Critical Play (Michael Cailen Book 3)

by Mel LeBrun

  Jessica pondered that for a moment. “I don't mind that you're overprotective.”

  Dmitri laughed. “Good. Because I don't think it's going to change.”

  Jessica chuckled. “Timur is really good with Tatiana. Where are they?”

  “Painting. Jeff bought her a painting kit, clay, dolls, a teddy bear and some coloring books and crayons. They've been doing crafts for almost the whole time you've been here.”

  “Is Jeff with them?” Jessica asked feeling aggravated that Jeff was getting so involved in Tatiana's life.

  “No,” Dmitri answered. “The men know how you feel about Jeff and they make sure he keeps his distance. But we could hardly turn down the toys. It's better if she stays occupied.”

  “No, you made the right decision,” Jessica agreed. She couldn't help but wonder though if Jeff was simply trying to buy his way into Tatiana's life.

  “How are you feeling?” Dmitri asked again.

  “Better.”

  “Good.”

  “Has Michael called?” Jessica asked.

  Dmitri shook his head.

  Jessica tried not to let that worry her. Michael could take care of himself. He was fine, she told herself. Though getting herself to believe that was a battle she might never win.

  “Feel like helping me inside?” Jessica asked.

  Dmitri moved his chair away and helped Jessica to her feet. She took his arm and they began the trek back inside. Once she was around furniture that she could use if she needed, she let go of Dmitri.

  Dmitri brought Jessica to Timur and Tatiana. They found them sitting on the couch engrossed in a game on an iPad. With its bright pink cover, Jessica knew it wasn't one of theirs. She wondered where it came from. Tatiana was so enthralled with the game she was playing she didn't even notice Jessica and Dmitri enter the room. Timur on the other hand gave them a warm smile. He was sitting with his arm around Tatiana as she played the game.

  Timur tapped her arm. “Look who's here.”

  Tatiana finally looked up. “Mommy! Mommy!” Tatiana shouted as she climbed off the couch still clutching the tablet. “Look what Jeff bought me!” she excitedly exclaimed as she showed Jessica her new iPad.

  Jessica tried to suppress her anger. Why was Jeff lavishing her with expensive gifts and toys? Jessica forced a smile and told her it was a nice gift. She then turned to Dmitri and asked where Jeff was.

  Dmitri could tell she was angry and he didn't think that her blowing up at Jeff was going to help things. It certainly wouldn't help Jessica with her stress level.

  “I don't think you should do that, Jess,” Dmitri said as gently as he could.

  “Do what?” she asked as if she didn't know what he was referring to, though the anger in her voice told him she knew exactly what he meant.

  “Jess, just let it go.”

  “I'm just going to talk to him. Lay down some ground rules.” Her jaw clenched so tight Dmitri thought she could have broken a granite slab in half.

  Dmitri just looked at her, knowing whatever he said would only anger her further.

  “Fine,” she huffed. “You don't have to help me. I'm doing it with or without you.”

  Dmitri sighed and looked at Timur who felt just as helpless.

  “I'm sorry, Mommy,” Tatiana said softly. The sadness in her voice was impossible to miss.

  “Why are you sorry, sweetie? You didn't do anything wrong,” Jessica assured her.

  Tatiana placed the iPad on the coffee table. And stared down at the floor. Jessica knelt in front of her. She stroked her hair and lifted up her chin. She looked so sad and Jessica didn't know why.

  “What's wrong, sweetheart?”

  Tatiana looked at her. Her expression was so distraught it nearly brought Jessica to tears just looking at her. She wondered why she had become so upset.

  “I can hate Jeff too if you want me to,” Tatiana said softly.

  Jessica felt as if her heart had just dropped from her chest at hearing those words from her daughter. She brought her hand to her mouth, horrified at how she was making Tatiana feel. Whether she was blinded by her own hatred or just naive about how much Tatiana could understand, she thought she had done a good job hiding her feelings about Jeff. Clearly she was wrong. The thought that her daughter felt she needed to hate someone in order to make her mother happy was heart-wrenching. Jessica looked up at Dmitri who looked just as shocked.

