Translation of the Russian phrases are at the bottom.
*-*-*-*-* Anthony stormed down the walk way and looked around, then realized he had left his car back at the café, but he saw Alex's. He snatched her purse from her and dug through disregarding her protests until he found the keys. "What do you think you are doing?" she asked angrily as she watched him open the driver's side door and get in. He slammed the door shut and reached for the seatbelt. Alex quickly climbed in the passenger side as the motor started. Anthony glared at her. "It is my car, and Dylan is one of my best friends so naturally I am coming too," she said in answer to his look. Without giving warning he threw the car into reverse and tore out of the parking spot throwing Alex back into the seat. "Careful!" she protested and as she glanced at him while fastening her seat belt she could have sworn she saw him smile.
"So where are we going?" she asked. "Do you know where to start looking or are we going to drive the streets of LA until we happen to see her?"
Anthony didn't say anything. He just kept his eyes on the road. His plan was to go to visit Ortega and find out the whereabouts of Francisco Duarte. He wasn't certain that Duarte knew where Dylan was but he was the only lead that they had. They drove in silence until Alex put on the radio. He reached over and switched it off and she turned it back on. "My car, my radio," she said. Anthony thought about swinging by the café and picking up his car but it was across town and he didn't want to lose anytime so he let her have it on as they drove the neon lit roads.
"Stop!" yelled Alex suddenly. Anthony slammed on the breaks causing the cars behind him to honk and tires to squeal. He just looked at her and then she pointed out the window. "Over there in the lot of the old Burger Barn." Anthony didn't see it at first but then he did; Dylan's car was parked in front of the boarded up building. Glancing in the rear view mirror he changed lanes and turned into weed filled parking lot.
They both got out and walked over to the abandoned car. Anthony leaned inside, it smelled strongly of Dylan's perfume and shampoo; he closed his eyes and savored the scent. Alex walked around the vehicle and saw the cracked tail and break lights. "Looks like she had an accident," Alex called out to Anthony. As he started to get out of the car he noticed her purse on the floor by the passenger seat. He had nearly missed it underneath all the assorted paper cups and wrappers from various fast food restaurants. He picked it up and took it around to Alex handing it to her.
"That's Dylan's purse," she said. Anthony cocked his eyebrow signaling that was a silly comment; of course it was Dylan's purse. "This doesn't look good." With that he had to agree. He started walking around the car and the restaurant as Alex took out her cell phone to call Natalie. He could hear Alex's voice as he looked around for any evidence at all as to what had happened. Something twinkled in the streetlight. Bending down next to the building he found his medallion in a pothole, the chain broken laying on the cracked pavement and then he spotted the board. He reached over and pulled it closer seeing a dark tacky substance on it, blood. He closed his eyes and held the medallion tightly in his hand calling on a god who he hadn't thought of in years to protect his angel.
"Anthony?" Alex said as she came up behind him. He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Natalie is on her way here, Bosley is going to watch Rutherford." Then she noticed he had something in his hand. "What did you find?" He dangled the medallion from its broken chain so she could see then pointed to the board.
"My God, that's Dylan's blood," she saw the look he gave her then quickly apologized. She had no idea why she felt it necessary to state the obvious tonight. "Maybe it's because I'm not used to having one sided conversations," she thought.
Anthony stood slipping the medallion into his pocket and headed back over to the car. "Where do you think you are going?" Alex called. "We need to wait for Natalie." She could wait for Natalie, he thought. The longer they waited the longer any leads could vanish. He wrote her a note, "I'm going to see Pablo Ortega."
She briskly removed it from his hand and read it. "Who the hell is Pablo Ortega?"
"A contact, I hope he can point me towards Francisco Duarte." He wrote in answer.
"The guy who Rutherford said stole the eggs?" she asked and he answered her with a nod. "Do you think that he has Dylan?" Anthony shrugged. He wasn't sure if he had Dylan but he might have some answers such as where to find the Chief. Alex weighed her options, she could go with him and let Natalie investigate the car herself, she had the address, or she could stay and let him take the car. It was a tough choice, as far as she knew Anthony was still their prime suspect in both the theft of the eggs and the attempt on Rutherford's life this was the same as letting him get away, but he was concerned about Dylan which was in his favor.
