"They took the money in the wallet and a few more things, but that was not why they came." The girl trembled as she recalled the experiences.
Patiently Boris caressed her and waited for her to recover.
"What they wanted to know ... is the name and address of Zahra.”
"Zahra? The woman who gave you shelter when you ran away from Shantaya´s brothel?”
"Yes." The woman let out a groan. "And Boris ... I had to give it to them, otherwise they would have killed me."
The Russian shook his head with fury but his professional attitude finally overcame and returned to his deceptive aspect of self-control.
“Do not worry. You've done enough to survive. Tell me ... Who do you think sent them?
“Shantaya, no doubt. She must have some grudge with Zahra ... most likely jealousy of that Argentine boy who visited her before.”
“All right. Leave it in my hands. I am going to solve this issue and avenge what they have done to you. You must do only one thing.”
“What should I do?”
“Warn that woman Zahra who are after her. You owe her something because she gave you protection when you were wandering alone in the streets.”
Mira Brown was heading for her apartment in the midst of the storm that was hitting New York. She walked up the two-story stretch to avoid waiting for the elevator and once she reached her apartment opened the door. Still in the dark the woman left her purse and cell phone on a small table and took off her shoes, whipping them around. Then she saw the shadow sitting on the only armchair in her living room. Mira nervously turned on the light, and at the sight of her companion she felt a discharge of nerves and relief at the same time.
“What do you want here? How did you get into my apartment?”
Without answering any of her questions Boris approached her. Mira stared at his face to try to determine what his attitude toward her was but the man's cold blue eyes did not betray his plans. He simply took her in his arms and carried her to the bed. Boris suspected that despite being Shantaya´s lover of the woman was bisexual and he attracted her so that he would take advantage of that preference and the fear that he inspired.
Passively Mira let him undress her and surrendered into the Russian's arms. The animal force emanating from him drew her irresistibly.
"What are you looking for?" What do you want?
At that moment Boris penetrated her violently and whispered in her ear.
"Who hit Adhiambo?" Why did Shantaya send them?”
A series of agonizing groans of pleasure were the only answer.
Chapter 12
When firefighters managed to put out the fire in the old shed they found the charred bodies of two black men. Forensics determined that both had died with their necks broken while they were in bed, apparently in a sexual act.
They were able to identify one of the victims, who turned out to be Olivier Labeau, a twenty-seven year-old Haitian immigrant. It was not possible to identify the other man.
Boris Krupin loaded his bags and took Adhiambo by the hand. They hurried down the decrepit stairs of the hotel and passed along the concierge desk. The Russian had paid the rent and left an important tip to the employee to seal his mouth. A large, blond man -in fact a former member of the Russian army, former companion of Krupin- was waiting for them at the door of the hotel with a huge old car that had the engine running and the trunk open. Boris threw the suitcases into the trunk and closed it; then he and Adhiambo entered the back door of the car, which set off immediately for Brighton Beach. The purpose was to get lost in that area where Boris had a lot of contacts and to get away from the conflictive story of which they had both been actors.
Shantaya allowed the old Haitian woman to let out all her feelings, though she somehow perceived that in her tone there was more fury and anger than sorrow for Olivier´s murder. The Madame had decided to manipulate the feelings of the old woman in the most convenient way for her. Although there was no doubt that Boris had been responsible for the killings to avenge the tortures inflicted on Adhiambo, she pretended to have no idea of the physical perpetrator of the massacre. In fact Shantaya had hired Olivier to scare her ex-pupil and extract the information they had actually obtained on the identity and address of the woman who according to her view had stolen Federico from her. She had no idea that the two thugs would torture the girl and leave her disfigured, provoking the wrath and terrible revenge of Boris Krupin. But in the end, what right did she have to judge other people for their sadism? Self-criticism forced Shantaya to recognize that all that had happened because of her decision of hiring to two marginal drug addicts instead of to resort to a professional just because it was more expensive. To reveal all that to Saraphina would have caused the witch to blame her for Olivier´s murder, so Shantaya managed to convince the clairvoyant that Zahra was ultimately the person responsible for it and asked her to concentrate reading her cards and give her information about the Kenyan´s vulnerabilities.
Saraphina displayed her tarot cards on the table.
“ ... I can confirm that the woman you call Zahra is a practitioner of a very powerful ancient magic which prevents me from reading more deeply her heart and predict her actions and desires... I see that she is very much in love and I presume it must be from your man ... she laid the loop around him and the man has drunk her juices and this produces a very strong tie ... I see much restlessness and many constraints in their lives ... they will be exposed to great dangers and I cannot determine if they will get away from them. The two lovers are aware of the dangers that hang over their heads.” The medium made a moment of silence and went on. but not everything is lost for you”
Shantaya had already heard what she needed. If Federico and his African girlfriend already knew that they were taking risks they would be planning how to be protect them. As a consequence Shantaya knew she had no time to lose. She would hire a professional she knew from her distant childhood in Louisiana. The woman took an old, faded calendar and flipped it through until she found the name she wanted.
