Page 8 of Mistaken
Maksim…
Blyad'!
How in the hell did this infuriating woman manage to end up in the river? Cursing all the way down, I quickly traversed the muddy bank, leaping over boulders and keeping an eye on her flailing hands. I would not allow her to die in any way other than by my hand, and at this point, strangling her was all I could think about.
“Raaachel!” I roared, “This is a very self-destructive way to avoid me! But it’s not going to work!”
There she was…. Of course, she managed to make her way onto the opposite side of the river, just to spite me, I was sure. I watched as she collapsed on the muddy bank before she could climb any further. Fortunately, there was a wider, more shallow area just down from her where I could cross easily.
Holding up my phone to keep it from getting wet, I dialed Grigoriy. “I’m going to need a pickup, she’s not only a thief and a traitor, she’s unbelievably irritating. She managed to fall into the river.” I heard him chuckle softly as I sent the coordinates.
Slinging her limp body over my shoulder for the second time today, I wondered how Rachel Marx could get in this kind of trouble and not have been murdered by now.
Back at the lodge, I dumped her limp body on my bed, calling for Megumi. “Clean her up.”
Megumi’s mouth tightened as if I’d waved a skunk under her nose. “Again?”
“Megumi?”
“Yes, Pakhan?”
“You do realize that my patience with you has an expiration date, and it is rapidly approaching?”
“Understood, Pakhan.”
I left the room as she removed the shredded, soggy cargo pants from Rachel, muttering in Cantonese.
My good mood instantly vanished with a phone call from Patrick.
“Uh, Pakhan?”
This must be serious, Patrick always insisted on calling me boss, instead of my Russian designation.
My voice lowered threateningly. “Yes?”
“This is unacceptable and I submit myself to your discipline, I have no excuse-”
“What?” I snapped.
He took a deep breath. “The woman you are holding is not Rachel Marx. The real Rachel Marx was found dead tonight, dumped at the door of one of our safe houses. This girl that you have - she looked identical - we were sure-”
“Patrick?”
“Y- yes Pakhan?”
“Shut up and make sure the mess with the body is sanitized and not under police investigation. Then tell yourObshchakI will be speaking with him in the morning.”
“Yes, Pakhan.”
He gratefully ended the call, and I slouched back in my chair, tapping my fingers together. Punching in another number, I smiled as Yuri picked up instantly.
“I am guessing you’re calling to tell me that you know Patrick fucked up this business with Rachel Marx.”
“Yes, he did.”
Yuri was silent for a moment, no doubt waiting for me to start shouting and throwing things. “You seem very calm about this,” he ventured.
“Do you know the phrase, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade?”
