Pete Tchaikovski's Blues

Author:Dr. Charles Forbin

Copyright 1998

"I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep."

When Robert Frost wrote those words, I'm sure he wasn't thinking that someday they would wind up in a tale like this. But they do sum up my dilemma.

I had promised myself that I would locate the men who had put Susan Bellamy in a wheelchair.

The only real clue I had was the man who had hired her to defend a murderer.  Ivan Rudenko, Russian émigré, successful business man. And potentially a criminal mastermind capable of ordering the maiming of a woman.

My problem was complicated a little more by a phone call a few days after Susan and I have visited Sin.  I got the first cup of coffee down before the phone rang, and I ignored it as is my usual habit. If I had answered it instead of listening to the message as the machine recorded it, I still would have done a spit take.

"This is Arthur Bellamy. I understand you've been dating my daughter and I'm not at all happy about it. I expect to see you this afternoon at the Yacht Club at two.", said a flat voice with a distinctly Boston accent.

I wiped the coffee off my bare chest and thanked the Goddess that I add an ice cube to it.

I picked up the phone and dialed Susan's number and was told by Mr. Hahn, her housekeeper and attendant, that she was not available to answer the phone.

"Is she even there?", I asked.

"She and another young lady left in the van some time ago.", he replied in his soft, sonorous voice.

"Thank you.", I said and hung up.

One o' clock. Shit.

I dashed through the shower, shaved and dressed for the occasion, which in this case was a blue dress shirt and omitting the leather vest I usually wore on weekends.

I made it to the club by two, and ignored the sneers of the valet as he took the keys to the Eagle.

I should mention that my Eagle looks more like the Millennium Falcon than a normal wagon.

The maitre'd escorted me to Mr. Bellamy's table and my worst suspicions were confirmed.

This man was a direct descendent of that breed of Bostoner that "spoke only to Cabots, and Cabots speak only to God."

"Mr. Forbin, I am not at all pleased with the activities you have involved my daughter in.", he said without bothering to introduce himself.

I decided to be equally rude. In retrospect, it's probably a bad idea to have a pissing contest with a skunk, but his whole attitude was ticking me off.

"And I sir, am not amused by your attitude. To use a phrase that is somewhat politically incorrect, your daughter is free, white and twenty-one.", I said rising from my seat.

"Sit down Mr. Forbin.", he said sharply. "I'm not through with you."

"I however, am through with you. Good day sir.", I said in my iciest tones.

Before I got more than two steps I was intercepted by two gentlemen who were probably football players the rest of the time.

"Mr. Bellamy is not through talking to you.", one of them said.

I just looked at him and shrugged.

"Tell me something. Are you really planning on beating me to a pulp in front of witnesses?", I said softly, and stepped around him. His partner however was a bit less subtle and placed his hand on my arm.

"I would suggest you remove that hand, before I scream rape.", I suggested.

"I suggest you sit back down.", he rumbled.

I turned to look back at Mr. Bellamy who was just watching the scene play out.

"Johnson, remove the hand please.", Mr. Bellamy suggested. "I'm sure that Mr. Forbin can be reasonable at times."

"I suppose you're right.", I conceded and turned back.

I sat down and placed my napkin in my lap and waited for Mr. Bellamy to speak again.

"Now, Mr. Forbin. I'd like to suggest you stay away from my daughter.", he said, signaling the waiter.

"And how does the lady feel about it?", I asked, sipping my water.

"I speak for my daughter in this case Mr. Forbin. Do you like lobster or steak?", he said, turning to the menu.

"Steak is fine with me. But I have a rule. I don't sup with the devil with or without a long spoon.", I said.

He put the menu down and smiled at me coldly.

"My daughter is very important to me. And I don't approve of her frequenting certain types of nightspots. The family does have an image to maintain."

"But you have no problem with spying on her.", I replied feeling like I was in a bad drama.

"Did she tell you what happened to her?", he asked.

"Yes, she did."

"Then you understand my caution. I understand you are a father yourself?"

"For the brief period of a day and a half, yes.", I said pointedly.

His expression never wavered.

"Ah, I see. Devon didn't have all the details.", he commented.

"I can see that Devon and I need to have another talk.", I replied genially. With a two by four in a dark alley, I thought.

"Oh, he and I have kept in touch for many years. And when he told me that you were dating my daughter I pressed him for details about you.

"I had one of my associates follow you and I'm glad I did. Really, I don't care what you do with your life, but involving my daughter is simply not acceptable."

"Tell me something.", I asked. " How much legal work do you do for Rudenko Importing?"

His expression cracked for just a moment and then solidified again.

"I do have some dealings with Mr. Rudenko.", he said calmly.

"Now that's something that Devon didn't tell me when I asked.", I replied. "You are aware of who I work for of course. My employer is considering hiring your daughter for a position in our research department. I'm going to have to speak with Miss Dawes about firing Devon, because the matter is considered confidential."

"I think if you check, you'll find he submitted his resignation already. I offered him a better job.", Mr. Bellamy suggested.

"In return for services rendered of course.", I said sarcastically.

"Of course.", he agreed.

"May I tell you a joke sir?", I asked.

He looked at me suspiciously, and then nodded abruptly.

"What is the difference between a lawyer and a catfish?", I said.

He didn't say anything and after a short silence I delivered the punchline.

"One is a scum sucking bottom dweller, and the other is just a fish.", I finished. "You sir, are no fish."

"Is this how you usually deal with your opponents? Insult humor?", he asked blandly.

"I use the weapons at hand sir. And I seldom need assistance from hired muscle.", I said calmly.

I rose from the table and at a gesture from Mr. Bellamy his two goons stayed seated.

"This is very important, Mr. Forbin. Do not take this warning lightly.", he said.

"Oh I know it's important. It is you I take lightly.", I said and walked out.

"That son of a bitch.", Minx said, when I told her about Devon." I'll make sure that he never works in the legal profession again."

"Well, he's going to work for Susan's father. I doubt that his ethical lapses are going to be a problem there.", I commented.

I was sitting in Minx's garden after parking the Eagle in a shopping mall parking lot and catching a bus. I figured that if I was being followed, they could just sit there and be bored. And besides, I could always just report the car as stolen and pick it up from the impound anyway.

Susan rolled her chair up to the table with Miriam following behind her.

"I can't believe my father actually threatened you.", she said.

"Oh, he never said anything directly. But the implication was stay away from you or get pounded."

"Those two men work for my father as investigators. He also uses them as his bodyguards at times.", Susan explained.

"With his attitude I can understand it. He's a little overprotective." , I commented.

"He always has been. After I was hurt, he got worse about it."

She sipped the tea Miriam had served her before continuing.

"When my mother died, I was all he had left. And the fact I didn't want to just be the lady of the house, the maintainer of the Bellamy family name, has always bothered him.

"When I went to law school and specialized in criminal law he was a bit disappointed, but he did help me get started in my own office, after I refused to join Bellamy and Ameche."

"I think it's very interesting that your father has a connection to Rudenko Importing.", Minx commented.

"You don't think my father had anything to do with ...", Susan started to say." Wait a minute. How did you know anything about Rudenko?"

