“And he said he’d be back,” Nadzia continued. “To kill her, later. But the Albanians had shipped her, already.”
“So did he know that there was full audio/video in Rozaje?” Vanner mused. “Who did know, at that time?”
“The British government,” Nadzia pointed out. “Maybe the American government as well?”
“Yeah, but who in the American government?” Vanner asked rhetorically. He turned to the satellite link and started typing. “Want to bet that Senator Traskel is on the list?”
“Who’s going to do the plant?” Nadzia asked. “Two of the girls are out planting vids, I’m on deck and Vanda is sleeping.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Vanner said, smiling.
“Oh, this is very good,” Mikhail groaned as Tanya humped him from on top.
“You are very good,” Tanya replied, panting. “I think… toooo gooo…” She paused and gasped as there was a knock on the door. And then squealed as she was suddenly thrown halfway across the bed and Mikhail was on his feet with a pistol clutched in a two handed grip.
“What are you…” she asked, half in a whisper.
“Get down and be quiet,” Mikhail replied, cat-footing to the door, apparently ignoring that he was entirely naked. “Who is it?”
“Vanner. Open up.”
Mikhail uncocked the gun and looked around wildly, then snatched up a towel before opening the door.
“Smells like you haven’t been getting much sleep,” Vanner said in Russian as he walked in the room. “Where’s the girl?”
“Here?” Tanya said, popping up over the far side of the bed holding her sheath dress in front of her.
“Get some clothes on,” Vanner said and looked Mikhail up and down. “And you, Mikhail. But take the condom off first.”
“We will both be very good to you,” Katya said as she walked back into the room with a towel wrapped around her hair and torso. The latter barely covered her pubic hair and was pulled down low on her breasts so she had his full and undivided attention. “But there are some things that we have to do for that deal.”
“Okay,” Tom said, breathlessly. Natalya hadn’t even waited for a suggestion and was fellating him rigorously. “Whatever you two want…”
“I have found man that will give me good deal on travellers’ checks,” Katya said. “I will cash them. Just once every day, eight hundred euros. And we must spend time at the club.”
“I don’t…” Tom started to say and then winced.
“We don’t go to girls’ rooms,” Katya said, quickly. “There are nice rooms, only ten euros to use. And if you find other girls you like, you go with them, too. But you must buy us some drinks so Boris makes money or he will get angry.” She brushed her cheek, lightly, and shook her head. “He was very angry that I come back so late last night. He think I run. If you want both of us, must keep him happy.”
“Okay, okay,” Tom said, groaning. “Whatever you want…”
“Move over, stupid one,” Katya said in Russian, kneeling down in front of the neurosurgeon. “You don’t know how to really give a man head.”
“So you’re Tanya,” Vanner said when both of them had gotten dressed. She was a fairly pretty brunette, he had to admit. Not up to Keldara standards, but close.
“Yes?” she replied, looking over at Mikhail.
“You’ve probably figured out by now that Mikhail is not a farm manager here on vacation,” Vanner said, smiling. “By the pistol, if nothing else.”
“I… hadn’t thought so before…”
“You want out?” Vanner asked. “Out from being a whore that is?”
“Yes,” the girl said fiercely then paused. “But I cannot run. I would be beaten, killed.”
“Not where we’ll send you,” Vanner said. “The Albanians won’t be able to touch you. But to get out, really out, you need to help us.”
“What are you doing?” Tanya asked nervously.
“You don’t have to know,” Vanner said. “All you have to do is what we tell you, when we tell you, exactly. And you don’t talk about it. Not even to your girlfriends. If you do, you’re going to get Mikhail killed, and yourself. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” the girl answered.
“Okay,” Vanner said, pulling out a metal packet and tossing it to her. “Put that in your purse. You’re going to plant it for us.”
“Now,” Katya said when the doctor was laid out flat on the bed and Natalya was using up the hot water. “The money changer I found is near the hotel. I will go to him once per day, as I said. But we must go to the club as well. And I must sleep there late at night, so that they know all their girls are still in town. So, we must either come back here, later, to get the money changed or I change it now.”
“You’re just going to run, aren’t you?” Tom said, sighing in regret. “Take the money and run…” he sang.
“No, Tom,” Katya said, seriously. “Please, look at me. I will not run.” That’s right, look right into these innocent blue eyes you sucker.
“Okay, okay,” Tom said, pulling out his money pouch and taking out the travellers’ checks. “How much?”
“Eight hundred, please,” Katya said, putting her hand on his arm and leaning into him. “I promise. I am only gone…”
“Ten minutes,” Vanner whispered. “Max.”
“Ten minutes,” Katya continued, stepping over his “max.” “And Natalya stays here, yes? When she gets out of shower, she give you good time.”
“Not as good as you, Katya,” Tom said, handing over the endorsed travellers’ checks. “Nobody is as good as you.”
“I be back very soon,” Katya said, standing up. “I do whatever you want. I play little girl, yes?” she asked, pulling her hair into ponytails.
“Do you have a schoolgirl outfit?” Tom asked, breathing hard.
“No,” Katya said, pouting. “I not even have hair ribbons. Is all I have, what you see,” she added, waving at her body.
“I could…”
“If you want send me shop,” Katya said, smiling winningly, “I buy whatever you want. I be whoever you want. Any name you want, any girl you want. You do whatever you want.”
“Can you… resist a little?” Tom asked.
“I be whatever you want,” Katya said, slipping to the door. “Ten minutes.”
“In ten minutes, with this much money, I could be on my way to Greece,” Katya said as she strode down the hall. “This is the time for me to cut and run, normally. Where am I going?”
“Third floor,” Vanner answered. “West stairwell.”
She rode the elevator down to the third floor and stepped aside for another whore who wordlessly boarded the elevator as she got off. Then she headed for the stairwell.
“Fire hose compartment on your right,” Vanner said as she stepped into the stairwell. “Container under it.”
She pulled the plastic container out and had a moment’s trouble opening it. But when she did, a thick envelope fell out.
“Put the travellers’ checks back in,” Vanner said. “You can’t hold onto them with Boris searching your dress every time you go back.”
“You’re getting off on this, aren’t you?” Katya asked, slipping the checks into the box and replacing it.
“Only when you’re looking in a mirror, honey,” the former Marine said. “Seriously, you’re doing great.”
“Compliments get you nowhere,” Katya said, stepping back into the hallway. “But the Kildar had better come through with the money or he’s going to find out how badly I can scratch these days.”