Chapter 11
"That sounds a bit messy for my liking."
I kept my gaze fixed on the road as the countryside flashed past. We were driving through Kosovo, on our way to the border with Serbia. Peregrine was sat with her feet up on the dashboard, her laptop resting on her knees. I had given her a disapproving look when she had put her battered sneakers on the new interior of the car, but she had just shot me a sarcastic glance back. Now we were nearing our destination she was filling me in on the intel she had gathered from Catanzaro. She didn't have an exact location for the Doctor we were trying to find, just someone who might know where he was. That someone just happened to be a particularly infamous Serbian gangster known as the 'Iron Maiden'. It was a tenuous link, and I was a little annoyed she hadn't told me this sooner, but then I realised it was probably because she thought I would have left her somewhere first rather than take her into such a dangerous situation.
She was right; when Perry had mentioned the person we had to meet I immediately started running through possible locations I could drop her off at. Unfortunately, none of those locations were far enough away to be completely Peregrine proof. She would find a way to be involved no matter what now.
"Well, please share if you have any better ideas." Her words were slightly obscured by the lollipop she currently had jammed in her mouth. I took a moment to glance at her screen, the blueprints for the nightclub we were heading to were displayed there. She watched me as I scanned the information before looking back out the windscreen.
"Once we're over the border we'll stop and plan this properly." I saw her scowl at me in my peripheral vision.
"I still think striking while we're not completely surrounded by agency operatives is the best idea." I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. Ever since the incident on the ferry she had been an argumentative mood with me. I guessed my mistake had made her more confident with me, like it showed I was human too. She was wrong. Whatever had happened back there had been a blip, an anomaly I couldn't explain, I wouldn't let my emotions distract me like that again.
"Peregrine, regardless of how clever you are I have been doing this a lot longer than you. So I think we'll follow my lead on this." My tone held no room for argument. I heard her huff in annoyance as she turned her attention back to her laptop. We continued on in silence, Perry's frustration at me radiating off of her, but I preferred it this way. I didn't want her getting too close to me, especially with so many threats around. I needed to be working at my best.
The Serbian border welcomed us after another hour of steady driving. I slowed and joined the small queue waiting to be checked. Perry and I settled into the now familiar routine of preparing the car for customs. Wordlessly we concealed the laptop and my silenced pistol, and readied our counterfeit passports for inspection. Perry was doing a good job at maintaining her grudge with me; she hadn't looked at me since I shot down her plan. I watched her now as we waited for the Serbian border official to get to our car. She was sat with the camera bag I had given her clutched to her chest, staring pensively out of the window; probably in an effort to avoid eye contact with me.
I had watched her with the camera on the few breaks we had taken on our journey here. I realised I had never seen her using one in her old profession as a newspaper photographer. Her whole demeanor seemed to calm, a quiet focus coming over her whenever she looked through the viewfinder. I found it fascinating to watch her, and had been interested to see she always held her breath before pressing the shutter to steady her hands. Just like a sniper.
The border official had reached our car, I lowered the window and handed my passport over.
"ваш пасош молим." Your passport please, he instructed Perry holding out his hand. I knew she didn't speak Serbian but she got the gist, and handed it over. The official was a confident looking man, someone who revelled in the power he had in his job. I watched him closely as he examined our counterfeit documents.
"сте овде послом?" Are you here on business? He didn't look up as he asked us, I didn't like the way he was lingering on Peregrine's passport.
I kept my voice polite and calm as I answered him smoothly in Serbian, "Да, ја сам новинар и она је мој фотограф." Yes, I am a journalist and she is my photographer. The official looked up at me finally, his eyes narrowing slightly at my statement. He leant down to get a better look at Perry, there was something about the way he leered at her that I really didn't like.
"Новинари? Уверите се да припази на свог пријатеља тамо. Сиријци су парцијални да преговарање за њихове приче." Journalists? Make sure you keep an eye on your friend there. Serbians are partial to bargaining for their stories. Perry looked at the official blankly, her eyes flicking to me, unaware of his threatening words. I bristled visibly, my lip curling as I gave him the full force of my most piercing stare. He locked eyes with me as he felt me burning him with my gaze. His confident air disappearing almost instantly.
