“You are a clever girl, but right now this will make things complicated. I don’t want my wife to find out yet, so your account will be easier for me.”
“Well OK but how much will this be for?”
“It could come to several million but it depends.”
“But Uncle, I only have a small business, what if I get audited? How will I explain millions?”
“Don’t worry, they know your father is dead we can say this is inheritance money he left for you.”
“But I don’t get the money in the trust until I am twenty-one.”
“See it as my loan to you.”
“How long do you want to use my bank account?”
“Just for a few months. I’ll tell you when I need the money transferred.”
“I need to get back to you about all this,” said Alena sounding anxious about what her uncle had asked her to do.
“Believe me your father will approve, it is good business. You will not regret it I promise,” said Sergei as he left. The next day Mikhail arrived at Alena’s door on Sunday holding a bunch of yellow and white daffodils from the park.
“This is for you, sorry I don't have purple,” he said as he handed flowers to her.
“No, this is perfect, purple was Papa’s favourite colour, I just went along with it to please him.”
She took Mikhail into a large kitchen with marble countertops and a double range cooker. The kitchen cupboards and walls were all in white. On a centre island, plates and cutlery were laid out for a three-course meal.
“I’ve had to let the chef go so I’ve had to order it in because I can’t cook,” said Alena serving him the first course of lobster soup.
“You shouldn’t have gone to this trouble for me,” said Mikhail, as he tasted the creamy soup with bread.
“I like to give my guests the best. Here is a bracelet I got for your daughter,” said Alena, giving Mikhail a velvet jewellery case. He opened it and was surprised to see how expensive it looked.
“Thank you; it is beautiful for her, please let me pay you.”
“No, I won’t hear of it. I’m glad you came, Jack, because I need advice about something,” said Alena putting in front of him a plate of honey glazed lamb, mixed grilled vegetables of carrots, swede and roasted potatoes with rosemary.
“I’ll help you with anything. Just ask me.”
“My uncle wants me to put a lot of money into my account that I don’t feel right about but I don’t know how to put him off.”
“How much is he talking about?”
“It could be thousands, or it may end up being millions of pounds but for a small boutique like mine that’s just started trading it’s too much. I don’t know what to do.”
“It looks like he wants you to hide where the money came from?”
“Well yes, he wants me to keep it quiet so I suppose he is hiding the money in my account.”
“It does not smell right. Your uncle wants to use your business to launder dirty money,” said Mikhail eagerly looking at the apple crumble and cream waiting for him to eat as he finished the main course.
“Dirty money? No, you are wrong he would never do that.”
“Alena, I risk my life to tell you this, but I am not just a caretaker. I am doing an investigation about money laundering.”
“For who?” asked Alena, she was intrigued to hear more but also at the same time uneasy that she had let Mikhail into her house when she knew very little about him.
“I work for the intelligence service,” said Mikhail feeling that he had no choice but to blow his cover enough to gain her trust.
“So, you’re a spy! I would never have guessed it. Is your name really Jack McFadden?”
“I am Jack now. And your uncle’s name?”
“He is Sergei Bogdanov," said Alena.
Hearing this name Mikhail felt a hollow pain in the pit of his stomach. It was not from fear but anger that he had not spotted Sergei in his surveillance and that he had somehow failed. Flashbacks of Yelena’s dead body on the kitchen floor came rushing through his mind's eye only to disappear quickly. His mind filled with questions about what Igor was doing with Sergei. A master at hiding his feelings, Mikhail turned to Alena and said in a matter-of-fact way, “Is Sergei a good friend of your father?”
“Oh no, I wouldn’t say that. Papa didn’t have any real friends.”
“I can check out your uncle to see if you can trust him. But I need to be close by you to see who he meets up with.”
“I do need to know who I can trust. You can act as my chauffeur sometimes and use Papa’s car.”
“Yes, this role will suit me very well. When do you want me to start?” said Mikhail eager to find out the truth about the relationship between Igor and Sergei.
“That’s settled then; your first job is to take me to the annual Russian Ball next week.”
“There are Russian balls in England?”
“Oh yes, every year, this time it is my turn to be a debutante.”
“It’s like a Little Russia here,” said Mikhail.
“Yes, I’m afraid so. I’m only going because Papa wanted me to go to the ball as he thought it would benefit me; old fashioned, I know.”
“Then off to the ball we will go,” said Mikhail.
Chapter 11
Mikhail was in Igor’s black Mercedes waiting to take her to the Russian Ball. Wearing his chauffer’s uniform and hat that fitted him perfectly he looked the part. Alena got into the car wearing a long white laced ball gown and pearls around her neck. She held a white beaded bag and long white gloves. A tiara on her head prettily framed her red hair which she tied in one long plait. Mikhail looked at her through his rear-view window. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she looked but held himself back from saying anything. He kept glancing at her in the back seat as he drove her with thoughts about his daughter Marina and wishing he was taking her to her first dance.