He waited knowing she was trying to make up her mind but he wouldn't wait much longer. Finally she said, "Fine. Go." Anthony didn't have to be told twice he got into the drivers seat and sped off down the road. Alex could only hope she had made the right decision.
*-*-*-*-*
It didn't take long for Natalie to arrive at the scene. Pulling into the parking lot she saw Alex sitting on the front step in front of the darkened structure. She hopped out and went over as Alex stood to greet her. "Hey," she said as they hugged, "Where is Anthony? I thought you said he was with you."
"He took my car and went to look for a lead."
Natalie was shocked; Alex had actually worked together with the Thin Man. That was a first she wondered how many times the other angel had referred to him as "Creepy Thin Man", but instead she asked "He knows where she is?", as she walked over to Dylan's car. She bent down to inspect the damage. She couldn't see much with just the street light. "Alex, can you get the flashlight out of the trunk?" Alex was one step a head of her and stood there with it in her hand. When Natalie asked she turned it on. "Wow that's service. Shine it a little to the right, a little lower that's it." Reaching into her purse she took out a small plastic bag and a nail file. "I don't think Dylan will notice if I scratch the paint," she said as she scraped something from just above the left taillight. She placed the sample in the bag then walked around to the driver side and sat down. Holding it up the interior light and then using flashlight she smiled. "We are looking for someone who drives a honey-beige el Camino, circa 1978 or 79 and I'd say from the way the car is damaged, she did it on purpose."
"Then that means she knows who the guy was. Anthony found the medallion laying over there," Alex pointed towards the building, "and that board has what appears to be her blood on it."
"She knew who he was and to confront him she hit his car. They must have fought and he fought dirty. Who could it be?" wondered Natalie.
"Anthony said he was going to look for the assassin Rutherford mentioned Duarte."
"We need to find him," said Natalie suddenly having a revelation. "Rutherford said that he would talk to either Dylan or him. If we can get him there maybe Rutherford has the answer to where Dylan is.
*-*-*-*-*
Kate had called the number on the card and spoken to.well she wasn't sure if it was a man or a woman and the card didn't say. There was only a telephone number and an address embossed across its cream colored surface. The person told her to stop by the address on the car and that she was expected. After openly debating with herself for over and hour about whether or not to call the angels she decided against it. Alex seemed to think it was her fault that the eggs were stolen, she didn't like Dylan, but Natalie was nice. She wondered how the blonde could stand working with the other two. No, she wasn't going to call them even if she felt she could she wouldn't, the person told her not to; they said to come alone.
She drove slowly down the darkened street searching for the correct house number. Finally she say it the brass number 222 on the wall near a tall black gate. Pulling her car up to it she reached out and buzzed the intercom. "Yes?" came the voice from the speaker. "Uh." she started not quite sure how to introduce herself. "Yes?" asked the voice again.
"My name is Ekaterina Dunayevskaya," she said not sure if that would be enough as she waited for the voice to say something else. The gate slowly began to separate surprising her. When it was wide enough for her to pass through she headed up the driveway towards the house. She was impressed. Having lived most of her life in Europe the size of American homes had surprised her but this house was roughly the size of Charlottenburg Palace or Versailles. Stopping in front of the house she was surprised as a young man who was practically naked ran out and opened her car door. She couldn't help eyeing him up and down but he didn't seem to mind and said, "The Chief is expecting you."
"The Chief?" asked Kate in alarm. That was the man Dylan claimed to have seen at the museum gala. Kate followed the man nervously into the house. As she stepped inside she wondered if she hadn't stepped into Versailles the place was richly decorated with Louis the XIV furniture, originals from what she could tell and they had been perfectly restored. He led her down a long hallway from the walls of which watched portraits, she knew that many were originals from artist of the period from with the house was decorated but she also wondered if any of them were family of the man she was about to meet. The man who was escorting her opened the door at the end of the hall and ushered her inside.
