by Jack Parker
He ignored her and went to the coffee pot. It was enough that he tolerated this woman's presence. She ought to know better than to press the thin sliver of luck that was her remote utility by pestering him. He filled up his cup and drank before going back out into the living area, thinking about the job to come, when he saw Georgie moving towards the balcony as if to join Emery. Instantly his hackles rose. "Leave him be," Kurt demanded.
Georgie froze in her trek to the sliding glass door and turned back to him. "I was just going to see if he was hungry."
"You're not to be alone with him."
She dared let slip an ounce of exasperation. "Mr. Gabler, I won't hurt him. If I was ever going to follow those orders I would have done it. Wouldn't serve me any purpose now."
Kurt refused to budge, keeping her trapped in her spot with his icy gaze. "You are, by your own admission, an opportunist. Perhaps it doesn't serve you now, but I'm not going to allow you the option to change your fickle mind again down the road. If I'm given the slightest cause for suspicion I will make certain to bring your duplicity to light and leave you to the mercies of the men you've betrayed."
Georgie set her hands on her hips with a slight air of disbelief. "For your information, I'm not simply refraining from killing him because I don't have a good enough reason to do it. I owe more to that man than I expect you to understand."
"A childhood acquaintanceship is hardly grounds for trust. I find that story unconvincing to begin with."
"Are you accusing me of making it up?" Georgie pointed to herself, blinking rapidly. "I suppose you think I somehow planted that memory in his head. He knows his own life."
Kurt huffed quietly. "And yet he didn't recognize you."
"Yes, well perhaps that's because I no longer look nine years old."
"You recognized him," Kurt reminded. "Allegedly."
"I'm under no delusions that I made a bigger impression on him than he did me. Anyway I go by a different name now; I lied about who I was."
"Proving yourself a liar."
Georgie shook her head and dropped her arms. "You're suspicious. Clearly. I suppose that's your prerogative. But the fact of the matter is I don't owe you an explanation for my actions. Love him though you may, our shared past is frankly none of your business."
Kurt sneered. If she supposed for an instant that she had a private right to Emery's time he would thoroughly correct her. She didn't press this assertion, however, and instead simply sighed and backed away.
"Have it your way. There are more important matters to consider at present." With that, Georgie gave him a once-over and marched off to one of the back bedrooms.
It was all the same. There was no reason to get along with her, and in his opinion it was to his benefit to remind her he was not fooled. Perhaps it would discourage her from whatever devious plot she may be concocting. And in the off chance she was being truthful about her motives he lost nothing. Kurt took another long drink of his coffee before turning back to the balcony to see Emery leaning his elbows over the edge, a steady stream of smoke winding up from him into the cool, murky air. He wanted to give Emery his time alone, but he needed to broach the subject of money for Victor's current task and honestly he was itching for the chance to try and soothe whatever ache it was that brought him to such a gloomy state. He hesitated for a moment before setting his cup down and walking out to the balcony to join him, shutting the door behind them and approaching the railing silently.
Emery didn't look over, pulling his cigarette away and blowing another cloud of smoke. "Have we got it all worked out, then?"
"Yes," Kurt said, eying him carefully. "But Victor needs funds."
"That I've got in abundance, don't I?" Emery muttered.
Kurt went back to silence for a moment, looking down over the edge of the rail. He gripped the metal bar with his hands and looked up at the sky. "…Are you going to be alright?"
"I'm fine, Kurt." Emery flicked his cigarette carelessly over the balcony to the street below. "I'm beginning to think that this is as fine as I'll ever get. Maybe I ought to just accept that."
"What do you mean?"
Emery shook his head. "One of the last things my mother ever said to me was that she wanted me to find peace. And for a time I did. With you, in Quebec. But I realize now that it was a wasted effort." He paused, rubbing his hands together in the cold. "Perhaps men like us aren't meant for peace. Perhaps it isn't what we deserve. Not after all we've done."
