Page 40 of Canyon of Deceit
THIRTY-NINE
THERESE
My stomach had been threatening to unload for hours, and hearing Major Montoya refer to the investigation like juggling chain saws made me want to run to the ladies’ room.
Not sure the acid rising in my throat came from the horrendous crimes or the ache from Falin’s kidney punch.
Lack of food, my war-torn body, and attempting to replenish my body’s water supply made me envy an ostrich with its head in the sand.
I glanced at Blane. Part of my turmoil came in his declaration of faith. I didn’t want this to be a deathbed conversion.
“We want to hear everything you’ve learned,” I said to Major Montoya.
He held up a finger. “Some info is confidential.” He stepped closer. “Jurg Falin has a larger role in the ROC than we originally believed.”
“In Houston or deeper?” Blane said.
“Overall. One of the top kingpins. Ruthless. Highly intelligent. For him to negotiate the deal with Chandler says Falin was either ready to eliminate him or concerned the ROC might be cheated.”
“Or both,” I said.
Major Montoya nodded and turned away as though he wrestled with info. “Intel shows he had an ongoing affair with Daria Ivanov in Russia and here once Rurik and Daria moved to Houston.”
I shuddered. “Used her to get to Rurik, then killed her?”
“Apparently. She must have outlived her value. Like Chandler. At this point we have no evidence of Rurik’s involvement in the ROC here or in Russia. What we do know is Rurik has ties to Falin—a warped friendship. We’re awaiting confirmation on what looks like Daria’s remains.”
“Not sure why Falin didn’t pull the trigger on me.” I shook my head. “When I feel better, I’ll try to make sense of it.”
Blane gasped and apologized. I despised the pain he endured. “Rurik is caught in the middle of two powerful men. One betrays him, kills his wife, and kidnaps his daughter. The other betrays Russia and is on the run.”
“And what does he know about both of them?” Major Montoya leaned on one leg. “Or is he on neither side?”
Had Rurik lied to us? “How is Rurik holding up?”
“Quiet. Depressed. Not eating or talking. Holed up at his home. The FBI agents working his protective duty monitor his calls. Around two o’clock this morning, someone tossed a rock through his living room window.
Falin must have made demands, or Rurik would be dead.
Problem is, he won’t confess to what the ROC wants from him. ”
“Work with them to find Edik Baranov,” Blane said. “Seems too simple.”
“What skill or info does the ROC need from Rurik?” Major Montoya paced the area.
“Falin’s mission is to eliminate Baranov and his wife and son, and he has the big guns to make it happen.
Intel indicates the Russian government has pressured Falin to follow through with the assassinations. If he doesn’t, they will demote him.”
Blane cast his gaze behind the major, clearly in think-mode. “I understand you can’t tell us if he’s in Houston, but it sure sounds like he’s there.”
Major Montoya maintained a stoic profile, which told me more than if he’d staunchly denied Baranov’s location.
Blane nodded. “Or he hasn’t arrived.”
“I’m not FBI.”
The major held a high office in the Texas Rangers. He had the whole story, and he was keeping it confidential. I expected no less.
“What else can you tell us?” Blane said.
“Rurik’s deceased wife, Alina’s mother, was Jurg Falin’s half sister.”
“Blood, money, and politics,” Blane said.
His words sunk in. “Could be why Alina is alive.”
Major Montoya nodded. “Apparently, Falin and his half sister were close, and he was with her when she died.”
“He’s still a killer,” I said. “While the blood connection might be his hesitancy to kill Alina, I don’t doubt he’d do it.”
“Especially with the high stakes and Russian pressure.” Blane studied me. “Laser weapons are useless without the activation chips.”
I inhaled sharply to manage the pain in my back and side. Drat Falin and his kidney punch. “Why not sell everything needed at the same time?”
“Multiple reasons,” Major Montoya said. “Per the manufacturer, the modular design of the laser-system components increases its security and versatility while serialized pairing chips are to prevent unauthorized use. Plus a seller or distributor of the technology wouldn’t want to accept the risk of storing all the required components in one place.
