The cold war 31

Visibly shaken, Ben filled Irina in on the details of the phone call. While he spoke, Irina remained quiet and calm, listening carefully to what he was saying before leaning over to give him a hug.

“We’ve got to call the police”, Irina said softly into his ear, “I can’t believe this is happening, I mean the guy seemed a little pushy, but kidnapping!”.

“He always gave me the creeps”, Ben replied shuddering, “there was something about the way he looked at me like he was staring right through me”.

Picking up his phone from its position resting between his silky thighs, Ben rang the New York police department. The woman who answered seemed very concerned and told him a pair of detectives would be calling around to see him shortly.

Thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door and when she opened it, Irina was greeted with a pair of badges thrust into her face, “good afternoon, ma’am, I’m detective Peters”, a grizzled looking man in his fifties said, “and this is detective Morgan”, Peters added looking towards his partner, a younger rather plump man with a crooked smile “may we come in”?

Stepping aside Irina let the men into the office who walked straight over to a rather nervous looking Ben who was looking down at the ground, not sure whether to reveal his true identity or not.

“I’m Irina Volkova, and this is my sister Bunny, she is the one who received the call”, Irina said pointing towards Ben who lifted his head and gave the men a little wave.

“Well, I think we better hear this story, can we take a seat”? Peters asked but not waiting for an answer as he strode across the room towards the sofa.

Taking a seat next to Irina, Ben retold the story of the phone call once more, trying to remember each and every detail.

When he finished the detectives asked a couple of follow up questions before standing to leave.

“What that’s it!”, Ben exclaimed as he watched the men stand up, “what happens now? Don’t I need to come down to the station to give my statement or something”?

“No, that won’t be necessary ma’am”, Peters announced straightening his suit jacket, “we’ve taken your statement here, and we’ll be in touch if we hear anything”.

“But what about Jake? He's in real danger!”, Ben exclaimed, “you’ve got to do something”.

Peters smiled, “we’re on the case ma’am, it won’t be easy seeing as we don’t know the building or apartment number, but we’ll find your friend”, he said reaching into his jacket pocket, “here, take my card, if your friend calls again, be sure to call me immediately”, and with that, the detectives left.

Almost a month went by with no progress. Jake hadn’t called back and neither had the detectives. That wasn't to say Ben hadn't spoken to them, he had been calling the number detective Peters had given him every other day looking for news, but each time was told the same thing, that they were still investigating but unfortunately there were no new leads.

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Leaning against a wall at the address Jake had given him, Ben yawned, having given up on the police, he had decided to take matters into his own hands.

For the last two day, Ben had stood around waiting, surveying his surroundings for any sign of Danila or Jake.

Dressed as he was, he felt like a spy from an old movie. The outfit consisting of a large, oversized coat, a bobble hat, and a pair of large sunglasses, served two purposes. Firstly, to keep him warm as it was now bitterly cold outside, it wasn’t uncommon for the temperature to drop below zero this time of year and he had even seen the first signs of snow.

The second reason was of course to disguise his appearance, he didn’t really have a plan if he saw Jake or Danila, but he knew whatever he planned to do, it would be much easier if he could do it unrecognised.

Taking a sip of the coffee he had just bought to warm himself up, Ben looked up and smiled. The same car he had seen the previous day had just pulled up in front of one of the buildings.

He was standing in the wrong spot the last time he saw it, and by the time he moved closer, it was too late. But he could have sworn he saw Danila get in accompanied by a blonde woman.

Seeing a tall dark man exit from the back of the car, this time Ben close enough to see properly, it was definitely Danila, and he was heading into the buildings.

With his heart thumping wildly in his chest, Ben quickly followed. Passing the car that was still parked outside, Ben ducked his head and quickly entered the building.

Hit by a waft of comforting warm air, Ben was presented with a rather spacious but dated looking lobby. On the far side of the room, his eyes were drawn to a set of elevator doors that had just closed, "dam”, he muttered under his breath.

“Can I help you, miss”? A man behind a desk to his right said, startling Ben and making him jump.

Taking off his glasses, Ben turned, “oh… hi, no, I’m ok I think”, he said flashing the man a smile, “I’m meeting a friend who lives here, she said to wait for her down here, is that ok”?

The doorman smiled, “no problem at all Miss, it’s way too cold to be standing around outside today, you can take a seat over there if you’d like”, he replied pointing to a battered dark purple sofa that matched the rest of the lobby's décor.

Thanking the man Ben strolled over and took a seat, he still didn’t have a plan, but he could see from the number above the elevator, it had stopped on the 7th floor.

He considered calling detective Peters but before he got the chance the elevator started descending once again.

Holding his breath, Ben watched as the numbers on the display slowly counted down towards zero. just before the elevator pinged, Ben looked around and grabbed a newspaper from the table next to him before quickly opening it and raising it to cover his face.

From the corner of his eye, Ben saw Danila exit the elevator accompanied one again by the blonde woman. He felt a little deflated seeing her, he had hoped to see Jake but then again, deep down, he knew that was probably expecting too much.

Trying his best to stay inconspicuous, Ben glanced at the pair as they started to walk across the lobby. Danila strode ahead confidently as the woman dressed in a smart-looking business suit, who Ben guessed to be Danila's secretary, stumbled along behind looking a little unstable on her tall heels.

How strange, Ben thought watching her struggle across the lobby, why would you wear such tall heels if you couldn’t walk in them? And especially on an icy day like today?

Suddenly, Danila stopped in the middle of the lobby and glancing over in Ben's direction. Lifting his paper slightly higher, he once again held his breath as he willed his hands to stop shaking.

Danila looked away, obviously not recognising him, and instead turned to face his blonde companion, “come on, Jacqueline, you need to pick up the pace, we have a meeting at ten-thirty and if you make us late again you know what happens, right”? He boomed in his loud intimidating voice.

The woman quickened her pace a little, looking rather awkward in a half walk, half jog like motion, scurrying along taking tiny mincing steps that echoed loudly throughout the room, “yes, Danila”, came a rather deep-voiced response, “sorry, I’m coming”.

Hearing the woman speak, Ben’s eyes widened behind his newspaper and his breathing quickened. Slowly he lowered the paper and peered over the top.

Danila was now striding for the exit, but Ben's eyes were fixed on something else. For the first time, he could see the blonde woman’ face, a face albeit now plastered in heavy makeup, one he instantly recognised.

Time seemed to slow down as Ben watched her continue to stumble along behind Danila. He suddenly felt dizzy as if he was about to faint as he stared in disbelief at the worrying and disturbing sight in front of him not quite believing his eyes.

(See image 5.2)