Station Alpha: (Soldiering On #1) (10 page)

Chapter 12

Mandy tapped her pen against the desk in increasingly rapid touches. Tck tck tck tck. She glanced at her desk phone, sitting silently on the neatly ordered space of her desk. Her frog ornament stared at her judgmentally, dismayed that she was letting her nerves show.

When Duncan had set up this meeting with the Vovks, she had thought he’d been planning to talk to them. But, instead, he had insisted that she be the one, since she was the ‘people person’ between them. Mandy was not entirely sure what he meant by that, but she was certain that it was meant to be an insult.

Given what they had found out about the Vovks’ history with the Disiks—particularly all those assault charges that had been levelled at them and never stuck—Mandy had no desire to be alone in a room with any member of the Vovk family. For the first time in her life, she could say sincerely that she wished Duncan would be next to her, if only to glare at them in that intimidating way he did when he was truly furious with someone.

He hadn’t made any indication he intended to be there, though. He somehow expected her to convince these businessmen-slash-thugs to tell her what she wanted to know.

Simple.

Duncan had always had a skewed impression of her work and value to the company. She supposed it was flattering that he believed she could manipulate these people better than he could, but she had a suspicion that Duncan considered this her punishment for talking him into taking these people on as clients in the first place.

She hadn’t met them prior to today. Duncan had taken that client meeting, an unusual occurrence, and Mandy had only read their file after the fact. She could admit to herself that she may have been a little overzealous in implying that Duncan had to accept the family as clients, but she had good reason. Duncan was a bleeding heart, and wanted to take any job for the underdogs and victims, regardless of their ability to pay. Usually that ability hovered around the ‘not a chance’ mark.

Mandy, on the other hand, wanted clients with more cash at their disposal. The company would fail without them, simple as that. And if there was one thing that Mandy could not allow to happen, it was this company’s downfall. She’d given up too much, had too much riding on this venture to see it crumble.

And she wouldn’t be able to bear her father’s smug face if she ever had to tell him that her rebellion—as he saw it—had failed. Just like he’d predicted.

The door swung open. Mandy jumped, her pen clattering out of her hand. But it was only Duncan, slinking into the room like a thief in a mansion.

“They just parked downstairs. You know what to do?” He’d had a haircut recently, trimming his dark hair even closer to his skull. He ran his hand over it now, his skin only a shade lighter than his black hair, as if familiarising himself with the feel. But Mandy had known him long enough that she knew it was a gesture of nerves and frustration.

Mandy nodded, though her gut was a mess of knots. He’d explained what he wanted from them earlier, and said he trusted her to get it from them. God knows why. Most days he didn’t trust her to open their mail.

“Good. I’ll be the muscle. Just pretend I’m not here.”

So, he’d come to back her up after all. She hid a smile behind her fingers.

In no time at all, Gladys, their secretary, was announcing her two o’clock and the Vovks showed themselves in.

They were an attractive family, the father, son, and daughter that had turned up today. The two children must have been somewhere in their thirties, though good genes meant they could pass for a decade younger. The only thing that betrayed the father’s true age was his naturally grey hair. His trim figure implied self-mastery even into his sixties.

All three wore suits; crisp, expensive, and, Mandy suspected, tailor-made. The two men had their hair slicked back from their faces, the daughter had her long hair bound in a ponytail from which no errant strands escaped. The three of them formed the perfect picture of intimidating business-people, and familial solidarity.

Something clicked inside Mandy. A honed instinct from years of dealing with similar sharks. She could deal with these people. They weren’t thugs, they were slick corporate leaders. And that was exactly the territory where Mandy belonged.

“Have a seat,” she told them with a smile.

The two men took the comfortable lime-green chairs across from her. Darinya, the daughter, shot the two of them a contemptuous look as she settled on the black office chair with a short back. Anatoli, the father, appeared not to notice. Klim, her brother, raised a challenging eyebrow at her, but said nothing.

“You have news of the girl?” Anatoli asked. His words were accented, but it was clear that he’d lived in the United States long enough that his English was perfect.

“Yes,” Mandy told them. She could feel Duncan’s solid presence behind her, giving her strength. But she didn’t dare look.

“Did she meet someone? Hand them something?” Klim, this time. Darinya was silent, watching the proceedings with narrowed eyes.

“Tell me about your relationship with the Disik family,” Mandy said, ignoring their questions.

Anatoli practically spat. “What is the relevance of those cretins?”

“Papa…” Darinya began warningly.

“You know what they are like, always spreading lies about us.” Anatoli turned to Mandy. “If they have come to you, do not trust what they say. They are without morals. And brutal.”

Klim shifted in his chair. Mandy carefully noted his discomfort and moved on.

Anatoli’s anger hid something deeper. She watched him, until she saw the shift in his eyes. He was afraid of Disik. Interesting.

“Why did you really hire us to watch Ms. Ramirez?” she asked, filing away the information.

Anatoli pursed his lips and sat back in his chair. “I don’t know what you mean.” His words were tight and untruthful.

“It has become clear to us that you left out some pertinent information when hiring us, such as your long, contentious history with Ms. Ramirez’s new employers.”

Darinya cut in, her expression cool. “We told you precisely what you needed to know in order to complete the simple task that we hired you for.”

She felt more than heard Duncan shift behind her, his annoyance radiating at her back.

“Which we were doing, until one of our employees had to intervene when Ms. Ramirez was attacked and nearly killed.” She paused. “Twice.”

All three of the Vovks sat up straighter, their eyes riveted on her. “Attacked you say?” Anatoli was the first to speak. “By whom?”

“Are you sure you don’t already know the answer to that question?”

