KILTED DESIRE 2 - Russian Roulette (25 page)

Tom was still stunned but started to come around. It was
obvious he’d been drinking, a lot, and looked like he hadn’t had any sleep.”

“Did yer have a guid night, Tom?” Scott asked.

“No, not really.”

“Well I promise yer,
It’s
nae aboot
tae get any better.”

“It was business Scott. You know I like you, it was nothing
personal,” he said. He started to sober up, quickly.

“That’s bull, yer would nae sell someone oot fer money if
yer liked them. Nae matter how much it was.”

“How the hell did you get away?”

“Yer know me Tom, I’m resourceful. Hey Chris, I’ve got an
idea. Go
doon
and get Alexei. Bring him up here and
bring everything of ours oot of the van. We’re taking Tom’s car. It’s less
conspicuous. And take Alexei a shirt oot of his bag.”

Chris smiled and left the room. While Kyle sat on the couch
in the main room and listened.

“Come on Scott, let’s work something out, for old-time’s
sake,” Tom said, as he looked up.

Scott shook his head.

“So tell me Tom. When did yer decide tae do this, be
honest.”

“After I met his parent’s.
I asked
for a ridiculous amount of money and they easily agreed to it. They told me
about all their businesses and their family. I knew they had way too much
money. And I’d had enough of my job.”

“So yer called yer friends in Moscow! Yer never told me yer
Russian friends, were Mafia.”

“They weren’t when I originally met them. I found out much
later they’d got into this lifestyle. I called and mentioned what was happening
and they offered me money if I could get him to Moscow, and help to deliver a
ransom.”

“So, how did yer know Kyle would bite on the Tatiana scam?”

“We didn’t know for sure. But, he’s young and obviously naïve,
so there was always a chance. And if that failed then I’d have got him to
Moscow somehow.”

“Yer were getting a quarter of a million dollars fer a week’s
work! Was it really worth it?”

“I thought so at the time. You were never meant to come out
here Scott. I thought that they would just wire the ransom money.”

“But, then they’d have asked fer more. Yer know what these
people are like.
They would nae ever have let him go.
We just read a message saying there were people on the way tae take us all
somewhere else. Then, we’d have all ended up at some slave labor camp in
Siberia.”

“I don’t know anything about that. I just got ten percent of
any ransom they raised from his family. I thought they’d let him go. I wasn’t a
part of any of the other.”

There was a knock on the door. Scott asked Kyle to look
through the spy hole. It was Chris and Alexei so he let them in.

“Bring the laptop over here, mate.”

Chris moved towards Scott and sat down with the computer on
his lap.

“Bank account details Tom. We’re transferring yer payment
back.”

“No way!
That is my retirement
fund.”

Scott took the
Glock
out of his
holster and held it against Tom’s temple.

“I’ve killed three people in the last few hoors Tom. I have
nae problem in making yer number four.”

“Come on Scott, you’re not going to shoot me. I sat with you
in Baghdad talking to you when you were in a coma.”

“I know, that’s why yer still alive now. I’ll count tae five
then I shoot, I promise yer.”

“He said that tae a guy a few hoors ago and he only got tae
three afore he changed his mind and blew his brains oot. So, I’d make yer mind
up pretty quickly if I were yer,” Chris said, grinning sarcastically at Tom.

“One………two…..”

“Okay, let me see the computer,” Tom said, reluctantly.

Chris handed it to him. He sat on the floor and pressed buttons
for a couple of minutes, then looked at Scott.”

“I’m in, give me the account details and I’ll transfer it
back.”

Scott gave him the details and Tom performed the transfer.
Within a few minutes all of the money was returned to the Robinson’s account.”

“So, I’m left with nothing at all,” Tom said, frowning.

“Yer lucky I’m going tae let yer live, after what yer did.
Plus, I know yer were given fifty grand up front.”

“That’s virtually all gone.”