"Privet Ekaterina," cried a small man sitting in what appeared to be a throne on a platform. Two more of the men in their gold speedos fanned him with large feathers. "Kak u vas dela?"
Kate was more than a little surprised that he was speaking Russian to her. "U menya vsyo khorosho," she replied.
"That is wonderful to hear. I'm sorry that is all the Russian I speak I'm afraid." He noticed that she was still near the door on the other side of the room and called, "Come closer Ekaterina. I don't bite.well at least I don't bite women." Kate stepped closer then hesitated. "A little bit more Kate." She took another few steps. "Please," he said signaling her closer. Feeling about bit more confident Kate relaxed and walked all the way up to the throne. "Now that is much better, I can see you." The Chief stood and walked over to her and then around her looking her over then sat back down. "I don't see what his problem is. You are certainly more attractive, long legs, big blue eyes."
Kate hadn't a clue as to what he was talking about. "Excuse me, but I would like to talk about the eggs." Suddenly the Chief's demeanor changed the jovial attitude was gone replaced with anger or disgust, she couldn't tell which.
"First," he yelled sending his voice into an even more feminine range, "You do not interrupt me. You speak when you are spoken to and not before. Is that understood?" Kate nodded and watched as his mood changed again into the man who had spoken Russian to her. "Wonderful. We will talk about the eggs in due time first I want to hear a little about you first hand. You met my associate Francisco this evening correct?"
"Yes."
"Oooh." Shaking with delight he turned to the man on his left who was fanning him and said, "She is a quick learner I like that." Then he turned back to her. "So you and Anton have a relationship? Hmmm?" he asked leaning forward in his chair.
"He left me for another woman." She said simply. It was the truth she didn't think that the strange little man needed to know more than that.
"Yes, I heard very sad that he chose the little red-head over you after all my work to break them up. Quite disappointing actually." Kate's eyes widened trying to comprehend what hand that this man, The Chief, had in her life. "I wanted to make them pay," he continued, "and I am sure that after the way he just left you after you put your heart on the line and told him you loved him.well that must have hurt didn't it?"
She nodded again. "How does he know all of this?" she wondered to herself. After his outburst before she was almost afraid to ask so as though she were in school she raised her hand.
"Yes, Katie? May I call you Katie?" the Chief asked.
"Yes, you may. I have a question."
"Ask away."
"How do you know so much about me and Anton? Is my.." She started to say but he cut her off.
"Ah ah ah you asked if you could as A question not two questions or a couple questions but A question. Now I will answer it. I have had Francisco watching you and he is good at what he does. So now did it hurt so bad when he rejected you that you wanted to hit wall?"
She didn't know what to say. She didn't know this man; she would never reveal her feelings to a stranger.
"Come now Katie, answer the question." He looked at his servants and they chorused with the word "Answer" It seemed to rise around her like a fog.
"Fine! Yes, I wanted to hit a wall, I wanted to hit him. I wanted to make her pay for taking the one thing I really want," she yelled balling her hands into fist so tight that her nails cut into the palms.
The chief signaled to one of his men and whispered something in his ear. Soon the man was handing her a tissue to soak up the blood which was dripping from her palms. "I see Katie, that you used the past tense. You wanted to his the wall, you wanted to hit him, you wanted to make her pay," said the Chief stressing the word "wanted" each time. "What if I were to tell you I think you still do want to. That I think," he said as he stood and left his throne to stand in front of her, "you would take great pleasure if I were to give you that opportunity. You see I want the same thing and I am willing to let you help me and if you do I will give you the other two eggs back. On the other hand if you decide you don't want to help me a letter," he waved his hand as another of his men brought a tray on which three envelops spread in a fan over to them, "to the Hermatiage addressed to Joschka Petrov, a letter to Mr. Hartman at LAMA, and a letter to the LA Times will be sent out in the morning disclosing the fact that two Faberge eggs are fake and that you have withheld this information from the museums as well as the public."
"That's blackmail," said Kate outraged.
"No my dear that is me offering you an opportunity to take revenge and get the eggs back. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
Notes: Privet!= hello Kak u vas dela?= How are you? U menya vsyo khorosho= I'm fine.
