I’m well aware that I’m beginning a scent trail that could backfire fast, but I can’t just sit on this potential lead.
Luckily, she picks up just before the third ring. “Ivan? What do you want?”
I scoff with a grin. “Hi to you too.”
“That’s not…” Kat trails off before sighing, then she tries again, “Sorry, you don’t usually call me. Did you mean to call Sergey? Are you drunk again?”
At that, I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Always assuming the worst. “No, I called you for a reason, not Sergey.”
“Okay then,” she murmurs, sounding vaguely hesitant but also curious. “Is everything alright?”
“That depends,” I say, absently tapping my finger against the edge of my phone. “How well do you know your extended family?”
Kat takes a long, drawn-out breath, whether genuine or exaggerated, it’s hard to know. “These questions rarely lead anywhere good. Who are we talking about?”
“Maksim Balakin.”
She pauses, then hums just loud enough for the microphone to catch. “The name rings a bell, but if anything, my guess is a distant cousin. Our family tree is a bit of a mess, and Dad only really kept tabs on the ‘important’ ones.”
That’s both promising and not quite…
“Do you know where he is now?”
“Nope, I couldn’t tell you. But if he’s like most of my family, he won’t want to be found. Why?”
I stare at the small frame of the spare bedroom on my screen. “I have reason to believe he might be trying to find his footing here.”
Given how she pauses again, I know this catches her attention. “In Yuri’s place?”
“That’s what I’m assuming for now, but I need confirmation. I was hoping you might’ve known something.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have anything. He was never really involved, from what I remember, and we just never stayed in touch,” Kat says, sounding like she wishes she could be more help.
“I figured it was a long shot,” I murmur, absently rubbing at the bridge of my nose.
“I can ask Sergey. He might know more.”
“No, it’s fine, you don’t have to—”
But before I can keep this between us, there’s a slight shuffle on the other end, followed by a relaxed breath from Sergey. “Too late, I already heard my name. What’s going on?”
Kat scoffs, but doesn’t say anything else.
Knowing I can’t get out of having this conversation right now, I close my eyes and brace myself. “There’s a high chance Yuri isn’t calling the shots anymore, even if he escaped lockup. Someone else is making moves.”
“And you think it’s this Maksim person?”
“Yes.”
“And how did you come to this tentative conclusion?” He asks, his voice giving away a vague sense of knowing.
I hesitate just long enough for him to catch, and long enough for him to continue.
“And why do I get the feeling this is personal?”
“It’s not personal, but it’s relevant,” I mutter.
“Relevant to what?”