I looked away and let Minx carry the ball.

"Because I had Devon do a background check on you and your father. He left off the fact that your father was or is involved with Rudenko. And your last case involved a connection to Rudenko.", she said.

Susan looked as if she wanted to explode and did. In laughter.

"Fair is fair.", she laughed. "I should have expected you would look into my background like I did yours."

"How do you feel about justice?", I asked her.

She sobered and answered me after thinking for a few minutes.

"I became a lawyer to protect and serve justice. Then I found out that the real world wasn't interested in justice or doing the right thing."

"You know that Ay'esha does things that aren't always legal, but we try and do the right thing. Is that a problem for you?", Minx asked.

"No.", Susan answered.

"What about revenge? Don't you want to get even with the guys who put you in a wheelchair?", Minx pressed.

Susan clenched her teeth before answering.

"Yes. I want to hurt them. I want them to know what it's like to suffer.", she ground out. "But I know I can't. If I do, I'm no better than they are."

Minx patted her on the hand comfortingly.

"It's hard isn't it?", she asked.

"Yes, you know it is.", Susan said. "But I want to see the man who ordered it go to jail."

"Ivan Rudenko."

"Yes. But I can't prove anything. Uncle Jason couldn't prove anything either. He and my father fought each other for weeks over it. Now I understand why. Father didn't want to upset a client.", Susan said bitterly.

"We may never prove anything about Mr. Rudenko's involvement. But I'm sure we can find something if we look hard enough. ", Minx explained.

We walked Susan and Miriam back to the van and watched as they drove away.

"What about Devon?", I asked as Minx and I walked back into her house.

"I'll handle that part. You go home and try and avoid Mr. Bellamy's men.", she said with an evil grin.

"You fill me with confidence.", I said kissing her hand and walking to the bus stop.

The Eagle was still in the parking lot at the mall, but my paranoia made me check the ignition before starting the car.

No boom. At least no boom today. There would be a boom someday I was sure.

I took evasive action on the way home, making sure I shook any tails, not that it would do any good anyway. I was quite sure that Mr. Bellamy had my address and so did the goons.

The shoe never dropped that night, but I was sure it would eventually.

The next morning I arrived at the Bank a little earlier than usual and was greeted by one of the clerks who worked on my floor at the elevator.

"Mike, you have to see this.", he chortled.

I followed him down the hallway and into the legal department where a crowd had gathered.

I made my way to the front of the group and saw that Devon's office was gone. In its place was a brick wall where an office had once been, and no sign of an opening.

"Who do you suppose did that?", the clerk asked.

I had a hard time to keep from laughing and turned around to find Mistress Minx standing in the doorway to the department with a pleased look on her face.

As I walked past her she turned and followed me.

"All you left out was a scrawl that said '' For the love of God, Montresor! ", I said as we walked to her office.

"I didn't think of it. ", she said. "I figure that will keep any important documents in and Mr. Devon Myers out."

"Can I hang around and watch please?", I asked.

"No, I have another task in mind for you this morning. I want you to pay a call on Susan's father."

"Why?", I asked suspiciously.

She whispered in my ear and I started to snicker.

"I love it when a plan comes together.", I said thinking about the fun to come.

An hour later I was at the law offices of Bellamy and Ameche.

"May I help you sir?", the receptionist asked.

"Tell Mr. Bellamy that Mr. Forbin is here to see him.", I said politely.

"May I tell him what it's about?", she asked picking up the phone.

"Yes. Tell him it's about his daughter's accident."

She hesitated and then dialed a number.

"Mr. Bellamy, there is a Mr. Forbin here and ..."

Before she could say anything more she stopped and pointed towards a door on the right.

"At the end of the hallway Mr. Forbin.", she said, hanging up the phone.

"Thank you.", I said and strode through the door.

I opened the door to Mr. Bellamy's office and sat down before his desk without waiting for an invitation.

"Mr. Bellamy, concerning our conversation of the other day about your daughter's welfare....", I said intently.

"Yes?", he said cautiously

"Did you ever tell your daughter that you arranged the Zilenski case for her?"

He just stared at me and then pressed a button.

Magically, or close enough for Disney, the two goons appeared from another room.

"Mr. Howard, Mr. Johnson. Kindly remove Mr. Forbin from the office, gentlemen.", he said coldly.

I got up and walked towards the door.

"Don't trouble yourselves gents, I'll find my own way out. And the police I'm sure will find their own way in.", I said over my shoulder.

"Mr. Forbin.", Mr. Bellamy called. "What do you intend to get out of this little charade?"

I turned back to face him.

"Nothing at all. I care about your daughter very much. And if you have participated in any sort of criminal conspiracy to protect the men who hurt her, I'm going to see you pay for it.", I replied

"Mr. Rudenko asked me if I knew a good criminal defense attorney. I recommended my daughter. Nothing sinister about that at all.", he said calmly.

"And the fact he was willing to pay her a bonus if the killer was acquitted, and after failing to win the case, she had her back broken isn't sinister?", I said and walked out of the office, leaving my last question hanging in midair.

I had to agree with Minx. This was definitely going to rattle his cage. After all, how do you prove you didn't do something? "Have you stopped beating your wife yet?" is a classic damned if you do and damned if you don't question.

I returned to the Bank to report the results of my visit to Minx and found a building crew hauling debris down the hallway from the direction of Devon's former office.

I had assumed she had used false bricks in the construction of the wall, but sure enough they were real and so was the anger as Devon followed carrying a box with his personal items and escorted by two security guards.

"I'll bet you thought that was funny.", he snarled as he passed me.

"As a matter of fact yes. I'm just sorry I didn't think of it myself. Incidentally, I just paid a visit to your new boss. He may need your help a little sooner than expected. ", I said.

Before he could say anything else I nodded to the security guards to escort him to the elevator.

It descended and with it his career. I was quite sure that Miss Dawes would file a grievance with the Bar Association for misconduct and violation of Attorney/Client confidentiality. And as he was being fired for cause, the Bank wouldn't even have to give him severance pay.

A line from a poem of Kipling's ran through my head as I considered it.

"They've taken of 'is buttons off an' cut is' stripes away, An' they're hangin' Danny Dever in the mornin' ."

I found Mistress Minx, excuse me, Miss Dawes in her office on the telephone.

"That's right, I want a continuous watch on Mr. Myers. And make sure he sees the people watching him.", she instructed.

There was a brief pause before she continued.

"That's right. I want him to know he's being watched. After all, even paranoids have enemies.", she replied and hung up.

"Report!", she snapped.

"Message delivered on time and on target Captain!", I said coming to rigid attention and saluting.

She smiled and returned the salute.

"Good. Now you get to play detective and I know how much you love that.", she said.

"Why me?", I asked suspiciously.

"Because you speak Russian.", she said with a wink. " I want you to start digging around in Mr. Rudenko's affairs.", motioning me to sit down.

"Any place you want me to start?", I asked.

She pulled a folder from her desk drawer and slid it across to me.

"You are now an insurance investigator for TransGlobal Insurance. It seems that there are some unanswered questions about the death of his employee, Mr. Podgorni.", she said.

"How did you arrange that?", I asked.

