The Boy from Reactor 4

CHAPTER 76

KIRILO CHARTERED A plane in Magadan. Victor flew with him to Anchorage. Kirilo kept a select array of temporary business visas up to date in case he needed to travel on the spur of the moment, including the Category B visa for visits to America. Pavel and three of Kirilo’s bodyguards, who were waiting in Magadan, had similar documentation and joined him. Kirilo had been to New York City and Los Angeles three times each and enjoyed none of the visits. The excess of wealth and power reminded him that he was relatively poor and powerless on a global scale. After each of his visits, he couldn’t wait to get back to Kyiv.

Victor was an American citizen, so they parted ways at US Customs and Border Protection. When Kirilo caught up with Victor at the gate to their connecting flight, Victor handed him a cell phone.

“Where did you get this?” Kirilo said.

Victor nodded at a kiosk for a cell phone vendor. “There’s someone on the other end of the line who wants to talk to you.”

Kirilo pressed the phone to his ear.

“Papa?” It was Isabella’s voice.

“Bella?”

“Papa.” Isabella sounded teary, as though she’d been crying.

“Are you all right?”

She sniffed some tears in. “Yes, I’m okay. Oh, but it’s horrible, Papa. It’s horrible.”

“Are you hurt? Have they touched you in any way?”

“Well, no…”

“Are you getting enough to eat? Are they taking care of you?”

“Well, yes…”

“Good. Listen to me, Bella. Be good. Do whatever they tell you to do, and don’t show them any of your sass. Do you hear me, Isabella?”

She didn’t answer. By the time Kirilo realized the line had gone dead, Victor had already stretched his hand out to retrieve the phone. Kirilo gave it to him.

“You didn’t have a phone before,” Kirilo said. “You were worried I’d take it from you, triangulate the number you called, and find her. But you’re not worried anymore.”

“The boys are expecting me to call every hour on the hour from now on,” Victor said. “And you’re in my country now.”

“Yes, we’re in your country now. So why don’t you just let her go?”

“Soon, cousin. Soon.”

An airline employee announced that the flight to New York City would begin boarding in half an hour.

“You have her residence under surveillance right now?” Kirilo said.

“Yes, but she won’t go there. That would be too obvious.”

“Where will she go?”

“The question isn’t where she’s going. We can’t even be sure she’s going to New York. The question is, who does she trust? The question is, who’s going to know where she’s going?”

“Why do I feel as though you’re saving the best for last?”

“He wears his hair in an elastic band like a schoolgirl, is built like a man who worked the docks, and dresses like an Italian fashion designer.”

“What is this abomination’s name?”

“He calls himself Johnny Tanner, and I’m going to make him my willing accomplice.”