As expected, this draws a reaction from the old man. The ever-so-slight lift of his chin is the equivalent of any other man dropping the F-bomb.
“I’ve been very interested in this Reaper man,” he admits. “They say he’s quite skilled with a karambit blade, those who survive.”
“I’ve heard the same. You’re not the only one seeking information on him.” I wait, emphasizing that I have intel he wants because I know Grisha. I arrived with a gift, but I know better than to expect a free handout.
Finally, a sly smile splits his face. “I did teach you well.”
“You did.”
“Well, go on, then.”
“He sent a message via an arrow, shot into the wood siding of a house. It had a note wrapped around the shaft, sealed with wax.”
“Interesting,” he muses slowly, eyes unfocused on the horizon.
“We don’t have a reason to trust him, or Simeon, for that matter. But with Pasha being edged out of power, he’s looking like the most likely culprit. I imagine he blames us for his ouster.”
“I can’t tell you what’s in a man’s head.”
“No, but you could help me find him.”
Again, he studies me. “There’s someone you haven’t mentioned.”
Every muscle in my body tenses as I rack my mind for who I could have forgotten about.
“Misha Savin,” he continues. “He’s known by you Italians as Michael—cozied himself up to the Lucciano family.”
“What about him?”
“He rose in the ranks over the years. Biba favored him almost as much as his sons. Some thought he might inherit the whole organization.”
I’m stunned. I had no idea another player was so involved. “Where is he now?”
He gives a slight shrug, palms up. “No one knows. He disappeared the day Biba died.”
Holy shit.
My brain races to catch up and figure out how this information might change things.
“Simeon?” I ask, wondering if he could have taken out the man he saw as a rival.
“No, he was a mess when it happened. Never could have moved so quickly to take out a rival.”
I know Michael wasn’t responsible for Biba’s death, but I won’t breathe a word of that to Grisha. Some things are too dangerous to share. Michael ran, but why? Fear of Simeoncoming after him? Could Michael lead me to Pasha? Would the two be together?
“You think I’m better off chasing Michael than Pasha?”
“Who’s to say? But if you wanted to think on it over a good drink, you could visit The Half-Mast. I hear it’s good for people watching.”
Bingo.
“I always enjoy a bar with a good atmosphere.” I extend my hand. “It’s good to see you, my friend. Our talks are always greatly appreciated.”
He shakes my hand, making note of the recent blood on my knuckles, and chuckles to himself. “Always a pleasure, Moy mal'chik. Always a pleasure.”
I decideto stop at Terina’s apartment on the way to The Half-Mast to check on things again and get her mail. The first thing I notice is that the security system isn’t armed when I enter. While nothing seems immediately amiss, a lingering odor draws me farther into the apartment. Gun drawn, I enter her bedroom and have to fight back the urge to gag at the stench.
Set in the center of her bed as if on display is the rotting remains of what appears to be a heart—animal or human, I have no idea—with a large knife through the center stabbed into the bed.
