Chemical Burn (13 page)

Sunshine and Debts

I got as far as going fishing with Pyotr’s tracking devices when Galina set plates of beef Stroganoff in front of us, interrupting my story with a smile. “I’m sorry it took so long,” she said apologetically, “but we’re really busy downstairs.” Yvgenny stood behind her, casting a concerned look at me.

“Don’t worry about it, Galina. We’re in no hurry,” I said and smiled. “When you get a chance, though, could you bring us two glasses of the house burgundy?”

“It may be a bit. I’m really in the weeds,” the young girl said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.

“Don’t worry, Galina,” Yvgenny said from behind her. “I’ll get it. I have something I am needing to talk to Justin about. Go on.” Yvgenny placed a caring hand on his granddaughter’s shoulder and guided her towards the door. “Have your mother work the front of the house and get your cousin to helping you with those who are eating.”

“Yes,
dedushka
,” she said with relief. “Thank you.”

“That’s a good girl. Off with you!” Yvgenny ordered, smiling compassionately. Galina hurried towards the door to the lower level.

“Eat up, my friends. I will returning with bottle of our best burgundy. We have something to discuss.”

I cast a questioning look his way.

“Soon, Justin. I will be back momentarily. Please. Eat.” And with that, Yvgenny followed Galina out.

“What was that all about?” Rachel asked when the door closed behind him.

“I don’t know,” I said perplexed. “But he’s got something on his mind.” I looked down hungrily at the meal before me. “But who am I to disobey orders?” I picked up a starched linen napkin, opened it with a flourish, and placed it in my lap.

“You don’t take orders,” she said. She set her own napkin in place and inhaled deeply. “This smells wonderful.”

“Yvgenny’s daughter does most of the cooking … at least she used to. It’s all her recipes, anyway. Best Russian food in the city, if you ask me.”

“And you wanted to eat burgers?” she accused me. “Foolish boy!” she said in her best impression of Yvgenny. We both laughed and dug into the thick, rich sauce and chunks of beef poured over perfectly cooked egg-noodles.

“Oh my god! This is fantastic!” she squealed around a mouthful. I simply kept eating, making an occasional yummy sound. We’d finished about a quarter of our meals when Yvgenny reappeared. He carried three glasses in one hand and a dusty, opened bottle of wine in the other. He stepped up to the table, set the glasses down and filled each about halfway. I caught the label out of the corner of my eye.

“Yvgenny, that’s a Pétrus?”

“What’s a Pétrus?” Rachel asked.

“They’re like, I don’t know, a thousand dollars a pop, or something,” I said, truly impressed Yvgenny had brought up something special.

“Closer being to three, actually,” Yvgenny said, smiling, “but naming price of bottle is insult to vintage.” He winked. “Simply drinking and enjoying, my friends.” Yvgenny shifted his chair to rest between us and filled our glasses before sitting down. He picked up his glass and held it up to toast.

We picked up our own glasses and touched them together with a pleasant ring of fine crystal.

“To friends old and new, yes?” Yvgenny said.

“
Budem
,” I added sincerely, which translates roughly as
stay healthy
.

“
Budem
,” Yvgenny said rather seriously.

All three of us swirled the wine in our glasses a bit and sampled the bouquet. The fragrance was magnificent. We each took a sip and savored the spectacular vintage. We returned the glasses to the table, and Rachel and I dug back into our Stroganoff.

Yvgenny pulled his pipe out from a pocket. “Will this ruining your meal, Miss Rachel?” he asked, holding up the pipe.

“Not at all. I’ve always liked the smell of Justin’s.”

“You are rare woman. Were I younger man, I would stealing you away from this child.” He chuckled while Rachel blushed slightly. “Please, finishing your meals, and then we will talk.” Yvgenny opened my pouch of tobacco, stuffed his pipe, and lit it with an ancient Zippo lighter he produced from the same pocket the pipe came from. He stared at me, taking a series of long, thoughtful puffs while we ate.

We finished up our Stroganoff and wine, perhaps a bit more quickly than we otherwise would have were we not curious about what Yvgenny wanted to say. We leaned back in our chairs and looked at the old man expectantly. Yvgenny took a deep breath to take up his story when the door to the stairs opened and Galina walked up to us.

“Ah, Galina, your timing is perfect,” he said smiling wickedly. “Please clearing plates.” He looked at us with a mischievous grin, enjoying the opportunity to draw out what he had to say.

“Yes,
dedushka
.” Galina picked up the plates and silverware and then walked out.

“You enjoy doing that almost as much as Justin does, don’t you?” Rachel knew
taleus interruptus
when she saw it, and Yvgenny wasn’t even trying to hide it.

“I couldn’t possibly knowing what you refer to, Miss Rachel,” he said chuckling a bit. But the smile in his eyes told her he knew exactly what he was doing.

I leaned over to her. “Where do you think I learned it?” I whispered in her ear.

After tapping his pipe out into the soil under the tree next to him, Yvgenny repacked it and lit it up, staring at me once again.

