvo. I need a team at Jasmine Lavene's home right away. She's missing. There are signs of foul play. I'll wait here until forensics arrives but I want someone pulling security footage from anything and everything that remotely faces the road in a five-block radius starting forty-eight hours ago,” Corvo demanded. He was less than pleased with the response he got from the other end of the call. “I don't care. I'll review the footage myself if I have to, just get it done!” he growled. Whoever was on the other end apparently had a change of heart. “Thank you,” Corvo said calmly and ended the call.

  More agents and a forensic team descended on the Lavene’s apartment twenty minutes later. Having examined the scene himself, Corvo knew that whoever took Jinx was professional. Likely a team. He had a strong suspicion it was the Russian agents who had planned on taking Jessica. Once the other agents arrived to secure the area, Corvo left. His first move was to call Gatti. After holding for ten minutes, Gatti finally answered.

  “Something has happened to Jinx,” Corvo informed him. “She's gone. Definitely a professional extraction.”

  Gatti sat up in his chair, feeling his heart begin to race. “When did this happen?”

  “Sometime last night.”

  Gatti cursed. “I'm still looking for the Russians who spoke to you. I don't believe they've gone home. It could have been them.”

  Corvo grit his teeth and shook his head. “I got the Bureau looking into her disappearance. If there's one thing they know how to do it's find missing people. And they have the resources to do it.”

  “Does Josh know?”

  “No. He asked me to check on her. They heard that Grekov hired some mercenaries to hunt down Dmitri.”

  “Looks like he was right to be worried. I'll look into the mercenary angle on my end.”

  “Nothing better happen to her,” Corvo said.

  “Keep in touch,” Gatti said before ending the call.

  Corvo's next call was to Kevin. Whoever took Jinx could just as easily target him and his girls. After explaining what happened to Jinx he told Kevin that now would be a good time to take the girls on an extended vacation somewhere where there would be lots of security and video cameras. Kevin was understandably upset. Michael and Josh were gone, Jessica was forced into hiding with Tatiana, and now Jinx was missing. Though Kevin was afraid for him and his girls, he was worried sick about everyone else.

  “Lance, you've got to find her,” Kevin pleaded.

  “Believe me when I say, I am highly motivated to do so. This is not happening on my watch,” Corvo asserted.

  “I know I can't offer much but if you need anything in the way of money, I'll give you whatever you need.”

  “I may actually need that. I'll let you know.”

  “Bring her home,” Kevin said as he fought back tears.

  Chapter 17

  Jessica could barely keep her eyes open as she worked her way through the Manitoba backroads that led to her father's enormous mansion. She entertained the thought of staying one more night in a hotel but after a quick count of what little money she had left, she realized it wouldn't be possible. So instead, she stopped at a restaurant to have one final peaceful meal with Tatiana before being stuck at Jeff's estate.

  Hoping to keep it down, Jessica ordered a soup and salad. Tatiana had chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans. Jessica ate half her meal before she started to feel sick and stopped. She smiled at Tatiana as she played with her potatoes and green beans.

  “Eat your food, honey,” Jessica said. “Mommy is getting tired.”

  Tired. Well, tired was back in Ohio. At this point, Jessica wasn't tired, she was zombified; barely functioning. As she watched Tatiana eat her food, she envisioned herself curling up in the booth and passing out. She closed her eyes and nearly fell asleep in her seat.

  Tatiana ate a few more bites and declared she was full. They paid the bill and continued on their way. Jessica struggled to keep her food down. She opened the windows and fought back the growing urge to
vomit.

  Finally, they were turning up the long driveway to her father's house. Jessica parked near the walkway to the front door and opened the back door for Tatiana to get out.

  “Where are we?” Tatiana asked.

  “You remember I said we were going to see Dmitri, Ivan, and Timur? Well this is where they're staying.”

  “Who lives here?”

  “A man that Mommy and Daddy know, now please; no more questions. Mommy's tired.”

  Jessica was light years beyond exhausted. She wanted a bed so badly it was all she could focus on. As she started to walk to the house her body finally won the battle it was having with her mind and her stomach vacated its contents all over the stone pavers in front of the house.

  “Mommy, are you OK?” Tatiana asked looking worried.

  “I'm fine, sweetie.” Jessica took her hand and continued to the house as if nothing had happened. She rang the bell and as she stood there waiting, the ground felt like it was moving beneath her. The door opened and she was greeted by James, the butler. She stared at James and said nothing as his body moved in circles in front of her. She saw Dmitri behind him walking quickly towards the door.

  “Mommy, what's wrong?” Tatiana asked.

  Jessica didn't even register her words. She took a step forward and everything just went black.

  Dmitri saw Jessica collapse. James managed to catch her head before it hit the ground. Dmitri rushed to his side to help him get Jessica inside.

  “Mommy!” Tatiana shrieked and promptly gave way to tears.

  Ivan and Timur as well as Jeff's bodyguards came running. Dmitri was trying to tend to Jessica but Tatiana was crying and screaming hysterically next to him making it difficult to even think straight.

  “Get her out of here!” Dmitri ordered in Russian to Ivan and Timur.

  “No!” Tatiana yelled as Timur scooped her up. “I want my Mommy!” She struggled to get out of his arms but remained firmly in his grip as he whisked her away into another part of the house.

  “I want my Mommy!” she shouted with a river of tears running down her face.

  “I know, Ana,” Timur spoke in Russian. “We're going to help your mom but we can't do that if you're screaming.”