“Will it be possible then to take the girl with us?” Connor asked again. “Her importance in this deal cannot be stressed enough.”
“We have a slight problem there,” Nicoloff said with what Connor thought was regret. “She died a month ago.”
Johnny had only enough time to say ‘uh oh’, and there was a flurry of motion around him. Before either man standing around Nicoloff could move, Connor dropped both of them viciously to the floor with an attack Johnny could not follow. One moment they were standing, and the next they were on the floor. Johnny stood up, and slipped his wire out from the lining in his coat, as Connor had lifted the stunned Nicoloff out of his chair like a baby. Connor stood him on his feet, and then touched his head momentarily. Nicoloff dropped to the floor in a ball, shaking as if in a fit.
“Nate,” Johnny spoke.
“I’m here.”
“We have a problem. Nicoloff just told us the girl died a month ago.”
“Oh Christ, how many dead so far?”
Johnny chuckled in spite of the situation. “Two down, condition unknown, and Nicoloff has curled up in a ball on the rug, and appears to be shaking.”
“Tell the evil mutant to put on his wire and talk to me.”
Johnny went over to where Connor was crouching next to Nicoloff. “Nate says to put on your wire Thomas. I will watch the door.”
Johnny went over to one of the bodies, and took his weapon. As Connor fumbled to get hooked up with Nate, Loo went over and locked the door, taking a position off to the side of it.
“I’m here Nate,” Connor said.
“I know you’re disappointed Thomas, but don’t get crazy on me boy. Stick to the plan and get on out of there. I will have Nick over in a second.”
“Hold off Nate. Nicoloff was lying. He’s in the special place finding out how to tell the truth.”
Nate laughed. “Understood, keep me informed.”
“Will do, Nick you there?” Connor asked.
“Yes Sir.”
“We will be at the front in fifteen minutes. I hope without anyone after us, but everyone expect the worst, just in case.”
He bent over, and touched Nicoloff on the arm again. The man came out of his fetal position batting and tearing at his clothes. Connor caught him up by his coat and slammed him into his desk chair. Nicoloff looked at Connor through pain filled horrified eyes. Sweat poured down his face.
“Who…Who are you? Wh.What did you do to me?”
“Listen carefully Demetri,” Connor whispered. “I know you lied about the girl being dead. That does not matter now, but do not lie to me again, because I will know it, and I will send you back where you were. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I.”
“Where do you have the girl?”
“I gave her to a man named Alexander Solataroff.”
“What is this man to you?” Connor asked.
“He has many contacts throughout the militia, with ties to Moscow officials. I have money. I.”
“Draw me directions to this man’s residence, along with his phone number, and a description of his place. How many men will he have with him?”
“Many men work for him, but usually only a few with him at any time,” Nicoloff answered quickly.
“Does he keep the girl with him?”
“He was very much taken with her. That is why I gave her to him. He…He will have her.”
“Are you on a first name basis with this man?” Connor continued.
“No, he allows me to operate because of the bribes I give him.”
“What do you call him?”
“Comrade Solotaroff or Sir.”
Connor nodded as he took up the sheet of paper Nicoloff had been working on. “Does the blond haired scarred man out there run things for
you?”
“Yes.”
“What do you call him?”
“Nicholas.”
Connor snapped Nicoloff s neck, as Johnny whipped around at the doorway in time to see Nicoloff collapse over his desk with his head at a very unnatural angle. Connor looked at the man and then began to change. In a few seconds Johnny could not tell the difference between Connor and the dead man in front of him. Connor walked over to him.
“Nate, you get all that,” Connor asked.
“Yea Mutie, including that snap at the end. Read me the address. We’ll get on it as soon as you’re on the road. I imagine you will be walking out as Nicoloff, so how much time do you think we will have?”
“I think I can get us until tomorrow morning.”
“Good, let’s get you out of there.”
Connor looked at Johnny, “just follow my lead Johnny, and look inscrutable.”