They arrived near the river in Billingsgate Hall in London. Alena got out without a word to Mikhail and headed towards the entrance where other young women were waiting for her, all dressed in long white ball gowns and gloves. Mikhail watched as she hugged her friend Carol and went inside. He parked his car, got out and walked in the warm evening to the entrance to watch who was going to the event. The young men attending the ball came in long jackets with tails, white gloves and white bow ties. Older guests were less formally dressed with the women wearing colourful ball gowns. The orchestra played a compilation of popular classical waltz music by Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Eugen Doga, and Shostakovich as the guests took their seats at the tables in the hall.
For the first time since her father’s death, Alena relaxed at the ball and enjoyed meeting up with her best friend, Carol. At this debutante’s ball, it was easy to forget and be frivolous.
“Alena my dear, I didn’t think you would come tonight, but I am glad you did,” said Lady Montagu as Alena and Carol, along with the other debutantes, were handed small bouquets of flowers to hold.
“Nor did I, but Papa had been planning this for me for a long time, and I wanted to respect his wishes, and I did not want to let Carol’s brother down, he’s my escort for the dances. We spent a long time practising the waltz and polka,” said Alena.
“You are right, my dear. I am sure that is what Igor would have wanted. He is sadly missed tonight.”
“Thank you, Lady Montagu, I will remember that.”
“Look, Sasha has just come in. He’s been asking where you’ve been,” said Carol.
“I’m not interested in talking to him.”
“Well you tell him that because he’s heading our way,” said Carol.
Sasha walked towards them; he was in his twenties, dark hair, handsome, confident with a presence about him that got him noticed by everybody in the room and he knew it. He went to Alena and Carol, kissing them on both cheeks.
“Ladies, good to see you both. Alena, where have you been? Why do never answer any of my calls or messages?”
“I’ve got my father’s estate to sort out and I’m very busy with a new business,” said Alena.
“I’m off to dance,” said Carol, as she joined the other debutantes to take their places for the waltz.
“Do you want to dance, Alena?” asked Sasha.
“No, I am waiting for Carol’s brother; he is my escort for the night.”
“Sorry about your father. He was a great mentor to me. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I will never get over his death,” said Alena.
“If you ever need to talk to someone I’m here.”
“Thanks, but I don’t want too many people in my life right now.”
“I understand. I know it’s not a good time, but I wanted to tell you I’m getting married,” said Sasha.
“Oh, you are? Is your fiancée here?”
“No, my fiancée is in Russia at the moment.”
“When is the wedding?”
“Next month in Russia, I hope you can come,” said Sasha.
“Congratulations to you both but I can’t travel anywhere, I have my new boutique to run.”
“There is something I need to get from you urgently, Alena.”
“What’s that?” asked Alena.
“It is the title deeds to some properties. I had a business deal with your father and he was holding these deeds for me that I must have now.”
“I’m still sorting out Papa’s papers. Tell me what the name is and when I find it I’ll contact you.”
“No, Alena, I need it tonight. I know where he put them. It’s in his safe,” said Sasha.
“I’ll see how I feel at the end of the evening."
“Listen, Alena, I have no choice. I need those papers tonight,” insisted Sasha.
Carol’s brother interrupted them to escort her to the dance floor and to present her as a new debutante at the ball. When all the new debutantes were announced, they took their places on the dance floor. The orchestra played music from classics including ‘Sleeping Beauty’, ‘Swan Lake’, ‘Second Waltz’, and ‘Voices of Spring’. The dance floor was full of debutants, their escorts and the other guests dancing to each one played.
Alena danced the waltz, Viennese polka, and other dances as Sasha sat at his table drinking and watching Alena’s every dance step making sure she did not leave the ballroom without him.
Once the ball ended, everyone made their way home with good cheer. As she made her way toward her car, Sasha followed closely behind.
“Alena, I need those deeds tonight.”
“No, I told you, Sasha, I’ll be in touch,” replied Alena. As she was about to get into the back of the car, Sasha pushed closer to her to stop her from closing the door.
“I’m coming home with you,” he shouted.
Mikhail quickly jumped out of his seat, got hold of Sasha and pulling him away from the car with an angry look on his face pinned him down on the back of the boot.
“You don’t ever touch her,” said Mikhail, grabbing one side of Sasha’s jacket with one fist clenched as if ready to hit him.
Alena shouted, “No, don’t hit him. It’s OK.”
Mikhail loosened his grip and Sasha fell to the floor.
“Sasha, I’ll have a look for your papers. Come tomorrow night,” said Alena, as they drove off leaving Sasha on his knees.
“Who is that young man and what does he want from you?” asked Mikhail.
“Sasha, he runs his father’s construction company. He’s desperate to get hold of some property deeds he says Papa kept for him.
“I think I should be with you in the house when he comes. He looks like he could be a problem.”
“Sasha is harmless really but if you are worried I suppose it’s no harm you being in the house but maybe in the next room, so he doesn’t know you are there,” said Alena.
“I’ll be at your door before he arrives tomorrow night,” said Mikhail glad that this was another opportunity to get more information.
