Leverage (The Mistaken Series)

by Nancy S Thompson

  “It’s Greg,” I wailed. “He set me up. I didn’t do this, I swear! He set me up!”

  The detective chuckled. “Tell it to the judge, kid.”

  ***

  I was processed into the King County Jail downtown and dumped into a large holding chamber until I could be taken to a proper cell. A few others came and went the first hour I was there, all young like me, drunks mostly, a couple disorderlies, but no one who threatened me, which had been my primary concern. But then the crowd thinned until there was just me and one other guy. He looked different from the rest—older, taller, and a whole lot bigger, with a shaved head and tattoos that ran from his fingers all the way up his neck. Crude ones, too, like the kind applied in prison. This guy wasn’t likely in on a public nuisance charge. He seemed way too experienced for that.

  I stayed on my feet with my eyes on the floor and my back to the corner. But my cellmate seemed inordinately interested in me. He paced back and forth from wall to wall, and with each pass, he inched a little closer, until he was only five feet away. Then he stopped, faced me., hands locked together in front, and stared.

  It’s hard to ignore a massive, tatted skinhead looming a full foot above your head. I raised my chin and locked eyes with the guy. He smiled and nodded then closed the distance, putting one hand on my shoulder and the other cupped alongside my neck. He leaned down and whispered with his mouth at my ear.

  “Ve are everywhere,” he articulated in a strong accent just like the girls at Janek’s apartment. “So if you vant to keep dat tight leetle ass of yours tight an’ leetle, den you better keep your mout shut. No spouting off about Grig anymore. You understahnd, my yoong friend?” He put his finger up against his pursed lips and said, “Shhhh,” before he slapped my cheek twice and grinned.

  With a pat to my shoulder, he straightened to full height then head-butted me against the bridge of my nose. Blood gushed down my shirt as I slid to the floor. With my blood splattered across his face and shirt, the man just stood there and laughed. I tried to turn away, but he pulled his foot back and kicked me in the stomach. So I rolled into as tight a ball as I could and pressed back into the corner, waiting for the next assault. But it never came. I heard him knock against the metal door, then a loud click before the portal opened and the man slipped through, followed by a bang and another click as the door was locked behind him.

  ***

  I lay on that filthy floor for ten minutes before the guards found me and dragged me to health services. All I received there was a butterfly bandage to hold the crack on my nose together. Then it was time for my one phone call. I was escorted to a room that smelled like piss and filthy feet. On one wall was a long bank of weird-looking phones with a handset, but no way to dial out. I picked up the receiver, listened to the instructions, and ordered my call. I wanted to talk to my dad, but there was no way he could afford whatever my bail might be, so I decided to call my mother instead. Trouble was, she didn’t pick up. Ty did.

  “Hello?” he answered.

  “You have a call from the King County Jail,” whined an automated voice. “Press one to accept the charges, press two to disconnect.”

  A single tone chirped, followed by a series of loud clicks.

  “Hello?” Ty repeated.

  “Ty, it’s Conner. Put my mom on the phone.”

  “I can’t, she’s in the shower.”

  “Would you get her out then? It’s important.”

  “Conner, are you in jail?”

  “Yes, I am. Now please, just put my mom—”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “Look, I’d really prefer to talk to my mom.”

  “Why, so she can worry even more about you than she already does? I don’t think so, bud. What the bloody hell is going on?”

  “It’s…my boss. He accused me of burglary then had me arrested. Said he had me on video breaking into Rush Hour. But I didn’t, I swear. He’s lying.”

  “Why would he lie about that?”

  “Because the guy’s got it in for me. The cops, they planted money and drugs on me, so now I’ve got possession and intent charges, too. Greg’s gotta be paying them off ‘cause that shit isn’t mine.”

  “Why, Conner? Why would he do that? There must be a reason.”

  “‘Cause I’m into him for a crapload of money, that’s why. But I swear, it makes absolutely no sense. I was set up from the start. I just can’t figure out why. It’s like this guy’s got some personal vendetta against me or something, but I only just met him a few weeks ago. So why me? It’s not like I got anything he wants. Yet he sent somebody after me specifically, to bring me into a poker game. Who does that shit? And why, for Christ’s sake?”

