Mikkel pulled the vehicle up to the red light, just as a ping went off on his phone. Since he was stopped for the moment, he had the chance to quickly open the message and read it.
I'm in position in the ceiling vent, Im Yong Soo is already waiting for you.
"Good girl," Mikkel muttered to himself, "I just hope you're not needed."
Spotting the address for the abandoned underground parkade, Mikkel turned into the entrance. He had to admit, the place was quite well-hidden, an excellent choice for a secret meeting between the mob bosses.
Maddie showed up at his base that morning to deliver a yellow envelope containing a phone number for contacting Im Yong Soo. The Dragon Triad boss had explained over the phone that he needed an emergency meeting with both Mikkel and Romulus that evening, and wanted them to arrive at the parkade at the specific hour. Elizaveta had overheard Mikkel's end of the call and wanted to come along, but Im Yong Soo specifically said not to bring anyone along.
As Mikkel drove into the section where Im Yong Soo was waiting, he felt secure knowing that he had broken that rule.
He had called Madeline immediately after speaking to Im Yong Soo, and hired her for the night. He told the freelancer where and when the meeting would be, and instructed her to hide there and observe in case the Dragon Triad or the Vargas clan attempted any funny business. Mikkel expected there would be trouble if she was found out, but he'd rather have backup than risk walking in there alone.
Mikkel turned his vehicle into the section, and saw Im Yong Soo standing there, his black car having been the only one in the small area. The Dane pulled into a nearby parking spot, turned off the car, and stepped out.
"Hey, Yong Soo," Mikkel greeted, "What's all this about then?"
"We just need to wait for Romulus, easier to talk to you both at once," Yong Soo replied, just as they heard the sound of another vehicle approaching.
Mikkel shut the door to his vehicle and walked over to Yong Soo, watching as a third black car pulled into the section. They could tell that Romulus was alone in the car as he parked it beside Mikkel's and climbed out.
"Looks like we're all here then," Romulus said as he approached.
"We are indeed, thank you for coming," Yong Soo said, as the door to his own vehicle opened, and a familiar blonde Triad member stepped out with some folders in her hand.
"I thought that we weren't supposed to have any associates with us," Mikkel asked, "Why is she here?"
"Natalya is here because she's the one who needs to talk to you," Yong Soo explained, before turning to the woman, "The floor is yours, honey."
"Gentlemen, at the meeting the other night, I noticed that you each have a mob associate who is hiding their true identity," Natalya revealed, holding out a folder to each boss, "I am not sure if you were aware of it, but they are very dangerous men that are likely dragging you into something deeper than you can imagine."
Mikkel took the black folder from Natalya's hand, and opened it to reveal documents and a picture of his associate.
"Ivan?" Mikkel gasped, "What has he done?"
"The last name 'Simonov' is a fake, as is 'Esposito' for Antonio," Natalya explained, nodding at the red folder she gave Romulus, "Their real names are Ivan Braginski and Antonio Fernandez Carriedo."
"Those names sound awfully familiar," Romulus said, "Weren't they in the news a couple years ago?"
"Surely you remember hearing about the disappearance of Mathilda Jones-Kirkland?" Im Yong Soo inquired as he handed Natalya the grey folder he was holding, "How the heiress is a wanted criminal for her fraudulent activities at JCI, among many other charges?"
"Ivan Braginski is the researcher that Mathilda Jones was cheating on Arthur Kirkland with," Natalya explained, "Antonio Fernandez Carriedo is the personal bodyguard that helped Mathilda escape when her husband discovered the illegal activities."
"And now Mathilda's two accomplices are hiding away in our mobs," Romulus concluded, "What would happen if the police find them working for us?"
"That depended on how much you knew," Natalya clarified, "If the mobs were shut down before tonight's meeting, then at least you could claim no knowledge of the situation when Arthur Kirkland identified them in jail."
"Of course, now that we've had this meeting, you can no longer use that alibi," Im Yong Soo affixed.
"Are you implying that, if we keep them hidden, Arthur Kirkland will brand us as accomplices to them, and therefore associate us to Mathilda Jones?" Romulus presumed.
Natalya nodded.
"I have a question for you," Mikkel objected, "Ivan has been loyal and dependable to me this whole time. How do I know that you're not feeding us bullshit?"
"I figured you might ask that," Natalya huffed, pulling out a sheet of paper from the grey folder and offering it over, "This should prove my connection to the situation."
Mikkel took the sheet of paper and turned it over. It was a name change certificate, showing that Natalya Arlovskaya was born with a different last name.
He looked up again and inspected her a little closer in shock. Despite being a woman, she looked nearly identical.
"You are Ivan's sister?"
"Katerina and Natalya Braginskaya both had their last names changed to Arlovskaya," Im Yong Soo made plain, "With the drama Ivan caused, they were being met with discrimination over their family name."