The next evening Mikhail arrived at Alena’s door, he knocked many times before Alena opened the door to him in her tracksuit and looking sweaty.
“Sorry I was on my exercise bike, I didn’t hear you knocking, have you been here long?”
“It’s OK. How long before Sasha will be here?” asked Mikhail.
“About an hour, but I’ve not had a chance to go into my papa's safe to look for his paperwork as I was tired from the ball last night.”
“Did you enjoy the ball?"
"I didn't think I would, but yes, I was glad to meet up with friends," replied Alena.
“Is there somewhere I can hide but be close when he comes?” asked Mikhail.
Alena led him into to Igor’s office and pointed to a door at the far end.
“Use the toilet. You’ll be able to listen in there. Papa used to record business conversations from the microphones, don’t ask me why.”
“Please show me now,” said, Mikhail. Alena took him into a small toilet. It had gold taps, marble flooring, fresh flowers and soft handmade towels with Igor’s initials on it.
Mikhail sat on the toilet seat and could hear everything Sasha said to Alena when he arrived.
“Have you found my deeds?” asked Sasha.
“No, there is so much paper in his safe I don’t know which one is for you.”
“I need it now, Alena, or things will be very bad for me.”
“What kind of trouble are you in, Sasha?”
“You know I took over my father’s construction business.”
“Yes, and Papa always praised you for doing so well.”
“I got into some financial trouble a few years ago. I borrowed a lot of money, and now these people want their money back.”
“And you haven't got it?” said Alena, as she opened her father’s safe and took out large brown envelopes with documents inside.
“The name on the deeds is ‘Maxim Property Services’ on it, have you seen it yet?” asked Sasha as they opened several envelopes each.
“Nothing, I don’t see anything with that name,” said Alena. Sasha picked up more envelopes and began to frantically open them, throwing the documents he did not want on the floor.
“It’s got to be here, I saw him put it in the safe myself,” said Sasha.
“Please don’t make a mess. Maybe Papa gave it to his lawyer.”
“No, Igor wouldn’t do that. He knew these deeds could be a matter of life or death.”
“What do you mean?”
“If we don’t find it I could be a dead man,” said Sasha.
Alena, seeing the desperation on his face, helped him open more envelopes in quick succession without finding what they were looking for.
“Sasha, these people, how did you get involved with them?” said Alena.
“I needed a lot of money to cover the building of properties both in the UK and in Russia and got a loan for that from some wealthy businessmen. I checked my bank account and saw they had given me a loan of five million instead of the two million I asked for. I told them about the mistake, but they insisted I keep the money safe for them until they needed it back.”
“You spent their money?” asked Alena.
“One of my constructions projects overspent but I hoped to get the money from the sale of another to balance things back but things went wrong and contracts fell through.”
“So now you owe them five million plus interest on that as well?”
“No interest; that was what was so attractive about the loan in the first place. I went to them rather than the bank because your father recommended them.”
“And now you need the deeds to get the money.”
“Yes, the deeds for Maxim are worth more than ten million. It was payment for a deal I did with your father."
"How much was Papa’s share of this deal? I could do with some money myself,” said Alena.
“It was a lot, but he took his money. I own Maxim Property Services. Your father was safeguarding the deeds for me. I think he t
hought we would marry one day and he’d keep it in the family.”
“Can’t you just tell them to give you more time to find the deeds?”
“Alena, you don’t know these people. They don’t play games with this kind of money.”
“This is not Russia. They are not above the law here.”
“You don’t understand; men like Sergei Bogdanov and his associates, they have no boundaries.”
“Uncle Sergei! OK, don’t worry. I’ll talk to him for you, he’s always been very kind to me. He's already helped me with my business.”
“No, Alena, I don’t want him to know we’ve talked and don’t tell him what I’m looking for.”
“What will you do now?”
“There is one more place I can check for the deeds.”
“Where is that?”
“Russia, at your father’s country house.”
“But my father has not been there for years since he was exiled.”
“Igor still has powerful friends in Russia. Alena, I have to go and find the deeds or borrow money from my fiancée’s father. He is wealthy, but I don’t know how wealthy.”
“And if you don’t get the money?”
“Then this is the last time you will see me. Be careful of Sergei. Don’t let him help you any more in your business or let him into your life.”
“You’ll find a way out, Sasha, I know you will. I hope to meet your fiancée one day.”
“I hope so too, or there’ll be no wedding,” said Sasha. He kissed Alena on the cheek and left in a hurry.
When he had left Mikhail came out.
“Poor Sasha. I’ve never seen him is such a state, he’s always been a happy-go-lucky person.”
“Sergei Bogdanov, he is not a good man,” said Mikhail.
“No, I see it now. I don’t know why Papa associated with him.”
“That we need to find out.”
“Now we are working together in this investigation, I guess I’m a spy too,” said Alena, as she led Mikhail along the corridor to the front door.
“We will make a good team,” said Mikhail. He suddenly stopped speaking, stunned by what he saw on the mantelpiece by the door. It shook him to his core.
The Pavilion Man Page 7