Anatoli’s lips curled up in a snarl. “Whatever that bastard Disik told you, we are not thugs, beating people in the night. We are business people.
Legitimate
business people.”

Klim rolled his eyes. “You’d be better off looking at the Disiks. They are just the sort to attack their own employees.” One of his hands gravitated unconsciously to his ribs, and Mandy had the impression that he’d been on the receiving end of one of those attacks in the past.

Darinya fixed her gaze on Mandy. “Did her attackers say anything to her? Ask her any questions?”

Mandy almost shivered at the ice in the woman’s stare. “I’m not sure I should divulge that information.”

Darinya scoffed. “You are still under our payroll, with a contract stating that you will inform us of any contact that Ms. Ramirez has with any persons.”

Mandy raised a brow. Darinya must be in the legal department.

She pulled a random piece of paper out of the stack next to her and glanced at it. “Actually, the contract states that should she meet with any persons that we would inform you. Being attacked by an unknown assailant is not meeting them.”

Darinya eyed her. Mandy smiled.

Anatoli shifted forward on his chair. “We are just concerned about her,” he said with a studied earnestness. “We wish to know why she was attacked. I would feel awful if it was because of us.”

Duncan grunted, and Mandy had the sneaking suspicion that he was holding back a laugh. She was tempted herself, as Anatoli was laying it on a little bit too thick, but she schooled her face into the familiar cool mask.

“Are you saying that you are responsible for Ms. Ramirez’s attack?” Mandy asked.

“No!” Anatoli sounded scandalised. Instinct told her that this was the most honest thing he’d said since he’d walked into the room. Interesting.

“Do you know who did?”

Anatoli shook his head. “Where is she?”

Mandy hesitated, wondering at the question.

“I mean…” Anatoli began with a smile. “I want to make sure she’s safe. I feel responsible for her.”

“You can be assured that she is safe.”

Anatoli narrowed his eyes at her response, then turned away, frustration radiating from him.

Klim leaned forward this time, fixing her with his sparkling eyes and what he no doubt thought was a charming smile. “Listen, Mandy. Can I call you Mandy?”

“Ms. Lennox is fine,” she replied.

The warmth in his eyes chilled slightly, but he persevered. “Ms. Lennox. All we really wish to know is whether this Ms. Ramirez has certain information that might be of use to us. We have no wish to hurt her. In fact, it would be against our best interests to do so.”

Ah, finally, some truth as to their real motivations. “And you could not just ask her about the information?”

He sat back. “We wanted to know if she had anything of value to us first. It would help in any negotiation that we might have to make.” He sniffed.

Darinya shot her brother a glare. “Klim,” she hissed warningly.

Klim rolled his eyes. His lack of respect for his sister was clear. He slipped another notch in Mandy’s estimation.

“Why is Christine the only way you can get to this information? Surely there are other methods.”

Mandy waited while the Vovks looked at each other, some silent communication passing between them.

It was Anatoli who eventually spoke. “Given our experience, we believe that we would put ourselves or our people in danger if we were to pursue…other methods of acquiring the information. If it must be done, we will. But Christine would be the safest path. For everyone.”

Well. That was an interesting response.

Darinya cleared her throat. Mandy assumed from the looks that she was throwing her father that the older man had said too much. She turned to Mandy. “I’m sorry we couldn’t be of more help, but we really should be going. I’m sure you understand.”

Mandy nodded. “I do. As I am sure you will understand when I tell you that we must terminate the contract with you. We won’t be able to complete the assignment.”

Darinya’s jaw tightened, but she nodded.

“And the fifty percent upfront payment is non-refundable,” Mandy continued. Darinya glared but gave an even less enthusiastic nod in response.

All five of them stood up. Mandy walked them to the door while Duncan stayed behind the desk. Klim sauntered out first, Darinya next, leaving Mandy hovering by the door with Anatoli. He beckoned her closer. As she was taller than him in her heels, she tilted her head down to hear as he whispered. She caught sight of Duncan’s glowering expression before Anatoli spoke.

“There is bad blood in that Disik family. Don’t you trust their lies.” He stepped back and Mandy straightened. Anatoli gave her a nod, then Duncan, before he stepped out to join his children.

Mandy shut the door, locking them out. She sagged back against it, eyeing Duncan.

“So, what did you think?”

“The dad seems to have a massive hate-boner for the Disiks, but he seemed genuinely shocked by the fact that Christine was attacked.”

“I agree. But he doesn’t just hate the Disiks. All that anger stems from fear.” Duncan’s brow rose in what looked like admiration. Mandy hurried on. “My instinct tells me that Anatoli, at least, isn’t responsible for Christine’s attack.” She paused, thinking over the meeting. “However, I wouldn’t put it past either of his children to work behind his back.”

Duncan grunted in agreement. “They seemed slippery.”

“It’s clear that Christine has information that they want.”

“Or at least, they think that she does.”

Christine inclined her head in acknowledgement. “They think that whoever attacked her also wants the same information.”

Light sparked in Duncan’s eyes. “Ah, that’s interesting.”

“We have to tell Christine, see if she knows what the information could be.”

“I’ll call her and Paul. Let them know the outcome.” He began moving towards her. Mandy was startled until she realised that she still leaned against the door. She scooted to the side.

“How are they holding up?” she asked.

Duncan paused. “I don’t know about Christine, though from when I’ve talked to her she seems to be holding up really well. I do think that Paul is having a great time.”

Mandy frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well, he’s living with a beautiful woman, playing the hero. Most men would enjoy that, but for Paul…” Duncan shrugged. “I think it’s good for him.”