Vlad pulled up next to a seedy looking warehouse located in an industrial park in northern LA.
"Nice location," Callen said drily, scanning the area as he exited the car.
Giving a little shrug, Vlad walked over to a nondescript grey door, opened it and gestured Callen inside. "Anton doesn't like to be flashy at work. It can attract the wrong type of elements."
"Worse than Anton," Callen wisecracked. "Imagine that."
The two men continued down a long hallway which was punctuated with an occasional solid closed door. At the end of the corridor they made a right and passed through another windowless bland door into an open, office-like space. The large area was sub-divided into a reception area and an office. In the reception area two men, who could only be described as guards, intently watched as Vlad, with Callen in tow, entered and walked over to where a woman sat typing on a computer. "Is Anton available Anna? I have brought his guest." Turning to the two guards, Vlad added "He is clean" in Russian.
"Shower every day," Callen quipped, also in Russian.
The two guards did not get or like his joke because they still stared intensively at Callen, who in turn threw them his best 'Hey I'm nice guy' disarming smile while thinking that getting out of here was not going to be a walk in the park.
Anna gave Callen an appreciative glance before picking up the phone and speaking in Russian to the person at the other end. After replacing the handset, she waved the two men towards the office door. "He is ready. Go in."
Vlad took the lead, opening the door and then gesturing Callen to proceed him. At the far end of the space, Anton sat behind a large wooden desk that held a computer, piles of paper and a half-eaten sandwich. Rising, he smiled as he walked across the room and extended his hand. "Comrade Leo, it is good to see you again."
Not willing to make waves until he got a better lay of the land, Callen reluctantly grasped the extended hand and allowed Anton to drag him into what could only be described as a Russian bear hug. Anton thumped him enthusiastically on the back before releasing him. "Such stiffness. Do I detect a touch of hostility Leo?" he asked as he gestured for the men to sit in the leather chairs clustered around a low coffee table. "Can I offer you a drink? I have some very good vodka from home," he gestured towards his well-stocked liquor cabinet.
"No. What do you want from me?" Callen bluntly asked, eager to get on with this farce.
"Leo. Again with the hostility." Anton sat down on the chair directly across from Callen, crossed his legs and folded his manicured hands in his lap. "I thought we were friends."
"Let me refresh your memory," Callen said as he mimicked his host's posture. "Last time we met comrade, I ended up going to jail for doing your dirty work. Now, you send him," he waved towards Vlad with distain, "to drag me here saying you have kidnapped my niece. And for this you want me to bring you flowers and wine?"
Anton gave a gruff laugh. "Flowers and wine indeed. I don't want to date you Leo. I simply need your expert assistance in obtaining something for me." Anton leaned forward, lowering his voice as he stared directly at Callen. "You are not easy to find."
"Did you try looking for me in jail?" Callen suggested bitterly.
"Since you got out of jail," Anton continued smoothly. "You have been shall we say scarce? It was pure luck when Vlad spotted you and your charming niece at the American Girl store downtown. An unlikely place no?"
Callen couldn't help but agree with the Russian mobster on that particular point.
"But there you were with your delightful niece, shopping. I have to say Leo," as he leaned back in his chair and relaxed again, "you looked a bit unsettled. You, the man with steel nerves, looking nervous in a store full of dolls."
Callen leaned forward and let a small dangerous smile grace his lips. "Cut the crap Anton. You harm one hair on my nieces' head, if she so much as has a bad dream, I will kill you."
"No need for threats. We can all get what we want here," Anton said with a dangerous smile of his own. "But understand me, comrade. You screw me and things will not end pleasantly."
"I want to see her. Now!" Callen demanded anger clearly evident in his voice.
Anton's face relaxed and he spread his arms wide open. "But of course. I had her brought here as soon as Vlad told me you were coming to visit. Vlad, please go and fetch Ms. Jasmine so 'Uncle Callen' can see she is safe and unharmed."
Vlad rose from the couch and went to fetch Jasmine.
"She is very fond of you," Anton addressed Callen after Vlad had left the room.
While they were waiting for Vlad to return with Jasmine, Callen unobtrusively took in his surroundings, gauging whether there were any good escape opportunities. What he might be willing to risk if he was alone was totally different then what he would risk with Jasmine at his side. He finished his inconspicuous survey coming to the conclusion that escape, at this moment in time, did not seem prudent; he would have to let this play out more.
The door opened and Jasmine was escorted in by Vlad. Her face lit up when she saw her Uncle and she flew across the room into his arms. "Uncle Callen!" she shrieked as she hugged him. "Have you come to take me home? It was been more than a week."
Callen looked Jasmine over before he raised his angry eyes, boring into Anton.
