Sergi stared at her.“I remember hearing this.And Briar, being who she is, wanted to give him his life back.”
Serenity nodded.“She sees a need and tries her best to give it back.”
“I’ve noticed that about her,” Sergi added.“I admire it.She has been on the streets for most of her life with nothing and yet, she would give her fellow street people whatever she had to keep them safe and well.This is why I strive to earn her respect as well.She is more important than she knows.But right now, I need to convince her and Pippy that it’s time for Willy to speak his own truth.”
Serenity shook her head.“Willy has kept his own story silent for so long because he thinks he’s going to be dragged back to stand before the council for something he never did.You may know the truth now but he still fears that.Some people can’t get past their fear, especially if they have lived with it for a long time.”
Sergi paused and knew that maybe he could add something to this and help Serenity.“Your father-in-law had suffered with a silent fear of his own.I know this subject is still a bit painful, but if you can find it in your heart to forgive him this fault, maybe you can all be a happier family.”
Serenity stared at him and then let out a sigh.“I have tried to let go of it.But it is still a work in progress.What he did hurt for a long while.I still need time.”
Sergi nodded.“That is natural.I understand.”He reached out and took her hand.“There is a time for everything under heaven.And that includes past misunderstandings as is the case with Wilhelm-Willy.He doesn’t have to prove a damn thing.Misha told me all that time ago that Wilhelm didn’t hurt him, that he wouldn’t ambush him and he never believed what the evidence was telling everyone.I think Wilhelm would come forward for Misha.So, when Misha gets back from Russia, I can only hope that they can be friends again.They were friends once upon a time and they could be again, I think.”
Serenity nodded.“In the meantime, I am looking for this mysterious Pablo.So, let me do my magic and see how far back this really goes.I’ve gone back about ten years and what I’ve found makes me uneasy.This guy really hates you and he’s been setting you up for a long time.You aren’t going to be happy with what I’ve found so far.When I get a full report on it I will give it to you guys.”
Sergi clenched his hands.“Khorosho, it’s better to know one way or another.The truth will always come out and some of these old feuds go back a long time.But we can’t end them if we don’t know all the details.Find us some answers.”He rapped his knuckles on the table and walked back to where Nikoli and Felix were comparing notes.
Felix looked up and asked, “What did Briar have to say?”
Sergi rocked back and forth on his heels and shared her opinion with him, “She told me to look outside the box to find this Pablo Sinclair.”
“And?”Nikoli prompted.
“And I agree with her,” Sergi admitted.“Maybe we do need to look outside the box.”
Felix asked, “And just what does that mean in this particular situation?”
“Briar says that the name Pablo Sinclair sounds made up.So he is someone hiding his real identity.I agree with that too, because it makes sense.I asked Serenity to find out what this man’s real name might be and what he’s been doing and she’s going to dig deeper.She’s also looking for a connection between Pablo and this group.There has to be one somewhere.Otherwise, why would he care about Artemy being captured?”
Nikoli had been listening and he nodded.“And if anyone can find the connection Serenity can.I’m just happy she’s on our side.”
Sergi nodded at this summation but didn’t say anything.
Time passed slowly as the afternoon progressed.
No other attack happened and they were lulled into a careful watch outside the hotel.The Nomads were watching from the roof while Sergi’s men were down on the streets.
Serenity was still busy on her computer and her search was taking her back in time.She paused at the information she was reading, then she gasped and backed her chair away from the desk.Raising her gaze from her screen, she sought out Sergi’s location.
When their eyes met she announced, “I think you should see this.”
Sergi walked over to her followed by Nikoli and Felix.Sergi kept his eyes on Serenity the whole time.When he finally broke eye contact with her, he looked down at the screen.Grumbling a bit, he glared at the information he saw there.
Nikoli finally asked as he looked perplexed, “What does all this mean?”
Silence was his only answer.
