Naked Truth

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  Dmitry shrugged. “I thought you were on administrative leave?”

  “Have one of the officers outside call it in. Get him out of here before I do something that will put me behind bars,” Drake said.

  Dmitry nodded and hauled the nurse out of the room.

  “You two should go too,” Pam said to her parents, starting to take out her IV. “Vadim won’t hesitate to hurt you to get to me.”

  Laura’s eyes filled with tears. “We can’t leave you like this.”

  “Pam, I’ve got a plan. It’s crazy, but no one is going to be able to track us. Are you up for it?” Drake stopped her from removing the IV.

  “If you’re with me, I’m up for anything. I was so afraid Vadim was going to shoot you. How do we know he’s not waiting for us to leave the hospital?”

  “All it takes is one sniper,” her father said.

  “I’ve got it all figured out. But I need about a half hour to pull it off. I’ll make sure no one comes in this room but me. Your parents have to stay here until I get back. I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “Oh, so you trust us now?” Laura asked bitterly.

  “Don’t make me regret my decision,” he said.

  “Drake, be careful,” Pam said.

  “I will,” he said and leaned down to kiss her lips. “I love you.”

  Funny, after that, her mother seemed to get over her dislike of him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Pam used the time that Drake was gone to slide into a Reiki meditation. She told her parents she was going to take a nap, because they thought Reiki was in the same category as television psychics.

  She asked for energy to help her with healing and dealing with the pain. She gave out gratitude for the spirits who were watching out for her and who’d sent Darren and Drake to aid her on the journey. Tapping the energy from the universal feed, she bathed in it, picturing it as a white, healing light. Pam controlled her breathing so that as she was inhaling the pure energy, she was exhaling the toxins.

  As she drifted, she wished she had her music, as the bustling sounds of the hospital and her father’s shuffling around the room were a bit distracting. She would have liked to enter a deeper trance, but she fell asleep. Her dreams were peaceful, even though she was concentrating on protection and safety.

  When Drake came back, Pam woke up feeling refreshed and lighter in spirit than she had been. She was able to request and get several high-dose acetaminophens from a real nurse this time. After checking them, she washed a few down with water while Drake told them the plan. It was ridiculous and reckless and would probably work. It was the “probably” part that had Pam wondering if she was doing the right thing. But the alternative was lying in bed like a sitting duck. Vadim knew where she was, and it was just a matter of time before he figured out how to get to her.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  Laura nodded, her jawline tight. “Absolutely.”

  The fierce set of her body made Pam smile.

  “Don’t worry about us,” her father rumbled. He was older than she remembered. She hadn’t seen him for more than a few days, if that, over the last couple of years. He held her mother’s hand in a possessive grip.

  If I get out of this, she thought, maybe it’s time to let the past go and try to forgive him.

  Pam unhooked herself from the IV unit and got up with Drake’s help. She was stiff, and she felt the pull of the stitches, but everything held, and her pain was manageable.

  “How are you doing?” Drake asked.

  “I’m not going to be kicking anyone in the knee anytime soon,” she said.

  “You won’t have to. Please put these on, Mrs. Krupin,” Drake said to her mother.

  Laura went into the bathroom and changed into Pam’s clothes. When she came out, Pam was taken aback. Wearing Drake’s mirrored sunglasses, her mother’s face was obscured. She was the right size to pass for her. They wore their hair differently. Her mother’s hair was short, but with the baseball cap on, it hid that and made it look more authentic.

  “Are you sure this is safe?” Pam bit her lip as her father helped her mother into a bulletproof vest.

  “I don’t think he’s got a sniper set up,” Drake said.

  “Don’t worry about me, Pammy. Worry about yourself,” her mother said.

  “Your turn,” Drake said, and Pam took her costume into the bathroom to change. The ratty old pair of sweatpants was comfortable. She gingerly slid her arms into a man’s flannel shirt two sizes too big for her, wincing at the pulling on her stitches. After stepping into a dirty pair of sneakers—also too big—and stuffing her hair into a winter hat, she looked into the mirror.