“Forgiving me, Justin, but I couldn’t help overhearing several things. Of Natalia and SolCon? And
Pyotr
.”

“Yes,” I said slowly. Yvgenny shook his head. “How much did you overhear?”

“Not much, just names, but those names carry significant weight within the circles I travel. What have you getting yourself into, boy?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I said, scratching the back of my head.

“Is it possible you were, perhaps, being in limousine two nights ago? And perhaps it was parked in less-than-traditional location. Say, for example, someone’s living room?”

“You heard about that, hunh?” I smiled knowingly and with not a little pride. I truly enjoy the mayhem that is a natural result of my work, although I’d never say so out loud.

Yvgenny guffawed. “Justin, there isn’t gangster or cop in city who hasn’t hear of that. Seven dead, including one
innocent
Russian driver and six Italian soldiers, three of them burned to death. You are dangerous man.”

I smiled evilly. “You already knew that.”

“
Da
,” Yvgenny conceded. Over the years, the two of us had inflicted a delightful amount of damage upon both the suspecting and unsuspecting scum of Los Angeles … every one of them more than having it coming to them. “Fortunately for you, there is no one but you and me knowing that Natalia and Victor were not alone in limo. Those who knew are now dead.”

“You wouldn’t be obliged to tell anyone, would you?” I asked slowly.

“I am not telling what no one is asking. And no one will ask tired old street musician, especially not without reason. I am being far from such things for years … thankfully. I am … how do they say … second-hand lion.” Yvgenny leaned over to Rachel as if to tell her a secret, but his voice didn’t lower as he added with pride, “They used to call me
unbreakable
.”

“You’re still the best of them, Yvgenny,” I said sincerely, raising a glass of wine. “Old school.”

Yvgenny raised his own glass, and we drained them. “If it is pleasing you, Justin, continue with story.”

So I did while Rachel finished off the last of her wine. I got to the point where Natalia and I were about to go into her house when Rachel asked, “Do you really think DiMarco was after Natalia and Xen because of gambling?”

“Unlikely. Xen is a shitty card player.
You
could beat him,” I said smiling at Rachel, who returned in kind by sticking her tongue out at me. “But I doubt he would ever get in the hole, and certainly not to the tune of three-hundred, let alone three-hundred-
thousand
dollars.”

“So why were the Italians trying to kill Natalia?” she asked turning serious. “And why would the Russians let them? Pyotr clearly wanted her dead. Sounds to me like he was using the Italians to do his dirty work for him.”

“Yep.” I smiled. “I have a pretty good idea you’re right, but I can’t pin anything down yet. Pyotr said Xen was working on something that was a threat to Gino, although, how dry-cleaning could be a threat to anyone is beyond me. This Pyotr is a smart customer, though. He’s a real chess-player by the feel of it. It all has to do with chemicals … and smuggling. Yvgenny?” I cast a questioning look to my old friend, hoping that he knew or had heard something that would help make sense of it all.

“This I am not knowing, but there is something important I do know.”

“What’s that?”

“Natalia is Interpol.” Yvgenny waited for a surprised look on my face but was disappointed.

“No she’s not,” I said calmly.

“She is. I am having ways to knowing these things.”

“She
was
Interpol.”

“What do you mean?” Rachel and Yvgenny both asked simultaneously.

“I was just getting to that.” I paused, contemplating what I should and shouldn’t say. With Yvgenny there, I didn’t have much choice, but with or without him, it was better to go the safe route. “Natalia’s dead.”

“Dead?”

“Yeah. In the surf.” I told them about the house, the chase, and the pier. I wrapped up with Bennie, the plane, and the swimming pool.

“You pretty much know the rest,” I said, pouring the last few drops of the second bottle of wine into my glass.

“Poor Natalia,” Rachel said.

“My fault, too. She must have hit her head and gotten knocked unconscious. I thought I had it all worked out.” I leaned back and sadness flickered across my face. In my line of work people die, but I’d never gotten used to when people I was responsible for didn’t make it. I hope I never do. The old me took it as a matter of pride, and the new me simply feels gutshot by it.

Yvgenny spoke up. “You were doing what you could, Justin. The woman chose a dangerous profession, no? And going after her laptop was reckless. Had it not being for you, she would have certainly been killed the night before.”

“I still feel responsible,” I said sincerely, “but you’re right.”

“You are honorable man.” Yvgenny placed his hand on my arm.

“Thanks.”

“So, what happens next?” Rachel asked with a mix of concern and confusion.

“A little bit of good-old-fashioned private detective work to start with. Then I play cards with an old friend,” I said slowly.

“Xen?” Rachel asked.

“Xen. And wait for a hit man to come calling. Right, Yvgenny?”

“Da. I’ll call you if I am hearing anything else.”

“Thanks,” I said as I stood up. “Let’s head back to my place, Rachel. I want to go over an idea I have.”

“Sounds good.”

“Don’t say that,” I cautioned. “You haven’t heard the idea yet, and it could get you killed, too.”

“Great,” she said, utterly devoid of any enthusiasm.

***