"Michael, we are Transglobal Insurance. Remember, the Bank isn't just about money.", she pointed out.

"I learn something new every day.", I said taking the folder .

"I hope so. We're having Rudenko checked by one of our people in the State Department by the way, as well as Zilenski and the late Mr. Podgorni. One uncrossed T in Mr. Rudenko's documents and we can have the INS take him into custody.", she said.

"What about Zilenski?"

"He's at San Quentin.", she said.

"Good. I may want to talk to him.", I said reading the files.

"He hasn't talked to anyone else, why you?", she asked curiously.

"Trust me.", I smiled.

She just looked up at the ceiling imploringly.

"Goddess help us, he's on the jazz again.", she sighed.

I took the hint and left the office while I still could.

Rudenko Imports was based in the area South of Market next to a Russian bakery and one of the many small leather goods shops in the neighborhood. The warehouse stood next door and I could see crates piled high through the open loading dock door.

Mr. Rudenko's receptionist was polite as I asked to speak to him.

"I am sorry, but he does not see anyone without an appointment.", she said in heavily accented English.

I switched to Russian and explained the purpose of my visit and made it as obvious as possible that I was not going away.

She wilted under the verbal assault and pressed the intercom button.

"Da?", a voice said.

She explained in rapid fire Russian that I was there and demanded a meeting.

"Mr. Rudenko, this should only take a few minutes.", I said in English so he could hear me.

The door behind the receptionist opened and a barrel chested man with a gray beard stepped into view.

"Come in Mr. Forbin, and let us get this over with. I am a busy man.", he rumbled.

His office was lined with pictures of Russia and on shelves were stacked items of bric a brac that represented his products.

"What is this about? This whole incident took place five years ago.", he grumbled.

"Yes, but there are still some unanswered questions. For example, did the deceased know Mr. Zilenski?", I asked.

Rudenko shook his head.

"No. I hired Zilenski to do some work in the warehouse. He was a carpenter, a good man or so I thought. But I had to fire him."

"Why?", I asked taking notes.

"He was stealing from me. One of the security men saw him looking inside a crate, and take something out of it."

"When did he shoot the guard?.", I said.

"He pushed his way into my office late that evening after being fired. He threatened me with the gun and poor Emmetski got in his way. He shot him and fled.", Rudenko corrected.

"No idea why? Just a disgruntled employee.", I prompted.

"Just so."

"May I speak to the guard who reported that Zilenski was stealing?", I asked.

"Sadly no, he is no longer with us."

"Do you know where he is now?", I asked.

"My receptionist can give you his address. I haven't seen him in some years. He left after the shooting. He blamed himself poor fellow, but who can predict a madman?", he replied genially.

"Well, thank you for your time Mr. Rudenko.", I concluded rising and starting to leave , then turned back feeling like Lt. Columbo.

"There's just one thing that's bothering me.", I said. "Why did you pay for his lawyer and promise a bonus if he was found not guilty? I mean the man tried to kill you."

His expression quickly to one of suspicion.

"I didn't want to see him go to prison. He is a sick man and needs help, not punishment.", he said. "A gesture from one comrade of the old country to another less fortunate."

"I see. Dos vidanya tovarich Rudenko.", I said and walked out aware of his staring eyes at my back.

I was pretty sure he was going to keep an eye on me, and frankly I didn't care. He could join the parade.

The receptionist gave me the address of the security guard, Andrei Chekov ,and I drove over to that section of town.

I found the address was a Russian bookstore and the owner was Andrei's father.

At first he tried to pretend he didn't understand English so I switched to Russian.

"I'm not from the police my friend", I explained in Russian, "I am just trying to get his side of the story concerning the death of Pavel Podgorni."

"He is dead and that is all to be said. And with him, my son as well.", he said bitterly, turning away.

"How did your son, Andrei, die?", I asked stopping him.

"Dead in an alley, stabbed. The police did nothing to find his killers." , he spat.

"When did this happen?"

"A year to the day that madman Zilenski killed Podgorni. Now go away please.", he said and walked into the back of the shop.

I left the shop and made my way back to the car, passing a church on the way. I went inside and sought out the priest.

"Yes I knew Andrei.", he said when I asked him.

"Did you know a man named Zilenski?"

"I knew Zilenski. ", Father Alexi confirmed.

"Did you even get the impression there was bad blood between either of them?", I asked sipping the tea I'd been offered.

"No, they were all good men. I never would have believed Yakov Zilenski could kill anyone. As to Andrei , no. They were honest men, trustworthy."

"Do you know Ivan Rudenko as well Father?", I asked.

"Yes I know him." Father Alexi said with a change in his voice that showed his true feelings about the man.

"I take it you don't like him?", I said setting the cup down.

"He is one of God's children.", he replied tersely.

"But not one of your favorites.", I pressed.

"One hears stories about him. Some of the people think he is a criminal because of his friends.", Father Alexi apologized.

"Friends?", I asked interestedly.

Father Alexi sighed before answering.

"Mr. Rudenko has friends who have come over from Russia as well. But they were not people like you and I. They were KGB or worse. Podgorni, the man that Yakov was said to have murdered was one of those friends."

"Judge not lest ye be judged.", I offered.

"There is a saying I heard from my friend the rabbi at Temple Beth Israel. We both work together to help the new people who have just arrived from Russia. He says 'Lie down with pigs and get up smelling like garbage.' ", he said with a nod.

"Well, thank you for your time Father .", I said standing up.

"Mr. Forbin, the police did not ask these things. And you do not impress me as an insurance man. Why are you asking these questions after five years?", he queried as he walked with me into the main chapel.

"Justice delayed is justice denied, Father Alexi.", I said lighting a candle and leaving a small token in the poor box.

"If justice is your aim Mr. Forbin, then God go with you. But vengeance is mine saith the Lord.", he said as I walked out.

Two dead men, one man in prison and a woman imprisoned in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

"Vengeance is mine saith the Lord.", I thought. "But sometimes it needs a helping hand."

As I drove back to the Bank I kept trying thinking about the story. Why did Zilenski threaten Rudenko? Why did he shoot Podgorni and then just drive home and wait to be arrested? Was Podgorni actually an ex-KGB agent. Or a current agent?

Did that explain why Zilenski waited to be arrested? A prison is much safer than the streets if you are wanted by the KGB. Or the Russian Mafia for that matter.

Was did Zilenski steal? Was it something illegal? Perhaps Zilenski threatened to tell the police and Rudenko had Podgorni try and stop him.

I decided I had to read the transcripts of the investigation.

Miss Dawes was still in her office when I returned, so I went in to tell her what I'd found so far. I didn't get a chance to tell her my theory because she stood and turned to the window to look at the lights of the City.

"I'll have the transcripts sent to your office.", she said.

I watched her for a moment and then walked to her side.

"Is there a problem Mistress?", I asked quietly.

"Michael, do you love me?", she questioned.

I was startled at a minimum.

"Yes Mistress.", I said, kneeling at her side.

"If I asked you to stop trying to prove Rudenko is responsible for Susan being in a wheelchair, would you?"

I hesitated before answering.

"No, Mistress.", I said softly.

She looked down at me.

