Russian Nights

chapter 4

Chapter 4

Lucas felt like his head was going to explode as his alarm rang at 7 am. Torture. Like someone was hitting his head with a club over and over again. He rolled to the side and groaned louder. His stomach was feeling fuzzy too and his tongue was paper dry. He needed water and something against the headache. Lucas scrambled to his feet and stumbled into the kitchen, grabbing some aspirin and a bottle of water. He chewed three tablets and took a huge sip of water. For a moment he thought he would threw it up right away but after a few seconds his stomach calmed down. God, how he wished to go back to bed. Instead he needed to report to Ros and the team in an hour. And he knew nothing. But he could deal with that later. First he needed a shower.

After the shower Lucas felt a little better, at least not like he might throw up any minute. But he still had no information for her. Lucas went over to his table and sat down, placing a note pad and pen in front of him, taking off his watch and laying it beside him. Concentrate. Think. He told himself and forced his head to go over all the details he knew. His head was soon pounding even more.

Sergej. Grybov. Nikki. No, not Nikki. And Sergej was not clever enough.

Lucas sighed. Who else was there? Who could Grybov talk to? Who was he alone with? A lot?

He remembered something. From last night. Some blurry scene he saw before going upstairs with Nikki. But he couldn’t get it together. He was too drunk. He only remembered bits and pieces.

“Damn it!” he yelled, hitting the table with his palm. He tried again. Focusing on what he saw last night.

Grybov. A woman. The woman… there was something about the woman. The Madam.

Lucas opened his eyes and exhaled. Jekaterina. The Madam of Sergej’s girls. Maybe? She was always with Grybov. And she had brains. At least he heard so. That she was sly. But why? If it was her, then why? Also, he had no proof it was her. It was just an idea. Except that she was caring for Grybov exclusively. But that was basically nothing. Well, he needed to get onto the Grid. Before Ros really send someone over…

It was 8 o’clock on the dot when Lucas stepped through the doors. He felt a little sick again. Carsick probably, though he had been driving himself. Well, he guessed that if he had been stopped there was still enough alcohol in his system to get him arrested.

“Morning Lucas!” Malcolm greeted with a smile, holding out a box to him that smelled sickly sweet. “Doughnut?” Lucas groaned. “Ugh, no, thanks Malcolm!” he mumbled, stepping away from it. “Lucas!” Ros called just that moment. Lucas nodded, wincing slightly. “Don’t shout.” He whispered more to himself than anyone else.

“So, what do you know?” Ros asked immediately after Lucas set down, letting the file fall on the table. Lucas winced again. “Can you please try not to torture me?” he asked lowly. “I will tell you without torturing me into submission, you know?” Ros pursed her lips but nodded. “So… I know that Sergej is definitely out of the question. The man doesn’t have enough brains.” “You sure about that?” Ros asked. “Yes. I am quite sure.” Lucas said. “He only knows pleasure, not an ounce of business sense in him. But…” Lucas sighed. He rubbed his face with his hands. Throwing up on anyone wouldn’t really help him. “The Madam. She seems capable. And she is caring for Grybov exclusively.” “Could be a number of reasons though.” Jo interrupted. “Yes, but she is the only company Grybov got at the club. And if it is the club where he is spilling his intel…” “It only leaves her.” Harry summed Lucas’ idea up. “Have you any way of getting close to her, to confirm?” Lucas sighed. “I might have.” He mumbled. “But…” Ros looked up. “There is a ‘but’ in it?” “I can’t do it myself.” Everybody looked up.