Shantaya wondered if the phone number would still be valid after all the time elapsed but would ultimately allow her to track the hit man to his current whereabouts.
Following Boris´ instructions Adhiambo looked for the telephone number of the flower shop where they had received her with generosity shortly before. When she dialed it Imani immediately replied. In a somewhat hasty way Adhiambo explained what had happened and that she had been forced to reveal the identity and address of her benefactors so she urged them to disappear from the scene. Imani listened carefully without interrupting her and finally said.
"Give me your phone number. I'll ask Zahra call you right away.
"Okay, but also you and Zafil must get under cover, since you are in danger too. Tell Zahra to call me on this cell phone...”
After a short time Zahra called her in an alarmed tone. Adhiambo narrated the episode of aggression and interrogation to which she had been subjected.
"So the thugs said Shantaya wants Federico back with her and she wants you dead. You must hide in a safe place. The same thing holds true for Federico.”
"But we have nowhere to go. I have no protectors in this country.”
"Boris told me that he can temporarily lodge you in a safe place until you get a permanent solution. It is the least we can do for you since I am unintentionally responsible for giving them your name.”
There was a silence on the line. Adhiambo insisted.
"Zahra, are you still there?"
“Yes, I can hear you.”
"They must leave your apartment and the flower shop without any loss of time. Prepare your bags with the most essential right things now. Call me when you're ready and I have instructions to send Boris's driver to pick you up right away.”
She had finally obtained the man's current phone, which now lived in New Orleans. The woman anxiously dialed the number and when she got the answer from the other side sighed with relief. D
espite the time she had immediately recognized his voice. She spoke directly to him in Creole.
“Hi, Narcisse. I´m Shantaya Washington, Zulime Labasilier´s daughter. Do you remember me?”
Chapter 13
The Russian driver did not speak a word all the way to Brighton Beach. He had the car radio turned on with a loud volume passing an unbearable series of Russian songs. Finally he parked the vehicle and simply said in a heavy Slavic accent.
“We have arrived. Captain Krupin and the black girl are waiting for you.”
"I thought he was mute." Whispered Zahra in Federico's ear. “Besides, for him I must be just "another black girl".”
"Captain Krupin?" The young man answered in a low voice too. "In what trouble did your friend get into?"
"According to what Adhiambo told us he is a former Russian Army officer.”
Boris Krupin opened the door and Adhiambo immediately ran to embrace her friend. Zahra introduced Federico and the Russian led them into the room where they were awaiting them with already prepared drinks.
Federico could appreciate that the few decorative elements in the house betrayed the military past of its owner. As they walked into the house the two women spoke between them in Swahili to be able to do it more freely.
“Adhiambo. You look splendid!”
“Yes. Boris is very in love with me and treats me very well. I ...have news.”
“You are pregnant?”
"Yes, of several weeks. I have repeated the tests.”
"And what does Boris say?"
"He's very happy. He has had several children but in sporadic relationships. Even one with Shantaya.”
“I did not know that.”
“Yes. I know him, his name is William, and he looks a lot like his father. That is Shantaya central problem. All the few men she cares for end up leaving her. Hey, I congratulate you on your friend, he's very good looking.”
Everyone sat at the table and Boris offered the drinks. Finally Adhiambo asked him to explain the situation. The Russian narrated all the episodes except the revenge he had taken with the men who had tortured Adhiambo.
“Shantaya has a lot of money and few scruples. She will not spare the means to carry out her revenge and try to recover what she considers to be her man. "
"What do you think we must do now?"
“ Disappear from the scene. You can provisionally stay in a small house I own two blocks away. You will be under my personal protection in this neighborhood.”
"And afterwards?" Insisted Adhiambo.
"I have the means to find out what intentions Shantaya has. Once we know, we will proceed accordingly.”
"As a military exercise," Said Federico, who until that moment had hardly spoken. "First the intelligence actions and then the tactics.”
"Correct," replied Boris. "Do you have military training?"
"Not at all, only certain knowledge by reading books and articles.”
"What are we going to do with Imani and Kafil?" Zahra asked. "They may be in danger too.”
"Yes, and they also protected me when they found me in the street alone, when I escaped from Shantaya.” Added Adhiambo.
"I think I can locate them with friends I have in Buffalo, in New York State.”
"We can never thank you enough." Federico said, referring to the owner of the house.
"I am compensating for what you Zahra did for Adhiambo when she most needed it.”
"I do not know what would have happened to me if I had not found you then." Added the woman.
Shantaya reached the cafeteria where they had agreed to meet and recognized the dark figure sitting in a place in the background, away from the view of the rest of the diners.
The Sorceress Page 6