American Mutant (32 page)

“Get out of here,” Connor laughed.

Connor got into the car, waiting at the curb first, with Johnny following. Nick turned around and smiled. “You two look very elegant tonight. Mr. Johnson is on line right now. Whenever you both feel safe enough, put on your wires and let us know what you want done.”

“Sounds good Nick,” Connor replied. “Will you be picking us up in this after its over?”

“Yep. Same car, same station, and I will be listening anyway, so update me anytime you wish.”

“Any movement since last night Nick,” Johnny asked. “Only some of his men, and they came back. He beefed up his crew too. I guess he thinks he needs some extra help for you two.” “How many,” Connor asked.

“Eight of his regular staff, and three more new guys since last night,” Nick replied.

“Any sign of Gina at all?”

“No Mr. Connor,” Nick admitted, “we have not seen any sign of her. That really does not mean much though, if past missions mean anything.”

“Let’s hope she’s just kept somewhere out of sight,” Johnny added, as he turned to Connor. “You have any idea of what you want to do if she isn’t there?”

“Find out where she is,” Connor said quietly, “and then go get her.”

“Simple, but elegant,” Nick said, as he pulled away from the hotel. “Here we go.”

Johnny led the way out of the vehicle outside of Nicoloff s residence. With Connor following him, after Nick drove away, Johnny walked up to the front entrance. Connor rang the bell at the side of the large entryway, and then stepped back beside Johnny. A blond haired man, with a heavily scarred face, answered the door. He motioned for Connor and Loo to come in. Another man joined the blonde haired man as they entered. The new man was even more heavily built, and slightly taller than the first blonde’s over six foot tall frame. They immediately patted down their guests for weapons, and scanned them for any electronic devices. They confiscated Connor’s cell phone.”

“Come this way,” the blond haired man said abruptly.

They were led through a large living room area where seven other men lounged. The man led them down a hallway, and then opened a door into a beautifully furnished den, with oak bookcases and desk. Two leather-covered chairs had been placed in front of the desk. Nicoloff sat behind the desk, with two of his men standing on either side, slightly away from the desk. One of them moved to lift the chairs away from the desk, and over the plush carpeting. Nicoloff silently motioned for Connor and Loo to sit down. The men who had brought them into the room left, and closed the door after them.

“So, my friend,” Nicoloff started, “what kind of deal do you have in mind for me that you have endangered your life in such a way as this?”

“This gentleman with me Demetri can pave the way for a direct route of opiates directly into your country for distribution. His name is Raymond Yee, and we can finally supply ourselves in a way we have never been able to before.”

Nicoloff leaned forward, and Connor could see his irritation had turned into interest. “What exactly does your companion here hope to get out of this arrangement?”

“The further weakening of the Americans. He wishes their markets flooded through our distribution lines without any connection to his country. He also has a use for that girl I gave you a short while ago. It seems her father has attained a position in the American government his country can exploit. Can we negotiate for her to come with us as part of the arrangement?”

Nicoloff sat back in his chair, and swung around to face the wall for a few moments. When he turned back around, he was smiling broadly. “You have indeed impressed me my friend. This may be what we have been waiting for. I am tired of all these games. It has become exceedingly difficult to attain anything of a profit in this market.”

“Will it be possible then to take the girl with us?” Connor asked again. “Her importance in this deal cannot be stressed enough.”

“We have a slight problem there,” Nicoloff said with what Connor thought was regret. “She died a month ago.”

Johnny had only enough time to say ‘uh oh’, and there was a flurry of motion around him. Before either man standing around Nicoloff could move, Connor dropped both of them viciously to the floor with an attack Johnny could not follow. One moment they were standing, and the next they were on the floor. Johnny stood up, and slipped his wire out from the lining in his coat, as Connor had lifted the stunned Nicoloff out of his chair like a baby. Connor stood him on his feet, and then touched his head momentarily. Nicoloff dropped to the floor in a ball, shaking as if in a fit.

“Nate,” Johnny spoke.

“I’m here.”

“We have a problem. Nicoloff just told us the girl died a month ago.”

“Oh Christ, how many dead so far?”

Johnny chuckled in spite of the situation. “Two down, condition unknown, and Nicoloff has curled up in a ball on the rug, and appears to be shaking.”

“Tell the evil mutant to put on his wire and talk to me.”

Johnny went over to where Connor was crouching next to Nicoloff. “Nate says to put on your wire Thomas. I will watch the door.”

Johnny went over to one of the bodies, and took his weapon. As Connor fumbled to get hooked up with Nate, Loo went over and locked the door, taking a position off to the side of it.

“I’m here Nate,” Connor said.

“I know you’re disappointed Thomas, but don’t get crazy on me boy. Stick to the plan and get on out of there. I will have Nick over in a second.”

“Hold off Nate. Nicoloff was lying. He’s in the special place finding out how to tell the truth.”

Nate laughed. “Understood, keep me informed.”

“Will do, Nick you there?” Connor asked.

“Yes Sir.”

“We will be at the front in fifteen minutes. I hope without anyone after us, but everyone expect the worst, just in case.”

He bent over, and touched Nicoloff on the arm again. The man came out of his fetal position batting and tearing at his clothes. Connor caught him up by his coat and slammed him into his desk chair. Nicoloff looked at Connor through pain filled horrified eyes. Sweat poured down his face.

“Who…Who are you? Wh.What did you do to me?”

“Listen carefully Demetri,” Connor whispered. “I know you lied about the girl being dead. That does not matter now, but do not lie to me again, because I will know it, and I will send you back where you were. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I.”

“Where do you have the girl?”

“I gave her to a man named Alexander Solataroff.”