“That will not be difficult,” Johnny laughed.
Connor opened the door, and led Johnny out, before turning to close and lock the door mentally. Johnny followed him out into the area where the rest of Nicoloff s men were. Connor walked up to the scarred man who had let them in.
“Nicholas, do not let anyone in or out of my room until I return in the morning. I will be going with Mr. Yee here. He has a car coming around for us. Do you understand?”
The blond haired man straightened. “Yes Sir, I will see to it. Do you want any of us with you?”
“No, that will not be necessary.” Connor walked off with Loo following. He walked out as Nick pulled up to the curb in front of Nicoloff s place. Inside the car, Johnny let out his breath in a sigh of relief.
“Man, that was something.”
Nick had a silenced automatic pointed at Connor. “That is you, isn’t it Mr. Connor?”
“Yea Nick, put the gun away. Drive on, and stop after we get a few blocks down the way. I will tell you how to get to our next destination.”
“Not necessary Mr. Connor, Mr. Johnson has already found out specifically how to get to the address you gave him and relayed it to my GPS.”
Connor sat back. “Good, this will be a bit more difficult than we had hoped.”
“How do you want to do this Thomas,” Johnny asked.
“I will just go in as Nicoloff, and find Gina from there.”
“I can go in with you again, and see if we can convince him we need her,” Johnny added.
“It won’t work Johnny. This guy’s part of the authority. I will find her. We will just have to hope he has only a few men with him.”
“He may not even see you Thomas,” Nate said in his ear.
“Well, that may be bad news for whoever gives me that message. Let’s think positively for a change.”
“Oh yeah, that will help,” Johnny grinned.
“Nate, will we have a pathway out of there if I encounter problems?”
“The team took off for Odincova as soon as you got us the address. They will be there. We did not get much practice on this leg of the race,” Nate replied.
“Can’t be helped Nate. I believe the guys will do whatever they can if they are in place. If they have a head start on me, by the time I get there and get Gina, they should be able to provide me with a little protection from long range. Johnny and Nick can back me up close in.”
“What do you plan to do Mutie?” Nate asked.
“I am going to leave everyone alive at this place,” Connor replied, “Unless I find something beyond my ability to hold off on. Nicoloff told me he only has a couple of men he keeps around, so we may be pretty clear there. The bad part would be leaving him alive to screw us over getting Gina out of the country. I will do what I can, but I am not leaving without Gina.”
“We are all with you on that,” Nate confirmed. “How far away are you now Nick.”
Nick looked down at his GPS monitor momentarily. “Five minutes away Mr. Johnson, and all clear so far.”
“Good, I will check in with the rest of the team, and then get back to you when Thomas goes in. You going with a circling pattern until the Mutant Menace comes out Johnny.”
“You bet Nate, but it will be a tight circle,” Johnny replied.
/> Nick pulled up in front of the address he was given. The street around the huge brick residence showed few lights in any of the surrounding houses. Connor gave Johnny a little salute, and stepped out towards the entrance. At the door, Connor rang the antique bell. A few minutes later, a middle age woman answered. Connor smiled at her.
“Would you please let Comrade Solotaroff know Demtri Nicoloff would like to speak to him. It is a matter of utmost importance.”
The woman looked him over for a moment and then nodded. She closed the door. A few minutes later, she came to the door with a man who must have been Solotaroff s bodyguard. Connor began to worry when he saw the look of recognition on the man’s face. He already had a hand in his coat. Connor put a pleading look on his face as he stepped forward, when the woman opened the front door again.
“Please, let me speak to Comrade Solotaroff. This may mean a great deal of money for us all.”
The man stepped past Connor and looked around. “Are you here alone?”
“Yes, I had my driver drop me off. I will call him after I have a chance to make my presentation.”
The man gripped him under the right arm in a bone crushing grip, “Come along then, but you will have to be quick.”
