by Mike Ryan
Nazarov’s eyes flickered and he shook his head as he tried to wake up. It took a minute but he finally was able to come to his senses. As he returned to normal, he tried to bring his arms forward but the cuffs prevented him from doing so. Nazarov looked at his abductors, not remembering them at all, and wondered what they wanted with him.
“What do you want?” Nazarov asked.
“We’re just looking for some information,” Parker replied.
“I don’t know anything.”
“Yeah, you see, we don’t believe that,” Cole said.
“Where’s Heath Davis?” Parker asked.
“Who?” Nazarov answered.
“You know who he is.”
“Never heard of him.”
“Funny, we have pictures of both of you at the Fonda Theatre at the same time,” Cole told him. “We know you did a drop there.”
“Not talking,” Nazarov said.
Out of nowhere, Parker, standing to the side of their prisoner, unleashed a kick to Nazarov’s face that sent him backwards, his body thumping on the floor. Nazarov screamed in agony as his arm bent in an odd way, almost breaking. Cole was a little stunned at her move, not at all expecting it. Though he was surprised, Cole actually was impressed that Parker did it. He looked at her, wondering what came over her.
“What?” she asked. “I’m working through some anger issues right now.”
Cole made a face, shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders. “Umm. No, I’m good.”
Cole went over to Nazarov and pushed his chair back up. Nazarov’s nose was bleeding.
“Did that have anything to do with Turner?” Cole asked.
“No. Why?”
“Just thought maybe you were picturing him sitting there,” he guessed.
“No. I wouldn’t wanna hurt him,” Parker said. “Well, maybe I was getting rid of some frustration from him.”
“Had a feeling it came back to him somehow.”
Cole then turned his attention back to the Russian they had seated in front of them. He had no qualms about beating the man into submission, even if it took all night, but knew they probably didn’t have that kind of time. They needed to find Davis quickly and needed Nazarov to spill whatever he knew just as fast. So Cole tried to take a different tactic than one he normally would. He tried to reason with him.
“Listen, we can be here all night beating the living daylights out of you, but I’m not really sure that’s in your best interests. Me…if that’s the road you wanna take…I’d like nothing better. I haven’t beaten anyone to a bloody pulp in months. I’ll actually enjoy it,” Cole told him. “Or…you can just take the easy way and tell us everything you know and skip the punishment.”
Nazarov looked at him like he was crazy, surprised that he thought he’d actually talk. Cole could see on Nazarov’s face that he still wasn’t interested in talking.
“Let me explain something else to you,” Cole said. “As dangerous as I am, she’s worse,” he said, pointing to Parker. “And besides that, a guy just dumped her for another woman, so she’s in a really bad place right now. She scares even me in the mood she’s in. She’s ready to rip off the testicles of any man she comes in contact with.”
Nazarov lifted his head up and looked over at Parker, not sure if he believed Cole’s story. But she didn’t look like she was in a pleasant mood so Nazarov was inclined to think maybe it was. Parker tried to sell Cole’s story even more by nailing Nazarov with a sharp forearm blow to his head, the point of her elbow striking Nazarov square in the mouth. The chair almost tipped over again, the front two legs coming off the ground. Nazarov was able to keep his balance though as he steadied the chair back down. He looked a little dazed and spit some blood out of his mouth, one of his teeth being knocked loose.
“I wouldn’t keep doing this to yourself if I was you,” Cole whispered to him.
Parker went over to the bag on the couch, Nazarov watching her every move. His eyes widened as he saw her remove what looked like some large pliers. Cole stayed by Nazarov’s ear as Parker came closer to them.
“I don’t think I can even watch this,” Cole whispered to him. “Good luck to you. Hope you can still use it after she’s done with it.”
Cole stood up and backed away, a few steps behind Nazarov. This was the first time he’d really seen how ruthless Parker could be. Up until then, her reputation didn’t seem to match up with what he’d seen firsthand. Now, he could understand why she was held in such high regard. Parker slowly walked toward Nazarov, letting his mind race with fear in anticipation of what she was going to do to him. Unlike Cole, this was the biggest part of the job that she didn’t enjoy. In fact she hated it. She really didn’t like causing people pain, but understood that sometimes it was what the job called for. She at least took some solace that she never did it to someone who was undeserving. Anyone she ever caused pain to was some kind of criminal who’d hurt countless people. It was how she justified it to herself. Parker stopped in front of Nazarov and knelt down. She gripped the pliers in her right hand and moved them to Nazarov’s crotch area, tapping him with the pliers.
“Last chance to tell us what you know,” she told him.
Nazarov bit his lip, closed his eyes, and shook his head. He hoped that she was bluffing with the pliers. Parker moved the pliers closer to him, the fabric of his pants getting caught between the pliers as she squeezed. She then took aim again as the pliers squeezed one of his testicles. Nazarov screamed in agony and she squeezed even harder. The pain was excruciating but he somehow was able to withstand the punishment without divulging anything. Parker made a face, undeterred, as she walked back to their black bag.