  “No, Ana,” Jessica said as tears welled in her eyes. “No, I don't want you to hate Jeff.” She took Tatiana in her arms and squeezed her tight.

  Tatiana hugged her back. “I'm sorry, Mommy.”

  “No,” Jessica said as she broke the hug so she could look Tatiana in the eyes. “No. You do not have anything to feel sorry about. It's me who’s sorry, Ana. I'm so sorry I made you feel this way. Jeff has been nothing but nice to you and there is no reason for you to hate him. Do you hear me?”

  Tatiana nodded. “But why don't you like him?”

  Jessica had no clue how to answer that. She tried to think of some way to simplify what was an immensely complicated situation.

  “Some things happened a very long time ago that I'm still angry about. But it has nothing to do with you. And it was a very, very long time ago.”

  “Why doesn't he say he's sorry?” she asked. “And then you can forgive him.”

  To a child, the answer was so simple. Say you're sorry, forgive, and move on.

  Jessica was rendered speechless. How could she possibly explain it to her? How do you explain to a seven year old why you're holding on to anger, resentment, and hatred?

  “The point is, Ana. What happened between me and Jeff is for me to worry about. He's letting us stay with him and he's buying you all kinds of nice toys and gifts so it can't be that bad, can it?” Jessica gave her a warm smile as she tried to reason her way out of it.

  Tatiana smiled back.

  “I'm sorry I made you sad,” Jessica said.

  “It's OK, Mommy.” Tatiana wrapped her arms around Jessica's neck. “I love you.”

  Jessica squeezed her tight. “I love you too, sweetheart.”

  JEFF WAS in the middle of a phone call with a “logistics specialist” in Nicaragua when Jessica burst into his office. The intrusion was most unexpected and took him by surprise. He held the phone to his ear for a couple seconds more before simply ending the call without an explanation or even a goodbye. Not much scared Jeff but he felt a small touch of fear as Jessica stood in his study looking very displeased.

  “Can I help you with something?” he asked nervously.

  She stepped closer to his desk and crossed her arms. “If you even try to get to me through my daughter, you will lose any and all chances you have with me.”

  Jeff leaned back in his chair. “I'm not using Tatiana. With that said, you've made it abundantly clear I have no chance with you, Jess. So what exactly would I be losing?”

  “You can't buy my love through her.”

  “I know that.”

  “And don't think you're going to be a part of her life now.”

  Jeff sighed. “Is there anything else?”

  “Yeah.” Jessica grit her teeth not even sure of what she was doing. “Her favorite color is purple.” She immediately turned and left. Jeff said nothing as Jessica walked out and shut the door. He sat quietly for a few minutes absorbing what just transpired. A smile crept across his lips. She told him Tatiana's favorite color. It was small, but it was progress.

  Chapter 23

  Michael and David's team followed Grekov for two days. The second day he returned to the same apartment building as before. Again he went inside for a few hours while his men waited by the car. David requested background reports on all of the residents. One tenant stood out among the rest. A young woman who lived alone with no job or any other income to speak of. The men suspected she was Grekov's mistress.

  “Approaching Grekov at his girlfriend's house will put him on the defensive,” David said. “He'll be at his weakest an
d most vulnerable. I don't think it would be wise to approach him there.”

  “Actually, it sounds like the perfect time to introduce ourselves,” Michael countered.

  “Grekov is a man who likes to be in control,” David said. “If we scare him and take away what power he feels he has, he is not going to want to work with us.”

  “We don't need him to work with us,” Michael replied.

  “And how is that?” David asked.

  “We have the who and we know the why. They only thing left is how. All we need to do is rattle him enough to make contact with whoever he worked with. From him, we'll get the how.”

  “That's your plan?” David asked mockingly.

  Michael huffed and turned to him. “You really think Grekov is going to sell us another nuke?”

