Page 13 of Grizzly Sleuth
“How do you not know?” Idris exploded. “Don’t tell me you left her behind.”
“I was going to fight,” Yuri exclaimed. “But they came armed with guns and darts, and she yelled at me to run. Since I couldn’t exactly help her if I was dead or tranqued, I bolted.”
“And decided to come to me.” Which led to Idris wondering, “How did you find me? I didn’t tell you where I lived.”
Yuri tapped his nose. “Your scent. It lingered around the truck, and when I took off, I happened to exit the alley in the same direction as you. It wasn’t hard to follow your trail.”
A skill Idris hadn’t yet properly developed. “How long ago did these events unfold?”
“Not long and too long at the same time.” Yuri grimaced. “Once I knew where you lived, I kept running, wanting to ensure I lost anyone following. When I could be sure I didn’t have a shadow, I made my way back here.”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out why. “You want my help getting Svetlana back.”
Yuri nodded.
“You realize how impossible that is. We’re talking about the KGB.” Everyone in North America had grown up on stories about the dreaded government group. Needed a bad guy in a movie, book, or real life? Blame the KGB.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I have no one else I can turn to.”
And while Idris wouldn’t turn him away, he did point out the obvious. “What do you think I can do? I’m still a stranger in this country who doesn’t speak the language. I don’t have any connections, or even a gun.”
“I know,” Yuri’s soft reply. “I’ll understand if you refuse, but I’m desperate.”
“Never said I wouldn’t help, just trying to make it clear I’m not much of an asset. That said, is there anything you do know? What will they do with her?”
“If we’re lucky, they’ve relocated to a holding location somewhere in this town for questioning. If we can figure out where, we might be able to get her out.”
“It won’t be that simple. Wherever they’re holed up will be guarded,” Idris pointed out.
“Yes, but not as heavily as one of their main offices in the bigger cities.”
“What are the chances they’ve left town already?”
“Depends on their orders.”
“I’m going to assume they want her alive since they didn’t shoot her on sight,” Idris stated.
“She was uninjured when I fled.”
A state that might not last long if she kept her mouth shut, and she seemed the stubborn type who would spit the more you shoved. “Assuming you were the main aspect of their mission, the fact they didn’t nab you is probably a good thing. They might stick around in the hopes Svetlana will help them.”
Yuri’s shoulders drooped. “She won’t. My sister would die before she betrayed me.”
Must be nice to have someone so staunchly in your corner. “If we assume you’re the reason they ambushed, do you think this means they’re aware of your secret?”
“It’s possible, although I’ve never changed in front of anyone but my sister. She is the only one who knows what I can do.” Yuri’s gaze narrowed. “Other than you.”
At the accusation, Idris held up his hands. “I didn’t rat you out. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Then perhaps it was simply the KGB being curious about our act.”
“Does it happen often, them arresting people for no known reason?”
Once more, Yuri rolled his shoulders. “They’re the KGB. They can do what they like in the name of Russian security.”
Idris paced. “Let’s go on the premise they’ve chosen to stick around town looking for you. How would we go about finding them?”
“I don’t know. They could be anywhere. Police station. Hotel. In the American movies, it’s often a warehouse.” Yuri managed a weak smile.
