‘Da, this I am sure.’
She kissed the big man on the cheek and said. ‘I’ll go and see how supper is doing.’
The two friends sat down, and Bogdan said, ‘You are lucky man, boss. You have beautiful wife, beautiful family, beautiful home.’
‘Yeah, buddy, I know.’
‘So why you do the shit we do, Jack?’
It was rare for the Russian to call him by his name. Jack looked across at his friend and said, ‘Why do you do it?’
‘It doesn’t not matter for me. I have no family like you. Only Grigory, my brother.’
‘But you still haven’t said why you do it, big man?’
‘I guess it is who I am. This is why.’
Jack reached over and patted the big Russian’s shoulder. ‘Me too buddy. Me too.’
Nicole came back with a tray of drinks and said, ‘What’s going on here? You boys look very serious?’
Jack got up, took the tray, then kissed her. ‘Just talking, darling. Just talking.’
‘Supper will be ready in half an hour.’
Jack passed her a large glass of white wine and then handed Bogdan his beer. He picked up his Coke and said, ‘To us. Nostrovia.’
The following morning breakfast was served on the patio. The girls were giving Svetlana a hard time over having to go to nursery, wishing to spend the day with Uncle Bogdan instead. Nicole’s stern intervention convinced them it was time for nursery. That, and the promise from Daddy of special treats when they got home. More cuddles for Uncle Bogdan were given, then the twins reluctantly disappeared inside, quickly followed by a slightly red faced and harassed, Svetlana.
Jack and Nicole both asked Bogdan to stay for a few more days, but the big man was adamant he was heading home. ‘You must be with family, boss. I go back to Moscow. Will see you again soon.’
Bogdan’s flight was due to depart at 3pm, Jack said they should be there for midday, and would drive him to the airport. Much to the big Russian’s delight, Nicole also insisted she came to see him off as well.
At the Departures Gate, Bogdan almost crushed Jack’s still tender ribs, with his bear-hug. A decidedly gentler embrace was given to Nicole.
‘Thank you for looking after him, Bogdan. Come back and see us very soon. Da?’
The big man’s face beamed. ‘Da, for sure I come back. I have nieces now. Da?’
She kissed his cheeks.
He turned to Jack and they shook hands. ‘Dasvidanya, boss.’
‘Dasvidanya, my friend. God bless.’
As the big Russian walked through the doors he turned, gave a huge smile, and flicked a casual salute.
Chapter Fifty One
The chimes from the little church at the end of the street rang 6am. Rick Washington found it ironic, in a place as debauched as Pigale, the only sound in the morning came from a church. But then again, what better place to find souls to save.
The meeting with Madame Sofie had gone better than he’d hoped, and the twenty thousand dollars she’d asked for was less than he’d expected to pay, so he wasn’t too upset when the contact she’d arranged showed up a few minutes late.
‘You are the American?’
‘Yeah. You are, Daniel?’
The man was in his mid-thirties, handsome and very fit-looking. He was dressed casually, but not expensively. ‘Oui, monsieur, Daniel.’
‘Okay, good. Let’s go.’
They walked around the corner and along to the end of the street. The lights flashed on an old BMW.
The Frenchman said, ‘Ici, monsieur.’
Washington climbed in and looked around. ‘Is this thing gonna get us to the coast?’
The man winked and said, ‘Don’t let appearance fool you, American. This car will outrun most others.’
As the engine roared into life, Washington smiled.
At that time of the morning the traffic wasn’t too bad, and they managed to get out of Montmartre, along Rue Victor Hugo and across the Pont de Clichy, in less than thirty minutes. As they joined the A1 autoroute Daniel put his foot down. The big engine growled and the old BMW sped north at over 120 miles an hour. They entered the Calais Marina a few minutes before 9am.
Daniel parked the car and took a cold box and small holdall from the boot. Then they walked for about a hundred yards to one of the outer berths.
‘This is it,’ said the Frenchman.
Washington knew boats, and he was impressed with this one, a Bayliner 285 cabin cruiser. New, one of these would cost over sixty-thousand dollars. This one looked new.
‘Very nice. This is your boat, Daniel?’
The man shook his head as he untied the for’ard tether. ‘This is Madame Sofie’s.’
Washington stepped on board and said, ‘What the hell does she wants a boat like this for?’
Daniel turned, and said, ‘You think you are the first we take across the water, American?’
Washington smiled. ‘Right… You can get quite a few illegals on this baby.’
The young man gestured towards two large plastic cylinders, hanging between the hull and the dock. ‘Pull in the buffers, monsieur. We go now.’
The weather out in the Channel was reasonably calm, with a light swell and a warm wind from the south. Washington was surprised at the amount of shipping moving east and west in this narrow strip of sea.
From the cockpit Daniel shouted, ‘You want some food, American?’
‘Sure, what you got?’
‘In the cold box. There is baguettes, fromage et jambon. Fruit. In the galley you can make coffee. There will be beers in fridge also.’
‘This is almost First Class service.’
Over the roar of the engines Daniel shouted, ‘What you say, monsieur? I don’t hear.’
Washington shouted, ‘I said, do you want anything?’
‘Oui. Yes, a black coffee, s'il vous plaît.’
‘Okay. One black coffee coming up, captain.’
A few minutes later, Washington appeared in the cockpit with coffees and sandwiches. ‘How long to the coast?’
The Frenchman took the coffee and shook his head at the offer of a sandwich. ‘Calais to Dover direct, is about one hour in this. But we shall go a little to the east of Dover, between Dover and Folkstone. There is a small bay where we can arrive,’ he looked at his watch, ‘we will be there by ten-thirty.’
Washington nodded as he bit into his baguette, then said, ‘You will wait there for me to return?’
‘No monsieur, it is too risky with the Anglais. I will drop you there and return to Calais. I will be back here tomorrow morning, same time, ten-thirty. Same place. This is okay?’
‘Sure. I’ll be there. You know the guy who’s picking me up?’
‘Oui, monsieur. He is my cousin. He will drive you from the coast to your destination. And return when you wish.’
Washington spilled his coffee, as the boat bounced against the waves. ‘Shit.’
The Frenchman smiled at the accident. ‘You okay, American?’
‘Yeah. I’m okay.’
A little under an hour later the Bayliner slowed as it approached the Kent coast. Two hundred yards from shore Daniel dropped the anchor. ‘Okay. Ici, American.’
‘Can’t we get closer?’
The Frenchman didn’t answer. He went to the stern and lowered a small motor boat. A few minutes later, as he held the boat steady, he said, ‘Okay, monsieur, Let’s go.’
Washington climbed in, stumbling as the swell caught the small craft.
Daniel smiled. ‘You okay?’
‘I’m okay. Let’s just get the fuck ashore.’
A few minutes later they pulled into a tiny cove. As the bow cut gently into the sand, a man appeared from what looked like a small cave. ‘Daniel. Ça va?’