Page 18 of Grizzly Sleuth
Ivan and the agent he’d kept behind to guard Svetlana brought her to a hotel. When Ivan left the car to book a room, the agent in the backseat licked his lips. “Can’t wait for my chance to make you talk.” Words to chill, but she refused to show any fear.
When Ivan returned, he had a room key. He parked the car, and the two men escorted her inside, where the desk clerkpretended not to see her being held at gunpoint. Couldn’t really blame them. Only an idiot would interfere with the KGB.
They took the elevator up to the sixth floor and entered a large suite that boasted a living area with a loveseat and a pair of heavy chairs. Ivan stood by and watched as his accomplice tied her to the seat with some rope. They’d come prepared.
Ankles bound to the chair legs. Wrists to the armrests. Seemed like overkill, and led to her sarcastically asking, “Are the big, strong KGB afraid of a little woman?”
The reply to her taunt came in the form of a backhand slap.
At least now her cheeks would have matching bruises.
Initially, Ivan ignored her, pacing the space, barking on his phone as he got status updates from his men left behind.
“What do you mean you can’t find it? It’s a bear. It’s not like it can go inside a house to hide,” he’d screamed.
He had a point. A giant bear shouldn’t be able to disappear. Unless that bear could disguise himself as a man.
A frustrated Ivan threw his phone and whirled on Svetlana with a glare. “Where would it go?”
She shrugged. “How would I know? I can’t read the mind of a bear.”
“It must have a place it considers home.”
“The truck is our home.”
“Liar. That’s not a home,” Ivan scoffed. “Where do you live when you’re not putting on a show?”
“Nowhere.” Technically true.
Slap. The cuff made her ears ring and eyes blink.
“Do not test my patience, woman. Where is the bear?” Ivan demanded.
“My answer hasn’t changed. I don’t know.”
Whack. A tooth cut her bottom lip, and blood welled.
Ivan gripped her bound wrists and leaned forward close enough to bathe her with his fetid breath as he growled, “You will tell me where it is.”
“Since when is the KGB interested in a bear that can do tricks? We haven’t harmed anyone.”
“The KGB isn’t the one interested. However, someone with deep pockets and highly positioned friends in the government is very keen on getting their hands on the beast.”
“What?” The reply surprised. “Who?” And a better question, why?
“Doesn’t matter who. I have my orders.”
His claim that it wasn’t official KGB business only made the situation more confusing. Surely someone intrigued with Yuri would have approached her first rather than contacting the KGB.
“Aren’t you curious as to why they’re so intent on my bear?” she asked.
“You tell me. What makes it so special?”
As if she’d reveal Yuri’s secret. “Other than the fact he can drink a Russian under the table and still juggle?”
Slap.
The questions and abuse didn’t relent until the agents who’d failed to find Yuri returned. Ivan paced in front of them, railing at their incompetence. The agents took it with hung heads, most likely to avoid the blows Ivan seemed prone to doling out. Her face throbbed, as did her stomach where he’d punched her a few times. Good thing she tended to heal quickly.