"Ми ћемо бити у реду, хвала." We'll be fine, thanks. My voice was quiet, and the official hurriedly handed back our passports, waving us through. I stared straight ahead as I drove over the border, my hands gripping the wheel so hard I was surprised I hadn't broken it. I could feel Peregrine's eyes on me, a nervous look on her face.
"What was all that about?" Her voice broke as she tried to break the tense silence between us.
"Nothing." I answered curtly, then feeling her shift uneasily I breathed out to calm myself. "We'll stop shortly and discuss the plan." I shot a look at her, making sure my expression was softer than before. She relaxed and gave me a small, apologetic smile. After that heated encounter with the border official, I was adamant I didn't want her following me into that nightclub.
…
The base music thumped up through the floor and into my chest. Multiple bodies danced in every bit of space in the packed room, the low lighting and strobe effects obscured my vision as well. I hated places like these, my senses were overload with unnecessary information. Finding and isolating my targets in these environments always proved problematic.
"Celina Petrovic, otherwise known as the 'Iron Maiden' usually arrives at her club with a hefty entourage. She will likely do a circuit of the floor before camping in the VIP area near the back for the rest of the night, meeting other criminals and patrons looking for favours." It felt like a long time since I had last heard my handler's familiar voice in my ear. After a lot of persuading I had convinced Perry to resume her traditional role of assisting me from a distance, rather than accompanying me into the club. It had been a long and arduous conversation, and I was pretty sure she wasn't going to forgive me anytime soon but I didn't care. Celina was an unpredictable and notoriously violent individual; I couldn't have Perry distracting me.
I scanned the room, taking in the exits and possible areas I could find myself trapped. It wasn't a large club only one room with a roped off VIP area at the back, but it was extremely busy. It made for a perfect storm of a cramp, dark space filled with potential collateral damage. I was thankful I wasn't preparing to eliminate her, as even I would have struggled to do it discreetly here. I was stood on a slightly raised platform near the entrance, where the bar was located. I had a good view of the club and there were fewer people around me, giving me chance to assess the place. I wasn't sure if this was down to the dance floor being more popular or just my intimidating appearance. People tended to avoid me unless I was deliberately trying to appear friendly; I liked it that way.
"There's not much in the way of private rooms here." Perry was reading my mind again; I could hear her typing. "The VIP area has two cameras on it. I think we're going to have to take the direct approach with this." She was right, this wasn't a hit, this was an interrogation. Gaining access to the VIP area and Celina was the only way I was going to get the intel we needed.
There was a sudden commotion near the rear of the club and my eyes automatically focused in on it. The floor of dancers parted as a large crowd of people entered from behind a curtain. I noted the location of the hidden doorway as my eyes followed them across the room. It was Celina, surrounded by her heavily armed bodyguards; I counted five of them. There was also a thin, twitchy looking man with thick-rimmed glasses next to her, and a young girl wearing a hoodie and jeans. The group made their way over to the bar not far from my location. I made sure to turn slightly so that Perry could see the group as well.
"Yeah, that's definitely her." I heard her murmur. The 'Iron Maiden', as she liked to be known, didn't suit her name at all. She was a tall, elegant looking woman, with long blonde hair artfully styled. She wore a stylish floor length dress, which looked out of place in this setting. She smiled charmingly at the bartender who appeared very nervous at the appearance of his boss. I quietly moved so I was close enough to hear what was being said to the terrified man.
"Вече Сергеј, верујем да је све како би вечерас?" Evening Sergei, I trust everything is in order tonight? Sergei gave her an uneasy smile back, I watched as she ordered drinks for her entourage. The twitchy guy looked around as if afraid of something, I wasn't sure what to make of him, he didn't belong in this environment. He looked more like an accountant than someone who mixed with Serbian gangsters. I stayed still, my eyes following the group as they left the bar and weaved in amongst the dancers heading towards the VIP area. Celina would stop and talk to someone every now and then.
I took a few steps towards the dance floor as they neared the roped off section at the back of the club, I had a plan but I was unsure whether it would get me noticed in the right way by my target. Celina sat in the middle of the VIP area, staring out over the dance floor, controlling her domain. Her collection of bodyguards positioned themselves around the edge, stopping anyone getting too close. These kinds of people rarely intimidated me, it was always the ones that looked the least threatening that you had to keep an eye on. Speaking of which the thin, nervous man sat to Celina's right. She leant in and whispered something into his ear, he nodded vigorously and got up, leaving her sat with the young girl and the biggest of the bodyguards.
