The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

his craft, Li Chu observed, as the man weaved in and out of Kyiv traffic to keep sight of the car. The driver assumed the role of a tour guide as he announced the history of the areas as they passed. “That is from the time of Stalin. That too.”

“We are heading toward the stadiums,” he said as the car ahead of them turned down a street, then quickly turned left down an alley. “I cannot go there. This is private property. Bank property. Dangerous bank.”

“Dangerous bank?”

“The bank of Viktor Bondar.”

The bank was a four-story white and glass structure of a more modern design than the rest of the office and residential buildings on Dilova Street.

Li Chu motioned for the driver to pull over. He drove a block past the bank and pulled the car to the side of the narrow street.

“Stay, I will be back.” He started to get out.

“Do not go,” the taxi driver warned, pointing to the bank. Li Chu closed the door behind him.

He walked along the sidewalk opposite the bank, keeping in the shadows. He went to the corner, crossed the street, and walked back toward the bank, which was now ahead and on his left. His pace slowed as he reached an open courtyard with a big tree in front of the bank’s entrance.

As he approached, two dark figures, each the size of his taxi, came out of the shadows to make their presence known. In the dim area, Li Chu could see the weapons slung over their broad shoulders. He walked on, making a note of the small hotel, storefronts, and offices nearby.

In a few moments, he was safely inside his taxi. His plan was complete. Watch the bank. Follow Ira. Identify Pavlo. Wait for Bridger to do the same, as he knew he would.

Then I will take the case. And then I will kill the devil.

If Li Chu could have gone inside, he would have seen Ira enter the residence apartments that constituted the top floors of the imposing brick building behind and adjacent to the bank. He would have heard a brief conversation with her father.

“Your interview was a disappointment. You made us look weak,” Bondar slurred his words as he sat in the low light of his private office.

“I am sorry you thought that. I think it went well.” She saw a mostly empty bottle of vodka on a table within his reach.

“I want the case.” His fists pounded on his desk. He tried to stand, but the alcohol wouldn’t let him.

“Pavlo is still working on it.”

His hands waved in the air like he was swatting flies.

“I don’t care. I am calling Chen. The case will—we will get more business with them—fucking Kirkwood.”

“We discussed this. We should—”

“I want it. Two days. You have two days.” His fist slammed the top of his desk, causing the near-empty bottle of vodka to spill over. He ignored it.

“You are drinking too much. Get some sleep, father.”

His rage vanished as quickly as it had arrived. He sat in his chair with half-opened eyes.

She shook her head as she walked across the office, opened the huge wooden doors, and left.

Her father was changing for the worse. He was not managing the businesses as he had in the past—the debacle like the one that just happened in Serbia would never have happened. They were losing deals and being pushed around by the Chinese.

And he killed Uncle Anton.

She took an elevator down to the lowest floors, then walked through a long white hallway lit with bright safety lights every twenty feet. She punched codes into electronic locks on several doors and stepped into the subfloors of the bank.

“Ms. Ira,” Pavlo spurted out with surprise and pleasure when he opened his door.

“I was not sure you would be here, being that it is so late,” she said as she walked into Pavlo’s basement hideaway. She knew he would be there. “I believe you have an apartment?”

“Yes. Yes, I do! Nearby.” He was thrilled she knew about that. “But I have work to do on your case. I have been working on it, as you asked. I did stop to watch you tonight. On TNS. You were very wonderful. It was obvious they are envious of you.”

“Thank you, Pavlo. You are most kind,” she said with a certain amount of sincerity.

She had agreed to appear on the popular evening news program to show that the Bondar family, and herself in particular, would not hide or be harassed into seclusion. She had become the face of the Bondar empire, so appearing on the most popular news program, and answering tough questions, served a purpose.

But Pavlo was wrong. They were not envious of her. They feared her.

The next day, she was confident the press would describe her as beautiful, poised, knowledgeable, and ruthless. People on the street would call her a “kholodna suka,” a cold bitch, and other less flattering insults. She was pleased that they would all be correct.

A beeping sound came from one of Pavlo’s computers on the desk behind him. He scampered over and sat. After a few pecks at the keyboard and glances up and down from the screen to his fingers, he turned to Ira with a smile.

“I have found him! I have found Mr. Oleksandr.”

35

Taste of Blood

Kirkwood Headquarters

Prepare to come to Kyiv.

As Peter Schaeffer slowly ascended the stairs to the 10th floor of Kirkwood headquarters, he wondered what he should think, if anything, about the messages from Bridger.

Was Bridger getting close to finding the case?

Earlier that morning, he called MacBride to update him and get the approval to travel to Kyiv. Before he could call, his phone rang. It was Marilyn, MacBride’s administrative assistant. Peter was needed in a meeting on the 10th floor at 10 a.m.

Last time I heard that was when this whole mess started. But this time, I know more, a lot more.

Jessup and MacBride were standing outside Jessup’s office when Peter opened the stairway door and