  David pursed his lips and then slowly frowned realizing Michael was right. He shook his head and looked away. “We'll need to monitor all of his communications in that case.”

  “Is that something you can handle?”

  “It will take time to set it up. We might need to do some of the legwork.”

  Michael nodded. “Do we have backstories yet?”

  “Almost,” David answered. “Right now you're being added to a few government watchlists.”

  Michael looked at him. “A false name I'm assuming?”

  “Of course.” David smiled. “And the photos of you are grainy at best. You could be anyone.”

  “What about you?” Michael asked.

  “Me?” David grinned. “I'm assuming the name of a real terrorist.”

  “How is that going to work? What if they go asking about him?”

  “Let them.” David said. “They'll find only me.”

  “You have him, don't you?”

  David nodded. “Picked him up a few weeks ago. He had just left a training camp and was on his way to start up a new terrorist cell in Europe when we caught him. Since no one in the new cell had ever seen him, I stepped in as him.”

  Michael was impressed. “How did you get him to talk so quick?”

  “He didn't.”

  “Then how did you know he was starting a new cell?”

  David just grinned at him.

  “You have someone on the inside,” Michael surmised.

  David gave no response, but he didn't have to. Michael knew it was true. The CIA would literally kill to get that kind of intel and there was no doubt that Mossad did.

  “So how do you suggest we do this?” David asked. “We could force our way in and wait for him to come again.”

  “But if we do that and he calls her …” said Michael.

  “Yeah, I know,” David agreed. “He'll know something is wrong.”

  “I'm guessing she's lonely the nights he's with his family,” Michael said.

  “You think we could provide her with some company?”

  Michael shrugged. “If she's open to it. What does she do when she's not here?”

  “Good question. I think maybe we need to find out more about her.”

  “Agreed.”

  “I'll keep two men on Grekov. You'll help me with the girl?”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Michael said.

  GATTI SAT at his desk looking over some of the more credible leads they received when one sparked his interest. Someone claimed to know Renier's location. While others had made similar claims, this one was different. The informant was willing to provide them with the name of the US city where Renier was currently located for free, but would only provide the address after receiving the reward money. It would be a gamble, but if the informant knew that Renier was in Boston, then it was one Gatti was willing to take.

  Camped out at the FBI office, Josh had been going out of his mind as the hours turned to days and there were still no credible tips leading them to Jinx. Slowly losing hope, he suppressed a growing urge to drink. He was contemplating leaving to buy alcohol when Corvo walked in the room.

  “We have a tip,” Corvo told him. “Credible. Informant knew Renier was in Boston.”

  Josh stood, anxious for good news.

  “We're arranging the money exchange right now,” Corvo continued. “Once he's paid, he says he will provide us with the address.”

  Josh was so happy he could hardly contain himself. His heart pounded in his chest and his eyes welled with tears. “How soon?” he asked.

  “Any minute.”

  Josh ran his hand through his hair and paced the room. His mind raced as it was flooded with equal amounts of hope and fear. Hope that he would find Jinx and that she would be safe, fear that they would never find her or that she would not be alive when they did.

  The seconds felt like hours, the minutes felt like days as Josh waited for Corvo to return with word about the informant. When Corvo finally stepped in the room, his expression was impossible to read, leaving Josh to wonder whether he had good news or bad.

  “We have an address,” Corvo said.

  Josh's heart nearly leapt from his chest. If Corvo had given him the address he likely would have ran from the building and not stopped until he reached it.

  “Where is it?” Josh asked anxiously.

  “A house, not far from where we were looking. A team is in route with thermal imaging. We're going to meet up with them.”

  “What are we waiting for?”

  “Nothing. Let's go.”

  Josh brushed past him and out the door before he could even finish speaking.

  Corvo and Josh met up with agents parked down the street from the address given to them by the informant. They climbed in the back of a tiny windowless van that was already occupied with two other agents plus equipment, making the occasion much more intimate than anyone would have liked.

