Julia Gousseva - Gray Shadows - Russian Historical Thriller

On the floor next to Andrei was an empty tea cup. It smelled minty and earthy. Natalya’s secret recipe. Nikolai pushed and pulled at the doorknob, but the door would not budge.

“Pyotr Alekseevich, are you there? Can you hear me?”

No answer.

Nikolai dialed Vanya’s number.

“Vanya, what do you see on the monitors? Where’s Natalya?” Nikolai was now half-way up the steps to the second floor where the conference room was located.

“Nothing so far. It’s all quiet, and no sign of Natalya.”

“She killed Andrei, took his gun and is probably headed to the conference room.”

Vanya gasped. “Andrei is dead?”

“Where’s Pyotr Alekseevich? Is he in the conference room?” Nikolai said. “We need to check and secure the room.”

“I’m coming,” Vanya said. “Wait, Nikolai, I see somebody. A man in a ski-mask is walking towards Pyotr Alekseevich’s office. Be careful!”

As soon as Vanya said it, Nikolai heard a gunshot, then another through the receiver. “Vanya, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but somebody just shot two cameras. I’ll call you when I get to the conference room.”

“All right. I’m going to check Pyotr Alekseevich’s office.”

Bracing himself to face the unknown horror that probably waited for him inside, Nikolai rushed back to Pyotr Alekseevich’s office, drew his gun, and said loudly, “It’s Nikolai, and I’m armed. Who’s in there? Can you hear me?”

After a brief pause, he heard Natalya’s voice, “You’d better hear me, Mr. Bodyguard. I’m armed, too, and I have Pyotr.”

“Let me talk to him. Pyotr Alekseevich, can you hear me?”

“Yes, Nikolai, I can hear you.” There was a mix of anger and resignation in Pyotr Alekseevich’s voice.

“Please try to stay calm and do what Natalya tells you to do. We will get you out of this. You promised me champagne tonight, and I’m determined to keep you to that promise.”

“That’s enough.” Natalya’s voice interrupted their conversation. She sounded agitated. That was a bad sign. Agitated people tended to lose control, and armed agitated people who had lost control could cause some serious damage.

Nikolai drew in a deep breath and started talking in a calm voice. “Natalya, let him go. You’re getting yourself in more trouble than you can imagine.”

“I’m in a lot of trouble already, so I don’t care what happens now.”

“That’s not true. You let him go, and we’ll forget all about it.”

“I have nothing to lose.”

“Your freedom,” Nikolai said.

“I’ve lost it after I shot Andrei.”

“You let Pyotr Alekseevich go, and I’ll let you go. You’ll have time to leave the country. Remember Cyprus?”

“I’m listening,” Natalya said.

“I’m not the police, and my only interest is in protecting my client. Just let him go.”

“Only if you fulfill my demands.”

Nikolai felt his tension release just a little. At least she was willing to negotiate.

“What are your demands?” he said.

“Are you taking notes? First, I want the sales contract from the board room. That’s for starters.”

“Let me work on this.”

“And that’s not all.”

Nikolai heard loud approaching footsteps. He turned around to see Vanya running up to the office, his expression panicked. “I have more bad news for you,” Vanya said. “Mikhail took Svetlana and the receptionist girl hostage, and Svetlana’s son is going crazy outside the door. They are in the break room downstairs.”

“Mikhail? The one who killed that guard?”

“Yes, him. He must have been that man in the mask I saw on the monitors.”

“Natalya, did you hear this?” Nikolai said. “Mikhail has Svetlana and the receptionist.”

“I know. We planned it together,” Natalya said calmly. “The next thing we need is a car for Mikhail. After we have the sales contract.”

“I need a little bit of time,” Nikolai said. “Let me and Vanya go talk to him.”

“Make it quick.”

“Natalya, I think you’re making a mistake. It’s not too late to stop. I’m not a cop, so I will let you go. Just let Pyotr Alekseevich go. I don’t care about anything else. I just want him safe.”

“Go talk to Mikhail. Now!” She raised her voice.

Nikolai and Vanya hurried to the break room. Outside of it, two armed guards were trying to subdue Ilia, but he was fighting them off, yelling and screaming, “I want my mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”

“Mikhail, can you hear me?” Nikolai said through the door. “I just talked to Natalya. We understand your demands and we will get a car for you, but please let Svetlana go. Her son is going crazy here, and you won’t be able to handle two hostages at the same time. Please let Svetlana go.”

Ilia’s screaming was getting louder and more violent. He started throwing himself against the door.

“We can’t control this kid,” Nikolai said. “Have mercy, Mikhail. He needs his mother. He’s sick, and he and Svetlana have nothing to do with any of this. They will just be a burden to you.”

“Mommy! Mommy!” Ilia kept yelling and banging on the door with his fists.

“All right, but step away from the door. Everyone, or I’ll shoot!”

“Mikhail, we’ve all stepped away, but I can’t do anything with Ilia. He needs Svetlana.”

“Here!” The door opened and Mikhail pushed out Svetlana, her eyes wide open with fear and her dark hair disheveled. At that same moment, Ilia threw open the door, pushed Svetlana out of the way and pointed a gun at Mikhail’s head. “Hands in the air! One wrong move or one wrong word, and I’ll shoot you.”

Mikhail lifted his hands up as his face registered shock and disbelief. “But I thought you were…”

“I spent a year acting.” Ilia shoved Mikhail face down to the floor. “Be quiet, or I’ll shoot you.” Ilia took a pair of handcuffs out of his jacket pocket, and snapped them on Mikhail’s hands. “And you’d better do what we tell you. No surprises and no sudden moves. Get up!”

Svetlana rushed back into the room and came back out with the young receptionist who was physically unharmed but sobbing uncontrollably. Svetlana took her aside, and they both sat down on the floor, comforting each other.

Mikhail, his hands clasped behind his back, struggled to his feet.

“Get ready to talk to Natalya,” Nikolai said to Mikhail. “And don’t even think of doing anything stupid. I’ll shoot you on the spot.”

Nikolai dialed Natalya’s number. “I’m here with Mikhail, and we just got the car. It’s right outside the entrance.”

“Let me hear Mikhail,” Natalya said.

Nikolai held the phone next to Mikhail’s mouth. “Tell Natalya we’re on our way to the car.”

“We’re on the way,” Mikhail said.

“Are you inside the car? Start it then and let me hear the engine.”

“Not yet,” Nikolai responded.

“Get Mikhail in the car and let him call me next time. And make sure you and Vanya are not there,” Natalya said. “And you two come back here. Now!”

Nikolai clicked off and had two of the guards escort Mikhail to the front entrance where a car was waiting.

“Let’s go back to Pyotr Alekseevich’s office,” Nikolai said to Vanya.

“So Ilia is not sick?” Vanya said. “What was that all about?”

“He’s not sick, and he’s not their son. He works for our agency.”

Minutes later, they were at Pyotr Alekseevich’s office. Nikolai leaned towards the door and listened. Three other guards positioned themselves at stairwell exits.

“Are you in the car, Mikhail?” he heard Natalya’s voice. “Good. Now ask to switch cars. I don’t trust anyone here. And call me back.”