"Why not?"

"Because it isn't just Susan any more. It may have been two other men as well.", I replied.

"And your feelings for Susan have nothing to do with it?"

"Yes, they have something to do with it. But that doesn't change my feelings towards you. I love you with a whole heart Mistress. That has not changed.", I said.

"I do not doubt your love Michael. I doubt your motives in this instance. Susan does not truly need our help, yet you have asked Ay'esha to help her in carrying out a vendetta.", she said firmly.

She was right. It was a vendetta.

"Is the Mother of Many refusing her request for assistance?", I asked.

Minx shook her head.

"No, Michael. But I would prefer that you leave the rest of the investigation to others."

"Why?", I asked mystified.

"If the people you suspect are involved, you may be in serious danger. This is not something you should risk your life on.", she said.

"What are you not telling me Mistress?", I asked softly.

"Rudenko may be involved with Hindu Partners LTD.", she finally said after a long pause.

Lydia and the group known to us as Kali.

Hindu Partners LTD was the tip of the iceberg of Kali's activities. Using their offices around the world as bases of operation they mixed their legitimate customers in with their less legitimate ones.

They specialized in import and export ,shipping toys, electronics and exotic items from one side of the world to the other, but underneath the veneer of business they smuggled weapons, ran slave labor work forces, and killed without compunction.

The only thing that had saved Minx from death was the promise of Lydia that no woman would ever be directly hurt by Kali.

I had only survived for two reasons. One, my death as a martyr would set off a response that would destroy Kali completly and two was the fact Lydia preferred playing cat and mouse.

And I'm allerigic to cheese.

"Involved in Kali, or just shipped stuff with them?", I said standing.

"What would you call a million dollars worth of business?", she said looking into my eyes.

"Involved. Any idea what they've been doing together?"

She walked back to her desk and opened a folder and read from it.

"Seems to be the usual mix of things. Some spices, electronics from Japan, and military surplus equipment from Russia. All quite legal and above suspicion."

"Which is itself, suspicious.", I said taking it from her.

The customs importing documents were all in order and had the appropiate seals, so that eliminated any tampering there.

"This is going to take some time to figure out Michael. I don't want you doing anything else until I say otherwise. Stay away from Rudenko and Mr. Bellamy for now.", she ordered.

And that should have been the end of it. I was sent to the showers, off the case, removed from command, defenstrated.

The Fates had other plans in mind however.

As Ambassador Kosh said "Once the avalanche has started, it's too late for the pebbles to vote."

This point was driven home a short time later when I went down to the parking garage to pick up my Eagle for the drive home.

As I unlocked the car two very large gentlemen appeared and addressed me in Russian. I responded in kind and found myself being lifted from the ground and carried me by my arms to a waiting car.

I didn't bother to fight them as they were taking great pains not to injure me at this point, and I didn't want to push my luck.

A short drive took us to Katia's Cafe and the two men walked me into the establishment and sat me down at a table in a private room where Mr. Rudenko was waiting.

My escorts promptly took places to my left and right, preventing a hasty departure on my part.

"Mr. Forbin, forgive me for the way my invitation was delivered, but I feared as you were a busy man, you might reject it.", Rudenko said by way of apology.

"I have a general rule about free meals. I accept them.", I said picking up the menu.

"Good, good. I have taken the liberty of ordering already, so that we might eat and talk as civilized men.", he said putting a good face on things.

"I hope that you understand my inquiries are strictly a matter of routine. It's just that there are some questions about the matter that have come up now that Mr. Zilenski has agreed to speak if promised immunity.", I said, picking up my tea cup and filling it from the samovar on the table.

I could almost see Rudenko's ears turn into points when I used the word "speak". I had his full and undivided attention.

"Has he now? And after all these years. A great surprise.", he said, glancing at one of his men.

"Hopefully this will solve another case as well. The Susan Bellamy case."

His manner became less casual and certain.

"I don't know of this case.", he said reaching for the vodka bottle.

"I thought sure you would. After all you do business with her father. I believe he's your company's lawyer."

He poured a drink and threw it down his throat and then offered me the bottle.

"Ah yes , the young lady who served as Zilenski's lawyer. Terrible accident she suffered.", he said looking me in the eye.

I waved the bottle away and continued .

"Yes it was. You know they never caught the two men who attacked her. Hopefully the new information will cast some light on that mystery as well."

He studied me carefully before continuing.

"I wouldn't have thought that Transglobal Insurance would be interested in a five year old case.", he said as the food arrived.

I took a portion of borsht and added a little sour cream to it before replying.

"Well, part of it is business and the other part is personal. You see Miss Bellamy and I are lovers.", I said softly.

You could hear the breathing of the two muscle men in the silence that followed that statement.

"That's very interesting.", Rudenko finally said.

"I thought you might think so. I'm surprised that her father didn't tell you.", I continued. "But here I've been monopolizing the conversation. You wanted to talk to me and I've just been running off at the mouth."

Rudenko didn't say anything for a minute and then nodded at his two henchmen who left the room.

"I'm prepared to offer you a very generous sum of money to close your investigation quickly.", he said leaning across the table.

I considered him for a moment before I replied.

"How much?", I said feeling like Fred McMurray in Double Indemnity.

"Twenty-five thousand.", he said with a wave of his hand.

The first time I was involved with Kali they tried bribery as well. The young lady who attempted to bribe me got a cantaloupe in the face for her trouble.

"That is very generous for a man who has nothing to hide.", I said leaning back in my seat. "But too little for a man of your reputation."

He looked at me with an air of assumed innocence.

"My reputation? I must say I have no idea what you're talking about.", he said.

I leaned forward again and assumed a conspiratal air.

"Father Alexi seems to have another opinion. As does the father of Andrei Chekov. Strange that his son was killed a year to the day Mr. Podgorni was shot. Also by person or persons unknown. The same as Miss Bellamy.", I replied in hushed tones.

"Coincidence.", he said, but with a hint of unease.

"Ivan, lets stop doing Swan Lake here. Zilenski's testimony could get you deported back to Russia. I can make sure that doesn't happen for the right amount of money.", I said flatly.

He studied me for a long moment before speaking.

"Fifty thousand.", he said.

"One hundred thousand Ivan. Or you can prepare for a trip up the river. The Volga.", I said with a smile.

His face turned red in anger and he started swearing at me.

As I've commented before, Slavic languages have such a rich vocabulary of invective.

I let him rant at me for a couple of minutes before I interrupted.

"Now that you've got that out of your system, do we have a deal or not?", I asked.

"Zovoloch!", he snarled.

"Come on Ivan. You made a million dollars last year at least. I'm sure you can come up with a hundred grand. Especially if it saves your ass from Lubanyanka Prison. One more thing: I want the scumbags who broke Susan's back.", I added.

"I should have you killed."

"Perhaps you should. But before you do, call your friends at Hindu Partners Limited. Tell them you've met me. And tell them Minx sends her regards.", I suggested.

He controlled his anger slowly, the color in his face returning to normal.

"What do you know of them?", he asked.

"Enough to know they would be very upset if anything happened to me. And well enough to know they would be very upset about Susan. You know, in fact, I think I'll give them a call.", I said getting up.

