The White Russian
Chapter eight: The White Russian
"Wait a minute, Fred." Velma interrupted, "We're all dependent on our technology, including me. Let me see that phone. If he can use the G. P. S. to locate us, we might be able to turn the tables."
"He'd use a one-time phone then discard it." Anya's voice shook with fear.
"I don't think he's had time to discard it. Even if he has, we'll know the general location."
"Who is he, Anya?" Fred asked, giving her a side long glance.
"My ex-husband. I told you the divorce was by mutual contempt. Now you know why."
"Was he one of the men who attacked you?" Fred added.
"No," Anya tried to smile, failed, then continued, "He wouldn't get his hands dirty that way. Plus, he would know I'd recognize him."
"But he could hire it done? Why the animosity? This seems a bit extreme even counting the divorce."
"Two things, Fred. One, he's mean when he doesn't get his way. I should have seen it before the marriage, but didn't or didn't want to. Second, he wants the White Russian for himself; good old greed. On today's market, if the connection could be made to the Tzar, it would be worth at least a quarter million dollars. He thinks I know where it is and will do anything to have it. This is the result of his not getting his way.
"This has been going on since before the divorce; it has been a nightmare."
"Got him!" Velma exclaimed. "Anya, your ex is in Rockland, the next town over."
"Is there anything you can't do with a computer?" Anya was able to raise a faint smile.
"No...okay, almost...somethings you just need a friend." She glanced at Shaggy, her cheeks blushing crimson. "Done. I can't block the calls, too many variables, but I can disable the G. P. S.."
"Can we get on with this expedition before our friends decide to do more than observe?" Fred started to move away.
They had traveled only a few blocks but it seemed they had entered a new country. They passed by small family owned shops offering everything from Russian pastries and deli items to used clothing and other discarded items looking for a second chance. They entered the two block long park, approaching a group of people gathered around a metal and wood bench.
"A present from friends to new friends." Anya stated in Russian while handing the sacks to the man who was obviously the leader.
"What information do you think this lot of Russians might have that would be of interest to you and your friends?" The head man took a sandwich, handing the sack to the other men to be passed around.
"My friends are looking for information on the White Russian." This brought on an outburst of laughter from the men.
"What do they want with those old wives tales? And what are you looking for?"
"I've been attacked, my friends are being followed, possibly by my ex-husband. I just want some peace of mind and be done with him."
The man stopped laughing, studying Anya for some long moments. "Peace of mind is a fleeting thing. Are you being followed now?"
"Yes," Anya replied. "By two men, they are watching us now." The man scratched his beard, silently glancing back over the way these new friends had come.
"Go through the alley on the side of this park; perhaps we can give you a momentary peace." His eyes indicated which alley he was speaking of, then turning to speak to his fellow Russians.
"Thank you, my new friend."
Anya translated all that had transpired, including the passage through the indicated alley. "What choice do we have?"
No viable option was forthcoming so the friends moved away from the park, entering the alleyway. Shaggy stopped to look back before disappearing into the dark alley. What he saw was two men being surrounded by the men they had just befriended. He and Scooby turned away, not wanting to know what happened to the two men, turning they vanished into the shadows.
Xxx
The next day...
Anya and friends were standing in front of a store front that sold televisions. As an example of their wares, several televisions were tuned to the mid-day news. The handsome news anchor reported that the search for Velma Dinkley and the group known as Mystery Inc. continued. Two men were being held in connection of this disappearance. He reported that the two men persisted in their innocence.
"Anya, whatever those men did to you, they don't deserve to be punished for something they didn't do. Shaggy, I think your idea of going off the grid has done its work. It's time we ended this mystery."
"You have this mystery solved, Velma?"
"I'm of the opinion that we're way in over our heads on this one. Sorry, Fred, but there is no trap to catch an eighty-five year old fairy tale, even if it is founded on fact. I don't know about you guys, but I'm in need of a shower and fresh clothes. I suggest we go back to our home and call the police about our abduction. Then we can decide on what to do."
The remaining men watching the group must have been stretched to the limit when Velma and the gang returned to Velma's home, then dispersed to pick up changes of clothes, shower and returned. Fred in particular didn't notice the usual tail. By the time they had reconvened, everyone was in a better mood.
They found a freshly showered Velma on the phone with the police.
"...No, Inspector, there was no kidnapping. Anything else missing? I don't think so but I'll check and let you know. Thank you for stopping those burglars so quickly and for the information. Good bye."
