"How's your brother enjoying the academy?"
"Luddy is doing very well, he's top of the class right now. His last exam is at the end of November, he'll be eligible to start working in January."
Sadiq listened to Lars and Gilbert chatter as they walked back into the police department. Heracles and Kiku had gone out together, and Bella had other work to finish up, so it was just the three of them catching up on things while having lunch at a nearby restaurant.
"It's possible Ludwig gets on here, actually," Sadiq disclosed, "Roderich is keeping an eye on him, but you didn't hear it from me."
"That would be awesome to work with my little brother," Gilbert replied enthusiastically, "I'll leave the hiring to Roderich, of course."
"I thought he was also planning to attend law school," Lars inquired, "Will he continue with that later on?"
"I'm not sure, he could work his way into that," Gilbert explained, "He was planning to do that after finishing his political science degree, but he saw me having too much fun and decided to follow my footsteps."
"At least he didn't flunked out of law school before joining the force," Sadiq teased as they walked past the front desk.
"Gilbert, over here!" someone called, and the group turned to look at the receptionist. She was waving him over, as if to speak to the visitor standing at her desk.
"Looks like you have a guest, Gilbert," Sadiq commented, turning to see that Gilbert had frozen in place, "What's wrong?"
"That man at the desk works for Mikkel Kohler," Gilbert said in a hushed tone, "He was at the delivery truck heist."
"Gilbert's right, he's the one that locked up the truck and pocketed the keys," Lars supported, "What should we do?"
"Lars, you circle behind him, cut off his escape if he tries to run," Sadiq instructed, allowing Lars to go back around to the front.
"What about me, Sadiq?" Gilbert asked as Sadiq pulled him behind the desk.
"He wants to see you, so go talk to him," Sadiq explained as he pushed Gilbert ahead, "Find out what he wants, and see if you can get me a name to look up on the computer."
Gilbert strolled up to Suzie's side at the desk, while Sadiq went to her computer and pulled up the ID database program.
"Gilbert, this gentleman had something to give you," Suzie reported before turning back to the man, "You said your name is Toris, right?"
Sadiq's eyebrow arched at the name. He remembered documenting 'Toris' as the name of one of Mikkel Kohler's henchmen, and prepared to find the list of names he previously put together.
"Yes, ma'am, that's right," he replied.
"That's a different name," Gilbert commented, "What is the last name that goes with it?"
"Laurinaitis," Toris answered, after giving a small huff.
Sadiq quickly pulled up the search bar on the ID program and typed in the last name.
"Well, then, Toris Laurinaitis, what can I do for you?" Gilbert asked.
"I was asked to have this delivered to you," Toris explained, holding out a thick paper envelope for Gilbert to take.
"What's in here?" Gilbert inquired, accepting the envelope.
Sadiq hit enter on the keyboard, and quickly found Toris's entry in the database.
"I don't know," Toris said, "I was told not to open it."
"Who sent it, then?" Gilbert pried.
Sadiq clicked on Toris's entry, and watched as the screen filled with his outstanding list of crimes and the warrant for immediate arrest.
"I'm not sure of that either," Toris said, "It's a bit complicated."
Sadiq looked past Toris and discreetly motioned for Lars to come closer.
"So, let me get this straight," Gilbert summarized, "A mysterious person asked you to walk into the police station and drop off a package with undisclosed contents for me?"
"Yes, that's about right," Toris confirmed.
"And once the package was delivered, were you planning to just stroll out of here?" Gilbert guessed.
"That was the best-case scenario," Toris admitted, slipping a glance at Sadiq, "With the way your colleagues are watching me though, I doubt you're going to just let that happen."
Sadiq chuckled, that was his queue.
"So, Toris, you're well aware of what we have on file for your criminal record?" Sadiq intervened, "And you understand that we have the authority to arrest you on the spot?"
"I understand completely," Toris relented, and Sadiq motioned for Lars to step in.
"Well then, Mr. Laurinaitis, you are under arrest," Sadiq stated, "Book him in, Lars, and see when we can get him into an interrogation room."
"What about the package, Sadiq?" Gilbert asked.
"Put it through the X-ray, see if you can figure out what's in there before it can explode and kill us all," Sadiq ordered, before turning to watch Lars put the cuffs on Toris, "I do have one more question for you, Toris. Is Mikkel Kohler involved in this?"
"He's not, and he knows nothing about it," Toris denied, "If anything, he's one of their targets."
"You're going against your boss, then?" Sadiq realized.
"If you could manage to keep this quiet, I'd greatly appreciate it," Toris requested, before Lars motioned to Sadiq that he was ready to take the criminal away.
"We'll be having a good talk about this, Toris," Sadiq said, "Take him away, Lars."
While Lars guided Toris away, Gilbert returned with the package.
"X-ray shows no harm," Gilbert reported, "There is a small device that looks like a USB drive, otherwise it looks like paper and bubble-wrap."