  “What do you know about this guy?”

  I was ready to let loose and tell Ty everything, but Greg’s warning rang in my ears, as did the friendly reminder I had in the holding cell. So I balked.

  “Ty, I…I’m not sure…I mean… I’ve said too much already. I really don’t think I should say anything else.”

  “Why the hell not? Has someone threatened you?”

  “Well, yeah, you could say that, and I got the broken nose to prove it.”

  “Shit,” Ty swore. “All right, you listen to me. I want you to tell me everything you know about this guy, everything, how you met him, who works for him, and everything that’s happened since you started working for him. I need to know everything, Conner. Don’t leave anything out.”

  “Ty, I can’t. They already got to me once in here. They can do it again.”

  “No, they won’t. As soon as I get off the phone, I’m going to call my friend, the one I told you about in the bureau. He’ll help, I promise you that. Just tell me all you know.”

  And so I did; I told him everything, as much as I could in five minutes anyway, explaining why I’d asked if Katy could stay at their house, to keep her and the baby safe.

  “I’m sorry, but…I didn’t know what else to do,” I confessed. Then I started to cry. “Ty, they’re gonna kill me. I know it. Unless I do what they say, they’re gonna fucking kill me.”

  “No, they’re not. I’ll get you out of there. Just give me time to make a few calls, okay?”

  I sobbed into the phone.

  “When’s your arraignment?” he asked. “Have they set bail yet?”

  “I don’t know. They processed me then stuck me in a holding cell where some ape head-bashed me. They took me to see a nurse then here to make my one phone call. You’re it, Ty,” I admitted. “God, I’m so fucking screwed. You gotta get me the out of here. Now!”

  “Okay, just calm down. I’ll get you a lawyer and post bail, if they’ve even set it yet. You’ll probably need to be arraigned first since the charges are so serious. That might take a few hours, but I will get you out,” he promised again then paused. “Look, Conner, I think it’s best we don’t tell your mum or Katy about this just yet. Let me take care of everything and get you released. Then we’ll talk to them. No need to get them all worked up if they can’t do a damn thing about it, right?”

  I thought it over. I didn’t like it, but I could see his point. Maybe there were times when the truth wasn’t the best thing.

  “Yeah, I guess,” I agreed, though it didn’t sit well. “Thanks, Ty. And um…I’m sorry for being such an asshole all the time.”

  “Don’t worry about it, bud. Just hang in there, and I’ll see you soon. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I said and hung up.

  After my call, I was escorted to a cell where I sat down on the bottom bunk and waited, hoping I wouldn’t have to spend the night. The guard had told me I would be kept separate from the general population since I was injured. It was enough to help me relax, so I lay back with my hands behind my head and eventually drifted off.

  Until the cell door opened.

  I popped up and clobbered my head against the upper bunk as another inmate was ushered inside. I winced and rubbed the throbbing new l
ump.

  My new cellmate laughed. “Rookie move,” he razzed, moving to stand in front of me. He was a big guy, maybe three hundred pounds, and all around his middle. Nothing like my last cellmate. He was jovial almost, with a black pompadour, chubby cheeks, and dark, twinkling eyes, and not a single tattoo on his caramel-colored flesh.

  “I ain’t goin’ up on no top bunk,” he informed me, “so you better get your skinny ass up there, motherfucker.”

  Yeah, not so jovial after all.

  I did as ordered, tucking my feet all the way up onto the thin, musty mattress so I wouldn’t be in his way. But he didn’t move. He just stood there, staring at me.

  “Wha’choo do?” he asked.

  “Nothing. They made a mistake,” I answered.

  He laughed again. “I mean wha’choo in for?”

  “Fucking with the wrong guy.”

  That only made him smile. “You’re a real smartass, ain’tcha?” he said and stepped right to the edge of the bed. “Never take a goddamn thing serious, huh?”

  I leaned into the wall and pulled my legs in tight. “I don’t want any trouble, man.”