"That takes care of the 'kidnapping'," Velma hung up the phone, joining her guests.
"What about the 'information' you mentioned?" Fred asked, sitting next to Daphne on the sofa.
"The Inspector couldn't tell me much on an ongoing investigation but he did mention that once those two burglars that broke in here started talking it was hard to keep them quiet. Anya, I don't think you'll be bothered by your ex-husband any more. Several arrests have been made already and more are planned, including your ex."
"What about the White Russian mystery, the FBI asked us to look into?" Shaggy's stomach grumbled.
"In the past, we've had only one villain to contend with and unmask." Velma continued, "This time is completely different. Anya's ex has had her attacked and if it hadn't been for Fred, I have no clue as to what would have happened And he's still out there. There is no proof and never will be, they'll denounce it, but I believe the FBI has kept an eye on us.
"Anya, I also believe the KBG has had an interest in our travels. Why do you think the secret police would be following us when it was Russia that instigated this search for the White Russian?"
Anya took in a deep breath, releasing it in a long sigh. "Russia would see the inability to account for the remaining three pieces of the crown jewels as a defeat. Never mind the eighty-five years since they went missing; time is of little importance in so serious a matter. Velma, you're right, the KBJ will do anything, and I do mean everything, to recover the White Russian if you find it. I, too, have had the feeling they are in the background."
"This is why I vote to end this now. We can tell the FBI the truth, that all our leads ended in dead ends."
"Did you have to say 'dead ends', Velma?" Scooby crawled up into Shaggy's lap.
"I, for one, agree with Velma." Fred stated, "My working vacation ends tomorrow. I got a call and have to go back on the clock tomorrow morning. Daphne, want to go with me? I can guarantee you'll get some stories."
"Go on, Daphne, we can take care of your apartment until you decide what to do with it." Velma couldn't help but laugh at her friend.
The couple left hand in hand.
"Shaggy, would you and Scooby go to the store? We do need to replenish the fridge. And pick up some Scooby Snacks while you're gone."
"Why don't you just say you two girls want some time to talk?" He was already moving to pick up keys.
"Okay, we need time for girl talk...but we still need these items." She handed over a prepared list.
"Anya," Velma started when she was satisfied that Shaggy was gone on his errand, "a friend on the police force once said it's one thing to know something, it's a different ballgame to prove something.
"I know about a romance you have to keep quiet about. One of the reasons I think we should admit defeat is now I have a future husband and a family to think about.
"Do you have feelings for Fred?"
"Not in the sense you mean. I admit I find him handsome but even before seeing him with Daphne, I knew it wouldn't work for long. They do make a lovely couple and I wouldn't want to be the third side of a triangle."
"I have no proof but I know...the White Russian is the code name for the person holding the bracelet and the bracelet itself. The original White Russian is long dead but his descendants would have been told the truth, in a bed time story for example.
"I noticed how those people at the park respected you when you spoke their native language; not just the language but the dialect. They were ready to fight for you, a stranger. I have no idea how they knew, but they did know you for who you are: the White Russian."
"When Anastasia was murdered, she had the bracelet...her last words were for him to take the bracelet, never let the killers have it. Her lover and his family have guarded the secret for all these years." Anya rose and started to pace.
"In my opinion, I think it would be best if the White Russian and the bracelet were to disappear. If I figured it out, others will too, if they haven't already. The White Russian will never be safe otherwise."
Xxx
three days later
Anya took down a picture, setting it against the wall. Twirling the dial right, left and right again, she opened the safe. Extracting a box, she looked at the passport in another name. She knew Velma had been correct, she had always known this day would come at some point. She placed the box in the suitcase.
She retrieved another box, opened it and stared at a beautiful bracelet. She rubbed the dent that ran along the side, possibly from a bullet. This too went into the suitcase. Heaving a deep sigh, she closed and locked the empty safe, replacing the picture. Picking up the suitcase she left the apartment for the last time.
Hailing a cab, she handed the cabbie sixty dollars, "Forty of that is for your fare, drive around town until it's used up. The other twenty is for you if you'll drop this in the nearest trash can."
"Sure thing, lady. Easiest fare I'll have all day." The cabbie did a double take when she dropped a cell phone in the passenger seat.
The White Russian hailed a second cab, getting in the rear seat, "International Airport, please."
THE END