“What is this man to you?” Connor asked.

“He has many contacts throughout the militia, with ties to Moscow officials. I have money. I.”

“Draw me directions to this man’s residence, along with his phone number, and a description of his place. How many men will he have with him?”

“Many men work for him, but usually only a few with him at any time,” Nicoloff answered quickly.

“Does he keep the girl with him?”

“He was very much taken with her. That is why I gave her to him. He…He will have her.”

“Are you on a first name basis with this man?” Connor continued.

“No, he allows me to operate because of the bribes I give him.”

“What do you call him?”

“Comrade Solotaroff or Sir.”

Connor nodded as he took up the sheet of paper Nicoloff had been working on. “Does the blond haired scarred man out there run things for

you?”

“Yes.”

“What do you call him?”

“Nicholas.”

Connor snapped Nicoloff s neck, as Johnny whipped around at the doorway in time to see Nicoloff collapse over his desk with his head at a very unnatural angle. Connor looked at the man and then began to change. In a few seconds Johnny could not tell the difference between Connor and the dead man in front of him. Connor walked over to him.

“Nate, you get all that,” Connor asked.

“Yea Mutie, including that snap at the end. Read me the address. We’ll get on it as soon as you’re on the road. I imagine you will be walking out as Nicoloff, so how much time do you think we will have?”

“I think I can get us until tomorrow morning.”

“Good, let’s get you out of there.”

Connor looked at Johnny, “just follow my lead Johnny, and look inscrutable.”

“That will not be difficult,” Johnny laughed.

Connor opened the door, and led Johnny out, before turning to close and lock the door mentally. Johnny followed him out into the area where the rest of Nicoloff s men were. Connor walked up to the scarred man who had let them in.

“Nicholas, do not let anyone in or out of my room until I return in the morning. I will be going with Mr. Yee here. He has a car coming around for us. Do you understand?”

The blond haired man straightened. “Yes Sir, I will see to it. Do you want any of us with you?”

“No, that will not be necessary.” Connor walked off with Loo following. He walked out as Nick pulled up to the curb in front of Nicoloff s place. Inside the car, Johnny let out his breath in a sigh of relief.

“Man, that was something.”

Nick had a silenced automatic pointed at Connor. “That is you, isn’t it Mr. Connor?”

“Yea Nick, put the gun away. Drive on, and stop after we get a few blocks down the way. I will tell you how to get to our next destination.”

“Not necessary Mr. Connor, Mr. Johnson has already found out specifically how to get to the address you gave him and relayed it to my GPS.”

Connor sat back. “Good, this will be a bit more difficult than we had hoped.”

“How do you want to do this Thomas,” Johnny asked.

“I will just go in as Nicoloff, and find Gina from there.”

“I can go in with you again, and see if we can convince him we need her,” Johnny added.

“It won’t work Johnny. This guy’s part of the authority. I will find her. We will just have to hope he has only a few men with him.”

“He may not even see you Thomas,” Nate said in his ear.

“Well, that may be bad news for whoever gives me that message. Let’s think positively for a change.”

“Oh yeah, that will help,” Johnny grinned.

“Nate, will we have a pathway out of there if I encounter problems?”

“The team took off for Odincova as soon as you got us the address. They will be there. We did not get much practice on this leg of the race,” Nate replied.

“Can’t be helped Nate. I believe the guys will do whatever they can if they are in place. If they have a head start on me, by the time I get there and get Gina, they should be able to provide me with a little protection from long range. Johnny and Nick can back me up close in.”

“What do you plan to do Mutie?” Nate asked.

“I am going to leave everyone alive at this place,” Connor replied, “Unless I find something beyond my ability to hold off on. Nicoloff told me he only has a couple of men he keeps around, so we may be pretty clear there. The bad part would be leaving him alive to screw us over getting Gina out of the country. I will do what I can, but I am not leaving without Gina.”

“We are all with you on that,” Nate confirmed. “How far away are you now Nick.”

Nick looked down at his GPS monitor momentarily. “Five minutes away Mr. Johnson, and all clear so far.”

“Good, I will check in with the rest of the team, and then get back to you when Thomas goes in. You going with a circling pattern until the Mutant Menace comes out Johnny.”

“You bet Nate, but it will be a tight circle,” Johnny replied.

Nick pulled up in front of the address he was given. The street around the huge brick residence showed few lights in any of the surrounding houses. Connor gave Johnny a little salute, and stepped out towards the entrance. At the door, Connor rang the antique bell. A few minutes later, a middle age woman answered. Connor smiled at her.

“Would you please let Comrade Solotaroff know Demtri Nicoloff would like to speak to him. It is a matter of utmost importance.”

The woman looked him over for a moment and then nodded. She closed the door. A few minutes later, she came to the door with a man who must have been Solotaroff s bodyguard. Connor began to worry when he saw the look of recognition on the man’s face. He already had a hand in his coat. Connor put a pleading look on his face as he stepped forward, when the woman opened the front door again.

“Please, let me speak to Comrade Solotaroff. This may mean a great deal of money for us all.”

The man stepped past Connor and looked around. “Are you here alone?”

“Yes, I had my driver drop me off. I will call him after I have a chance to make my presentation.”

The man gripped him under the right arm in a bone crushing grip, “Come along then, but you will have to be quick.”

Connor was hurried along to a room with a huge fireplace and bar. Solotaroff sat by himself on the luxurious couch set up in front of the fireplace. Only one small lamp on the bar gave off any light besides the fireplace. Solotaroff turned slightly and motioned for Connor to sit down in the chair opposite him. Connor sat down with the bodyguard’s help, and then the bodyguard took up a position next to him.