Hetman Read Online Free Page B

Snow explained the visit to the Militia station.
    “So where is he?”
    Snow shrugged. “They won’t say just that he is the custody of an officer named Budt.”
    “It’s the bandits from Donetsk, mark my words.”
    “When was the last time you saw him?”
    “Yesterday. We started off in the Dockers Pub – you know the new name for ‘The Cowboy Bar’ and then onto Arena.”
    “And nothing happened?”
    Jones shook his head. “Mitch was with us but he went home with a tart from his office. Inna ordered me to come home and the last I saw of Brian he was getting into a taxi.”
    “What time was this?”
    Jones frowned. “Dunno, maybe three-ish? You know how it is.”
    Snow nodded. In his day the drinking sessions usually ended in the small hours.   “Is Mitch around.”
    “No, he flew back to the US this morning to see his kids and ex-wife.”
    Snow felt his stomach rumble and stole a fry from Jones’ tray. “None of this makes sense.”
    “Correction, none of it would make sense in the UK. Here it makes perfect sense, someone is after a ‘Vziatka’.”
    “A bribe?” Something clicked in Snow’s mind and things became a little clearer.
    “For sure. Look at the time I got stopped without my passport back in the days when you needed a visa. Even though I had a photocopy on me they wanted $100. The next day they came to the flat and saw Inna. She told them to piss off because she knew their boss.”
    “I hope you’re right Michael. But we still have to find out where he is.” Snow felt his Blackberry vibrate. He retrieved it from his pocket and looked at the number displayed. It was Brian’s flat. “Katya?”
    “Aidan, the Militia came back – I pretended not to be in. They were banging the door.”
    “I’m on my way.”
    Her voice almost broke as she asked. “Is Brian with you?”
    “No. I’m sorry, I’ll explain when I see you.” He ended the call and looked at Jones. “Gotta go.”
     
    Snow stood at the side of the road and stretched his arm out. A beat-up Volkswagen saloon immediately swung in from the early evening traffic and came to an abrupt stop in front of him. As was the custom and common practice, it wasn’t a taxi just a Kyivite taking the chance to make bit extra. Snow gave the driver the address and in return the driver stated an inflated price. Snow was in no mood to haggle, agreed the price instantly and jumped in. Twenty minutes later he was once more outside Webb’s building; he called Katya again and let her know that he was on his way up. Two minutes after that she opened the door and ushered him in.
    “Are you Ok?” He asked.
    She nodded and looked over his shoulder expectantly. “Where’s Brian?”
    “I don’t know. The Militia have moved him. Let’s get inside.”
    She shut the door and bolted it. “Where is my husband?”
    “I don’t know. They wouldn’t say but my friend at the Embassy has threatened to make an official complaint if Brian is not released or charged by Monday.”
    Katya folded her arms, and prepared herself for the worst. “What are they going to charge him with?”
    “Let’s sit down first.”
    “Bollocks, Aidan just tell me. Please.”
    “Sexual assault.”
    Katya backed away into the kitchen and raised her hand to her mouth, stifling a laugh. Snow couldn’t tell if it was nerves or if she actually found it funny. “He can barely assault me.”
    “Tell me what happened here, with the Militia?”
    “The same two officers came back. They rang the bell and when I didn’t answer said they knew I was in. They then banged on the door for a few minutes and said that I couldn’t help Brian if I didn’t let them in. Aidan I thought they were going to break the door down.”
    “I doubt that they would have done that. You did the right thing.”
    “Are you hungry?”
    Snow was but didn’t want to make her cook. “If you’re going to eat then I will.”
    “Stop being so bloody English.” Katya pointed at a chair. “Sit. Eat.