Page 28 of Puck

I glanced at Colbie. “Can you figure out our cross streets?”

She nodded. “Yeah. One sec.”

I went back to Ivar. “Hold on a minute and I can tell you.”

“Okay.”

Colbie trotted from the bench to the nearest intersection, and my eyes never left her—primarily to keep an eye on her and to make sure nothing untoward happened in the hundred-some feet from the bench to the corner, but also because her ass was phenomenal and because a woman running in heels was an incredible sight performing an incredible feat, if you asked me. She trotted back and I relayed the cross streets to Ivar.

“Ah. I know exactly where you are. How many of you are there, and are you safe there for the immediate future?” His English was impeccable, even smoother than Anselm’s.

“We’re at the park not far from the intersection. We’re safe for now, but Cain’s boys have a way of showing up unannounced. If they do show up, we’re gonna have to make tracks and fast,” I said. “There’re twenty of us.”

“Scheisse,” Ivar hissed. “That is a lot of people.”

“Don’t I know it, brother.” I heard a diesel engine roar and tracked the sound, but it was a city bus groaning and swaying to the next stop. “How much did Anselm tell you?”

“Enough. That you have stolen from Cain his human trafficking merchandise, and that you require assistance in Kiev.”

“One of the girls has a tracer in her, we’re relatively certain, so you can safely assume that wherever we go, they won’t be far behind.”

“I know someone who can neutralize that easily, although she operates out of Prague.” Ivar hesitated, thinking. “Twenty people, one chipped . . . are you armed?”

“Minimal. Two nines, a forty-five, and a forty, mag and a spare for each.”

“Not so much, considering. You will need more.” His cadence quickened, taking on the authority of someone who gave orders and was used to them being followed. “Remain where you are if at all possible—it is a good spot. If you receive company, dispose of them if possible. To attempt to elude them with so many extra bodies around is impossible. Can you split up if necessary?”

“Affirmative. Thirteen of the nineteen are unknowns. They were on the plane and I wasn’t gonna just leave ’em there. There are five girls who I cannot and will not separate from.”

“The thirteen, they are locals?”

“Negative. Assorted nationalities. Most are not native English speakers, and none of them are locals from what I can tell.”

“And you know nothing of their places of origin?”

“Most of them I can’t communicate with, so no. If you can have ’em dumped at a consulate or something, they can become someone else’s problem.”

“Nein, I have a better idea. I know someone who specializes in placing victims of trafficking in safe houses where they can be reunited with family if possible, or given a new life, if not.”

“Yeah, Anselm mentioned that human trafficking is a bit of a . . . ah, sore spot for you.”

“I have made it my personal mission to hunt down and end human traffickers. It is a vendetta for me. And this man, this Cain . . . he is a personal enemy of mine in particular. It was he, I believe, who was responsible for my sister’s kidnapping, enslavement, and death. I have sworn a blood oath that I will put a bullet in his skull.”

“Well, Ivar, you know what they say—the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and I wouldn’t mind putting a hole or seven in that piece ’o shit my own self.”

Ivar’s laugh was an icy rattle. “I believe we understand each other very well,HerrLawson.”

“Indeed we do, Mr. Krieg, indeed we do.”

“I am in the air as we speak. Your man Harris was able to secure a flight for me from Berlin.”

“ETA?” I asked.

“Less than two hours until landing, and perhaps twenty minutes after that to your location. I have ground transport arranged already in Kiev.”

“Sounds good. See you in a couple hours then, Ivar.”

“Jawohl.I look forward to our meeting.”