  That made him laugh, ‘til he reached over the pad, grabbed my ankle, and dragged me toward the edge of the top bunk. “Shoulda thought about that before your phone call, bitch.”

  I flipped onto my stomach and caught the frame with both hands as I kicked with my free leg, mostly to cave his face in, but also to keep him from having total control over me, not that it mattered; he had well over a hundred pounds on me. He yanked me off the bunk like a ragdoll and tossed me to the floor where I cracked my chin on the concrete. I tried to scramble away, but he pounced on top and seized a handful of hair, jerking my head so far back, I thought my neck would snap.

  “Please, man, don’t kill me!” I begged, ready to piss myself. “I got a kid on the way.”

  He bent over my shoulder. “Yeah, and if you open your bitch-mouth one more fucking time, your little Katy’ll be dropping an ugly mess of mangled flesh from that sweet little cunt of hers, ‘cause I’m gonna get me summa dat before I slit her fucking throat.” He slammed my cheek into the concrete floor.

  Bright light exploded behind my eyes, and suddenly, I couldn’t move.

  I couldn’t scream.

  I couldn’t fight back or even beg for mercy.

  I could only lie there and feel the things he did to me.

  And I thought, maybe it would’ve been better if he had killed me.

  CHAPTER 28

  Tyler

  I found it difficult to lie to Hannah’s face, especially after vowing not to just a few days earlier, so I left a note instead, telling her I had a minor emergency in Seattle and would be back soon. It was more a lie of omission, but it couldn’t be helped. I needed to see Conner’s neighbor, Nova, and learn more about this Greg character. But first, I had to let Moody know what was happening and get Conner out of jail. That would require a good criminal defense attorney. Aaron was the best source for that. I dialed his mobile, but got his voicemail. I left a long, urgently worded message. It wasn’t five minutes before my cell rang back.

  “Aaron, thank God! You got my message about Conner?” I asked.

  “Yeah, geez, that sucks, man. I’m sorry. But I got some good news. I gotta guy in Seattle. Name’s Ezra Toller. A real crackerjack defense guy. I’m texting you his contact info right now, but I’ve already put a call in and forwarded your number to him. It shouldn’t be long. He’s good at responding to emergencies.”

  I sighed in relief, knowing Moody had gotten the ball rolling so quickly. “Thanks, Aaron.”

  “We’ll get your boy out, Ty. I’m just as worried as you are. In fact, I’m worried about all of you. I gotta lot of new information coming in. It’s got me stumped, to be honest.”

  “Stumped? Why?”

  “Well, first we got your buddy, Mr. Tattoo, at the bookstore. Seems there are no current employees listed with the IRS, nor have there been for several years, so I have no idea who he is, but I’m gonna send someone in for a photo and see what comes back on facial recognition. Then we got the bookseller himself. So the paperwork says it’s leased by our guy, Vasin, right? But the property is owned by one Yuri Durov, and from what I can tell, I think he’s the old guy you met at the store, not Vasin, like he said. Vasin’s a lot younger according to immigration records at ICE. But this guy, Durov, he’s got me concerned.”

  “How so?” I broke in. “Can you link him back to the Bratva?”

  “No, not exactly.”

  “What does that mean, not exactly? Either you can or you can’t. Which is it?”

  “Well, we gotta couple guys inside the Brotherhood in California, and they’ve been puttin’ their feelers out. Doesn’t look like anyone’s interested in you down there. You did them a favor, as far as they’re concerned, gettin’ rid of Dmitri and Alexi. Seems Chernov had been makin’ a play for control, and the Portland guys don’t take too kindly to him either. But this Durov guy is from your neck of the woods, Ty, and by that, I mean your homeland.”

  “He’s from the UK?”

  “Not just the UK. The dude’s from London. From Tottenham, to be exact.”

  “Tottenham?” I repeated, feeling like my heart had just sunk all the way to China. “For God’s sake. That’s where my—”

  “Yeah, I know,” he interrupted. “Where your dad was from, as well as Alexi, Dmitri, and their brother, Mikhail. Goddamn ground zero for this whole motherfuckin’ fiasco.”