Hearing such pessimism from Emery was as unnatural as it was disheartening. Kurt couldn't possibly think of their time together as a wasted effort when it was the only period in his existence he ever truly felt alive. Emery couldn't forget it. He couldn't regret it. Kurt wouldn't let him. He fondled the railing for a moment before reaching a hand into his pocket. From it he pulled a package of mints and tucked it into his palm. Then he moved closer to Emery and offered it out to him.
Emery stared up at him in confusion with lovely sad eyes, so lost and troubled. When he looked down at the mints the barest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, then he looked back up curiously and Kurt fixed him with a meaningful gaze.
Kurt placed them into Emery's hand and met his eyes again. "Emery, I swear to you…when this is over, I will find you peace again."
Emery held the package of mints in his hand numbly before pressing it to his chest like it was something sacred. Then he reached forward and pulled Kurt into a secure hug, which he avidly returned. Perhaps he could not stop Emery from falling apart at the moment, but he'd be damned if he'd let even a single piece hit the ground.
Chapter 25
Emery could scarcely remember the last time he'd had to dress up. He'd probably been to an opera a time or two in the past ten years, but beyond that the only event he could remember having to look sharp for was his mother's wedding. It felt even odder considering that he was trussed up in proper black tie next to a gang of known crooks in some abandoned lot in the bad part of town where Victor had procured his vehicle. It was a perfectly unexciting looking van with the logo of some fictional electrical company emblazoned a tad wonky on one side that Victor had remarked on at great length between some choice words. Said genius was now busy hauling equipment into the van with the help of Dave while Georgie used the side mirror to apply lipstick. Kurt lingered by the back doors of the van while he loaded and examined his weaponry. He was dressed to resemble the Ivory Club's security staff and was looking quite stunning in a completely black ensemble, suit, shirt, jacket, and a black twin of Victor's camera tie. Class suited that man like cream suits a cat. Fuck was he ever a bit of alright…Blast, never mind that. Head in the game. Emery straightened his collar and looked to Victor, who was stepping down to address them all.
"Okay, let's do a mic check. Em?"
Emery touched his nearly invisible earpiece. "Got it."
"Kurt?"
Kurt nodded.
"Aaaand Faraday," Victor called lastly, leaning out to look at her touching up her lipstick. "Gee, if you're not too busy, that is."
"Begging your pardon for aiming to look the part, Mr. Scott."
"Great. Hey Ludkov, you read me?" Victor held a hand to his microphone and waited. Emery could hear a faint, tinny response and Victor made a face. "English, comrade. …Yeah. Give us fifteen minutes and we'll be on site." He looked up at the others and huffed out a breath. "The Ruski's en route. We're almost loaded up. Georgie, you got the hooker?"
"Loretta," Emery corrected shortly.
"I'm on my way now," Georgie replied. She took one last look at herself in the mirror before turning around. "You boys be careful. This cover should be enough to work, but be sure to set up discreetly."
"See you there." Victor offered a blind salute and adjusted his watch. "Garner's already there. If anyone's having last thoughts, this'd be the time to air 'em out."
"Don't worry about me," Emery said, smoothing back his hair. "I think I've proven that I can rub elbows with the best of them, haven'
t I?"
Victor grumbled. "Yeah, sure, you're great at the whole pampered rich bitch routine. Wonder why."
Emery shot him an annoyed glare. "How do I look?"
"Like ten million pounds," Victor assured. "You'll fit right the fuck in."
"This is the last," Dave said, arms full of a great bundle of wires as he approached the doors of the van.
"In the back." Victor jerked his thumb towards the inside of the van and Dave climbed up, but almost instantly lost his footing and Victor had to reach up and shove him upright to keep him from falling over.
Dave rebalanced himself, blinking down at Victor and letting out a breath. "Thanks, Steve."
Victor opened his mouth in clear preparation to correct him, but turned away instead, face comically vexed as he rubbed a hand over it. "Does Ludkov really have no one but him to throw our way? I mean this has to be a joke. This guy is the worst."
"Aw, Dave's alright," Emery defended. "Anyway we owe it to him. Poor bugger's out of a job because of us."
"Wasn't that technically doing him a favor?"
"He'll do. Just…use him sparingly."