*-*-*-*-* Anthony stormed down the walk way and looked around, then realized he had left his car back at the café, but he saw Alex's. He snatched her purse from her and dug through disregarding her protests until he found the keys. "What do you think you are doing?" she asked angrily as she watched him open the driver's side door and get in. He slammed the door shut and reached for the seatbelt. Alex quickly climbed in the passenger side as the motor started. Anthony glared at her. "It is my car, and Dylan is one of my best friends so naturally I am coming too," she said in answer to his look. Without giving warning he threw the car into reverse and tore out of the parking spot throwing Alex back into the seat. "Careful!" she protested and as she glanced at him while fastening her seat belt she could have sworn she saw him smile.
"So where are we going?" she asked. "Do you know where to start looking or are we going to drive the streets of LA until we happen to see her?"
Anthony didn't say anything. He just kept his eyes on the road. His plan was to go to visit Ortega and find out the whereabouts of Francisco Duarte. He wasn't certain that Duarte knew where Dylan was but he was the only lead that they had. They drove in silence until Alex put on the radio. He reached over and switched it off and she turned it back on. "My car, my radio," she said. Anthony thought about swinging by the café and picking up his car but it was across town and he didn't want to lose anytime so he let her have it on as they drove the neon lit roads.
"Stop!" yelled Alex suddenly. Anthony slammed on the breaks causing the cars behind him to honk and tires to squeal. He just looked at her and then she pointed out the window. "Over there in the lot of the old Burger Barn." Anthony didn't see it at first but then he did; Dylan's car was parked in front of the boarded up building. Glancing in the rear view mirror he changed lanes and turned into weed filled parking lot.
They both got out and walked over to the abandoned car. Anthony leaned inside, it smelled strongly of Dylan's perfume and shampoo; he closed his eyes and savored the scent. Alex walked around the vehicle and saw the cracked tail and break lights. "Looks like she had an accident," Alex called out to Anthony. As he started to get out of the car he noticed her purse on the floor by the passenger seat. He had nearly missed it underneath all the assorted paper cups and wrappers from various fast food restaurants. He picked it up and took it around to Alex handing it to her.
"That's Dylan's purse," she said. Anthony cocked his eyebrow signaling that was a silly comment; of course it was Dylan's purse. "This doesn't look good." With that he had to agree. He started walking around the car and the restaurant as Alex took out her cell phone to call Natalie. He could hear Alex's voice as he looked around for any evidence at all as to what had happened. Something twinkled in the streetlight. Bending down next to the building he found his medallion in a pothole, the chain broken laying on the cracked pavement and then he spotted the board. He reached over and pulled it closer seeing a dark tacky substance on it, blood. He closed his eyes and held the medallion tightly in his hand calling on a god who he hadn't thought of in years to protect his angel.
"Anthony?" Alex said as she came up behind him. He opened his eyes and looked at her. "Natalie is on her way here, Bosley is going to watch Rutherford." Then she noticed he had something in his hand. "What did you find?" He dangled the medallion from its broken chain so she could see then pointed to the board.
"My God, that's Dylan's blood," she saw the look he gave her then quickly apologized. She had no idea why she felt it necessary to state the obvious tonight. "Maybe it's because I'm not used to having one sided conversations," she thought.
Anthony stood slipping the medallion into his pocket and headed back over to the car. "Where do you think you are going?" Alex called. "We need to wait for Natalie." She could wait for Natalie, he thought. The longer they waited the longer any leads could vanish. He wrote her a note, "I'm going to see Pablo Ortega."
She briskly removed it from his hand and read it. "Who the hell is Pablo Ortega?"
"A contact, I hope he can point me towards Francisco Duarte." He wrote in answer.
"The guy who Rutherford said stole the eggs?" she asked and he answered her with a nod. "Do you think that he has Dylan?" Anthony shrugged. He wasn't sure if he had Dylan but he might have some answers such as where to find the Chief. Alex weighed her options, she could go with him and let Natalie investigate the car herself, she had the address, or she could stay and let him take the car. It was a tough choice, as far as she knew Anthony was still their prime suspect in both the theft of the eggs and the attempt on Rutherford's life this was the same as letting him get away, but he was concerned about Dylan which was in his favor.