“Nae my problem Tom.
Chris, do yer thing
and make sure there’s nae trace of anything we did left on that computer. I
want nae trace that we were even here. The bank transfers, any maps or anything
we looked up. And make sure all that Mafia information is easily accessible.”

“Aye will do.”

“Keys, Tom. We’re taking yer car.”

“You are leaving me here?”

“Aye, what did yer expect?
Like I told yer.
Yer lucky tae be alive. I dinnae owe yer anything after what yer did.”

Tom handed over the keys. He was angry and started to get
aggressive.
Although, he was in no position to be doing so.

“So you did all this just because you’re screwing their
daughter, eh Scott?” Tom said, as he slowly got up to his feet.

“Quiet,” Scott responded.

“Are you seeing my sister? I thought you said you were a
friend of my Dad’s.”

“I met yer Dad first Kyle. Then, I met yer sister. And yes
I’ve been dating her fer a few weeks.”

“You’ve been doing more than dating. I know you!” Tom said,
sarcastically trying to cause trouble.

Scott moved close to Tom and without warning, punched him
violently on the side of the head. It was a stunning right hook, which rendered
Tom unconscious before he hit the floor. Scott wiped his prints from the
Glock
he had been using on his shirt, bent down and placed
it in Tom’s hand.

“Okay, let’s go. We have all of our things. Chris, leave
that laptop here.”

“What are you going to do with him? Kyle asked, looking down
at Tom.

“He’ll be oot cold fer quite a while. But, he’ll be fine.
When we get oot of the hotel we’ll call the police and tip them off aboot a
disturbance in this room. When they get here they’ll find the laptop with all
the Mafia information on it. Tom will have tae try and explain that, and why
he’s carrying that gun.”

“Guid idea, but what if the police that come are Mafia too?”
Chris asked.

“We’ll have tae take that chance. It
will
nae affect us, it’s now Tom’s problem. He deserves it.”

“Yeah, he does,” Alexei added.

“Come on, let’s go. Have we got everything we came with?”
Scott asked, looking around at everyone.

“Aye, were guid,” Chris replied.

Alexei and Kyle nodded and everyone walked towards the door,
leaving Tom’s motionless body lying in the suite.

Soon they were in the car and headed out of Moscow. Alexei
was driving and the roads started to get busy. Scott asked him to stop at the
first payphone that he saw so they could call the police. Alexei made the call.
He was the only one that spoke the language, so he was the obvious choice.
Scott told Alexei to say that he was in the hotel and heard gun shots and
screams coming from room 524, and that the police should come urgently. He did
and then hung up. He didn’t leave any other details. After a few minutes, they
were back on the move.

“Where should we be heading, Scott?”

“I dinnae want tae head tae the airport here, just in case.
It’s after seven. They could have found the bodies at the farm house. Who knows
who’ve they’ve called. There could be lots of people looking fer us by now,”
Scott replied, turning around to talk to his friend who was riding in the
backseat of the car with Kyle.

“It’s probably best tae drive oot of the country then. Dinnae
yer think?”

“Aye, Chris, that’s what I was thinking. I thought at first
tae maybe head
doon
South towards Alexei’s area, but
they may have thought aboot that.”

“Closest border tae the West is Belarus. Can we get across
there?”

“Aye, maybe.
But, again it’s
possible they’ll have someone watching fer us there. Plus, I’m nae sure aboot
the visa situation in Belarus. We dinnae want tae get tied up in red tape at
the border and have tae sit there fer a few hoors.” Scott stated.

“Latvia is the probably the next closest country, it’s North
West, I’d guess aboot three hundred miles.”

“Aye, I was thinking that. It’s a European Union country, so
I know we’d get in okay withoot a visa. Plus Alexei, would nae need one either.
I’m just nae sure whether Kyle would need one, having a U.S. Passport.”

I’m nae sure, Scott”

“Actually, I dinnae think he will. Aye, Latvia is going tae
be our best bet. I
doot
if they will think we’ll head
that way.”

It was decided that Latvia would be their destination. It
was a small country and Scott knew that its capital, Riga, had a decent size
international airport. They’d be able to safely get a flight from there.