"Open it up, then."
Gilbert tore opening the top end, and discovered that the envelope was lined on the inside with bubble-wrap. He tipped it upside down, allowing the small item to drop into Sadiq's hand. As Sadiq stared at the black USB drive, Gilbert pulled out the only other item, a folded sheet of paper. He unfolded it, and the pair of officers read the letter written in red marker.
"You're kidding me," Gilbert muttered, "Could it really be her?"
"If there's a chance, I have to treat it as such," Sadiq relayed, grabbing the phone and dialling the familiar extension that was answered on the third ring.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Roderich, it's Sadiq. One of Kohler's men just dropped off a package for Gilbert. It has a USB drive and a letter from Mathilda Jones-Kirkland."
"One of the treats is still in here," Tino pointed out, looking in the box of pastries sitting on the kitchen counter in the Kohler lounge, "I think it's the Lithuanian treat that Toris likes, whatever he calls it."
"Zagareliai," Feliks amended, watching Tino and Berwald run around the kitchen from his comfy chair at the table, "They're called zagareliai."
"Where is Toris, anyways?" Elizaveta asked, sitting across from Feliks with her feet on the table, "I haven't seen him all day."
"He went off on a task this morning," Berwald reported, pulling pans out of the cupboard, "Haven't seen him return yet."
"Well, he better soon," Tino said, closing the box and moving it to the fridge, "I want to try one of his zagareliai."
"What are you boys making for dinner?" Elizaveta asked.
"Köttbullar," Berwald answered.
"Yeah, we still don't speak Swedish," Feliks commented.
"He is making meatballs," Tino translated, "I'll be mashing some potatoes to go with it."
Elizaveta was the next to say something, but Feliks didn't hear her words over the sounds of Emil calling Lukas over to the computers. The Pole turned and watched as the brothers looked closely at something on the screen, before Lukas rushed off to Mikkel's office.
"What's the buzz, Emil?" Feliks pried.
"The buzz might be some very bad news," Emil answered, before Mikkel suddenly bolted out of his office with Lukas following closely.
"Emil, show me," Mikkel demanded, rushing to Emil's side and looking at the computer.
"What's going on?" Elizaveta quizzed, now paying attention as well.
"Bloody fucking hell," Mikkel muttered before turning back to speak to everyone else, "Has anyone seen Ivan?"
"Yeah, he's in his room, I think," Feliks answered, watching as Mikkel went and leaned into the frame of the wall leading into the hallway, before yelling at the top of his lungs.
"IVAN, GET THE FUCK IN HERE, RIGHT NOW!"
"Mikkel, what happened?" Elizaveta repeated intensely.
"I shouldn't have sent him into that trap," Mikkel babbled aloud as he frantically paced.
"What if he was arrested for something entirely different?" Lukas inquired, "It doesn't say how it happened or whose fault it is, maybe he did something else entirely to get the police's special attention."
"Did you just say that someone get arrested?" Feliks checked.
"Yes, Toris did," Emil revealed, "He ended up in police custody this afternoon."
Feliks paralyzed in fear at the news. Although Toris wasn't officially his boyfriend, Feliks was close to thinking of him in that way. Reconnaissance jobs are usually the most straight-forward, and they were Toris's specialty, so what could have gone wrong today?
"What did he do?" Tino queried, "How did it happen?"
"The reports won't say," Lukas disclosed, "The police have made that information classified."
"You called for me, Mikkel?" Ivan asked in the doorway.
"Yes, I did call for you," Mikkel stated, pulling out a gun and pointing it at Ivan, "Please explain to me how Toris is in jail and you are not."
The other group members gasped at the withdrawal of the weapon, and subconsciously prepared for a reaction. Feliks leaned forward in his chair and looked at Ivan, noticing the completely neutral expression on the Russian's face.
What could Ivan know about Toris's arrest?
The room became silent for a moment, before the Russian tilted his head and calmly responded.
"I'm afraid I don't follow your logic there, Mikkel."
"Quit the bullshit and tell the truth," Mikkel accused, "You knew Toris was following you, and so you put him in the hands of the police."
"I was not aware he was following me," Ivan denied, "Why would he be doing that?"
"Because I told him to," Mikkel declared.
"And why would you instruct him to follow me?" Ivan asked, "Do you doubt my loyalty?"
"I know who you really are," Mikkel blurted out, "Your sister -"
"My sister? You've met one of my sisters, have you?" Ivan interrupted, a knowing smile suddenly surfacing on his face, "I believe I understand now. My sister told you I might be a double-agent, so you sent Toris to follow me, only for him to mysteriously end up in police custody. Is that what you are getting at?"
"What other explanation is there?" Mikkel charged.
