The Shadows of Diplomacy

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

In the confines of his car, Keller felt a sense of triumph driving back to Geneva. Arya was technically still in his possession, and he relished the anticipation of taunting Alexei. Pulling out his phone, he dialled Alexei's number, a smug grin forming on his face as he waited for the call to connect.

Alexei's voice came through.

"So when are you going to turn yourself in?" Keller questioned.

There was a lengthy pause. Alexei did not want to betray that he knew that Arya was free, but he wanted his response to be confident. Too much time had passed with him thinking so he opted not to respond.

"Arya has realised the futility of your struggle. She will choose to survive, she will pick my side. If anything, this is an invite for you to join my side too. How do you think she'll feel knowing you'd risk her life to fight a losing battle instead of surrendering your pride ... and, well, the privilege of re-entering the EEA? What decisions do you think she'll make in light of that?"

"You're full of shit, Keller," Alexei finally spoke.

Keller cocked a brow, before his expression fell sinister. "You know what, I'm done throwing you a lifeline. You turn yourself in to the Swiss authorities tomorrow by noon, or you really won't like the consequences."

"Is that a threat?"

"Oh, like you've never heard one before."

Alexei felt unsettled. He knew Arya had escaped from Keller, yet a nauseous feeling rose in the pit of his stomach. He cut Keller off, zeroing in on his instincts. He could not call Arya, he knew she didn't have her phone. Alexei left the Russian Embassy hastily, driving to Arya's abode.

Upon arriving Alexei knocked, but when there was no response, he opened the door and went inside.

"Arya?"

He beelined to her bedroom, but she was not there. Alexei noticed the closet door was left opened and ventured inside. He noticed some of Arya's things were missing and unease swelled within him. Now he did not know where to turn, nor what to think.

"Shit."

It was entirely possible that she had gone somewhere safe on her own, but not being able to confirm that made Alexei anxious. He checked the time on his wristwatch, he had less than 24 hours to make sure that Arya was far out of Keller's reach. Alexei inhaled sharply, pondering his next move.

He exited Arya's apartment, locking up after himself, and walked down to the lobby to speak with the concierge.

"Good afternoon, I'm looking for Arya. Do you happen to know when she left?"

"I'm afraid I don't."

Alexei lowered his voice, "I know this is a big ask, but Arya might be in danger so I really need to know when she left, and how she left after I dropped her off here the night before last night. Would you be so kind as to give me a copy of the footage from then to now?"

Detecting sincerity and desperation in Alexei's eyes, the concierge nodded. He was familiar with Alexei, Arya's picture perfect boyfriend. "I will download it, but it may take a while so how can I send it to you?"