“We have a situation that’s spiraling out of control.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to hear that before I’ve had my morning coffee, Yuri.”
“Sergei had a conflict with Richard, but we aren’t sure how or why.”
“Richard, as in Giselle’s handler? What does that mean?”
“I’m not sure of the details, but Sergei almost beat him to death. Richard was found in the parking lot outside his hotel here in Vancouver.”
“How do we know it was Sergei?”
“Because he beat him up in front of a security camera and then gave the camera the finger.”
Unfortunately, that sounded exactly like something Sergei would do. “Where’s Richard now?”
“He’s in the ICU at Vancouver General, and it doesn’t look good.” I was still trying to process this when he continued speaking. “Richard’s boss, Daniel, just ordered the raid on Grisha.”
None of this was making sense. “Right now? Why has no one consulted me?”
“Daniel’s pissed, and he doesn’t care about protocol. The raid is happening as we speak, which is why I need you to meet us at the docks.”
I hit the gas and flew through a yellow light. “I’m about ten minutes out. Have they started?”
“They started at your house.”
It took me a moment to understand what he meant. “My house?”
“Yes. Grisha and his wife were there, so that’s where they started.”
Mila.“What about my wife?”
“She was caught up in the raid.”
I couldn’t imagine her terror. I needed to get there and make sure they didn’t arrest or book her. I looked over my shoulder to change lanes and turn the van around. “I’m heading there now.”
“We need you at the docks.”
“And I need to get to my wife.”
The line buzzed between us. Then he admitted his lie. “Mila’s already been arrested. Along with her aunt and uncle.”
“She has immunity.”
“And we all know that, and they’ll sort that out when they process her.”
“What’s the address where they took her?”
“Axel,” he cut in, “we don’t have time for that. You need to come to the docks immediately.”
I needed to make sure Mila was okay. “First I need to help my wife.”
Yuri’s calm voice annoyed me. “Listen, even if you show up at the precinct with the best lawyer, she’s going to be caught in processing along with dozens of other arrests. You know that no one will have access to her for hours. And as soon as they know she has immunity, all charges will be dropped and she’ll be released. But in the meantime, we need you here, because the raid is going down right now.”
I hated that he was right. “Why is this all happening without my knowledge?”
“I told you. Daniel went off the rails. I’m just finding out about this myself.”
“I’m on my way.”