  “This is crazy,” she told her reflection, smearing a little brown eye shadow on her face to simulate dirt.

  When she’d been homeless, she’d done everything she could to appear normal. She’d come in early to school and taken a shower there. She’d washed, dried, and ironed her clothes in the home economics room. But she had also been more fortunate than some people. Pulling a couple of stray hairs free, Pam guessed she was as good as she could get. At least she wouldn’t have to fake shuffling around.

  Drake changed into his undercover outfit next, and Pam smiled when “Ralphie” emerged from the bathroom. He helped her into a puffy blue coat that had seen better days, but at least she would be warm.

  “Here’s how this is going to work. You guys walk out of here with the police escorts. You’re going to get into their car and drive to the station. Vadim shouldn’t be able to get a shot in, but I want you to wear a vest anyway.” He made her father put one on. “Give your keys to one of the uniforms, and they’ll drive your car back to the station. Once you’re there, you’re free to do whatever you please.”

  “What about you two?”

  “After you get underway, no one should be watching this room. We’re going to take the elevator to the basement and get into an unmarked car. I’m going to take her somewhere safe, and then we’ll figure out the next step.”

  “Be careful, dear,” Laura said, giving her a hug while making sure she wasn’t squeezing too hard.

  “You’re the one in the crosshairs,” Pam said, flinching when her father also hugged her.

  “I’m so proud of you,” he said in Russian and then walked behind Laura out the door.

  Pam wiped unwanted tears from her eyes. Her throat tightened as she sniffed. It must be all the emotion from getting shot coming to the surface.

  “We’re going to get you out of here,” Drake said, rubbing her arm.

  “I’m scared,” she admitted.

  “Hardest part will be from the elevator to the car. I’ve got us covered.” He flashed her the pistol he palmed. “Inside your coat pockets are your cell phone and your wallet I got from the crime scene. If anything happens, just hide and call in the cavalry like you did last time.”

  “Last time, I threatened to shoot Vadim.”

  “The time before that, then.” Drake grinned.

  “I missed Ralphie,” she said and stood up on tiptoe to brush her lips across his.

  “You’ll be spending some time with him,” he said, stroking his thumb over her cheek.

  “But Vadim knows what he looks like.”

  “Ralphie is the least of Vadim’s concerns. He won’t look twice at us. Trust me. Are you ready?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. Keep your head down. We’ll go slow and stop whenever you need to.”

  “I hope no one recognizes me,” she fretted.

  “You’re as good as invisible right now.”

  “I remember,” she said. People had always looked the other way. “Let’s do this.”

  “Let me check the hallway.” Drake peered out the door. One of the uniforms he had told to stay back gave him the all-clear sign and pressed the elevator button for them. Drake motioned Pam through and wrapped his arm around her as they walked down the corridor.

  “It’s okay to go slow,” he sa
id. “We’re not in a race.”

  “Believe me,” she said, “I’m in no hurry.”

  They made it to the elevator and got on. Drake hit the basement button and put his hand with the pistol in his pocket. He kissed her forehead.

  “You’re very brave.”

  “Tell that to my knocking knees,” she said.

  The elevator doors opened, and Drake looked left and right.

  “Showtime,” he said and helped her out of the elevator.

  Together, they staggered down the parking lot.

  “Let’s hold up here for a second,” he told her when they had gone a few hundred feet.

  Pam was grateful for the rest and leaned against a cement pole while Drake looked around.

  After about ten minutes, he said, “Not much farther. Let’s go.”

  They stumbled down a few more rows. Pam’s side was starting to itch and throb. Just when she thought she was going to have to call for another break, Drake thumbed a key fob, and a nearby car flashed its lights.

  Thankfully, it was a four-door sedan, and Pam could just ease into the passenger’s side. He hurried over to the driver’s side and put the car into gear. He paid the parking attendant and headed out.