Seems to me the ROC have been double-crossed and thought they had a complete package.
Once they determined pieces were missing to make the laser weapons function, they had to make different connections. ”
Blane dragged his tongue across his lips. “If there was anything of value in the cave, it’s gone.”
“And Alina?” I said. “Do you have any updates on her whereabouts? The last time I saw her, she was wearing the ballerina necklace.”
“A text on the way here said the FBI followed up on a report of a private helo landing in a field near Baytown. By the time they arrived on scene, the site had been vacated. Agents snapped a few pics of the aircraft’s contrail marks and the vehicle’s tire tracks, but nothing caught their attention.
Rangers and FBI are investigating the area. ”
“I want to believe he’s keeping her alive as a bargaining tool.” I peered into Blane’s face, but nothing readable crossed his features.
The major’s phone buzzed with a text, and he snatched it from his pants pocket.
He read the message and huffed. “A Ranger found Alina’s necklace near tire marks of a directional tire tread pattern, which indicates a vehicle has good road-holding capabilities.
The chain on the necklace had been broken as though yanked off.
Once the investigators are finished with it, I’ll make sure I return the necklace to Rurik. ”
“She’s somewhere in the Houston area...” I said. “According to Alina, Falin and Chandler argued about killing or selling her. The problem is, she can testify that Falin, her uncle, placed her in a dangerous position.”
“Ms. Palmer, it will be a miracle if the little girl survives.” Major Montoya’s sober expression said more than his words. “Remember, you can identify him too.”
Rising nausea and fury tore through me. “I’m not worried about me, but I refuse to believe she’s lost until her body is recovered.”
“We need to be prepared.”
I nodded but didn’t comment. Reality often hit hard.
“Therese, you’re extremely pale,” Blane said. “The hospital’s doing their best, but—”
“I’ll be all right.” I stood on wobbly legs and Major Montoya steadied me. The man appeared to be made of bricks. “The ER will get to me soon enough. But I’m a bit nauseous.”
“I’ll walk you to the ladies’ room.” Major Montoya wrapped his arm around my waist, and together we moved down the hall to where I’d find relief. “I’m staying outside the door. Alert me if I should get a nurse.”
I thanked him. Inside, I locked the door. Within seconds, my body emptied of what had made me sick. A few minutes later, I inwardly fumed. Rats. Blood in my urine.
“I’m okay,” I said through the closed door. I washed my face covered with dirt and dried blood. A nasty purple bruise on my cheek and a near-black eye gave me ghoulish color. Not a way to make friends.
Stiffening my shoulders, I unlocked the bathroom door and smiled at Blane’s boss. “I’ll live.”
“I had no doubts. Were you kidney punched?”
“How did you guess?”
“Years of experience. Let’s get you back to a chair.”
“Keep my injury to yourself. Blane will worry about me.”
“He cares about you more than a friend. Hasn’t dated anyone since you showed him the door.”
“Our relationship has changed. He’ll tell you, I’m sure.”
The major chuckled. I hooked my arm in his and hobbled back to Blane.
An hour later, doctors met with him, treated his infection, and casted his arm.
The concussion required the most attention, especially when he vomited during the examination.
I wanted to leave the hospital and fly home, but Blane and Major Montoya insisted I see a doctor, so we waited another hour.
We received antibiotic prescriptions and pain meds, the latter I didn’t plan to take.
The major arranged a flight home to Houston for later in the day. “I’m accompanying you. Wouldn’t want you to frighten the passengers. I’ll contact Rurik with the latest.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Home sounds good.”
“We look like Bonnie and Clyde after the final shoot-out,” Blane said. “I don’t care though. Sorta like the beat-up look.”
I glared at him. “Speak for yourself. Makeup won’t cover this face.”
“You’re gorgeous just as you are.”
“Your concussion is talking.” I could sleep in the trunk of a car. As it happened, I slept on Blane’s shoulder from the time we boarded an afternoon flight until Major Montoya nudged us awake. What about Alina? Had the poor child been able to rest? Once we landed, I must talk to Rurik...