"It took us a while to find you," Anton indifferently shrugged.
"Let her go. Now!" Callen demanded.
"Once our little transaction is done. But now? I don't think that would be in my best interest."
"I promise I'll do what you ask. But let her go first," he reiterated, placing his hands on Jasmine's shoulders.
"It is nice to see you still have a sense of humor. No. We will do it my way." Looking at the little girl, he addressed her kindly. "Haven't we been taking good care of you sweetheart?"
Callen wanted to get up and smack that fake smile off of Anton's face but he clenched his teeth and remained passive.
Jasmine glanced between the two men as she answered. "Well, it has not been so bad."
Anton settled back in his chair with an even bigger cheesy smile. "See Leo."
"Not as good as camp would have been, of course," she expounded. "But I do like the house on the beach. And I got to play with Alex and Alla. They taught me some Russian!"
"My niece and nephew. They are visiting from the mother country, staying at my beach house where Jasmine has been our guest. I told you we were treating her nice." His words were pleasant but his eyes indicated that all of that would change in a heartbeat if Callen did not cooperate.
"The food was good too," Jasmine added. "Different, but good."
"My cook is traditional, old school. She has some of the best recipes, better than my babushka, god rest her soul."
"Though I wish someone would have told me about the change in plans," Jasmine continued, "because I was a little scared at first. But after I talked to Daddy I was ok."
Called quirked an eyebrow at Anton.
"Technology is a wonderful thing. It seems like anything can be replicated these days."
"Though Daddy's voice did sound a little funny..."
"Because we were on a cell phone at the beach," Vlad interjected smoothly. "Not a good signal there. No cell towers in the ocean."
Jasmine looked up at her Uncle with her big brown eyes. "What are you doing here Uncle Callen? Have you come to take me home?" she asked again.
Callen gave her hand a little squeeze. "Soon. But first I need to do something; then I will come back and get you. Do you mind hanging out here a bit longer?"
"I suppose not," she said inter-twining her small fingers in his. "It has been fun so far, though I am still not sure I would have rather gone to camp."
"Alas, as I explained, the tragic fire that damaged the camp," Anton sighed theatrically.
"Yes," Jasmine agreed. "I was in the van on the way to camp when Mike, the driver of the van, got a call. But don't worry Uncle Callen; he pulled over to take it."
Callen had to smile at Sam's safety-minded daughter; seems she took after her Daddy.
"Anyway, they said the camp had a terrible fire and I couldn't go, but Mike was supposed to bring me here instead. Daddy confirmed it."
"Terrible fire," Anton confirmed. "But I am sure they will be up and running by next summer so you can go there. I am happy your daddy let you come to our beach house instead so your vacation was not totally ruined."
"Yes. It is very nice of you to have me Mr. Anton," Jasmine responded politely.
Callen wanted to reach across the table and snap the lying bastard's neck.
Anton gestured and Vlad stood up and held out a hand for Jasmine. "Come. We need to let Mr. Anton and your Uncle get back to their work."
"Go ahead Jasmine," Callen said removing his hand from hers. "I promise, I will be back soon," he added looking menacingly at Anton, then Vlad.
Jasmine gave her Uncle one last hug then went with Vlad. The door closed quietly after them as they exited the room.
"She will remain here, at this warehouse, where I can keep a close eye on her... to ensure her safety of course," Anton said folding his hands in his lap. "I am sure you understand."
Callen understood exactly what the subtext was; it would be easier and less messy for Anton to kill Jasmine here than at his residence if something went wrong.
"And when you come back with my package, you and she can leave."
Callen settled back into the couch a bit, going for a relaxed feeling as he pumped Anton for some more information. "Why me?" he asked curiously.
Anton cocked his head at Callen indicating he did not understand the question.
"Why go thru all the trouble to have me pick up this package for you? You have other thugs who could do this for you with a lot less hassle. Vlad, for example."
Anton smiled, understanding now. "Yes. What you say is true. But I don't want this particular package traced back to me. You are known as a 'free agent' on the street. Many people have hired you over the years. I am just one of many."
"There are others, like me out there. Why not hire them?"
"I don't know them, trust them, but you and I have a prior relationship. I trust you to do what you promise, especially since I have purchased a small insurance policy."
"Jasmine," Callen said flatly.
"You discretely get me what I want and you get what you want. Simple."
Callen sighed. "So tell me about this package, comrade."
When they were done, Vlad returned and escorted Callen to a black SUV driven by a third person. Vlad climbed in the back seat next to Callen to keep an eye on him. However, it was too late as Vlad had already missed one small thing. On the way out, it hadn't been hard for an experienced thief like Callen to unobtrusively swipe a thumb drive and pocket it. Game on.