I stepped down off the platform and began making my way steadily towards them. I kept my eyes locked onto them as I weaved through the crowded space. As I watched the young girl took out a laptop and balanced it on her knees, she reminded me of Perry a little with her hoodie and tattered jeans.
"What's she up to?" Peregrine's question sounded in my ear, I knew she was talking to herself rather than to me as usual. I was nearly at the roped off area, I could see the bodyguards near the entrance eyeing me up already. I would have to be careful if I didn't want to start a fight in the packed club. My plan was to pose as a potential client, seeking Celina's help. She was renowned for assisting people when they had nowhere else to turn, or no funds to their name. Very similar to what Perry did online in her spare time I thought, except Celina expected something in return, naturally. Her methods for getting payment were infamously violent and unorthodox, even by gangster's standards. Perry had informed me that Celina knew the Doctor we were after due to her using him for black market organs. Judging by the reason we were looking for him, I had a funny feeling he was acquiring these organs from clones. That was my way in, posing as someone after medical help from her Doctor friend.
I had reached the VIP area, and the two bodyguards in front of me were glaring at me menacingly. I stared back blankly, preparing to give them request for their boss.
"Не прилази." Don't come any closer. One of the guards held up his hand, a nasty sneer twisting his mouth. But before I could open my mine to tell him what I wanted, Celina called out from behind them in a high, clear voice.
"Ко је наш пријатељ? Пусти га, он изгледа изгубио." Who is our friend? Let him in, he looks lost. I raised an eyebrow at the guard as he ground his teeth in frustration, letting me through.
"Well, well, that was easier than expected." Perry chirped in my ear as I made my way towards the gangster sat watching me with cat like eyes as I approached. I wanted to warn her that it was usually the easiest looking jobs that turned out to be the most dangerous, but I was too close to Celina and her cronies to not draw attention. I gave her a broad smile as I came to stand in front of her. She wouldn't see it didn't quite reach my eyes; no one ever did apart from Perry. She gave me her charming one back, it did reach hers but with a hint of something I couldn't place.
"Hello there, I haven't seen you before." Her English was impeccable, but she had a thick Serbian accent. I raised an eyebrow at her, quizzically.
"How did you know I wasn't Serbian?" Her smiled widened at the sound of my voice.
"I was not sure, but you do not have the air of someone who has lived here." She winked at me and I saw her glance up and down before giving me an appreciative look. I was aware some woman found me attractive; I used it in my favour when the situation required. This might be one of those times I thought as Celina patted the space next to her that her nervous companion had vacated earlier. "Come, I do not bite." She winked at me, and I slowly sat down. The young girl with the laptop glanced up at me briefly before resuming her typing. I noticed now she had dark skin and close cropped hair, I frowned slightly I had seen her somewhere before.
My assessment of her companion was cut short as Celina leant in blocking my view of her. "So what can I help you with handsome." She was conventionally beautiful I noticed, not that these things mattered to me, but I could tell she was used to getting her way with men. I decided to play along and see how far I could get before she got suspicious.
"I'm need of some assistance Miss Petrovic." She tapped me playfully on the arm and I felt her head bodyguard stiffen next to me at the contact. I glanced at him coolly, he was heavyset and very muscular but I was quicker and stronger than I looked so I was in no doubt I could overpower him if need be. It was more the number of bodyguards in such a confined space that bothered me, I would do my best to get this intel peacefully.
"No, call me Celina." I turned my attention back to her, she was pulling a coy face at me. I responded with a customary smile, she laughed and sat back again, crossing her legs suggestively. I heard Perry snort in my ear and for the first time realised she was no longer typing, she was watching.
"Well, we all know what she's after don't we." Her tone was biting and I struggled to suppress my annoyance at her interruption.
"What can I assist you with then Mr-?"