  They watched on screens as a small team scouted out the building. Thermal imaging showed the upper levels were completely devoid of life. It looked like the lead was a bust. Corvo told his men to fall back.

  “What are you doing?” Josh asked.

  “They're not there now, but they may come back. If it’s even the right address.”

  “Jinx could still be in there!” Josh shouted.

  “Or they gave us a bogus address and it's a trap,” Corvo countered.

  Josh wasn't about to stand back while there was a possibility his wife was inside. Without any further discussion, Josh bolted from the van.

  “Josh!” Corvo yelled out, trying to stop him.

  If it was a trap they would find out soon enough as Josh ran full steam for the house. He shot out the locks as he ran towards the front door. Two kicks and it flung open. He hollered for Jinx but there was no response.

  Corvo was right behind him. “Split up,” he said, but Josh was already ahead of him.

  Corvo took the bedrooms while Josh went for the basement. He opened the door and was struck with a horrible and unmistakable stench. It was the smell of human suffering. The inevitable result of someone forced to live in their own excrement. Going against all his training, he called out to Jinx again.

  Most people encountering that hellish aroma would have at the very least gagged while quelling the urge to vomit. Josh was undaunted. Focused only on finding his wife, he pressed on as if unaware of the horrendous odor.

  He rounded a corner and on the floor, still tied to a chair, he saw his wife.

  “Jinx!” he yelled as he ran to her lifeless body and dropped to his knees. “Oh God, baby.”

  He lifted her head hoping desperately for a response. He searched for a pulse but in his panic he was having trouble finding it. She was badly bruised with strategic lacerations, intended to inflict the most pain. Seeing the needle marks on her arms sent Josh's panic into overdrive. He called her name repeatedly while desperately trying to revive her, fighting back tears, fearing the worst. And then like a miracle, his prayers were answered. She opened her eyes and looked at him.

  Jinx could hardly believe what she saw. The last few days flashed through her head and she closed her eyes again. Josh screamed for an
ambulance.

  “Leave me,” she said faintly. The words hardly traveled past her lips.

  Not having heard what she said, Josh told her to hang on as he cut her free. Despite the unfathomable smell, Josh took her in his arms and squeezed her tight, ecstatic that he had found her. He stroked her hair and told her she was safe.

  “Leave me here,” she said again.

  This time Josh heard her. “Whatever happened, baby, it wasn't your fault. I love you. I'm not leaving you here. God I'm so happy you're alive.”

  “I don't want to be,” she broke down crying.

  “It will get better, sweetheart. We'll get through it together. You're going to be OK. I love you, Jasmine.”

  Corvo braved the stench and came in the room with them. “Ambulance is on the way,” he told them.

  Josh was relieved to hear it. He looked back at Jinx. “It's going to be OK, sweetheart.”

  Jinx closed her eyes and shook her head. “I told them,” she said.

  “What do you mean?” Josh asked. “Told them what?”

  Jinx just buried her face in his chest and sobbed.

  “Baby, what do they know?”

  “I killed them, Josh. I killed them. Oh God, please let me die.” Jinx was inconsolable.

  Corvo could feel his face go numb. He didn't want to think the thoughts that were going through his mind and he prayed he was wrong.

  “Who, Jinx? Who are we talking about?” Josh asked.

  Jinx could hardly bring herself to admit it. She just wanted to die and end her suffering. She didn't want to live knowing what she had done.

  “Baby, what did you tell them?” Josh asked again.

  “I told them where Dmitri was. I didn't know Jessica was there,” she cried. “Please let me die.”

  Jinx completely fell apart. Josh looked terrified at Corvo, who was already dialing. Not even caring that he was blowing his cover he called Jessica's phone directly. It only rang.

  “How do you know that Jessica was there?” Josh asked her.

  “I overheard them talking with whoever hired them after they sent someone to verify what I told them. They said that Jessica and Ana were there as well. They asked what to do about them and they were told to leave no witnesses.” Jinx could barely finish the sentence. She sobbed in Josh's arms wishing she had died before he found her.