"Oh, there are many possible explanations that would clear the blame from my account," Ivan countered, "Perhaps I was hiding my past for a good reason, and have otherwise been entirely faithful to your cause. Perhaps Toris made a mistake on his own, and you are using me as a scapegoat for his failure as a spy. Perhaps you're using me as a scapegoat for your own failure in choosing to have Toris spy on me, rather than simply asking for the other side of my sister's story. Whatever the reason, it's clear how this should be resolved."
"And what solution would that be?" Mikkel asked, "A bullet to your head? Turning you into the police like I should have done this morning?"
"Oh no, neither of those will be necessary," Ivan shot down, "Since you have chosen to no longer trust me, it appears that my presence here is now unwelcome. I will go pack my bags and leave immediately. Don't worry about me talking to the police, you must already know what a huge mistake that would be on my part. Such a pity, Mikkel, you were rather entertaining to work for."
Ivan turned and walked out of the room, leaving everyone else frozen in shock as they tried to process what happened.
"Feliks, follow him," Mikkel ordered, "If he tries to tell the police where our base is, we need to know."
Feliks did a double-take before turning to Mikkel in alarm.
"You're sending me to follow him?" Feliks complained, "After what happened to Toris?"
"Yes, now go," Mikkel enforced sternly.
Feliks relented and rose from his chair. He strolled out of the living area and down the hallway, slowing his steps to make them as quiet as possible the closer he got to Ivan's room. Once at the door, he peeked through to see Ivan grabbing a bag from the closet and start stuffing his clothes into it.
Feliks slid past the door, and gently lowered himself to sit on the floor against the wall as inconspicuously as possible. Moments later, Elizaveta marched into the hallway and stopped to lean in and whisper.
"Where is your emergency bag?" Elizaveta asked him.
"Under my bed," Feliks whispered, "Do you think I'll need it?"
"You focus on watching Ivan," Elizaveta answered, "I'll handle everything else."
Feliks watched curiously as Elizaveta continued down the hallway and turned into his bedroom. Back in the spring, they had a near-scare when a rival mob discovered the location of their base and almost managed to tell the police about it. Since then, several of them kept a spare bag of clothes and supplies under their beds, in case they ever needed to make a run for it.
Did Elizaveta believe such measures were now needed?
Elizaveta popped out of Feliks's room with his bag, and proceeded into her own room. Within moments, she was walking back down the hallway, with both her bag and Feliks's hanging off her shoulders, and a familiar pair of shoes in her hands. As she approached Feliks again, she leaned back down, and dropped Feliks's shoes at his side.
"I'll get a van ready," she whispered before walking away again.
Feliks slipped on his shoes as he watched Elizaveta meet with Mikkel at the end of the hallway by the lounge. He handed her a third bag and whispered something before she continued on and went downstairs.
He peeked into Ivan's room, and saw the Russian throw the bag strap over his shoulder. Knowing it was time to move, Feliks sneaked over to the next door over and slipped into Berwald's room. He positioned himself by the door in the unlit room, and leaned past to look down the hallway.
At that moment, Ivan left the moment, glanced in Feliks's direction, and started walking down the hallway. Before reaching the lounge, he stopped by the little alcove where a spare computer was kept, reached out and touched it for a moment. After that, the Russian continued on his way past the lounge, and down the stairs at the far end.
Feliks immediately jumped to his feet and rushed after the Russian. He barreled past the lounge, unaware that everyone else was watching him, and bolted down the stairs. He went flying out the door at the bottom, into the alley where the cars were parked. Ivan's car was already pulling out of its spot, and Feliks watched as the Russian shifted gears and drove off towards the street. The van to Feliks's right suddenly started up, and he jumped as he turned to look at it. Elizaveta was already in the driver's seat, and she rolled down the passenger side window.
"What are you waiting for?" she shouted, "Get the fuck in here, now!"
Feliks rushed over and pulled on the door handle. He barely had one foot off the ground before Elizaveta switched gears and put the van in reverse.
"Holy shit, woman, cool your jets!" Feliks whined as he climbed in as quickly as possible.
"No way in hell am I doing that," she answered as she finished backing the van out and switched gears again.
As she pulled forward to the street, Feliks put on his seatbelt. He glanced at the back seat and saw three bags there, recognizing his own emergency bag along with Elizaveta's and a special one that came straight from the safe in Mikkel's office.
"You convinced Mikkel to give you emergency cash?"
"Ivan might not dare talk to the police, but that won't stop him from telling anyone else about where the base is," Elizaveta explained, "As for Toris, whatever he was arrested for, their number one question is still obvious."
"You think one of them will spill the beans?"
"All I know for sure is that I have a very bad feeling about all this, so I persuaded Mikkel to let me act on it. If the base is found while we are gone, at least we'll have some supplies, this van and some cash to help us lay low."
Feliks watched the roads as Elizaveta turned on the street, and spotted Ivan's car a bit further ahead.
"There he is, Liz. Let's find out where he thinks he can run to."