  “Jesus, Aaron.” I almost ran off the freeway as the earth seemed to shift beneath me. “Shit. Shit!”

  “Yeah, my sentiments exactly,” he said. "I don’t like it, Ty. Not one damn bit. It’s way too close, even if we can’t tie it back to the Bratva. I’m sorry, but…it’s not safe anymore. Time for you all to come in.”

  “What?”

  “All three of you, Ty, into protective custody. Right. Fucking. Now. I’m not kiddin’. This is serious.”

  “What about Katy? Conner won’t come in without her, not while she’s carrying his kid.”

  “Fine, bring’er in then, but no way she’ll be allowed to stay with the rest of you. She’s questionable, at best. And the boys’ll wanna interrogate her quite thoroughly, I imagine.”

  I groaned. “Whatever. I just can’t believe this is happening again. After all this time. Who could possibly be behind this? And why?”

  “I don’t know,” he replied, “but you can be damn sure we’ll figure it out.”

  “Christ, Hannah’s going to flip. And oh God,” I moaned. “I’ll have to explain everything to Conner, now, too. Jesus Christ. There goes that relationship. I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t kill me himself.” I slammed my hand against the wheel. “Fuck.”

  “Worry about that later. We gotta get everyone in first. I’ll call for a team to pick up Hannah and Katy.”

  “How long do you think?” I wondered. “Because I’d like to be the one to break the news to her before anyone shows up.”

  “Two hours. Three at the most.”

  I glanced at my watch. “Okay. I’m in the U District right now. I’m going to drop by Conner’s and talk to his neighbor before I head downtown for his arraignment. Hopefully, your guy…uh…?” I snapped my fingers twice.

  “Toller. Ezra Toller,” Moody offered.

  “Yeah, Toller. Hopefully, he’ll call or meet me at the jail or the courthouse. I don’t want the kid there overnight, Aaron. He’s a sitting duck. I promised him I’d get him out. Like right now.”

  “I know. I’ll leave Ezra another message. But try not to worry. We’ll take care of this. In a few hours, you’ll all be safe in federal custody, and we’ll figure it out from there.”

  “I guess. Not like we have a choice, huh?”

  “No, I’m sorry, we don’t,” he confirmed.

  “Okay, then, I’ll talk to you in a few. Later.”

  “See ya,” he said then hung up.
At least, I think he hung up.

  “Hello?” I called out after hearing several clicks, but there was nothing except hissing dead air. I pulled the phone away and stared at it for another five seconds, until the display finally went dark.

  I tucked it back into my pocket just as I pulled up to Conner’s apartment building. I jogged up the three flights of stairs to his neighbor’s door and knocked, waiting less than a minute before it swung open. A pretty, pint-sized, young woman answered with a bland smile on her face, but it wavered for more than a moment when her eyes scanned me from head to toe, finally resting on my face. She blinked and replaced it with a broad, if false grin.

  “Yes?” she said, her gently arched brows slung high. “Can I help you?”

  “I hope so,” I replied with the grin Hannah and Jillian had always said could charm even the dourest of women. “Are you Nova?”

  She tilted her head slightly as one brow dipped low. “I am,” she said, then held silent.

  That left me curious. Most people would immediately return the question, yet she did not.

  I stuck my hand out. “Hi, I’m Tyler Karras—” I began and hooked my thumb over my shoulder.

  “Conner’s stepfather,” Nova finished and accepted my hand. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Karras. What can I do for you?” She pulled away and tucked both hands into her back pockets.

  “I was hoping I could ask you a few questions. It won’t take long.”

  She pursed her lips and thought about it then backed up and turned to let me in. “Yeah, sure, I guess,” she said and held her arm up in welcome, but she didn’t close the door behind me, and she remained next to it, apparently unwilling to welcome me in any farther. “What d’you wanna know?” she asked.

  “Um…did you know Conner was arrested this morning?”

  She nodded and frowned. “Yeah, kinda hard to miss with the show he and cops put on.”