"Even though Katerina and I are completely innocent, and have been cooperating with police on the matter of our brother's crimes, our records are heavily flagged," Natalya justified, "If the police interact with us at all, they always detain us longer to ask about him. Katerina was once stopped for jaywalking, they held her in custody for two days just to find out what she knew of Ivan's whereabouts. As long as our brother runs free, we cannot live in peace."
"I'm sorry to hear about that," Mikkel relented, handing back the certificate.
"If I may ask, have you told the police that these boys were at the meeting the other night?" Romulus queried.
"I didn't, and all I'd be able to tell them was that they are with your mobs," Natalya illustrated, "I have no proof to hand over to the police, nor information on where to find them. And even if I could, Ivan and Antonio won't let it happen. They knew it immediately when I recognized them at the meeting, and they will be prepared for any trap I would dare try to set on them. The moment they realize that something's happening, they will disappear again. My only hope is through mob activity, which is why I'm telling you all this."
"What do you want us to do about it?" Mikkel questioned, "Surely you realize we don't want the police raiding our bases and arresting us all while hunting down Ivan and Antonio?"
"I understand your concerns, but you can outsmart them in ways I cannot," Natalya proposed, "While you may have plenty of crimes on your own records, Ivan and Antonio are much higher on the list of most wanted criminals. If you turn them in willingly, the police may reduce your own charges in exchange for your cooperation."
"This is truly a huge opportunity for everyone," Im Yong Soo supported, "With Ivan and Antonio finally behind bars, the police will be that much closer to finding Mathilda Jones, while Arthur Kirkland and Alfred Jones can have their vengeance. You mobsters can have some charges dropped, while Natalya and Katerina can finally have the red flags removed from their records."
"What about the heiress herself?" Romulus asked, "Do you have any idea where Mathilda is hiding?"
"She is the part of the puzzle I can't decipher," Natalya excused, "JCI never allowed the police or the press to show anyone her picture, so I have no way to identify her. However, if her lover and her bodyguard are both hiding here in the city as mobsters, I doubt she is far away from them. If anything, she could be hiding right under our noses."
"I must admit, I am in the same boat as Mikkel," Romulus determined, "Antonio has been incredibly loyal to me, and how to act on this information will be a difficult decision to make. I will still thank you for confiding in us, Natalya, this is certainly a risky situation we are in."
"I advise that you do not waste time making this decision," Yong Soo warned, "The longer you wait, the larger opportunity you give them to act first."
"They probably already have plans in mind, given that they know for sure I am with the Dragon Triad," Natalya added on, "If you drop them any hints about this meeting, they will know to flee while they can."
"I doubt either of us will want to take that risk," Mikkel assured, "Once again, thank you for informing us about this, Natalya."
"Thank you both for taking the time to listen, gentlemen," Natalya accepted.
"If you do want to coordinate any plans with us, please let me know," Yong Soo offered, "Natalya, Katerina and the rest of the Dragon Triad would be happy to assist in putting that nefarious trio behind bars."
"I'm sure you'll be hearing from me then, Yong Soo," Romulus affirmed, "Do we have anything else to discuss?"
"I don't believe so," Yong Soo confirmed, "If we do come across anything else, we'll let you know."
"Well, this is a wrap then," Mikkel concluded, "If you'll excuse me, I'll be heading back to my base and thinking this over."
"As will I," Romulus agreed, backing away to his vehicle, "Buonosera, signora, signori."
"Good night, gentlemen," Yong Soo replied as Natalya waved.
Mikkel climbed back into his car and turned it on. He had to wait a moment for Romulus to pull his vehicle out, so the Dane turned back on his phone and paired it up with the Bluetooth system. Once he was all clear, he pulled his vehicle out of its spot and proceeded to the exit.
"Call Madeline Williams," Mikkel spoke aloud.
The phone dialled out and rang twice before getting picked up.
"Hello, Mikkel."
"Are you clear?"
"Yong Soo and Natalya just shut the car doors, I'm all good."
"Looks like I didn't need you then, thank goodness. I'll wire you your money later."
"And what about Ivan? Do you plan to act on what Natalya told you?"
"I don't know, I have a lot to think about. I cannot stress this enough, though, Maddie: don't tell anyone about this meeting."
"My lips are sealed, Mikkel."
"Good girl. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay, bye bye."
Mikkel turned back onto the street as Madeline hung up on her end of the call, and he could hardly focus on the roads as he headed back to the base.
What should he do about Ivan?
Madeline hung up on her end of the phone call, and watched as Im Yong Soo's vehicle left the parkade section. Her perch in the ceiling vents was perfectly hidden away from the peering eyes, and yet she was able to hear the whole conversation.
Once she knew she was alone again, she crawled her way through the pipe, not having to worry about making any sounds. She reached the far end, pushed her back up against the wall of the vent, and pressed her hands against the grate covering her entrance to the pipe. She climbed out of the vent into the adjoining parkade section, and slowly strolled over to her car as she looked at her phone.
She opened the log to see the record of Mikkel's call as the most recent event, along with a message sent to two recipients moments before. She smirked as she opened the sent message and read it again.
The ice is melting beneath your feet. Report to the Bear Cave in the morning.