His color went from normal to a very ashen gray.

"You wouldn't do that.", he said weakly, all signs of his former belligerence gone.

"Don't bet on it. I hate to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs, but in your case I'll eat pate' de foi Gras for weeks."

I pushed my way through the door and past the two waiting thugs without interference.

I started shaking in reaction when I got into the cab I flagged down for a ride back to the Bank to pick up the car.

My neck, ass and everything else was riding on a bluff that any sensible man would never have tried.  Of course, sensible is not exactly standard procedure for me at the best of times.

I decided after that little conversation I'd better find a place to hide and settled on a small hotel near Pier 39 for my refuge.

The clerk was reluctant to let me check in without baggage, but a few moments conversation and a sizable tip got me a room.

The first thing I did was to call Minx and tell her what happened.

"Are you all right?", she asked anxiously.

"Oh yeah, but I'm scared shitless right now. I'm holed up in a hotel near Pier 39. I don't think it would be a good idea to go home."

"I agree. I'm going to come right over.", she said.

"No Mistress. You might be followed. Better to send someone.", I refused.

"Very well. What room are you in?"

I gave her the information and she assured me she'd send a baby-sitter over quickly.

The wait seemed forever, but was probably less than an hour, when there was a knock on the door.

I peeped through the spyhole and saw the distorted image of a red haired young woman who must have been at least six feet tall.

"Who is it?", I asked checking the chain on the door.

"Your baby-sitter.", was the quiet, confident reply.

I unlocked it the door, then slowly opened it, keeping the chain attached.

The woman looked at me through the crack in the door with amusement and a certain amount of understanding.

"Mr. Forbin, Miss Dawes sent me here. I'm with the Hammett Agency.", she said showing me her ID card.

I closed the door and slipped the chain off then opened it to admit her, and quickly relocked the door.

"Miss Dawes instructed me to provide personal security for you until further notice. My name is Gerl Danger.", she said holding out a hand.

"That's an interesting name.", I said shaking it.

"My mother named me Geraldine,over the objections of my father Nick. Everybody calls me Gerl for short," she explained releasing my hand.

I sat down in a chair and she sat down across from me comfortably.

"So I understand you might have annoyed some people.", she said conversationally.

"Just a little. A guy named Rudenko.", I explained.

"Ivan Rudenko? You do pick guys with an attitude don't you.", she laughed.

"What's so funny?", I asked annoyed by her laughter.

"The little shit got in my hair a couple of years ago when I worked for the police department. One of his security guys got shot up and I worked the case as a patrol officer.", she commented.

"Don't tell me the dead guy was named Podgorni.", I groaned.

"Yeah. Why?", she asked puzzled.

"Because I'm working the case now for Transglobal Insurance. Did Miss Dawes ask for you specifically when she called the agency?", I asked, knowing the answer in my bones.

"Uh huh. Surprised me too.", she confirmed.

"Okay, Rudenko just tried to bribe me to drop the case. I told that I wanted more money or I'd tip his business partners off to one of his scams. One they'd kill him for.", I explained.

"Is he skimming the profits or what?", she asked.

"Let's just say his partners have certain scruples. And hurting women and children are high on their list of no-no's"

"Got it. So what's next?"

"I don't know.", I confessed, shaking my head. "I'm kind of making it up as I go along."

She smiled and pointed at the bed.

"Get some sleep Mr. Forbin. You'll figure it out in the morning.", she instructed, slipped her gun out of a holster.

I stripped and crawled into the bed and turned out the lights, leaving her silhouetted against the light coming through the window, her gun resting in her hand, watching the door.

When I awoke in the morning she was still seated in the same position, breathing lightly in sleep.

I laid there unwilling to disturb her and thought about the night before. I must have been crazy to challenge Rudenko that way. His whole attitude just brought my blood to a slow boil, and keeping my temper when he offered me a bribe had been a trial.

Why had I threatened him with Kali?

I laid there thinking about it and then sat bolt upright.

"Son of a bitch.", I muttered.

The noise brought Gerl awake and she put the gun down on the table again.

"Good morning Mr. Forbin. Did you sleep well?", she asked.

"You were right. I figured it out.", I exclaimed.

"What?", she asked.

"How to deal with Rudenko, once and for all.", I said throwing the covers off and grabbing the phone.

She turned away from my nudity with a slight blush and left the room.

I dialed Mistress Minx's phone number and was answered by a very sleepy Miriam.

"Miriam, I need the Mistress right now.", I said excitedly.

There was a slight pause before she answered.

"Master, it's six thirty in the morning.", she replied timidly.

This was no time for delicacy.

"Slave, get your ass out of that bed and put the Mistress on the phone NOW!", I commanded.

I heard the phone drop and a minute later Minx picked it up.

"There is a good reason for this call isn't there Michael?", she growled.

"Yes Mistress. I have the answer to the Rudenko problem. I had it last night and didn't think about it.", I babbled.

"Go ahead.", she said, wide awake now.

"Call Kali.", I said.

There was a long silence this time. I could almost hear her thinking "Has he lost his mind completely?"

"Perhaps there's something wrong with this phone line. I thought I heard you say to call Kali.", she finally said.

"I did. Mistress, think about it. Rudenko violated one of Lydia's strictest rules. He caused a woman to be hurt badly. Now, she's kept her word so far about not hurting a woman directly. If she doesn't know he did it, she'll probably do something about it. If she does know about it and hasn't done anything , then Ay'esha can point out her hypocrisy. We win either way."

There was another long silence.

"I'll be there in half an hour.", she said and hung up.

I got dressed and knocked on the bathroom door and told Gerl she could come out.

She did and sat back down in the chair and closed her eyes.

"Sorry about that.", I said.

"Don't be. If I remember my history, Archimedes ran through the streets of Athens naked shouting Eureka.", she said without opening her eyes.

And that was all that was said between us until Minx arrived a short time later.

When Minx arrived, she dismissed Gerl and told her to wait until she was called again. Gerl nodded, shook hands with me and left, leaving Minx and I alone in the room.

"Michael, do you truly understand what you are asking by suggesting we call Kali?", she said seriously.

"Yes. We can't get Rudenko any other way.", I said in surprise.

"And they will kill him."

"No shit."

"And what about justice?", she asked softly." Susan isn't interested in revenge, you know that. And you know that Ay'esha doesn't break the law. Setting him up to be killed is against everything we stand for, and that you agreed to. "

I just sat and listened to her.

She was right. I wanted Rudenko. But did I want him badly enough to throw away my own standards.

"I hate this.", I muttered.

"So do I. But we're the good guys Michael. Everything we do has to be done right.", she comforted.

I sunk back in my chair deflated.

"So I have to stay on the lam until we can bag Rudenko by the rules of the game.", I groused.

"Not really. Lean on him about the money. I don't think you have to worry too much about him doing anything right now, simply because he knows you are aware of his connection to Hindu Partners.

"If he calls like you suggested, they'll tell him to back off. At least I hope so.", Minx conceded.

"What do you mean, you hope so?", I said in alarm.