Victor motioned to the van and took the handle, waiting until Kurt and Emery hopped in after Dave before he shut it up.
There were no windows in the back portion of this vehicle and since Victor was driving up front that left Emery here in the dark with Kurt and Dave keeping quiet to await their arrival. The car slowed to a halt briefly once, presumably as Victor went in to clear the van with security, claiming to be an electrical maintenance man investigating a faulty wire at the back of an adjacent building, but moved along afterwards. Emery waited tensely as the car slowed again, stopped, and the engine shut off. A moment later Victor was opening the door and the three men inside hopped out. Emery took in his surroundings quickly. The alleyway they'd chosen was nicely isolated. The van couldn't be seen from the streets and whatever building the Ivory Club butted up against had no doors on this side. He watched with interest as Victor began setting up his surveillance lab in the back of the van.
"No problems getting past them, then?" Emery asked.
Victor shook his head as he opened up his new laptop. "No, but I sort of panicked on my Cockney accent at the last second and went with French instead."
Emery snorted. "What?"
Victor shrugged helplessly. "It just came out. I think the broken English helped, though. They couldn't wait to get rid of me."
"Brilliant, mate. Can I hear it?"
Victor didn't bother looking over, but obliged. "I am, how you say, busy, you stupid cunt."
Emery squawked and desperately tried to pretend that wasn't the funniest thing he'd ever heard in his life in order not to fall to the ground laughing and muss up his nice clothes.
"Glad to see us all in good spirits," Georgie's voice rang from around a corner and she approached from the shadows with the familiar Loretta in tow. She was dressed just right. Glittery and pretty with the trimmings of a high society lady clearly in it for the show. The perfect arm candy. Emery whistled.
"Emery!" Loretta beamed at him, then reached out and unexpectedly gripped his face to plant a firm kiss on his lips. "Don't you look dashing?" she said, giving him a once-over.
Emery grinned. "If I look half as good as you I'm a lucky man. Thanks so much for coming." He glanced around to his crew, noting Dave's slack-jawed face and Victor's appalled 'you just let a whore mouth-kiss you' expression before turning back to her.
"How could I miss the chance? Besides, couldn't think of a better way to show you what your money bought." She gestured to her outfit and batted her lashes. "I see you still got that charming little yank on your side…but hello, who's this?" Her eyes stuck on Kurt with blatant interest and Emery felt a haughty surge of pride.
"Loretta, that's Kurt. A merciless, cunning, level-headed brute as well as my darling sweetheart."
Kurt inclined his head just so.
She guffawed, then quickly covered her mouth. "Oh, you're serious!"
"Afraid so."
Loretta scowled slightly. "Well that's typical, inn'it? The fittest blokes are all gay. No offense meant."
"I take offense to that," Victor noted.
Loretta shrugged and offered a coy wave at Dave, who jutted up a hand instantly in a stiff wave back and nearly tripped over himself just standing bloody still.
"Well if we're through with pleasantries, let's try thinking about the job at hand," Georgie suggested. "Aleksei is inside. He's waiting for our signal to move."
Emery nodded. "Are you sure he can get to that door?"
"Your doubt insults me," Ludkov's voice rolled in over the earpiece in Emery's ear and he stiffened.
"Uh, mics are all on. As of…six seconds ago," Victor informed belatedly.
Emery gave him a glower for good measure and Victor smiled stupidly back. "Good evening, Mr. Ludkov."
"I am in position. One man guards the back door. Do not be long."
"Five minutes," Victor said. He stood and climbed back down out of the van. "Cameras are set, everyone's coming in clear."
"What about me? Haven't you got a spare tie or something?" Emery asked.
Victor shook his head and approached him. "Nah, I'm out. Plus a tie would sort of clash with your penguin suit, don'tcha think? Come here."
Emery obeyed, standing still as Victor produced a pair of dark-framed glasses that he carefully slid onto Emery's face. Emery tentatively adjusted them a bit where they sat. "This doesn't look odd?"
"It's fine. Just pretend they're not there." Victor waved a hand in front of his face rapidly and turned his head to watch himself do so in one of the mounted van monitors.