  “Any place special you want to go to?” he asked.

  “I hear Hawaii’s nice this time of year.”

  “I am on vacation right now. We could go. I was thinking the Caribbean because you can use the money you save on airfare to Mexico, rather than Hawaii, on booze.”

  “Can I take a rain check? I don’t think I could really enjoy the ocean with these stitches.”

  “Sure,” he said, looking at the rearview mirror. “How about for our honeymoon?”

  Pam wondered for a moment if he was joking or if maybe she had heard wrong, but she saw the nervous set of his jaw and the way his fingers were wringing the steering wheel.

  “Okay,” she said softly.

  He cut his eyes to hers. “Okay?”

  “Watch the road,” she said.

  He accelerated onto the highway. “So was that okay, you’ll marry me, or okay, you wouldn’t mind going to Cancún for our honeymoon?”

  “I answered the question you asked,” Pam said, feeling her heart flutter when his grin spread across his face.

  “I suppose I could have worded that better,” he said.

  “Your timing stinks too.” She reached out to hold his hand, and they drove along in companionable silence for a few miles. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Nikolai’s bar.”

  “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

  “Well, the vor already hit it, so it’s unlikely that they’re going to be coming back. We’ve upped the police patrols in the area. That keeps things safer as well. There’s plenty of food and drink in storage, which will help us keep a low profile because we won’t have to go out for supplies. It’s currently closed while they’re remodeling, so we don’t have to worry about people coming and going. Nikolai turned one of the storage rooms into a small apartment. You can recover there with me guarding you.”

  “You’ve really thought this out. Andrej agreed to this? I thought he wasn’t talking to you.”

  “He’s not. I can’t blame him. He’ll get over it, though. He doesn’t have it in him to stay angry at anyone for long. I should have known he’d never be a vor boss.” Drake shook his head. “I’m such an idiot.”

  “You have to cut yourself a break.”

  He lifted his shoulder in a half shrug. “I guess. Anyway, Marishka owns the bar now. I haven’t talked to her yet, but she won’t have a problem with it.”

  “I figured we’d be going to another safe house,” Pam said.

  “I didn’t like what happened at the last one.”

  “Or a hotel?”

  “The credit card transactions can be traced. I suppose we could pay cash, but I still don’t like the idea of strangers having access to our room. If Vadim could get a nurse to slip you fake pills, maybe he could get a maid to let him in.”

  “Even if we go to another state? We could drive to New York and get lost there.”

  “I’d feel better protecting you on my own turf.”

  “Me too,” she said, squeezing his hand. “We’ll do it your way. I trust you.”

  “We’re going to have to park the car and walk in after dark. I was going to drive around until then. By that time, we’ll know if anyone is following us and if Vadim tried to take a shot at your mother.”

  “I figure no news is good news, right?” she said. “At least, that’s what I’ve been telling myself.”

  “Yeah,” Drake said, kissing her knuckles. “It is.”

  Drake took the highway to the state line and then took the back roads back. He stopped by a drive-through for some coffee and food, but went to another restaurant for a bathroom break.

  “We look clear. No one’s tailing us, but just to be on the safe side,” he explained.

  Around eight o’clock, Drake gently shook her awake. He had parked in a strip mall, far away from the entrances to the stores. She recognized her old neighborhood. Nikolai’s place wasn’t far from here.

  “I’m going to scout the area after I lock you in. When the locks beep open, give it a few minutes and come out. I’ll be waiting for you by the bank. I’ll be watching. If you need help, just sit down, and I’ll come for you.”

  “Sure,” Pam croaked. She grabbed a water bottle, taking a big sip to clear her throat.

  Drake eased out of the car and locked the doors. The alarm set with an electronic chirp. She tried to see him move, but he stuck to the shadows and glided across the parking lot like a wraith. She could only hope she was half as graceful. The pain in her side was acting up again, and she took two more acetaminophens. Laying her head back on the seat, she hoped they hadn’t been followed. A few minutes later, the car unlocked.