Connor was hurried along to a room with a huge fireplace and bar. Solotaroff sat by himself on the luxurious couch set up in front of the fireplace. Only one small lamp on the bar gave off any light besides the fireplace. Solotaroff turned slightly and motioned for Connor to sit down in the chair opposite him. Connor sat down with the bodyguard’s help, and then the bodyguard took up a position next to him.
“What do you want Dimetri?”
“I have very profitable news from the United States Comrade. Do you still have the girl I gave you?”
“I am getting bored Dimetri.”
“Please, if I could just ask her one question Sir. It might mean a very large amount of money for all of us, without any risk whatsoever.”
“What question?”
“Please Sir, if you could just humor me this one time, and let me ask it of her, you will immediately see the importance of my asking it.”
“Very well,” Solotaroff sighed, as he made a motion to the bodyguard, who left the room immediately. “I warn you Dimetri, this may go very bad for you if you are playing games.”
“No Sir, this is not a game, not in the least,” Connor assured him.
The bodyguard entered the room, propelling Gina Lundgren ahead of him in much the same manner as he had Connor. She wore a nightgown and slippers. Connor could not see where she had been hurt in any way. Although her eyes appeared dull in the low light, her facial expression turned to fear when she recognized her former owner. She turned away, only to be brought up short by the bodyguard. Connor stood up and approached her.
“Hello Gina, how would you like to go home,” Connor asked her in English.
“I did not know you spoke English Dimetri,” Solotaroff commented in the same language. “I hope that was not your question.”
Connor turned, and he was no longer smiling. “Oh, yes Sir, that was definitely my question.”
Solotaroff looked at the bodyguard. “Leave her here Marcos, and throw this buffoon out. I will deal with him tomorrow.”
Marcos nodded, and pushed Gina towards the couch. He came over to Connor, grabbed him by the right wrist, and twisted his arm up high behind his back. Connor cried out as he thought would be appropriate, with a little added help from his still healing wounds. Marcos guided Connor out of the room, closing the door behind him. Connor brought his arm out from behind his back so quickly, Marcos lost his grip. Connor grabbed him around the neck with his right hand, lifting him bodily up off of the floor.
“Do not kick your feet Marcos, or I will snap your neck,” Connor said quietly. Marcos’ body relaxed as he retained a terrified grip on Connor’s right wrist with both of his hands. He tried to remove the fingers from his neck, but it felt to him as if he were being held up by way of a steel rod with a vice at the end of it.
“How many more people in the house Marcos? Just tap out the number on my wrist with one finger.”
Marcos tapped his wrist once.
“Good, just the older woman then? Tap once for yes and twice for no.”
Marcos again tapped his wrist once. Connor smashed him with his left fist to Marcos’ temple, and let him down to the floor. “You there Nate?”
“Oh yeah.”
“How about you Johnny?”
“Here Capitan.”
“I have one bodyguard down. Knock on the door, and take the middle age woman who answers the door and tie her up somewhere. The bodyguard will be in the first hallway you come to, after you turn to your right. Tie him up too. I am going in to get Gina.”
“On our way,” Johnny said.
Connor phased through the wall to stand just inside the room. Solotaroff had begun stroking the unresponsive girl in front of the fireplace. Connor walked over to him silently and touched his neck. Solotaroff collapsed on the floor as he entered Connor’s special place. Gina jumped up from the couch, clutching her clothing to her. Connor made a quieting gesture as he saw the frightened girl was about to scream. She backed away from him in terror as Connor remembered he still looked like Nicoloff.
“Easy Gina, I am here to take you home. Nicoloff will never hurt you again ever. I snapped his neck myself just an hour ago. Tell me, what movie star do you like the best?”
Gina, unused to hearing English, just continued looking at Connor in disbelief. Connor reached out and touched her hand, and a calming euphoria swept through her. She visibly relaxed, and the fear left her face. Connor began to move towards the door when she spoke.
