Julia Gousseva - Gray Shadows - Russian Historical Thriller

“About your security system.”

“Why? It’s all fine. We have the fence, the gate, what else is there to it?”

“Many things.”

“Like what?” Vanya said.

“What do you see on your screen when a car comes to the gate?” Nikolai said.

“We see the car, of course. And we open the gate after we identify it. And only after we identify it.”

“But what if somebody else is driving the car? And your real driver is dead in the snowdrift somewhere? Would you even know it?”

Vanya waved him away. “You’ve been watching too many spy movies. Things like that don’t happen here. Plus, you’re not my boss. I do things the way I do them, and everything is just fine. This conversation is over.”

Avoiding further confrontation, Nikolai stepped out of the security office and started walking the perimeter of the fence. If he was going to work here for the next few weeks and protect Natalya, he needed to get a good understanding of the whole compound.

The fence was flimsy at best, and not all there. Nikolai leaned in to inspect what looked like a gap large enough for an average-size person to squeeze through. Sure enough, one post was missing, and the fence was sloppily tied together with twisted wire. One snip with metal cutters, and another entrance would appear. And this entrance would have no security cameras, no gate, and no surveillance. Nikolai heard footsteps behind him and turned around.

It was Vanya, his hands balled into fists, and his eyes glowering with anger. “You think you’re a big shot, don’t you? You come from Moscow with your fancy little interpreter girl and your fancy bodyguard title, and you think you know how things are supposed to be done? I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’ve worked security since I was eighteen. In this very town. Don’t you think I know better how things work here? Don’t you think I understand the people and what they’re after better than you do?”

“I’m not questioning your knowledge,” Nikolai said. “I was just trying to help. Sometimes, it’s hard to see your own problems, and I found one for you. Take a look.” He pointed to the wire.

“Fine. We’ll fix it. Like I need your help,” Vanya said, turned around, and walked away.

Nikolai headed back to Pyotr Alekseevich’s office. A blast of warm air hit him the second he opened the door to the building. He drew in a sharp breath and glanced at his watch. It was after five. Moscow was in the same time zone, so Olga must be done with work by now. She should be able to pick up the phone and talk to him. The real question was whether she would want to talk to him.

He rubbed his sore leg and dialed Olga’s number. She answered on the second ring. And she sounded cheerful. Maybe, she wasn’t as mad at him as she had seemed when they last talked. Or she was just happy he was away.

“I’m sorry about the other day,” Nikolai said. “You’re smart and competent, and I wasn’t questioning that. But people can be manipulative and have their own interests in minds. I just want you to be careful. Don’t accept a new job until you really know what is involved. Chief accountants have a lot of responsibilities and a lot of legal obligations. And all that can have serious consequences.”

“I know, but being a chief accountant would be a great career move. I wouldn’t stay long in that position, just long enough to get experience and move forward,” Olga said.

“Have you talked to Denis Fedorovich lately?”

“Yes, I did. And I also talked to my current boss,” Olga said.

“And what did they all say?”

“I got the offer for a promotion from my current company and the official job offer from Denis Fedorovich. So, I have choices now.”

“Did you find out more about his company and that merger he mentioned?”

“Not yet. He said the merger is still in the making. But I know I like my new salary.” Olga giggled.

“Please don’t rush to accept his offer. I don’t trust him. You’ll have other opportunities. We need to be careful.”

“We? It’s my job, and you worry too much,” Olga said. “Thanks for the flowers and the note, by the way.”

Nikolai hesitated for a moment. “Are you still mad at me? Just don’t do anything drastic. We really should talk. I’m sorry.”

“We need to talk, I agree. But later. How’s your assignment? And your new client?”

“Nothing too exciting. The town is tiny, dark and freezing cold, and the girl is spoiled. I’m sure she won’t last here too long, and I’ll be back in Moscow.”

Olga clicked off, and Nikolai headed to Pyotr Alekseevich’s office, still thinking about Olga and her job offer. She was making a mistake, and Nikolai was determined to do anything he could to convince her not to accept it. He started walking up the steps and almost ran into Natalya who was hurrying down.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Nikolai said.

“Bathroom. Want to come with me?” Natalya said. “I might need your protection. You never know where danger can lurk.” She chuckled.

“Thanks, but I’d rather go chat with Pyotr Alekseevich. I’ll see you back there.”

Nikolai reached Pyotr Alekseevich’s office and paused by the closed door. Pyotr Alekseevich was talking on the phone, his voice sounded agitated. Nikolai leaned in. He could not make out all the words. He heard Pyotr Alekseevich say something about the previous director, a school needing repairs, bids received from the environmental consulting companies, and the slow pipeline construction. Nothing out of the ordinary, these were the usual issues that a company director would deal with. But something in Pyotr Alekseevich’s tone sounded strange: he was too emotional for a seasoned manager, too agitated. And Pyotr Alekseevich did not seem the type who would overreact. Was there something more going on that Nikolai did not know about?

Nikolai stepped aside from the door and towards one of the windows. He pushed aside the brightly-colored curtain and looked out. On the outside, the glass was caked with a thick layer of snow. The last hint of twilight was already fading into the dark cold night. Days were short, just a few hours of weak light. Upper Luzinsk would not see sunshine or even real daylight until spring.

Nikolai could not imagine living here his whole life. From here, his home in Moscow felt like the tropics. He chuckled at the thought. Moscow’s northern climate was hardly the tropics, but Luzinsk was extreme north, as far north as Nikolai had ever been.

“Waiting for me?” Natalya said, interrupting his thoughts. “I’m back, all safe and alive. No bad guys in the bathroom.” She opened the door and walked into the office. Nikolai followed. “Let me make coffee for all of us,” she said. “Pyotr Alekseevich, you like coffee, right?”

“Yes and thank you for the offer, but I make my own coffee,” Pyotr Alekseevich said. “And when you taste it, you’ll know why. I like it black and strong.”

Nikolai’s phone rang, and he stepped into the hallway. It was Anatoly, and his tone sounded serious.

“Vasily Petrovich is coming by today,” Anatoly said. “He wanted me to tell you how grateful he is to you. We’re working on finding a new bodyguard for him, a temporary replacement while you’re guarding girls in the tundra. But he really wants to work with you, once you’re totally recovered.”

“Sounds good to me. Any news from the investigation of the attempt on him?”

“Pretty sketchy still. Vasily Petrovich said he’d tell me more in person, but he mentioned a deal between the government and Luzinsk Oil.”

“Luzinsk Oil? The company here?”

“Yes. As the lawyer for the government, he was against this deal, so he refused to sign the papers.”