  “Showtime,” she said and carefully got out of the car, hissing in pain as her stitches rubbed against the flannel shirt. “Just a few steps,” she told herself as she closed the car door. “Then you can relax.”

  The bank looked as far away as Egypt, but she toddled toward it like it was an oasis. Each step made her hyperaware of the night noises around her. Was someone watching in the shadows, waiting to pounce? Were Piotr and Gregor still in jail? The questions haunted her as she tried to keep moving forward. The water sloshed in her stomach, making her nauseated, but she persevered. Drake was waiting for her by the bank. She was shaking.

  “I can’t do this,” she said to him.

  “We’ll rest here.” He eased them to the ground and settled her on his lap.

  “How much farther is it?”

  “Another two blocks.”

  She stifled a whimper and wrapped her arms around herself.

  “I can go get the car,” Drake said. “We can forget about this.”

  “No,” she said. “I just need a minute.”

  “Take all the time you need.”

  When the cold started to ease into her joints, Pam knew she couldn’t risk her muscles tightening up. She wasn’t ready, but it was time to go.

  “I’m ready,” she said to Drake, and he helped her up. It’s only two blocks, she told herself, but she wound up leaning on Drake so much that it took them forever to cover the distance. Luckily, in that time, they were able to see that no one paid them any attention. Just a couple of homeless old drunks.

  “I don’t think you’re going to get your blowjob tonight,” she joked.

  Drake stumbled. “You can make it up to me when you’re feeling better.”

  “Count on it.”

  When they got close to the bar, Pam saw the windows had been boarded up and the debris and glass had been carted away. Drake ducked under the police tape and fiddled with the lock.

  “Are you breaking in?”

  “Technically,” he acknowledged.

  “Isn’t that illegal?”

  “It’s a gray area. Besides, Marishka won’t press charges. Now,
quickly, get in here.”

  Quick was relative, but Pam hustled her best inside. She felt the anxiety ratchet up, though, instead of release when Drake locked the door behind them. The room was dark and somber.

  “I’m going to take you to Nikolai’s room. You can sleep there.”

  Sleep sounded good to her, but before they made it halfway across the ruined dining area, a light flicked on in the kitchen, and they heard a couple talking softly in Russian.

  “I’m an idiot.” Drake cursed.

  “Not the time for that,” she whispered back.

  There was no way to get to the back room without passing the kitchen.

  “Hide under the booth,” Drake said, guiding her as fast as he dared over the floor.

  Pam crawled under the table and tried to get comfortable. Her stitches were on fire. She closed her eyes and laid her head on the seat.

  “Please don’t move.”

  “No worries,” she said and tried to reach for a level of calm, but her nerves were jangled. She thought the man’s voice she heard belonged to Vadim.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Drake sidled over to the kitchen to see if he could hear what was being said. He recognized Marishka’s voice and brought his weapon up when he heard Vadim speak.

  “You brought me here for a reason?”

  “Nikolai hid the artifacts in his bar,” Marishka said.

  “I knew it,” Vadim said. “Where?”

  “In the walk-in freezer, wrapped up like meat.”

  “That old goat,” Vadim said and flung open the door of the locker and stalked inside.

  Drake rounded the corner into the kitchen to see Marishka slam the door closed and lock it.

  A muffled roar came from inside, and gunfire rattled against the door, but the door was thick enough not to let the bullets through.

  “Well, that should chill him out,” Drake said,

  Marishka whirled and grabbed a chef’s knife to threaten him with.

  “It’s me,” Drake said, holding his hands straight up.

  “Drago? Why are you dressed up like a bum?”

  “I wanted somewhere safe to take Pam,” he said.

  “Is it over?” Pam asked, peeking into the kitchen. Drake saw that she was dragging a large two-by-four in her hand.