“Even I don’t know what she’s gonna do next,” Cole whispered to Nazarov. “Should be interesting.”
Parker pulled out some handheld bolt cutters and walked back to their captive. Nazarov was still in a lot of pain and was breathing heavily. He cringed as he thought about what Parker might be planning to do next. She knelt down again and unzipped his pants. Cole stood there mesmerized, not believing she was actually going to go through with what it looked like she was. Parker squeezed his other testicle between the pliers, once again causing Nazarov to scream in immense pain. Nazarov’s breathing became even more intense, his cheeks puffing out to help mask the pain. Parker maneuvered the bolt cutters inside his now opened crotch and Nazarov closed his eyes, not believing what was happening to him.
“Please don’t,” Nazarov pleaded.
“Do you want just the tip gone? Or should I go down further?” Parker pleasantly asked.
Nazarov gulped and knew she wasn’t joking or bluffing. He fully believed she was planning on going through with it. He closed his eyes once more.
“OK. I’ll talk,” he finally relented.
Parker stood back up, but left the bolt cutters lodged inside his pants, just in case he had a change of heart. Cole swung back around in front of Nazarov as well.
“So you admit you know Heath Davis?” Cole asked.
“Yes,” Nazarov answered.
“What was the deal you had at the theatre?”
“He got cash in exchange for the names of CIA agents currently deployed in Europe.”
“Why do you care about that?”
“I don’t. I’m employed by Anatoli Volchenkov,” Nazarov revealed.
“The Russian arms dealer,” Parker said.
“He is feeling that the CIA is getting closer to him and wants to eliminate his enemies before they eliminate him.”
“And Davis sold him this information?” Cole asked.
“Yes. He gave me the disc and I sent it back to Volchenkov.”
“What else do you know?”
Nazarov was still in pain and breathing heavily. He really didn’t want to talk anymore and wasn’t happy that he’d said as much as he had. Parker put her hand back on the cutters to jumpstart his mouth again.
“You know more,” Parker said. “Tell us or I’ll finish what I started,” she
threatened.
“He has something going down at some warehouse tomorrow night.”
“Where?”
“Locust Street.”
“What time?”
“Eight.”
“What’s happening there?”
“I don’t know,” Nazarov said. “I think he said something about an Iranian. I’m not sure. He didn’t divulge much information.”
“What’d he want you there for?” Cole wondered.
“Just protection. He offered me a few thousand just to stand guard for him. An easy job.”
“You don’t know what he’s planning?”
“I do not know. All I was to do was be a bodyguard,” Nazarov answered.
“Then what?”
“He said he was planning on flying out of the country after the deal was done. He said it was getting too hot for him here.”
“Where’s he going?” Parker asked.
“I don’t know. He did not say.”
“What else?”
“There’s nothing else. I’ve told you everything I know. I promise I know nothing more,” Nazarov told them.
Parker went back over to the bag and took out a needle and a small bottle with some type of liquid already in it. She put the needle in the bottle, filling it. She walked back over to her prisoner, holding the needle out.
“I believe you,” she told him, quickly sticking the needle into the side of his neck.
Nazarov lost consciousness almost immediately. Cole checked his pulse to make sure he was still alive.
“That was good work,” Cole told her. “You know, you really had me going there for a few minutes. I really thought you were gonna cut his junk off,” he said with a smile.
Parker gave him a devilish smile and tilted her head, indicating that she actually might have.
“You really weren’t gonna do it, were you?” Cole asked.
“I dunno. I guess we’ll never really know, will we?” she answered, smiling like she was planning on it.
“All right, I guess we can get rid of this guy now. We’ll take him back to the club and dump him back in his own car. He’ll wake up tomorrow with no memory of anything that happened.”
Chapter 11
Cole was looking at surveillance footage while eating a sandwich when a call came in. It was a quick conversation, only lasting a minute. After he hung up he looked a little disturbed at what he’d just heard. He then called Parker to let her know the news.
“Hey. Where you at?” Cole asked.
“Just out getting a few things,” she answered. “Why? What’s up?”
“Just got word that Nazarov’s body was just found about an hour ago.”
“What?!”
“Inside his house in his own bed with three bullet holes in his chest,” Cole informed her.
“Heath might be trying to clean things up,” Parker stated.
“That means he’s close to packing up and leaving. We gotta get to him soon.”
“If he killed Nazarov, that means he might know he talked to us.”
“Not necessarily. We drugged him so he wouldn’t remember anything. He couldn’t cop out to talking to us even if he wanted to,” Cole replied. “It could’ve been something Davis was planning on anyway.”
“You’re right.”
“Get back here so we can go over stuff.”
“On my way,” Parker said. She was sitting in the GameTech parking lot, wondering about calling Turner to see if he wanted to go to lunch. She was going to tell him she just happened to be in the area. She’d been wondering if she was doing the right thing by just letting him go and not fighting for him. It wasn’t her style to give up easily, though love and relationships were something she clearly struggled with. Parker woke up that morning, still thinking about her actions with Nazarov the night before. It was clear to her that Turner wasn’t out of her system and that no matter how much she denied it, she wanted to somehow make it work with him. She thought that maybe she could talk to him further at lunch but that plan seemed to have gone out the window now. She turned her car back on and went home to meet Cole, where they spent the rest of the afternoon going over the layout of the warehouse.
