The Magic Trick (The Card Game #2)

Ch 19 - Andrei's Secret

CHAPTER 19

ANDREI'S SECRET

Handcuffed to a chair in an interrogation room in the bowels of a southern Russian ostrog was not Viktor's ideal version of Christmas morning; neither was learning that one of his closest allies, the boy sitting next to him, might actually be a full-blown criminal.

Though this does explain some things, Viktor mused with dark fascination. Like how Andrei learned to fight and knew the way to this random city ... and knew the Leopard had once been kept here.

"I've served my sentence," said Andrei. "You can't hold me here, Ipatiy."

"That's Chief Director Buryov to you!" shouted the head officer in the room.

The director, an old and strong balding man, was squeezed behind a desk and waved his hand. "Stay out of this, Veniamin. And you,"—he said to Andrei—"I can hold you here as long as I please. I don't care what blasted day it is. I'll throw you and your cohorts in a windowless hole until you talk."

"That's no problem, Director," said Romulus. "We came here to talk. Andrei was kind enough to be our guide. See, it's about one of your old prisoners, one I'm sure you wouldn't forget: Nocktayl Luski."

The atmosphere in the room changed.

The chief director blinked his crusted eyes for several moments, then glanced warily from the boys to their manacles to his subordinates, who had tensed up. "Well, what are you waiting for? Release their chains. It's Christmas for goodness' sake! And I should like a good drink, Veniamin, and these boys look famished. Fetch kumis and fried buns ... and ... and bring the file."

Viktor was in a slight stupor as an officer unlocked him. His hands fell free, and he massaged his wrists, reexamining the grimy room.

"Sir, we have information regarding Nocktayl," said Romulus.

From the looks of it, that was exactly what the director was dreading. Yet he had not risen to the top of an ostrog for being a weak man. He furrowed his brow and waited until his officers had dismissed themselves from the room to speak. When he began it was in a low, gritty rumble. "Of the vilest to enter these doors, the deviants, terrorists, murderers, cannibals, the maniacs even ... you pick the one that usurps them all. I know Andrei did not know the Leopard's true name. None spoke it. How in the blazes did you come by it?"

"He grew up in our hometown of Aryk, some hundred miles from here." Romulus pointed to the leather journal that lay on the director's desk, which had been confiscated upon entry. "It's my father's memoirs. Nocktayl murdered him, and my mother, and my grandmother. And there's much more than that, proof in that diary of horrible plans, an assault on a whole nation. So you can appreciate then why I think that I've a right to hear what's in your file. And of course, we will tell you everything we've come to know."

It had been a point of Romulus' to build credibility and not reveal their cards too early, so Viktor gave his best shot at a sincere nod. Andrei, meanwhile, sat staring at the floor, his body slack from shame and his bruised forehead swelling from the blows.

"Yes, yes, of course," Director Buryov muttered. He was lost in thought until Veniamin came in with a sour look, laden with the tray of hot buns and kumis, as well as a hulking file.

Viktor was not so stubborn as to refuse food. The glass of cold, thick milk made his head buzz with pleasure, and he had scarfed down several hot buns by the time the director's calloused fingers had perused through the old file.

"What's in it?" Romulus said.

"Many things." The director looked up. "Background, crimes committed, behavior reports, alliances and enemies in the prison, physical and psychological makeup, it goes on and on ... No brevity for 7A-97."