He waited knowing she was trying to make up her mind but he wouldn't wait much longer. Finally she said, "Fine. Go." Anthony didn't have to be told twice he got into the drivers seat and sped off down the road. Alex could only hope she had made the right decision.
*-*-*-*-*
It didn't take long for Natalie to arrive at the scene. Pulling into the parking lot she saw Alex sitting on the front step in front of the darkened structure. She hopped out and went over as Alex stood to greet her. "Hey," she said as they hugged, "Where is Anthony? I thought you said he was with you."
"He took my car and went to look for a lead."
Natalie was shocked; Alex had actually worked together with the Thin Man. That was a first she wondered how many times the other angel had referred to him as "Creepy Thin Man", but instead she asked "He knows where she is?", as she walked over to Dylan's car. She bent down to inspect the damage. She couldn't see much with just the street light. "Alex, can you get the flashlight out of the trunk?" Alex was one step a head of her and stood there with it in her hand. When Natalie asked she turned it on. "Wow that's service. Shine it a little to the right, a little lower that's it." Reaching into her purse she took out a small plastic bag and a nail file. "I don't think Dylan will notice if I scratch the paint," she said as she scraped something from just above the left taillight. She placed the sample in the bag then walked around to the driver side and sat down. Holding it up the interior light and then using flashlight she smiled. "We are looking for someone who drives a honey-beige el Camino, circa 1978 or 79 and I'd say from the way the car is damaged, she did it on purpose."
"Then that means she knows who the guy was. Anthony found the medallion laying over there," Alex pointed towards the building, "and that board has what appears to be her blood on it."
"She knew who he was and to confront him she hit his car. They must have fought and he fought dirty. Who could it be?" wondered Natalie.
"Anthony said he was going to look for the assassin Rutherford mentioned Duarte."
"We need to find him," said Natalie suddenly having a revelation. "Rutherford said that he would talk to either Dylan or him. If we can get him there maybe Rutherford has the answer to where Dylan is.
*-*-*-*-*
Kate had called the number on the card and spoken to.well she wasn't sure if it was a man or a woman and the card didn't say. There was only a telephone number and an address embossed across its cream colored surface. The person told her to stop by the address on the car and that she was expected. After openly debating with herself for over and hour about whether or not to call the angels she decided against it. Alex seemed to think it was her fault that the eggs were stolen, she didn't like Dylan, but Natalie was nice. She wondered how the blonde could stand working with the other two. No, she wasn't going to call them even if she felt she could she wouldn't, the person told her not to; they said to come alone.
She drove slowly down the darkened street searching for the correct house number. Finally she say it the brass number 222 on the wall near a tall black gate. Pulling her car up to it she reached out and buzzed the intercom. "Yes?" came the voice from the speaker. "Uh." she started not quite sure how to introduce herself. "Yes?" asked the voice again.
"My name is Ekaterina Dunayevskaya," she said not sure if that would be enough as she waited for the voice to say something else. The gate slowly began to separate surprising her. When it was wide enough for her to pass through she headed up the driveway towards the house. She was impressed. Having lived most of her life in Europe the size of American homes had surprised her but this house was roughly the size of Charlottenburg Palace or Versailles. Stopping in front of the house she was surprised as a young man who was practically naked ran out and opened her car door. She couldn't help eyeing him up and down but he didn't seem to mind and said, "The Chief is expecting you."
"The Chief?" asked Kate in alarm. That was the man Dylan claimed to have seen at the museum gala. Kate followed the man nervously into the house. As she stepped inside she wondered if she hadn't stepped into Versailles the place was richly decorated with Louis the XIV furniture, originals from what she could tell and they had been perfectly restored. He led her down a long hallway from the walls of which watched portraits, she knew that many were originals from artist of the period from with the house was decorated but she also wondered if any of them were family of the man she was about to meet. The man who was escorting her opened the door at the end of the hall and ushered her inside.