Turner had just finished work and was walking out to his car. Ever since Davis surprised him the one day, Turner had a habit of looking all around to make sure no one was there. Turner hit the unlock button on his key ring and got into his car. He put the key in the ignition but was quickly startled, and jumped a little in his seat, when his passenger door opened, revealing Davis once again.
“What is wrong with you?!” Turner asked. “Have you not ever heard of just jumping into peoples’ cars?”
“Sorry,” Davis said with a laugh. “Seemed like the best way to talk to you.”
“And where did you come from? I looked everywhere to make sure this didn’t happen again!”
“You just don’t know where to look.”
“Apparently,” Turner said. “I’m assuming you want me for something else again?”
Davis sighed, almost regretting what he was there for. “I’m afraid so.”
“What this time?”
“I need you to come with me.”
“What? Where?”
“If you just come with me, I promise you this will be the last time you’ll ever see me. I’ll be gone after this,” Davis told him.
Turner wasn’t quite sure about his request. Something about being the last time he’d ever see him didn’t quite sit well with him. It almost seemed like a death notice or something.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’d rather not do that,” Turner said.
“Unfortunately Ryan, this isn’t a request. You’re coming.”
“And just how are you gonna make me?”
“I’m pretty sure this’ll do it,” Davis said, pulling a gun out of his pocket.
“Yeah. Yeah, that’ll work all right,” Turner agreed. “So where we going?”
“I got a deal going down at a warehouse in a couple hours.”
“So what do you need me for?”
“Protection.”
“I couldn’t protect anybody,” Turner admitted. “I’m pretty sure you could find someone better for that type of thing. Violence isn’t my forte.”
“Not that type of protection.”
“What other kind is there?”
“Alex and Cole are getting close. They abducted one of my acquaintances yesterday and I think learned of my plans tonight,” Davis said.
“I’m still not seeing where I fit in all of this.”
“Well you see, if they show up, I need an advantage to get out of the situation.”
“And you think that advantage is me?” Turner asked.
“I do. I’m banking on that they’ve gotten somewhat attached to you and won’t let something bad happen to you.”
“Like what?”
“Well, you may be strapped to a chair rigged with explosives,” Davis told him. “I’m betting that they’d rather save you first as opposed to following me, giving me enough time to escape.”
“Uhh, I really don’t think all that is necessary,” Turner nervously said.
“Maybe not. But it’s better to be ready just in case.”
Turner put his hand on the door handle, thinking about jumping out of the car and running. Davis noticed his actions and sought to quell his aspirations quickly.
“Just in case you’re having some delusions of running away right now, realize that I’m an expert shot and would kill you before you get five feet out of that door,” Davis said.
“Why? Why would you do this to me?” he asked, taking his hand off the door.
“Ryan, I don’t want you to take this personally. It’s nothing personal. I like you a lot. Always have. It’s just…I like me better. So unfortunately, I have to use you to my advantage.”
“Why use me at all? Why not just cancel your plans tonight if you think they’re getting close?” Turner wondered.
“Can’t. The
people I’m meeting, you don’t just cancel on. Besides, some of the money has already been transferred. If I cancelled, they may think I’m trying to back out and swindle them. So unfortunately for you, that’s not an option,” Davis responded. “I just need to make this deal and then I’m out of the country for good. And then you can go back to your normal life.”
“How satisfying for me. What makes you think they’d even come for me anyway?”
“You think any of this was by accident? I’ve been planning these contingencies just in case I needed them. I knew they’d send Alex after me. Nobody knows me better than her. But by the same token, nobody knows her better than me. I didn’t just choose you cause of our past, Ryan. I saw the way you two looked at each other in that theatre.”
“Well she is a beautiful woman, but I fail to see how that would help me,” Turner replied.
“I also chose you because Alex is getting tired of the spy life. She’s getting ready to give it up, whether she knows it or not. If she were to ever fall for a guy, you’re the type of guy she’d give it up for. The nice, sweet, and caring type. I was kind of banking on that when you two met. So if the situation arises, I’m betting that she’d choose rescuing you…over killing me.”
“How can you do all this? This isn’t the guy I went to school with.”
“A lot’s changed since we were in college, Ryan. I’ve been through a lot. This profession changes a person. Changes their outlook, their view on life, their view on everything. I’m not evil. I’m not a bad person. I just want enough money to retire and disappear forever,” Davis explained.
“Obviously in the most ethical way possible.”
“You do it your way and I’ll do it mine.”
Davis then instructed Turner to start driving, giving him turn-by-turn directions as Davis led him to the warehouse. Davis kept the gun firmly entrenched in his hand so Turner would see it and not get any ideas about escaping, though Davis didn’t directly point the gun at him. Once there, Davis got his prisoner out of the car and tied his hands behind his back as he took him from the empty parking lot and walked him inside the building.