Crossing the Line (33 page)

“You just don’t want it to be her.”

“And you’re desperate that it is. Prove it.”

“My source told me she’s been fucking an FBI agent since she got here.”

Aleksei laughed. “She’s been in my bed fucking me nearly every night since she got here. You’ll have to do better than that.”

“Okay, let’s test her. We pretend we have a meeting with the buyers tomorrow at two at the Vizcaya. I have a contact who’ll tell me if the Feds find out.”

“You want me to do the real thing in the morning and pretend in the afternoon?”

“You don’t need to go to the Vizcaya. I’ll send some people. If you’re right the Feds won’t turn up. If you’re wrong—”

“You expect me to take your word for it when you say government agents turned up at the fake meeting?”

“Do what you fucking like,” Viktor snapped. “If you want to check for yourself, go ahead. Feed her the lie and see what happens. Tell her there’s a meeting at two. Leave her on her own tonight at the apartment. Give her a chance to contact them. You monitor her cell, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Let Park watch in case she leaves to use a phone.”

Katya was back in bed by the time Aleksei came into the room. She couldn’t let him touch her until her heart stopped pounding or he’d guess she’d been listening. She stretched and groaned. “What time is it?”

“Just after eight.”

“I should get ready for work.”

“No. Stay with me.” Aleksei lay next to her and put his hand on her stomach.

Katya moaned. “I’ll lose my job. I can’t just keep having time off.”

“I’ll call and tell them you’re sick.” He leaned up on one elbow. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.”

“Not to put your fist through anymore TVs?”

“Getting Viktor out of your life. Doing what he wants. He’s set up a meeting with the people keen to buy the uranium. Tomorrow at two at the Vizcaya Museum. I’m going to go.”

“Do you think it will work, that he’ll leave me alone if you help him?”

“He’d better.”

Katya started to cry. She wasn’t even sure why. Because Aleksei didn’t trust her at all? What did it matter? She was screwing him in more ways than one.

He kissed a tear from her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to be the reason you’re doing this.” Which was true.

“Don’t worry, Katya. I’d probably have given in anyway, whether you were around or not.”

“Because he’s your father?”

“Because even if I don’t help him, if he goes down, he’ll take me with him and he’ll make sure Kirill silences you.”

So his promise that his father would pay for what he’d done to Galya was empty. Everyone was looking out for themselves. Wasn’t that always the way?

Her heart hammered. He’d given her the time and place of the meeting, and offered her the opportunity to get away from him. It was very neat. From what she’d overheard, it sounded like there was a meeting in the morning. She didn’t want to think about the comment that had brought another of Aleksei’s responses, when he’d said she’d been in his bed fucking him ever since she arrived. What did Petrenko know? Nothing for certain otherwise she’d be dead.

“Bad news,” said Frank.

Ethan’s heart slumped onto his stomach. Tom and Lindy were with him in Frank’s office.

“We had a call,” Frank said. “Disguised voice. Cell phone in downtown Miami. He or she said Petrenko knows we’re aware of the uranium deal.”

Oh Christ.
“How?” Ethan asked.

“Didn’t say. We don’t even know if Petrenko knows we know he knows, if you get my drift. For the time being, it’s over. Pull the surveillance. We’ll let things cool down.”

Thank God.
“We should get Katya out,” Ethan said. “If they don’t already think she’s the leak, it can only be a matter of time.”

Frank shook his head. “I disagree. This could have come from anywhere: supplier, courier, seller, buyer. The deal may still be on. Leave her where she is.”

“So they can kill her?” Ethan snapped.

“She’s more use to them alive. If they suspect she’s been talking to us, they may let her deliver misinformation. If we handle it properly we should be able to convince them she’s innocent.”

Or they’ll kill her, Ethan thought. He was quiet as they talked through options but he’d already made up his mind. He wanted Katya out. Bad enough that she was sleeping with the enemy but he was suffocating himself with all the ways she might die.

When he called Alice McColl and found Katya hadn’t turned up for work, acid ate at his gut.

* * * * *

Luisa gave Lindy time to get inside a stall and then followed her into the bathroom. Only one occupied. Perfect. She stifled a sob and went into the one at the end, whimpering openly. A few squirts of cleansing drops into both eyes and tears fell. She smudged her mascara with toilet tissue and released muffled cries. They were almost real tears; she was frustrated enough. If it hadn’t have been for that Russian bitch, she’d still be with Ethan.

The moment she heard the toilet flush, Luisa flushed hers and rushed out to the mirror. She wasn’t going to risk Lindy leaving without having seen her. Luisa clutched the sink and took several noisy breaths.

“Are you okay?” Lindy asked.

