Berlin (Leo & Allissa International Thrillers Book 3) by Luke Richardson (my reading book txt) 📕

the web of cracks, he could just about make out the ghostly image of the charging symbol. It was as though the light that illuminated the screen had died, but the display was still showing.

Leo picked up the phone to get a better look. The charging symbol disappeared.

Bugger.

He must have upset the delicate cable assembly. He replaced the phone exactly where it was, and sure enough, a few seconds later the spectral image of a jagged lightning bolt reappeared.

Leo waited a full five minutes before he risked touching the phone again. Then, holding down the power button, he watched as the faint charging symbol faded and in its place, a ghostly logo appeared. A few seconds later, the logo disappeared and Leo was asked for a passcode.

The passcode. Damn.

There would be a workaround to cracking it, but that would take time. Leo sent a message to Charles Rolleston asking for any suggestions.

Charles replied two minutes later with four possibilities.

Leo carefully entered the first one. The phone thought about it for a second.

Incorrect passcode.

The second and third had the same response.

The final one was a six-digit code. Looking closely to make sure he got the right keys on the broken screen, Leo typed it in. Then pressed enter. The screen went dark.

Then, from the darkness, a few ghostly icons appeared.

Careful not to dislodge the cable, Leo started scrolling through some of the menus and apps. It was hard to see anything on the dark screen, but at a particular angle light from the window exposed the faint image.

First, Leo looked at the sent messages. Nothing; both received and sent boxes were empty. Then he scrolled to the pictures. Again, empty. But one call had been made from the phone. Leo cross-checked it with his phone; it was Charles’ number.

Leo once again got the feeling that something wasn’t right. Something didn’t stack up. Straightening up, he flexed his shoulders. A knot was appearing at the top of his back. Rubbing between his shoulder blades, he glanced at his phone on the bed. He didn’t care about phones, yet he owned a newer model than this. There had been two or three new models since this one actually. Having been through Minty’s social media accounts, Leo knew he did a lot of his business on the internet. He was always posting about the new designs he was working on or where he was travelling. It felt unlikely that a well-connected, sociable and wealthy man would use a five-year-old phone. Of course, it was possible but unlikely.

An instinct thronged through Leo’s veins.

Leo snatched his phone from the duvet and called the one person he needed to talk to right now. The one person he relied on more than his instincts.

34

Olezka pulled the Rolls Royce to a stop outside the abandoned bakery and killed the engine. He stood from the car and stretched. The morning had been a productive one. He had caught a thief and worked out who was going to help him in the next iteration of his organisation.

It was important they moved with the times and for that, Olezka knew, he needed to get some young blood in the driving seat. Berlin was changing, and so his organisation had to change too. That was the way the world worked.

Olezka pulled open the door and stepped into the old building. The screams that had reverberated from the bare walls were silent. That problem had been dealt with.

“Dedushka Olezka,” Semion said as Olezka stepped into the room.

Keal was still tied to the chair with his head lolling forwards. Olezka couldn’t tell if he was dead or alive, and didn’t care either way.

“Did you get my message?” Semion asked. “I didn’t believe it myself at first, so I had him say it again. I have it recorded for you.”

Semion pointed at the camera and tripod in front of Keal’s wilted figure. Semion was looking through the footage on a laptop.

“I can show you now if you like. As I say, I had him say it again, just to make sure. With these drugs the person speaks without being conscious of it, so it cannot be a lie. I’ll call it up now.” Semion tapped ferociously on the computer.

“Semion,” Olezka said, holding up a hand, “what are you talking about?”

Semion turned and considered the boss with pale eyes. “Did you get the message?”

Olezka shook his head and pulled out his phone. “No, no messages,” he said.

“I definitely —”

“What did it say?”

Semion tapped at the laptop again and a video began to play. Olezka stepped closer. Keal writhed on the screen and Semion’s recorded voice sounded from the speakers.

“Borya was there,” came Keal’s reply.

Olezka’s phone clattered to the floor and Semion stopped the video.

“No, carry on, don’t stop it you idiot.” Olezka waved at the computer. Semion started it again and Olezka stared in disbelief.

Keal’s words echoed from the laptop. When he had finished, Semion stopped the video.

“Keal always picked up the same number of parcels as he brought to you,” Semion said. “I’ve checked the last ten visits against your records.”

Olezka’s jaw opened and then snapped shut. A dark expression shadowed his face as he looked at Keal’s crumpled body.

“What car did he say he saw outside?” Olezka asked.

Semion checked his notes. “A red Maserati.”

Olezka nodded. “Interesting.” Olezka tapped the bulge of his gun beneath his jacket. “Borya has been stealing. The little snake.” Olezka crossed the room and placed his hand on Keal’s neck. The man’s pulse was faint and erratic. “With all I’ve done for him.”

Olezka pulled out his pistol. He sank to his knees and looked into Keal’s vacant eyes.

“I’m sorry rebenok. Borya will pay for this.”

Olezka stood up and levelled the gun at Keal’s head. A single shot echoed through the derelict building.

“Semion, pack up here,” Olezka said, heading for the door. “I need to speak to someone about a Maserati, and then we’ll go and pay Borya a visit.”

35

Leo dropped his phone to the bed. Allissa must be at