Chapter 3 - Wolfe on the Run
Ryan Wolfe crossed Clemente Park at a leisurely pace that did not betray his inner turmoil.
He knew exactly what he would do now, but he could not afford to make even the slightest mistake. A gut feeling told him, that someone followed in his steps. With a bounty of 2 Million. US Dollars it would have been surprising, if none of Ivan Sarnoff's henchman were already on the move.
He left Clemente Park and took a small side street that led to Old San Juan section of Wynwood, commonly known as "El Barrio". This was a shortcut to Miami's downtown business district and the BNP Paribas branch. He could have also taken the shortcut through Margaret Pace Park in the very heart of the city, but survival instinct told him, that the one that followed in his steps may be tempted to an easy assault and kill in the midst of lush, tropical greenery.
Wolfe knew perfectly well that at this very moment and in his diminished physical state he was not up for a fight. He had to bid time! His shadow would soon enough realise that it was not always possible to follow one's prey right into its den.
He smiled and gave his watch another discreet glance: The BNP would close in about an hour. He decided to make a quick stop at one of the small shops in "El Barrio" to buy a HOP 1800 disposable pre-charged cell phone for 10 Dollars together with a pre-paid SIM card. He had first seen these smart little cell phones when visiting his father and soon-to-be step mother over Christmas.
With no contracts, you just walk into a retailer and pick one of these phones up and use any SIM card, or purchase a pre-paid SIM card and pop it into the phones were the bare minimum with no memory card, or camera, or any fancy schmancy features. Not only did they lack all the features available on just about every phone on the market, they also lacked a screen. There was no LCD display screen of any kind on this curious phone, just a big speaker.
As even the dullest Russian mobster could imagine, this made it impossible to know who was calling or if you accidentally dialled the wrong number. Actually this phone was perfect for all those refusing to come out of the Stone Age and still have a landline phone with no caller ID.
He pushed the SIM into the HOP 1800 and dialled a number he'd learned by heart. In rapid French, he requested Business Class for the non-stop to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, gave the lady on the other end a passport and credit card number, requested a seat by the window and confirmed, that he would carry only hand luggage. This gave him another 30 minutes of time. The deal was quickly done and over and Wolfe retrieved the SIM card from the HOP 1800, broke it into fuor tiny pieces and dropped them discretely into a dustbin.
The shadow that followed him was close. He could literally feel the predator's eyes on his back. He took a sharp turn to the left, then another to the right and took the opportunity to jump nimbly into a Metrobus that was just about to close its doors.
He flipped the driver some coins, took his ticket and went immediately to the rear, a broad grin on his face. That would give "predator" a nasty bone to chew on. The next stop of the Metrobus was already in sight and Wolfe pushed the bell in order to get off the transportation and continue his way to the bank.
***
Alijosha Danilenko carried the last purchases of 'Babushka' into her cosy little house. She was already preparing tea and chattering along happily with her dog and cats. The Hispanic sweetie he had hired a couple of months ago to help Baba, clean the house and make the old woman comfortable gave him a smile and stretched her hands out to take one of the bags.
"You should have told me, Mister Alex!" She admonished Sarnoff's lieutenant with a smile. "Why do you carry all these heavy things alone!"
Alijosha laughed pleasantly:" Ramona, there is no problem with some bags. It is not your job to catch and carry....."
She replied with a soft chuckle. This job was really the very best thing that had happened to her in a long while.
Miss Marja was a kind and grateful old lady with no bad habits or vices and young Mister Alex paid her a very decent salary together with social security and even a small pension fund. He gave her money for transport, saw to the welfare of her two young brothers and always behaved like a perfect gentleman.
In exchange for his good graces he only asked of her to take good care of Miss Marja, the house and the pets and to keep her mouth shut. Not a big deal, when she compared him to all the other people she had been working for, since she'd managed to leave the poverty and despair of her Puerto Rican homeland.
Mister Alex did not even look at her in an inconvenient manner or make any of these disgusting allegations other employers have made to her.
"Come now! Marja Fejodorovna backed you a wonderful cake this morning. I have already set the table in the gardens and you must take some rest. I am sure that before taking her out, you have been working since sundown!"
Alijosha Danilenko smiled and gave in. He was a master of minds and once more he had made a perfect choice. Ramona Sanchez had been a good choice. He passed her the last remaining bag and went over to the garden table, she'd indicated. He was indeed a little bit fagged: The Wolfe Hunt had been most strenuous business!
He flung himself into a comfortable chair, gave a deep breath, took his cell phone from the pocket of his Gucci jacket and pushed the speed dial for Valodija Nevzorov: " How's going?" He asked in Russian as soon as the other man replied.
"Otlitshno! Timofeij is on his heels and Piotr has retrieved his duty cell and his SIG from the house. They are cleaning up the blood and other traces and I suggest that you launch your offensive on Lieutenant Caine. Piotr is on his way...."
