Page 187 of Toxic Salvation
The phone slips from my hands and clatters on the concrete.
Shura appears at my side instantly. “Mrs. Krayev? Are you alright?”
I stare at the message, reading it again and again, hoping the words will change. They don’t.
Ihor has my son.
My nine-year-old boy who calls me Mom and builds robots and dreams of being an astronaut. The child who saved my heart when I didn’t even know it was broken.
“Ma’am?” Shura’s hand hovers near my elbow. “What’s wrong?”
I pick up my fallen phone and delete the message. If Shura sees it, he’ll call Kovan immediately. He’ll insist on backup, on following protocol, on doing everything by the book.
But Ihor was clear.Come alone, or Luka dies.
I can’t take that risk.
I won’t.
“Nothing’s wrong,” I lie, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Just work stress. Can you take me somewhere before we go home?”
“Of course. Where to?”
I’m about to answer when the phone buzzes again. It’s a set of instructions this time, and they’re very, very clear.
“Actually,” I say as Shura opens the car door for me, “I need to make a quick stop in the bathroom first. Lady problems. You can wait in the car.”
Shura frowns. “Ma’am, Mr. Krayev was very specific about not leaving you alone. Especially today.”
“It’ll just take five minutes, I promise.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t?—”
“Shura.” I turn to face him fully, letting him see the desperation I’m trying so hard to hide. “I’m asking you to trust me. Five minutes. That’s all I need.”
He stares at me for a long moment. Finally, he nods. “Five minutes. Not a second longer.”
I slide into the backseat and close my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. Luka is smart. He’s survived worse than this. I just have to get to him before Ihor decides he’s more useful dead than alive.
I just have to save my child.
Even if it kills me.
64
KOVAN
“Forgive me, detective, but I’m not sure why you’re here at all.”
SFPD Detective Maverick Channing flashes me a smile designed to inspire confidence. Too bad I’ve spent my entire life not trusting cops, and this budget-bin Columbo isn’t about to change my mind.
“Listen, Mr. Krayev, you’re a respected member of the community, a successful businessman, and a generous philanthropist. I’m on your side here.”
I lead him through the warehouse he’s decided to invade, keeping my face neutral. “Funny way of showing support—raiding my property with half the department.”
“We received an anonymous tip about illegal weapons storage,” he explains for the dozenth time. “Standard procedure requires us to investigate all credible threats to public safety.”
“Of course. But you’re still on my side.”