"Michael, you ruined their plan to sell tainted beef in England, uncovered their attempt to cut off the water supply to the Rancho, started a labor riot in Hong Kong as well as destroying their operations there. Don't you think that they might be getting a little tired of you? Maybe even enough to risk killing you despite the end result?", she said bluntly.

"If you're trying to make me feel better, you're failing miserably.", I said regaining the dregs of my sense of humor.

She looked into my eyes and touched my hand tenderly.

"Michael, I don't want you taking any more chances. I don't think I could live with a normal man."

It was decided I'd show up at Rudenko's after breakfast to keep the pressure on and then wait for the results of the continuing research on him.

I arrived at Rudenko's and brushed by his receptionist without stopping or closing the door behind me.

He looked up startled at the bang of the door and then angry.

"Mr. Forbin. You do have a tendency to make abrupt entrances and departures.", he said stiffly.

"Made up your mind yet?", I asked, picking a dagger off the shelf of merchandise along the wall.

"Yes I have.", he said. "Fifty thousand and your life."

I pulled the dagger out of its sheath and tapped my teeth with it.

"And I get the two guys who broke Susan's back.", I replied firmly.

He waved his hand casually.

"It's not that simple. My associates in the old country would be dismayed by their absence.", he said.

"You do keep strange bedfellows Ivan. Kali on one side of you and the remnants of the KGB on the other.", I observed.

"It is a new world Mr. Forbin. But some of the old things remain. Without my associates in Russia, I would have no merchandise. And without my Hindu friends, I would have no way to move certain items without detection.

"Like guns perhaps?", I said making a guess from my memory of the manifests I'd read.

"On occasion.", he replied honestly.

His new found candor was beginning to bother me more than slightly, and if I hadn't been facing the door I'd have expected a knife in the back.

"Ivan, you're being a bit too informative and that's making me nervous.", I said stabbing the dagger in the top of his teakwood desk as he cringed at the damage.

"I want you to trust me Mikhail. Telling you these things is an example of my good faith.", he said.

"I'll believe you when you pay up.", I said honestly.

"When did you want the money?" ,he said graciously.

"Two o'clock today at Victorian Park near Ghirardelli Square. Bring the money and make sure Mr. Bellamy comes along. Have him draw up a contract stating the money is a one time fee for services rendered.", I said.

He frowned at the request for the lawyer.

"Why the lawyer?", he said.

"I'm going to make sure that we both have a witness. I take the money and you finger the two goons and we're done.", I said shortly.

"If you do come back for more money, I'll kill you.", he said.

"Do we have a deal? You get immunity for fingering the two guys for attempted murder.", I insisted.

"Agreed. But you'll have to make your own arrangements for arresting them.", he nodded.

"Fine with me. I'll get the names and addresses from your receptionist and after we make the deal, I'll have the police pick them up.", I said pulling the dagger out of his desk and sliding it back into its sheath.

I was about to put it back on the shelf when he stopped me.

"Keep it. It might be useful to you someday.", he said.

"You're right.", I agreed and walked out the door.

The receptionist started acting busy to cover up the fact she had been listening to the conversation through the open door, and without asking handed me the addresses.

"Do us both a favor.", I said in Russian to her. "Don't call them. Or I'll have to add you to my list."

She looked at me and shook her head slowly.

"I wouldn't think of it.", she said in perfect English.

I called Minx and advised her of the results, gave her the addresses of the two goons and then called Susan and asked her to meet me at Victorian Park at two.

"Why do you want me there?", she said.

"Because I want you to be a witness to a contract I'm signing. I may need some legal advice.", I replied.

"Well sure if you want. But you know I'm not practicing law anymore."

"The term 'practicing law' has always bothered me. Can't you people get it right?", I quipped.

The only reply was a strangled groan and a "See you there."

Two o'clock.

I felt like Gary Cooper in High Noon waiting for the bad guys.

Susan rolled up to me where I sat waiting on a bench watching the usual crowd of tourists, street merchants, and shoppers on their way to Ghirardelli Square.

"Who are you signing a contract with?", she asked, pulling her briefcase from the carrier on the back of the chair.

"The devil.", I said, continuing to scan the area around me for any sign of trouble. I'd picked the location deliberately to make sure the maximum amount of people would be around to stop any funny business on Ivan's part.

I wasn't sure what Minx was doing, if anything. In my experience, I'd learned that even the bag lady sitting on the ground near us could be with Ay'esha and assigned to protect me.

It was also equally probable that the bag lady could be with Kali.

If you've ever heard the song "Secret Agent Man", you can understand the problem.

An ice cream cart rolled by us and I stopped the vendor and bought a couple of Big Stick popsicles to nibble on while we waited.

"Well, I don't look at all like Daniel Webster.", she replied as she licked the dripping treat.

I tried to think of the actors from the film and failed.

"Damn it. I owe you twenty bucks. I can't think of the actors.", I groused.

"Yes!", she said shaking hands with herself in triumph.

Her jubilation was short lived as her father walked up with Rudenko.

"Dad!", she said in shock.

"Hi honey.", he said leaning over to kiss her.

She accepted it stoically and then looked at me in confusion.

"Let's get this over with.", Ivan growled.

Mr. Bellamy opened his briefcase and pulled out a document and handed it to me to review.

"Mr. Forbin, when I met you I thought you were going to be an annoyance. Now I can see that you are far more than that.", he said tightly.

"I'm sorry you underestimated me. Most people do by the way.", I said starting my review of the document.

"Yes I see that I did. I didn't think at the time you were a blackmailer."

Susan looked at me in surprise.

"Things are seldom what they seem, skim milk masquerades as cream", I replied shortly.

Everything I'd demanded from Ivan was there was there including the tacit admission that his employees had exceeded their authority in committing a criminal act, but was not a matter of policy nor had he been aware of their intent.

He maintained that he had kept his silence for fear for his own life and had decided to speak out only under the duress of his conscience.

It looked like a cross between a Nixon era press release and the historical record of Thomas Becket's murder by King Henry's knights.

I handed it to Susan to read and she took it gingerly.

She read it slowly and carefully, her expression hardening as she did so.

"You're going to take fifty thousand dollars from him?", she said to me her face red with anger.

"Of course. The business of America is business", I said with a wink, hoping she saw through the play.

"Herbert Hoover.", she said, handing the contract back to me with a curt nod.

"Where's the money?", I asked, pulling out a pen.

Rudenko started to hand me his briefcase and I stopped him with a gesture.

"You open it.", I said.

He looked around at the crowd and then back at me.

"Here?", he hissed.

"Just to make sure there's no infernal device involved. It's not that I don't trust you, I don't trust you.", I said with a hint of a smile.

He glared at me and opened the case, all the while looking around at the people.

I wasn't going to count it, but it sure looked like a shitload of money in there.

"Looks good.", I said and signed the contract and handed it to Susan.

She glared at her father and signed it.

As she started to pass it to her father, three men walked up, one dressed in a I LOVE SAN FRANCISCO sweatshirt , one in a BITE ME T-shirt, and the other in a RAIDERS T-shirt and flashed badges at us.

"Ivan Rudenko? Agent Jacobson, Treasury Department. We'd like to know where you got this money from.", the man in the RAIDERS shirt announced as the man in the BITE ME shirt took the briefcase from a numb Ivan Rudenko.

