The Romanov Ransom

33

As Rolfe listened to Leopold Gaudecker’s men arguing over where to start their search, Tatiana and Viktor, her ever-present bodyguard, walked in the door. She looked around at the chaotic scene before zeroing in on him. “What’s going on?”

“Leopold’s men are trying to pinpoint where the network of tunnels starts and how the Fargos plan on getting in.”

She glanced over at the table and the men leaning over the map. “Where did that come from?”

“The Fargos.”

“How?”

“The Guard broke into their hotel room last night and took it.”

“Are you insane?”

He looked down at her, surprised to see the fury in her eyes. “We have the map. That’s all that matters.”

“I warned you to leave the Fargos alone.”

He was surprised by her vehemence. “Nothing happened. If they’re smart, they’re on their way to the airport. What I don’t understand is why you care?”

“In case you’re too stupid to realize, the Fargos are known worldwide. If anything happens to them, it will be more than the local police investigating. You may not care that Interpol is breathing down your neck. I prefer that my business dealings are not under that much scrutiny.”

“Calm down. As I said, they got away. Now, do you or don’t you want to be involved in the search?”

Tatiana eyed the men standing around the table, then looked back at him. “I do.”

“Then pay attention. These men know the woods.”

She crossed her arms, clearly annoyed with the proceedings. Or, as he’d surmised before, annoyed that she wasn’t running the search, which made him wonder if that crime boss father of hers ever told her no.

He turned back toward the table, listening to what Leopold was saying.

“…We set up here and here.”

“Why?” one of the men asked. “How do we even know that’s the right location? The sixty-fifth-kilometer marker is here. It’s circled. That’s where we need to be.”

Tatiana wedged herself between Rolfe and the man standing next to him in order to see. “This is the map you stole from the Fargos? Why are so many places circled?”

“Because,” Rolfe said, “that’s how we found it. No doubt Fargo’s buying time.”

“So you don’t even know where the tunnel entrance is?”

“We know it’s somewhere in the forest between here and the castle.”

“Well, let’s hope you can narrow it down. There’s a lot of forest around here.”

“She’s right,” the first man said. “Why are we spreading ourselves so thin?”

A dark-haired man shook his head. “You’re all wasting your time. I know exactly where the Fargos are going.”

“How?” Leopold asked.

“When the Fargos were in the pub, we heard them asking about Crazy Gustaw. The bartender confirmed it.”

“Who is this person?” Rolfe asked Leopold.

“The only other man who knows the woods better than my men.”

“Do we know where this Gustaw lives?”

“The general location.” The man pointed to it on the map.

“That’s within one of the circled areas,” Rolfe said.

“I’ve heard he has the entire area under surveillance.”

“I don’t care if he sees us,” Rolfe said. “I care about finding what’s in that tunnel before he or the Fargos do.”

“We can come in from here,” Leopold said. “If it’s the tunnel I believe, then it probably lets out here.” He pointed toward another spot on the map. “The sixty-fifth kilometer. Or it could be here.” This location was farther along the tracks. “We should have men waiting.”

“Why?” Rolfe said. “Isn’t it more important to stop them before they find the tunnel?”

“In case we miss them.”

Thinking ahead. He liked that. “Good. Let’s get started.”

“What about me?” Tatiana asked, then angled her head toward her bodyguard. “And Viktor?”

Leopold clenched his jaw, telling Rolfe, “She and her man can go out with the roving patrols. Your call.”

Apparently, Leopold was still sore over Tatiana pulling a knife on him. “Patrol it is,” Rolfe said. Not wanting to alienate her completely, he added, “With me.”

“What about the Fargos?” she asked.

Rolfe was regretting his desire to expand into Russia. “She makes a good point,” he told Leopold. “We need to do this without bringing attention to our actions. Try not to harm them. Anything else you want to add?” he asked her.

“That should do it,” she said, then nodded to Viktor. “We’ll be outside, checking our weapons.”

Rolfe waited until the two walked out, shutting the door behind them. He glanced out the window, watching until they were out of earshot, before turning toward Leopold and the rest of the men. “She may be afraid of Interpol stepping in, but I’m not. You see the Fargos, kill them.”