“Fine. Don’t mind me.”

Lindy washed her hands, said nothing and Luisa panicked. “I just don’t understand men,” she blurted. “I mean, do they only think of one thing?”

“Pretty much,” Lindy said.

“I thought he was different but he isn’t. He just oh…” She burst into a fresh bout of crying, splashing water on her face to disguise the fact that no tears fell.

Lindy pulled a couple of paper towels from the dispenser and handed them to her.

“I don’t know what to do,” Luisa said.

“What’s wrong?”

“He won’t leave me alone.”

“A guy at work?”

Luisa nodded. “I really liked him. The first time we—you know—well it was great but the second time he was a bit rough and I asked him to stop and he wouldn’t. I told him I didn’t want to go out with him again if he was going to be like that but he won’t listen. He keeps pestering me, telling me how he’d like to fuck me on the desk, in the elevator, on the roof. He’s just told me if I don’t meet him later he’ll come round to my house and tie me up and…” She cried again and rubbed her eyes. “What should I do?”

“Do I know him?”

Luisa made her hesitation count before she opened her mouth. “Ethan.”

Lindy winced. “You have to tell Frank.”

“Noooo,” Luisa wailed. “I can’t.”

Lindy put her arm around her. “You have to.”

“Will you come with me?”

Frank stayed silent as Luisa sat in his office, head down, accusing Ethan of sexual harassment. Lindy held her hand.

“This started at your party?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You looked to be having a pretty good time.”

“I was. I did. I thought it was a good way for Ethan to meet everyone and I admit I was attracted to him, but he insisted on hanging around until everyone had left and then…” She looked to Lindy for support.

“Go on.”

“Well, he didn’t want to take no for an answer,” Luisa muttered.

“Are you accusing him of rape?” Frank gaped at her.

“No,” Luisa said. “Not exactly, but I realized he wasn’t the kind of guy I wanted to date. Since then he’s not left me alone. He even got me to come in on a Saturday because he said he had some important work he needed me to do and it was just an excuse so he could… Now, he’s gone totally the other way. He says I’m a frigid bitch.” She put her hands over her eyes and sobbed.

Frank didn’t want to believe her but why would she lie?

“Go home. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

“You’re not mad with me for telling you, are you? Lindy said I should make a formal complaint. I didn’t want to but he might try it with someone else.”

“No, I’m not mad,” Frank said, thinking the exact opposite.

When Luisa had gone he called Lindy back. “Well?”

“She was crying in the bathroom. She didn’t want to tell me.”

“You think she’s telling the truth?”

“Why would she lie?” Lindy asked.

“Maybe because Ethan
doesn’t
want to go out with her?”

“Well, making these claims isn’t going to get her what she wants, is it? Besides…”

“Something you’re not telling me?” Frank asked.

“I did wonder about Katya Mazarov.”

“What?”

“It was the way she looked at him. I wondered if Ethan spent the weekend in her motel room.”

“Damn. Does Tom think that?”

“I haven’t discussed it with him.”

“Don’t. You don’t discuss this with anyone. Tell Tom I want to see him right away and don’t tell him why.”

Frank watched the relief sweep over Tom’s face when he realized this wasn’t about him. He had little to add, but mentioned Ethan’s car had been blocked in at the party so he couldn’t easily leave before everyone else.

“Do you think Ethan stayed with Katya?” Frank asked.

“He left with us.”

“Tom, you’re just starting out with the Bureau. I want to remind you that if you know Ethan’s committed a criminal act or a policy violation, you must tell me or you risk suspension without pay.”

“But I don’t know that he has,” Tom protested.

“Do you think he has?”

“No,” he said without hesitation.

When Ethan listened to Frank, he kept his face neutral, but he seethed with fury.

“I’ve sent Luisa home. She was very upset,” Frank said.

“She’s not the only one.”

“So you didn’t sleep with her?”

“Once. After her party. I didn’t even stay the night.” As if that made him sound better.

“What about the claim that you pestered her for sex?”

“It’s ludicrous. It’s the other way round. She turned up uninvited at the office. I don’t know how she knew I was here unless she followed me. She asked me to go for breakfast. She offered to organize a housewarming party for me. She wanted me to go bowling. She even suggested sex in the elevator. She won’t take no for an answer. I shouldn’t have slept with her, but I told her quite clearly I wasn’t looking for a relationship. I don’t understand why she’s doing this. What does she hope to gain?”

“You told me that you weren’t sleeping with Katya Mazarov.”

Ethan sighed heavily. “It’s the truth.”

“Have you ever slept with her?”

Ah shit.
“Once. In Paris.”

“For what purpose?”