Susan just smiled as Agent Jacobson put the cuffs on Rudenko and started walking him towards a nearby parking lot.

"I'm Mr. Rudenko's lawyer, Marcus Bellamy", Susan's father said protesting. "What are the charges against my client?"

"None at this time sir. We have reason to believe that Mr. Rudenko has conspired to evade taxes.", the man in the Raiders shirt explained.

"Ivan, as your attorney, I advise you to remain silent.", Mr. Bellamy advised.

"If you'd like to accompany your client downtown, you're welcome to join us."

"Yes, I would.", he replied and turned to me. "This is not over Mr. Forbin. Not by a damned sight."

He followed the agent towards the parking lot with only a short backwards glance at his daughter who sat there in shocked silence.

"Mr. Forbin?", the one in the sweatshirt asked.

"Yes?", I answered.

"Your Mother sends her regards.", he said with a nod, then walked away.

Susan just looked at me as I watched the men walk away and finally broke the silence.

"What the hell was that?", she asked.

"A message from Mother.", I said, shaking my head in amazement. "How about a chocolate bar?"

She looked at me and shrugged.

I started rolling her chair towards Ghirardelli's , ignoring the curious stares of the people who had witnessed the arrest.

We passed the agents who were about to put Rudenko in a car when the windshield of the car shattered in a spray of glass and Rudenko slumped in the arms of the agents.

I threw myself over Susan's body, knocking her and the chair to the ground as people around us screamed and ran. I looked back to see Agent Jacobsen draw his gun and look in the direction of the clock tower, and then look towards us.

"Stay down!", he yelled.

"No shit!", I screamed back.

Susan lay on the ground crying in fear as I waited for another shot to hit something, but nothing happened.

In the distance I could hear sirens approaching and got to my feet slowly, then picked Susan up and placed her in the chair again.

"My father?", she sobbed.

"Stay here!", I commanded, making a dash for the car where Jacobsen was still crouched watching the tower of the building.

Rudenko lay slumped there, his shirt turning darker with each passing minute as the blood flowed from the wound in his chest. Susan's father lay in the back seat eyes closed, panting in fear, blood seeping from dozens of small cuts on his face from the windshield glass.

"I told you to stay down!", Jacobsen snarled.

His partners started trying to staunch the flow of blood from Rudenko, and I turned back towards Susan and waved and held up a thumb.

"Get someone into that tower.", I said to Jacobsen.

"Don't tell me how to do my job.", he snapped, putting the gun away.

"Sorry.", I said embarrassed.

"Who would have wanted to kill this guy?", he asked me as the first police unit pulled into the lot.

"A lot of people. The question now is which one knew he'd be here.", I said as the first uniformed officer came up to the car.

The police insisted we go to the hospital for a checkup and Susan wanted to make sure her father was all right, so I agreed after calling Minx to check in.

"The police picked up Rudenko's two guys as they were about to get on a JAL flight for Tokyo.", she told me. "You were right about them bugging out."

"Rudenko's still alive at this point. Susan's dad got cut up a little from flying glass, and she got a few bruises from my jumping on her.", I said.

"Jumping on her in public huh?", Minx said with a smirk in her voice.

"I was trying to protect her from gunfire.", I said with a rasp in my voice.

"And who was protecting you?"

I didn't bother to answer that question. I knew what she was getting at.

"I'll keep you advised. We're going to Memorial Hospital.", I said.

"I'll have Tammi waiting for you there.", she said.

I didn't have to spend long in the emergency room, and neither did Susan, although they did have to bandage her elbow. Her father was in another room getting the glass shards picked out of his face.

Rudenko however was the centerpiece of a mass of tubes and wires as they struggled to keep him alive.

Before we left the hospital that night we were joined by Tammi, who had been assigned to the ICU to keep an eye on Rudenko.

"He's lost a lot of blood and hasn't regained consciousness yet. There's a police officer on watch and he's being constantly monitored.", she said. "Are you two all right?"

"Well I get paid for this sort of thing, but I think I scared the hell out of Susan when I jumped on her.", I said taking a macho attitude.

"You jumped on her in public?", Tammi said with the same inflection Minx had used.

"You have a dirty mind.", I said looking up at the ceiling.

"And you have a fat ass.", Susan said with a wink towards Tammi.

"I do not. Ask Tammi. My medical records say I have an obese posterior.", I retorted.

Susan looked with raised eyebrows at Tammi who nodded assent.

"It's true. When we met he was in here for a broken leg and insisted on reading his charts. And that's what Dr. Small wrote on his surgical notes.", Tammi confirmed.

Susan started giggling at that and then laughing openly.

"If you been paying attention the other night, you would have seen the scar.", I chided her as Tammi wheeled her to the front door of the hospital.

Mr. Hahn was waiting for her with the van and she offered me a ride back to the park to pick up my car.

"No, I think I need some time alone to think.", I declined.

She kissed me and wheeled herself into the van and the two of them drove off leaving me to think.

I walked to the bus stop slowly considering the events of the past twenty four hours.

Perhaps justice had been served, but the weight of the results weighed heavily on my mind.

Who shot Rudenko? Where in the world was Carmen San Diego?

The bus pulled up and stopped ahead of me and I waved it off. I continued walking towards the park thinking.

Was there a security leak in Ay'esha? Had Rudenko's former associates decided to punch out his ticket? Who would have known the time and place?

I stopped at a pay phone and called Minx.

"Where are you?", she asked.

"Walking back to the park to get my car. I keep thinking about Rudenko and what you said. I played by the rules and somebody else didn't, and I still feel bad."

"You didn't pull the trigger. This could have happened at anytime. I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier.", she comforted.

"I know. But still...."

"Let it go Michael. This is a police matter now.", she ordered.

I couldn't let it go. I kept my mouth shut and focused on my work, but I kept a watch on the police reports on the shooting that were being fed to Minx and the Mother of Many.

Rudenko was moved out of the ICU finally to the jail ward awaiting indictment on tax evasion and money laundering charges.

Rudenko's two goons were held for deportation, because when they were fingerprinted, it turned out they had criminal records in Russia. The local DA fought to keep them in the country, but despite the written statement of Ivan Rudenko, he didn't feel he had enough to indite them for the assault on Susan or enough probable cause to hold them for the death of Andri Chekov.

I would have called it a clean sweep except for the question of who shot Rudenko.

The mystery deepened when the reports came in from the police on what they found in the clock tower.

Having the publisher of a major newspaper chain as a Daughter of Ay'esha had been useful before, but even more useful now by her agreeing to suppress the news of the discovery, rather than print it.

That didn't stop her from informing us as to what was happening of course.

When the SWAT team broke into the tower room, they found two dead male bodies, both shot in the head at close range, but no sign of the weapon used to kill them. There was however, a rifle with a telescopic sight laying on the floor, but it had never been fired, nor did the ballistics tests conducted later show it was the same type of gun used to shoot Ivan Rudenko.

So add two more bodies and another layer of mystery to the problem.

This was getting too Byzantine for Kali's plotting.

