Chapter 5 THE RAIDED WAREHOUSE

CHAPTER 5: THE RAIDED WAREHOUSE

NIKOLAI POV:

My dad is at it again, disturbing my little found peace in America.

He keeps pressuring me to come back to Russia, using all the dirty means in the book but he and I know that's not happening any time soon.

I kept my phone down on the table and took a sip of whiskey from the glass.

I chuckled after reading the message on my phone, my dad gave an Intel to the American police and they just raided one of my warehouse where I keep my smuggled guns.

He didn't rat me out of course, it's his little way to shake me and I know how to keep my tracks clean, they didn't find anything that might be linked back to me.

My phone rang again and I looked at the caller ID, I guessed right, The cops.

"Yes?", I picked up the phone and said.

"Is this Mr Vladimir?", The caller asked.

I paused for three seconds before responding, "Speaking".

"I am detective Joe Williams and you are needed for questioning at the station", The man said.

From his voice, I can guess he's in his 50s or 60s, but he sounds young.

"I'm a very busy man detective", I said with a smirk on my face even though he couldn't see it.

"Well I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be so busy if you are handcuffed and dragged here", He said.

I didn't like his tune.

I sat upright and frowned.

"Was that a threat detective?", I asked in a low voice.

"No, just something that might happen in the future", He said.

Normally, others would be scared or stutter if I spoke to them in that manner, it didn't matter who it was, but this... this detective seems different.

'How different?', I asked myself.

"I get off work by 7pm, I'll be at the station an hour later", I said.

"That would be grea--", I didn't let him finish before ending the call.

I placed my phone on the table and chuckled, that detective sounds frustrated, like he was angry they didn't find anything to pin on me during their raid.

'That is not my fault if I keep my dirty deeds clean', I said in my head.

Anyways, I'll stop by the station just to see the face of the detective who's bold enough to talk back at me.

I've been in America for two years now for business and it has been flourishing.

These little America underworld leaders try to challenge me but they are no match.

In this line of business, I've been called by many names. Some call me 'The Enforcer', while others call me 'The Beast'.

One time I was called 'The Hammer', I laughed at such pathetic names.

I am the one and only Nikolai Vladimir, I am not to be intimidated, I do the intimidation.

***

It was pass 7pm and I was not making any move to leave work and go down to the station.

I called Lev, my right-hand man and my trusted worker.

"Boss", He said once he was inside the office.

"Get ready, we've got a little stop at the station", I instructed.

"Station?", He asked, surprised.

"Yes, cops. My dad had another surprise for me", I said as I chuckled at the thought of my dad being happy right now that his little trick worked.

"Yes Boss", He nodded before going to get the car ready.

That was Lev for you, he never asks to many questions, one was enough.

Lev was loyal, his dad used to be my dad's right-hand man before he died trying to save my dad when Lev was only 13 years old and I was 12.

My Dad took Lev in and saw him through school and all the underworld training, ever since then, he has stuck by me and me him. Lev and I used to play together when we were younger in Russia and he would always protect me like he was my big brother, but he would never stop calling me 'Boss', even from a young age and I got used to it.

I looked at my Rolex wrist watch and it was few minutes past 8, I stood up and buttoned my tailored black suit, leaving two buttons on the shirt undone.

I left the office and headed to the elevator, down to the underground parking lot.

Lev was already in the driver's seat, I got in the back seat and instructed him to go.

The ride to the station should take about 30 minutes or 45 minutes if the traffic wasn't friendly, but I was in no rush.

I relaxed and took out my ipad since I still have work to do, the raided warehouse of guns did get to my little nerve, over 40 guns, with grenades, bullets and millions worth of cash all taken by the cops, 'I must get it back' and I will.

My Dad really went for the warehouse with the most assets, 'Clever man', I thought.

I was looking through the list of officers in the Police Station and looking for which one could be bribed without any hassle.

Then I came across the detective who called me earlier, I was right he was 54 years old, stern face and white hairs.

I smiled and kept going through the list, until I found an easy prey.

***

Still on the road, I was looking through the CCTV footage of how the raided the warehouse when our car came to a sudden halt.

"What the fuck Lev?!!", I asked, annoyed.

"Sorry Boss, some stupid pedestrian got into the road", Lev explained.

"Oh, these stupid Americans!", I said feeling frustrated.

"She isn't leaving the way, I will go see what she wants", Lev said as he took off his seatbelt and left the car.

I kept the iPad down and closed my eyes for two seconds while muttering 'Fuck'.

Lev was taking forever to get back in the car so I had to see what was taking him so long.

I got out of the back seat and the car's headlight shone bright at a lean figure with red short dress.

Why was she so white? 'Probably the light', I asked and answered my question.

She looked at my direction, trying to see my face which I knew she couldn't because of the headlight.

She looked drunk and like she has cried a lot, 'Why do you care?', I snapped out of it and instructed Lev to ignore and get back into the car.

I also entered the car and Lev zoomed off, as we passed the girl, I could see she was trying to look inside the car but the glasses were tinted.

I took the iPad and replayed the video over and over again, not wanting to miss any details. That old detective was the one who led the raid.

'Such a boring old man', I said.

***

We got to the station around pass 9pm and I couldn't be happier with myself.

"Hello Mr Vladimir, I am detective Joe. We spoke on phone", The detective introduced himself.

"Yes, I know the face", I said and he looked at me weirdly for just a sec before looking at his file, probably bunch of stupid evidence he claimed he found.

Come to think of it, if my dad didn't mention my name to them, how come they had the thought to link me to this issue?

I need to find out who they have been talking to.

"Okay, so from what we've gathered, the warehouse which was raided was the property you supposedly 'sold' two months ago..." The detective said with an air quote when he said 'sold'.

I have to give it to him, he's good.

"...are you going to deny you know nothing about the smuggling of guns and other dangerous weapons?", He asked.

"Detective, I'm sure you've done a good background check on me, including what I do for work. I am a business man, I deal with cargos and not... nuclear weapons", I said.

He paused and looked at me, he continued talking and I wasn't paying him any attention, my eyes were exploring his desk.

It was small with too many papers on it, a laptop and two photo frames.

I was curious, I took the first one and I was greeted with an image of him and a girl, 'His wife?'.

No, the girl looks a lot younger for him.

'Did he marry a young girl?', I chuckled at the thought and the detective took his eyes off the files he was holding and immediately snatched the photo frame from my hand.

"I would need you to corporate here, Mr Vladimir!", He sounded frustrated and tired.

I was tired of putting up with him, I was only bored that was why I was here in the first place.

I stood up and buttoned my suit, putting both hands in my pocket.

"I am done detective, any more questions, you need a warrant then you will speak with my lawyer", I said and left.

I heard him call me but I didn't look back.

Something was on my mind. That picture of the detective and the girl.

The girl in the photo looks so damn familiar, 'Where do I know her from', not from the club or business, definitely not by sex, she was two small to be my type.

And then it clicked, 'The girl in a red dress Lev almost ran over!', I smiled widely.

So... She is the detective daughter... interesting.

My eyes darkened and I bit down on my teeth, we got into the car and zoomed off.

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