Page 104 of The Brigadier
“Get the dogs away,” I ordered, staring down at one then the other as they gravitated toward me, their tails swishing back and forth across the floor. I could tell they weren’t evil dogs. They wouldn’t have taken a bite but they’d done their job better than any human intimidation. Fuck. What had the world come to?
“Yes, sir,” the obvious owner stated. He was one of Vadim’s men, someone I didn’t know but I assume he was trusted. At this point, he damn well better be.
I waited until the three dogs were taken from the room, glaring at one of the other men. “Get him down and a chair. Oh, and find a goddamn towel or a fucking tee shirt so he can wipe his face.” I noticed a cooler and pointed. “And I hope you have a bottle of water in there. Bring me one.”
Tanner lifted his head while the six men gawked at me. Maybe I had grown two heads after all. I was disgusted with what I saw, although I did understand why Vadim had ordered this. Perhaps I was nothing more than weary from the bullshit handed out like candy.
Two chairs were brought almost instantly, and the pulley holding Tanner swinging in the air was slowly lowered. At least I didn’t need to ask the men to help him get to the chair. Healmost immediately stumbled, the man exhausted, beaten, and overwrought. I could only imagine what was going through his mind. Did I remain pissed? You bet, but for God’s sake, some decency still applied. Right?
All the items were finally brought, Tanner tentatively taking them. All the while, he eyed me carefully, certain I was going to whip out my gun. Yes, that’s what I would normally do and he knew that. When he’d wiped his face, successfully taking a few gulps of water, I approached, grabbing the second chair and swinging it around to face the other way before straddling it. I leaned on the back, studying him. At least he didn’t appear to be injured severely. If he had been, that would have hindered my current operation significantly.
“You can leave now. I’ll call you when I’m ready,” I told the soldiers. They didn’t need to hear this conversation. It took them only a few seconds to leave, heading into the other room.
Danny took his place, watching the two doors just in case there was an ambush. I knew he had mixed feelings but at least he understood the method to my madness. I could count on him.
Sighing, I thought about what to say. This wasn’t easy on anyone. “Tanner. I’m not going to do a dog and pony show here. There is no time on just about every level. I am fully aware your wife, daughter, mother, and sister are missing. That has been confirmed.”
His eyes opened wide, the guy likely ready to piss in his pants. “Yes, sir. They were taken a few days ago.”
“Look, I realize family comes first. I’m just learning how important that is, but you should have confided in me instead of being a part of a fucking charade. I was going to kill you, but avery important person in my life helped me understand that the kind of duress you’re under can alter a man’s entire behavior. I’m not going to say I’ll be able to trust you again. That remains to be seen, but I will find your family. But I can only do that with your help.”
Tanner seemed confused. “Why would you do that?”
“Because killing you means the assholes being allowed to slaughter your family and I’m not that guy. Plus, I do think you have some knowledge that can help solve this mystery. One question before we get to the possible places where your family could be held. Do you have any idea who is behind this game being played?”
“No, sir. He never appeared. He sent a couple men to provide their methods of… incentive. I know they’d been watching me. There might be two of them. I don’t know.”
Two. That was interesting and fell into a theory of my own.
“And they instructed you to kill Sonya?”
He nodded, still shaking like a leaf. “I did and I hate myself for it.”
“Okay. I thought as much. He’s ensuring no one can provide even a tiny portion of information but I have a feeling you are the closest possibility we have. So, let’s talk about where your family might be held. Where did you meet these men? Did you overhear anything?”
“It was just a building. I…” He looked away, his brain obviously trying to process what was happening.
“The pressure is that as soon as they realize I have you in captivity, your family will be killed. Close your eyes and think.You’re the best I have at observation. You’ve provided details that floored me over the years. You heard something. Men talk. They brag. They took you first, right?”
“Yes, sir. Dumped in a trunk. Blindfold.”
“But no earmuffs, right?”
His smile was slight, but he was finally starting to come down from the adrenaline rush. “Correct.”
“Close your eyes and whatever comes to you, let me know.”
Tanner did as I asked and I glanced up at Danny, who already had out his iPad to list whatever Tanner mentioned, easily locating the addresses. He had an uncanny ability of finding the most obscure locations.
It took about three minutes, but Tanner finally started rattling off what he remembered about the drive he’d been taken on, the building he’d been tossed into, and the two conversations he’d forgotten he’d overheard.
When he stopped and took a deep breath, his hand shaking as he took a sip of water, I glanced up at Danny.
“Bingo. Two distinct addresses within two blocks of each other. And guess where they are? Close to Brighton Beach.”
Now I found that fascinating as hell.
“Excellent work, both of you. Tanner. We’re going to a secure hotel where you’ll have a chance to clean up. There will be fresh clothes, food, and liquor. And you will repeat this exercise with details that could lead us to the perpetrator. I have faith. Keep in mind, you’ll be under heavy guard. When we find your family, and we will find your family, they will be brought to you.”