Danilenko laughed: "Heavens, we will have fun with the Irish bastard and his boss. I wish Ivan were here to enjoy it all together with us."
"Do not worry Alijosha!" Nevzorov replied." I keep Ivan posted and he is waiting impatiently for 'Babushka Marja's weekly visit and his cake. I am sure your granny will be more then capable of slipping him the pretty photos of CSI Wolfe in our clutches. He will appreciate the nice work of Dimitrij Parfonovitsch.....!"
Danilenko blushed on the other end of the line. The nice work of Dimitrij Parfonovitsch had been a 12 hours non-stop torturing of CSI Wolfe in the gloomy premises of an abandoned factory the "bratstvo" owned for such purposes in the vicinity of the Everglades.
He had been a direct spectator of Wolfe's trial minus the stink of blood, sweat and fear. Everything was possible with IT and a good web cam and he was still desirous of throwing up, when thinking of the nightly showdown.
"Alijosha, Alijosha, my brother...." He heard Nevzorov laugh," I am fully aware that you do not like this kind of late night show......but consider: Ivan will enjoy!"
Danilenko closed his eyes for a moment. Yes, indeed. Ivan Sarnoff liked this type of muscle play in the same sense he liked gory movies like "Apocalypse Now" or "Saving Soldier Ryan", but this made it not easier for him to bear blood, sweat and tears.
He was a scientist and computer wizard, not a professional killer....he'd do everything for Ivan....if only Ivan would spare him seeing this type of bloodshed over and over again.
"Sorry, Valodija,..." He replied demurely," ....but you understand that I am a little bit partial...."
"Oh, forget about it, Alijosha! I am sorry that I had to inflict this gore upon you...I know, you do not like it..."
"Stop it, my friend! It is nothing...I will endure whatever is necessary to get Ivan out of Bunker Hill,. He is like a father to me. I cannot bear seeing him behind bars and in the clutches of these bastards."
Nevzorov gave a deep sigh. He did like Alexeij Danilenko and he was fully aware that the younger man was completely devoted to Ivan. He would try and give him a small break...."Listen, Alijosha," he said, "You do that job with Wolfe's boss and then I buy you a nice diner and you take a couple of days off from this whole business. I think that we can handle everything from now on thanks to your enquiries and investigations. And you come back, when you feel up to it..."
Danilenko shook his head. No, he was no coward and he would do whatever necessary to get Ivan out of Bunker Hill and Caine and his pack thoroughly punished for their deed. "Forget it Serguei! I do not need a break. We are in on this and we go together....to the end. I want Ivan back. That is all that matters."
Nevzorov nodded on the other side of the line. This was his boy! Alijosha the scientist and computer wizard was completely disgusted and in a state of turmoil, but Alijosha the 'brother' did not care for his feelings. His priority was the 'bratstvo and Sarneff....nothing else was important....They had made an excellent choice when Ivan decided to give the boy a legs up and helped him out of Russia!
***
Wolfe had left the Metro bus and was marching with speed and determination towards the BNP Parisbas branch. Still 25 minutes left before the French bank would close shop for the day. His beaten body was hurling with rage. The broken ribs were torment and the cuts on his chest and back were burning like fire. His weaker half yearned for a shower, some food and a cosy bed, but his stronger half -the stubborn Irish genes of his father- pushed him forward. He'd make it. He knew! He could not afford to allow his weaker side to win over. This was neither Boston University, nor the Police Academy nor some fool's game within CSI and Horatio's team. This was different and the prize to pay was neither academic honours, nor his reputation within the MDPD nor his job in the CSI.....the prize was his life and he would not willingly give it up.
He pushed the security button on the BNP Parisbas branch door and stepped inside. He gave a court smile to the receptionist and stated his business. As soon as he was with the deposit box manager, he showed his driver's licence and the small silvery key and followed the man down to the basement and the deposit boxes. It took Wolfe hardly 5 minutes to gather his Irish EC Passport on the name of Ryan-Padraig Wolfe-O'Briain, the US Dollars and Euros in cash, the French Visa credit card and a key to a locker at Miami's AMTRAK bus station.
He replaced the items with his US IDs, the empty HOP 1800 disposable cell phone and his MDPD ID and closed the safe deposit box. Then he left BNP Parisbas Miami branch and hurried to the close-bye AMTRAK bus station were a readily prepared hand luggage waited for him in a locker.
He had one hour and 30 minutes before the Air France 95 direct from MIA to Charles de Gaulle Airport would take off. He could afford to arrive 30 minutes before the flight would close down. He had to make it through Customs and security checks...his schedule was tight, but he he'd manage....manage without being seen and without leaving whatsoever traces for the ones like Ivan Sarnoff's henchmen and his very own colleagues of the CSI Miami!