Emery looked around through glass lenses until his eyes landed on Kurt, who was staring at him transfixed and looking curiously flushed about the face. Emery lifted a confused eyebrow at him before Georgie drew his attention back.
"My transmission is sputtering," she said, touching her ear. "I'm only hearing you boys in bits."
Victor made a face. "Fuck. I'm not hearing you at all now…Come here. Kurt, Em—go wait by the door in case we've gotta move. We'll be ready in a sec."
Emery nodded and followed Kurt down the corner of the alley where the back door of the Ivory Club sat. He gauged it carefully, wondering how close Ludkov currently was to the other side.
"Our window is slipping," Ludkov noted in his ear.
"I'm having a technical fuck up here, hang on," Victor replied. After a moment his voice came back. "Shit, I'm shutting down the mics. I need to reset. Prepare to be off air for a minute or two."
"Time is of the essence. I must make my move soon if at all," said Ludkov.
"Patience is a virtue. Cutting out."
Emery touched at his earpiece as he heard the click and sighed quietly. He tucked his hands into his pockets, leaning into the shadows alongside Kurt and mentally prepping himself.
Kurt was staring ahead, seeming tense. "I'm uncertain about my usefulness in this state."
Emery looked at him quickly. "What state? Are you alright?"
Kurt shook his head. "I'm hard as bloody granite."
"Kurt," Emery chastised in a shocked whisper.
Kurt's features were tight. "Can't be helped."
Emery licked his lip pensively and peered around the corner, unable to see the others from their current position. "Your timing is atrocious."
"You're stunning."
Emery swore quietly, reaching a hand up and gripping the back of his head to pull him in close. Kurt pushed him into the wall with gentle hands and kissed him long and slow. This was pushing it, even for Emery's inner exhibitionist, but he supposed a little kiss couldn't hurt. Kurt was awfully ravishing and it'd be a crime to let a man go untouched looking like that. He scrunched up his nose slightly as his glasses jumped up his face, stifling a moan when Kurt nibbled his lip.
"Okay, we're back up," Victor's voice cut back in as the connection crackled to life. Kurt and Emery broke apart, somewhat startl
ed. "Everyone still have ears?"
"Da."
"It's coming through now," said Georgie.
"Kurt? Em?"
"Yes," Kurt agreed.
"Yeah. Yeah," Emery panted.
Victor paused. "Why are you out of breath?"
Emery roughly cleared his throat, staring at Kurt. "Because I'm…nervous."
"Oh. I thought maybe it was because I just watched you two fucking make out on camera. Jesus, just because I can't hear you doesn't mean I can't see you, four-eyes."
Emery winced in embarrassment and tried not to laugh as Kurt indignantly readjusted his tie.
Just then the back door to the club suddenly swung wide. Kurt shoved Emery back defensively and their eyes both went down to the ground as a man dressed identically to Kurt toppled out of the door and onto the cement. His head was bloodied and he was quite clearly dead. Ludkov was standing in the doorway, looking down at the body contemplatively.
"Ludkov, what the fuck?" Victor demanded.
Ludkov glanced to Kurt and Emery before brushing off the front of his suit. "You take too long with your little toys, Victor. It is now or it is never."
Victor grumbled. "Christ—get that body out of there. Faraday, take Loretta and move it."
Kurt and Emery came forward quickly to grab the downed guard's corpse, each snatching an arm while Ludkov hoisted up his feet. They moved fast to haul the body over to the dumpster and pitch it in, Ludkov reaching up to close the lid with a soft thud. Emery turned back around in time to see Georgie and Loretta approaching.
"The path is clear through to the west entrance of the kitchens. They lead to the restrooms. There you can slip in virtually unnoticed," Ludkov explained. "Do not behave nervously. Act as if you belong."
"Easy enough," Emery said, because at this point he very much did. Just another corrupt millionaire exacting his seedy plans here. He watched Georgie slip in and then held out a hand to Loretta in a gentlemanly fashion. "Shall we?"
Loretta took his arm and he led her inside. Kurt followed in behind all of them and shut the door.