They had a tendency to use the simplest methods possible and while assassination wasn't beyond them, leaving dead bodies strewn about was untidy, even for them.

There was another factor and I'm sure it had a Slavic flavor about it.

" You want to go play detective again don't you? I know you're going to do it anyway, but I'd rather you didn't sneak around about it.", she said after I commented on the mystery.

"I wasn't planning on sneaking.", I said blushing in embarrassment.

"I sure you weren't.", she said with a knowing look. "You've never lied to me. Just withheld the qualifiers on your word."

Well, she had me there.

"If you will agree to work with a partner and stay out of the way of the police, I'll permit it. But one, just one incident, and you will be chained in my dungeon every night for a month.", she said in strict no nonsense tones.

"Yes Mistress.", I said thinking of the cold stone and darkness of the dungeon and shivering. "May I pick my own partner?"

She considered for a moment and then nodded her head.

"Yes you may. Did you have someone in mind?", she asked.

"I'd like to use Susan if she's willing.", I said.

Minx frowned at that idea.

"I don't like the idea of involving her any further until she has spent some time in training at the Rancho.", she disagreed.

"If I have her for a partner though, I'll be much more careful.", I retorted.

"If you insist on having Susan for a partner, then I want to add one more member to your team.", she said after thinking for a moment.

"Who?"

"Geraldine Danger."

I thought about it and agreed.

"I have to admit that having Gerl Danger along is a good idea. She's an ex-cop, she's got an idea of the situation, and frankly I think she could be a bit dangerous under the right circumstances.", I said. "The only problem is she's not cleared concerning Ay'esha."

Minx smiled.

"Then you can practice keeping secrets again. You've gotten a bit lax about that.", she reminded.

That settled the matter and I went back to my office to call Susan and invite her to join the party.

Susan herself answered this time instead of Mr. Hahn, so I was able to cut to the chase.

"Susan, remember how I saved your life last week?", I said brightly.

"What do you want now?", she said with a tone of suspicion in her voice.

"How'd you like to help me find who shot Rudenko?", I continued.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?", she snapped.

"Probably. Besides, what if Rudenko wasn't the target? What if it was your father?", I suggested.

There was a thoughtful silence before she answered.

"I think you'd better come over here.", she said and hung up.

When I arrived at Susan's house, Mr. Hahn greeted me and led me to the parlor where Susan was waiting with her father.

"Mr. Bellamy.", I said addressing him respectfully.

"Mr. Forbin, my daughter has suggested that I may have been the target instead of Ivan last week. What brings you to that conclusion?", he asked in carefully neutral tones.

"Before I answer that sir, I'd like to suggest we talk privately for a moment.", I said looking at Susan.

"Come along Mr. Hahn. We'll fix tea for the gentlemen.", she said with a nod towards a door.

As soon as we were alone I moved closer to her father before speaking.

"Mr. Bellamy, this isn't general knowledge yet, but two men were found in the clock tower at Ghirardelli's, both shot in the head.", I explained softly.

"Interesting.", he replied. "But how does that support your theory?"

"Where are your two bodyguards?", I replied.

"I don't keep track of my employees that closely.", he said looking away.

"I think they're in the City Morgue.", I speculated. " Should I call the police and suggest they interview you?"

He didn't bat an eye.

"Do you spend a lot of time out on that limb of yours?", he snorted." Suspicion is not proof."

"And dead men tell no tales. I think someone was afraid that one of you was going to talk, maybe Ivan or maybe you. Who knew you were going to be at the park?", I asked.

"Is this an interrogation?", he laughed.

"Not yet."

He studied me for a long moment before speaking.

"Mr. Forbin, I don't have any idea what you're talking about. Ivan Rudenko retained me as his lawyer a few years ago, in fact, just before the murder of Podgorni. There isn't any reason for someone to shoot me or him for that matter.

"We've both made our fair share of enemies over time. And so have you Mr. Forbin."

Susan returned to the room with Mr. Hahn following, carrying a tea tray.

"I hope you two are finished talking privately.", she said wheeling herself up to the table as the tray was set before her.

"Yes, I think so." I said. "Your father doesn't think he's in any danger, so I'm not going to pursue it." I said taking the offered cup of tea.

"Daddy can be very stubborn at times. And stupid as well.", she said, pouring him a cup of tea.

"Susan, I'm your father, and I refuse to sit here and be called stupid.", he said standing up.

"Fine. Then stand up and I'll call you stupid.", she said looking him in the eye. " I always looked up to you until now. And I can understand why you never told me that you knew anything about the men who broke my back. You were ashamed of it.

"You constantly talk about the honor of the Bellamy family and upholding traditions. Well now I understand what Emerson meant when he said 'The more he talked of his honor, the faster we counted the spoons.' "

"Susan!", he sputtered.

"Go away, and take your spy with you!", she spat. "Mr. Hahn, you're fired. Now the both of you get out of my house!"

Mr. Hahn looked at Susan's father and shrugged, walking towards the door.

"Susan, you're being hasty about this.", her father scolded, following Mr. Hahn.

"Am I? Father, when I tell Uncle Jason about this, you'll never hear the end of it."

He stopped and turned back to face us.

"Probably not. Good night Susan, Mr. Forbin."

As the door closed behind him, she broke into tears and I took her in my arms to comfort her.

"Goddess, I'm sorry.", I mumbled into her hair.

She cried for a long time and then looked up into my eyes with her tear stained face.

"Michael, I need you right now more than I've ever needed anyone before.", she said in a strained voice.

"I'm here Susie Q", I said, wiping the tears from her face with the palm of my hand.

She smiled weakly at that.

"Susie Q. No one has called me that since I was a little girl.", she said.

"Well, right now you are a little girl. A little girl lost, but not alone. I'm here and Minx is here and all of your sisters.", I comforted.

"Sisters?", she sniffled.

"When you joined Ay'esha, you became the sister to many others and a daughter to the Mother of Many. You'll never be alone again."

She pulled away from me and sat up in her chair.

"I need you

Michael.", she said fiercely.

I put my head at her feet and waited.

"By your command Mistress."

"Carry me to my bedroom and make love to me Michael. I order it."

As we laid there afterwards and I heard the soft tapping of rain on the windows driven by the wind. I thought of my wife and how we had laid in bed listening to the rain after making love years before. An old poem drifted through my mind as Susan lay there dozing beside me.

"Western wind, when wilt thou blow.

The small rain down can rain?

Goddess if my love were in my arms,

And I in my bed again."

Tears leaked from my eyes as I thought of my lost love and even the thought of Minx's love could not stop my sadness that day.

Susan stirred from her sleep and looked at me with slitted eyes until she saw the tears.

"Michael, what's wrong?", she said coming awake.

I looked away from her until I knew I could speak without sobbing.

"Just a memory of another rainy day, Mi'lady and besides the wench is dead now.", I said forcing a smile.

"You are a most gallant liar Sir Michael and your lady appreciates it.", she said kissing me. "But if you could carry me to the bathroom, I would appreciate that even more."

"Depends.", I said rolling over.

"Depends on what?", she asked.

"No, Depends, the adult diaper."

She slapped me with a pillow in reply.

And that was the first night I spent in Susan's bed, but not the last.