Ethan’s mouth was dry. “Purpose? What do you want me to say? Because I was feeling horny? Because I wanted information?” He’d slept with her because she was cute and made his heart beat fast. “I was doing my job,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I’m going to have to suspend you. Luisa’s making a formal complaint.”

Ethan ground his teeth in fury.

“This has to be investigated by OPR. I have no choice. You understand that all of us in government service have an obligation to set a moral example. We should be beyond reproach. We have to be seen doing the right thing.”

Ethan had known that was coming from the moment Frank mentioned Luisa’s name. The Office of Professional Responsibility existed to ensure uncompromising personal and institutional integrity. No matter what the outcome of their investigation, shit would stick. He handed over his badge and his security pass, then placed his gun on the desk. The gun didn’t matter. He had another, but losing the badge hurt.

“Do you believe me or Luisa?” he asked.

Frank hesitated and Ethan stormed out.

* * * * *

Katya had never known Aleksei to spend so little time working. The whole morning he’d made no more than a couple of phone calls. They’d stayed by the pool and when it grew too hot, they simply slid into the water. He’d been…perfect. Funny and kind and sexy. If it hadn’t been for what she knew he was planning, she might have been happy.

“I feel guilty. I should be at work,” Katya muttered as she floated, her body supported by bright orange foam noodles.

“I told them you were sick. They’re not expecting you.”

“I’m worried about you not working. Maybe you
are
sick.”

“What happened on Thursday has made me realize what you mean to me.”

Her heart thumped. He sounded sincere. She felt more guilt.

“Ah, you mean you’d need to hire a cook if I’d killed myself jumping from the car.”

“Not just a cook.” He slipped into the water and ran his hand across her stomach. “I have other needs.”

Katya released the floats.

“I don’t just mean sex. You’re quick and bright and I like having you around. You make me laugh. Your music…” He sighed. “I’ve been thinking about this uranium deal.”

“Don’t go.” That’s not what she was supposed to say but… “I told you before what I think. How would you feel if you’d given some maniac the ingredients to manufacture a dirty bomb and they dropped it on innocent people? Don’t have anything to do with it.”

He kissed her. “The meeting isn’t until two tomorrow. I have plenty of time to make up my mind.” He pulled her under the surface and pressed his lips against hers.

And plenty of time to break my heart with your lies
.

* * * * *

Tom kept his head down. The news of Ethan’s suspension had spread and the parallel departure of Luisa fed the rumor mill. Lindy was quiet and Martinez gleeful. Tom thought the surveillance had been called off too soon. If Kusmin or Petrenko knew Katya had been talking to the FBI, she was dead. Frank was right the leak could have come from anywhere but they should be protecting her. The atmosphere in the squad room was tense. No one but Martinez was chatting and if he didn’t shut up soon, Tom would make him.

Jack Bosman walked in and laid a report on Tom’s desk. “This was flagged for you. Might want to take a deep breath before you open it.”

“Thanks, Jack.”

Tom welcomed the distraction but when he opened the folder and took out the photograph, he swallowed. The body had been found at Crandon Park Beach. Fingers removed, tongue cut out and the ears sliced off and pushed into cuts in the breasts. The mouth had been extended to the edge of the jaw, the eyes pulled out and pushed into the throat. No ID, but Tom knew who it was. Katya. Although the body had been horrifically mutilated he was sure it was her. Her beautiful hair was the only part of her not covered in blood. He picked up the file and went over to Lindy.

“Take a look,” he said.

She opened the dossier and blanched. “Katya?”

“What do you think?”

Lindy read the report and studied the photograph. “Oh God, it looks like her. We better tell Frank.”

“Who’ll tell Ethan?”

* * * * *

Ethan saw Tom’s name on his phone and answered it. “Hi, Tom.”

“I’m sorry… Bad news. It’s Katya.”

Ethan’s vision wavered. He knew what Tom was going to say.

“She’s dead,” Tom said.

He clenched his phone so hard he heard it crack.
What have I done?
“What happened?”

“It’s bad. The file came to me because it was like the others.”

No, no. no.
Black dots swam in front of his eyes. “Tell me.”

“The body was—mutilated.”

“Tell me,” he repeated.

As Tom talked, bile surged into Ethan’s throat.
Fuck, fuck.

“Where was she found?”

“Crandon Park Beach, covered with a red towel. The ME estimated she’s been dead less than twenty-four hours.”

He shuddered. What had they done wrong?
Oh fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Are you sure it’s Katya?”

“It looks like her. Lindy and I both—well—there’s no ID.”

A glimmer of hope fluttered to life.

“I want a photograph.” He had to know for sure.