"Privet Ekaterina," cried a small man sitting in what appeared to be a throne on a platform. Two more of the men in their gold speedos fanned him with large feathers. "Kak u vas dela?"
Kate was more than a little surprised that he was speaking Russian to her. "U menya vsyo khorosho," she replied.
"That is wonderful to hear. I'm sorry that is all the Russian I speak I'm afraid." He noticed that she was still near the door on the other side of the room and called, "Come closer Ekaterina. I don't bite.well at least I don't bite women." Kate stepped closer then hesitated. "A little bit more Kate." She took another few steps. "Please," he said signaling her closer. Feeling about bit more confident Kate relaxed and walked all the way up to the throne. "Now that is much better, I can see you." The Chief stood and walked over to her and then around her looking her over then sat back down. "I don't see what his problem is. You are certainly more attractive, long legs, big blue eyes."
Kate hadn't a clue as to what he was talking about. "Excuse me, but I would like to talk about the eggs." Suddenly the Chief's demeanor changed the jovial attitude was gone replaced with anger or disgust, she couldn't tell which.
"First," he yelled sending his voice into an even more feminine range, "You do not interrupt me. You speak when you are spoken to and not before. Is that understood?" Kate nodded and watched as his mood changed again into the man who had spoken Russian to her. "Wonderful. We will talk about the eggs in due time first I want to hear a little about you first hand. You met my associate Francisco this evening correct?"
"Yes."
"Oooh." Shaking with delight he turned to the man on his left who was fanning him and said, "She is a quick learner I like that." Then he turned back to her. "So you and Anton have a relationship? Hmmm?" he asked leaning forward in his chair.
"He left me for another woman." She said simply. It was the truth she didn't think that the strange little man needed to know more than that.
"Yes, I heard very sad that he chose the little red-head over you after all my work to break them up. Quite disappointing actually." Kate's eyes widened trying to comprehend what hand that this man, The Chief, had in her life. "I wanted to make them pay," he continued, "and I am sure that after the way he just left you after you put your heart on the line and told him you loved him.well that must have hurt didn't it?"
She nodded again. "How does he know all of this?" she wondered to herself. After his outburst before she was almost afraid to ask so as though she were in school she raised her hand.
"Yes, Katie? May I call you Katie?" the Chief asked.
"Yes, you may. I have a question."
"Ask away."
"How do you know so much about me and Anton? Is my.." She started to say but he cut her off.
"Ah ah ah you asked if you could as A question not two questions or a couple questions but A question. Now I will answer it. I have had Francisco watching you and he is good at what he does. So now did it hurt so bad when he rejected you that you wanted to hit wall?"
She didn't know what to say. She didn't know this man; she would never reveal her feelings to a stranger.
"Come now Katie, answer the question." He looked at his servants and they chorused with the word "Answer" It seemed to rise around her like a fog.
"Fine! Yes, I wanted to hit a wall, I wanted to hit him. I wanted to make her pay for taking the one thing I really want," she yelled balling her hands into fist so tight that her nails cut into the palms.
The chief signaled to one of his men and whispered something in his ear. Soon the man was handing her a tissue to soak up the blood which was dripping from her palms. "I see Katie, that you used the past tense. You wanted to his the wall, you wanted to hit him, you wanted to make her pay," said the Chief stressing the word "wanted" each time. "What if I were to tell you I think you still do want to. That I think," he said as he stood and left his throne to stand in front of her, "you would take great pleasure if I were to give you that opportunity. You see I want the same thing and I am willing to let you help me and if you do I will give you the other two eggs back. On the other hand if you decide you don't want to help me a letter," he waved his hand as another of his men brought a tray on which three envelops spread in a fan over to them, "to the Hermatiage addressed to Joschka Petrov, a letter to Mr. Hartman at LAMA, and a letter to the LA Times will be sent out in the morning disclosing the fact that two Faberge eggs are fake and that you have withheld this information from the museums as well as the public."
"That's blackmail," said Kate outraged.
"No my dear that is me offering you an opportunity to take revenge and get the eggs back. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
Notes: Privet!= hello Kak u vas dela?= How are you? U menya vsyo khorosho= I'm fine.