"Rieper, Tobias Rieper." The young girl next to her suddenly looked up as I said my alias and stared at me. I didn't like the way she looked at me, as if she knew me but I couldn't place where I recognised her face. I narrowed my eyes infinitesimally at her, this was very unlike me, I could usually recall someone easily. Celina didn't notice her companion's sudden interest in me and let me continue. "I am coming to you on behalf of someone else. They are in dire need of an organ transplant, but as you are probably used to, they are unable to pay." She nodded, a knowing smile stretching her face.
"Of course. I am well known for helping poor souls like your friend. However, I must stress they will have to pay in other ways for my aid." Her eyes flashed dangerously, the ruthless gangster revealing herself for a split second. I gave her my most charming smile, and I saw her cheeks flush slightly. I suddenly got a vivid image of Perry blushing under my gaze; I shook the thought from my mind.
"Naturally. What would my friend need to provide in exchange for a working liver?" Celina's smile turned cruel.
"As I am sure you are aware Mr Rieper, a business only works as well as its workers. I find myself having a very high turnover of staff, shall we say, and I am always in need of replacing them. Your friend would only have to promise to help me when I call in a favour, in exchange for a new lease of life." She shrugged, taking a confident sip from her drink. "Those are the terms, do you accept on behalf of your friend?"
I nodded, regarding her with calmly. "Yes. I am sure he will fulfil his end of the bargain." Her expression turned steely and she leaned towards me again. "I'm sure he will Mr Rieper. Just so you know if he does try to go back on my terms then there will be nowhere for him to hide. I have friends at the borders, and Olivia here can track anyone online."
My eyes snapped to the girl next to her. Olivia Hall, of course, I knew I had seen her before. She had been working with a shadow client as few years back when attacks on a secret group known as Providence were occurring. She had been covering the attackers tracks and throwing us off the scent. She was looking at me nervously now, she must know who I was due to past events. Why hadn't she alerted Celina?
I must have looked a little shocked as Celina continued as if I was reacting to her. "That's right my handsome friend. There is nowhere I cannot reach, and once I have a deserter…well, we have our ways of dealing with those don't we Gregor?" The large bodyguard next to me cracked his knuckles. I gave him a withering stare as he flexed his unimpressive muscles at me. I wanted to nudge Perry to keep an eye on Hall, but I had too many eyes on me. I resolved to remain cautious around the young hacker, turning back to Celina I gave her a small smile.
"Message received. My friend will uphold his end, now can you help?" She chuckled darkly.
"You insult me Mr Rieper. Of course I can help, I have a Doctor friend who has a skill in finding…unwanted organs." This was it, I needed a name and if possible a location. Perry had gone very quiet her end, I only hoped she was keeping tabs on everything. I gave Celina a pensive look.
"Good, who is this Doctor? My friend is eager to unsure he is receiving only the best for his services." A wolfish grin stretched Celina's face.
"Oh no, I'm not in the habit of handing out information on my friends just like that. I'll need something in return." I raised my eyebrow at her and she ran her tongue over her top lip.
"And what is it you want?" She closed the distance between us and slid a hand up my thigh. Instinctively I wanted to snap her wrist, the physical contact was unnerving to me. But I remained as still as stone, watching as she hummed appreciatively, withdrawing her hand before it reached too high. A low growl came out of nowhere and a small frown creased my forehead as I tried to place it. After a second of confusion I realised it had come from my earpiece, Perry was growling at the Serbian gangster. My mouth twitched dangerously at my handler's unorthodox behaviour.
"I'm sure we can come to some arrangement Tobias. I am a woman with needs after all." I was trying to process how far I could take this to get the intel when I heard a ping coming from Perry's location. Her quick, efficient typing started up instantly and I was momentarily distracted as Celina leered at me.
"I'm sure we can." I answered on autopilot, wondering what Peregrine was doing. The gangster laughed taking a long drag from her drink, Olivia Hall was typing again but I caught her sneaking quick glances at me. What was she doing on that laptop? If only I could get Perry to try and have a look. My handler's voice suddenly broke through my thought processes.
"Shit." The low curse made my senses go into overdrive. Something was wrong. I kept my expression careful as the rest of me scanned the environment and listened for what Perry had found. It felt like years before I heard her let out a low, worried noise. She took a shaky breath in and then croaked.
"47, there's a problem. I think we've got-" The line went dead, cutting her off mid sentence, and I was left alone with a flirty Serbian gangster in a possibly volatile situation.