As they left the streets of Moscow behind them, Scott knew
he needed to reach Tiffany and her parents. More than seven long hours had passed,
since their money would have disappeared from the account. He knew that she and
the others would be frantic. Plus, they would be concerned and confused when
the money mysteriously reappeared. With everything that transpired, he just
never had a moment or chance to call. Now, that they were on the correct road
that would lead them to Latvia, Russia’s M9,
Scott
finally
started to relax a little. He turned to Kyle.

“I’m going tae call yer family Kyle. I know yer Mom wants
tae talk tae yer.”

“Great, but first, can you tell me what has been going on?
Who was that guy in the room and how did he know so many things about me?”

“Och it’s a long story. Briefly, yer Mom and Dad were
worried aboot yer taking a trip tae Russia. So, they contacted me and asked me fer
some advice.”

“Why you?”

“One of yer Dad’s friends knows me. I recently looked after
his daughter in Iraq.”

“So, that is how you know my family. Who was that guy in the
hotel?”

“That was Tom Schultz. I advised yer parent’s that it would
be wise if yer had some form of protection on yer trip as yer were going tae an
unstable area.”

“Yeah, I remember them suggesting that. But, I told them no!”

“Aye, I know. That’s why we had Tom tail yer tae make sure
yer were okay. He is one of the people I have trusted the most and he was the
one who set yer up. I’m sorry Kyle, it’s my fault yer were in this mess.”

“My parent’s lied to me! And then went behind my back.”

“So, that Tom guy was watching Kyle and me all last week?!”
Alexei said, in shock.

“Aye, he was.”

“You didn’t say anything to me about that, Scott.”

“We’ll explain everything properly when we’re oot of here
safely. Just concentrate on the road, Alexei.”

“I can’t believe my parents did that. Why do they always
have to interfere?”

“They’re guid people, Kyle. They were just worried aboot
yer. They thought they were doing the reet thing and so did I. Dinnae be too
hard on them.”

“I know. It’s just irritating sometimes. I’m just really glad
to be going home. So, why did you send that Tom guy and not do it yourself?”

“I got badly injured last year. I’m nae in the best physical
shape at the moment.”

“Holy crap!
What are you like when
you’re in shape? It’s been like watching James Bond over the last few hours.”
Alexei said, briefly glancing at Scott and taking his eyes off the road. Chris
started to laugh, Kyle smiled too. But, he was still trying to work things out
in his mind.

“So, are you in the military or something?”

“I’m former British Special Forces, Kyle. Have yer ever
heard of the S.A.S.?”

“Yes, I have heard of it. But, I don’t know too much about
it.”

“Google it when yer get home. Chris is a former military man
too, from an elite unit.”

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” Kyle said, as he
looked at Chris.

“Dinnae worry lad. Yer’ll be haem soon,” Chris reassured
him.

“So, I’m calling yer family Kyle. Are yer ready tae talk tae
them?” Scott asked, pulling out his phone and turning it on.

“Yes, of course.”

Scott dialed the number. It only rang once before Tiffany
answered.

“Scott, is that you?”

“Aye Tiff, dinnae worry.
We have
Kyle, he’s safe and he’s unharmed. Although he does need a shave and he does
nae smell very guid.”

“Kyle’s safe!” Tiffany said, sounding relieved, obviously
talking to other people who were gathered around the phone. Scott heard lots of
screams and shouts from the other end of the phone before she continued
talking.

“What happened, Scott? I thought you were going to call as
soon as you had him. The money disappeared hours ago. We were all freaking
out.”

“I know, I’m sorry.
Things did nae
exactly go smoothly. But, we’re all okay.”

“Mom desperately wants to talk to Kyle. She’s going to have
a heart attack in a minute. Can you put him on so she can hear his voice?”

“Aye, here he is,” Scott replied, as he passed the phone
over to Kyle. The young man talked to various people for about ten minutes
before handing the phone back to Scott.

“My sister wants to talk to you.”