“Tom Cruise.”
Connor sighed as he heard Nate, Johnny, and Nick laughing in his ear. He changed into Tom Cruise, and turned back towards Gina, who gasped in shock.
“How can you do that?”
“It’s a long story Gina, and I have to get you home to your parents. Does that sound good?”
Tears started at her eyes as she nodded.
“Good, now have a seat until my friends get here.”
Gina sat down again on the couch, away from her shaking captor. Connor went to the door, and opened it to a smiling Johnny.
“Hey Tom, how you doin’? Will you sign my autograph?”
“Have you ever had your ass kicked by a major movie star you little weasel?”
“Why no Tom, could you hum a few bars?”
With laughter in his ear again, Connor looked past Johnny to see Marcos plastic tied at hands and feet with duct tape over his mouth. “Could you take Gina here to her room and collect enough of her clothes to get her to America?”
“It would be a pleasure,” Johnny replied, “but you better smooth the way for me Tom. She doesn’t know me like she does you yet.”
“You are so going to regret this.” Connor walked over and helped Gina to her feet.
“Gina, this is my friend Charlie Chan. He will be taking you to your room, so you can get dressed, and grab a few things for your trip. Can you do that for me?”
Gina, still speechless at having a movie idol directing her escape, just nodded. Johnny chuckled, and guided her gently out of the room. Connor went over and touched Solotaroff, who woke with a start, and immediately began the desperate brushing of imaginary insects. When he became aware of his surroundings, he looked up at Connor, who now appeared as himself.
“Wh…Who are you?”
“I am the one who put you in that place you were at, and who will do it again without a second thought. I am taking Gina with me. You will wait here on this floor for one hour. You will then go out and untie your hired help, and tell them to forget everything from tonight. Do nothing after that. You will never forget me Comrade, because we are now connected. If you do anything, but forget the girl and everything that happened tonight, I will know it, and I will come back.”
Connor reached down, plucking the cringing man up high over
his head. He shook him as a terrier would do to a rat. He then lowered him down to look into his eyes. “Do you understand what I have told you Comrade?”
The man hung with sweat running down into his eyes. Connor may as well of been the Devil incarnate, because Solotaroff believed he was. He nodded his understanding to Connor. Solotaroff would not leave the room for over two hours after Connor left.
Connor put him down and wagged his finger at him. “Stay where you are Comrade, and you will never see me again.”
Connor closed the door on his way out. No one was left in the house. Outside the front entrance, Nick idled the car, waiting for him, with Johnny in the front, and Gina in the back. He got in the back with Gina, and Nick took off. Johnny let Nate know they were on the move.
“You…You were the one. I can feel it,” Gina said.
Connor smiled at the girl and held out his hand, which Gina shook hesitantly. “I’m Thomas Connor Gina. All of this must really be confusing for you. We found out you had been taken, and where. I am sorry we could not come sooner. By tomorrow at this time we will have you back in the United States. Are you hurt at all?”
“No.I just.I,” She began to cry, and Connor took her into his arms.
“Don’t worry Gina. Everything will be all right now. You’ll see. Once you are back with your parents, you must put this stuff behind you. You are strong to have survived. It will take strength to learn from this and go on. I will give you my phone number, and if you ever need any help, or you just want to talk, you can call me anytime.”
Gina pulled back and looked into his eyes. She saw only a friendly kindness. “Will they really let us go?”
“They sure will Gina. We have your papers all in order. It may be a little scary for you going through customs before we get on the plane, but I will be right beside you.”
“They can stop us though, can’t they?”
Connor looked at her for a moment, and Gina saw something dangerous flow over his features.
“That would not be a good idea for anyone to try and stop us from taking you home. They will only succeed in getting a lot of people hurt, and you will still be on your way home.”
Gina leaned against him, placing her head on Connor’s shoulder, and took his left hand in both of hers. She believed him. She knew she was going home.
American Mutant Page 34