Page 59 of Wraith
“Wraith,” Amelia walked around to stand by his side.
“It’s the only language an animal like him understands.” Liam replied without taking his eyes off the bleeding man. “Now, where is the painting?”
“What painting?” Melora asked.
Liam lifted his gun once more and Melora seemed as if he wanted the bed to open up and swallow him.
“I don’t know!” Melora screamed. “I swear to God.”
“Don’t bring god into this!” Amelia snapped.
“I had it here and after my party a few weeks ago it was gone.” Melora admitted. “I’ve been looking for it ever since. My guys found it in Omsk a couple of days ago but now it’s gone again.”
“How did you find out about the Lala?” Amelia asked.
“Storogenko, Vladimir Storogenko.” Melora stuttered. “I overheard him talking to some American one night at a restaurant. I mean, a painting so valuable—I’d be a fool to let him keep it. Now, come on, man, call me a doctor.”
Liam tilted his head. “This American—what did he look like?”
“Like her,” Melora said motion toward Amelia.
“What?” Amelia asked, leaning over to peer at the injured man.
“Black. American.” Melora gritted his teeth. “I’ve told you what I know! I don’t want to bleed to death. My doctor is speed dial four. I know you and I have never seen eye to eye, but you gave me your word.”
“I’ll be coming back for you. Right now is just not your time.” Liam told him then nodded to Amelia.
She quickly grabbed the phone, hit the four button and pressed it to Melora’s head.
When Melora finished speaking, Liam led her out the room after unlocking the door. Quickly, they headed back through the house then out the door to meet up with Beast and Barbie. Back in the van, they exhaled.
“So?” Beast asked. “Do you think he was lying?”
“I don’t know.” Liam answered while pulling his gloves off. “Maybe he is. A black man in Russia should stand out like a fucking sore thumb.”
“And what’s the crack about him looking like me?” Amelia asked.
“The underground is a shady place, Hummingbird,” Barbie said. “But it’s also very inclusive. People generally don’t see skin colour if you have enough money and can get them what they want. It wouldn’t be hard to miss him. Besides, Melora would be dumb to lie to Wraith. He knows what would happen if he did.”
“I’m getting the sinking feeling if we find the Lala, we’ll find my father’s body.” Amelia snuggled into Liam’s side. “A part of me don’t wanna find it.”
“I know.” Liam kissed her head. “But it’s the only way to make this all stop.”
Chapter 17
Once more, the entire group switched accommodations. This time, Barbie’s boyfriend, Crash, had a friend he met travelling who owned a house about four streets over. After Crash called in a favour, they all headed over, ensuring they weren’t being followed.
It wasn’t a big change, but it was necessary.
“I think we’ve been doing this all wrong,” Wraith said, pushing his food around on his plate.
“What do you mean?” Amelia asked.
“It seems both Meloroa and Storogencko and his mysterious American are after the Lala, right?” Wraith asked, pushing his plate to the side. “None of them know each other—they just want the painting. What if, we wait until one of them finds it, then relieve them of it?”
“But how will we know who has it and when? All we’ve been doing is going around in circles.” Amelia rubbed her temples.
“Not really. We have some information we didn’t have before.” Wraith exhaled. “We’re closer to it now than we were leaving Canada.”
