Page 50 of Near Miss

He shrugged and said to Carly, “I have no idea what that was all about.”

“That’s okay. I do.” She got into her car and drove out right behind the Bentley.

Chapter 28

Across town, the Bean Counter’s secretary, Lauren, stuck her head into his office. “He’s here.”

“Show him in.”

Moments later, his protégé, Leonid Korolev, entered. A six-foot-four slab of muscle wrapped in a three-thousand-dollar Armani suit, Korolev was an intimidating sight. Worse, at least to those who crossed the family, he was both smart and clever, two things that did not always go together.

“You wished to see me, sir?” he said.

The Bean Counter motioned to the chair on the other side of his desk. “Have a seat.” When he did, the Bean Counter went on, “Are you familiar with Trench Molder?”

“Greek’s nephew? I have met him once or twice.” There was no missing the disdain in Korolev’s voice.

“You won’t have to worry about running into him anymore.”

“Sir?”

“He’s dead.”

Korolev’s only reaction was a slight raise in his eyebrow.

“But as I’m sure you can guess, the Greek is not happy.”

“How did Trench die?”

“Car bomb.”

This time Korolev did not even attempt to hide his surprise.

“I need you to find out who is responsible,” the Bean Counter said. He set a piece of paper in front of his lieutenant that had three phone numbers on it. “Memorize these then destroy this. They are the numbers of friends of the family who work on the police force.” In other words, men on the payroll who could tell Korolev what the police knew. The Bean Counter laid a key on top of the paper. “And this is to Trench’s apartment.”

Korolev picked the items up. “Do we think it was a rival organization?”

“At this point, I know as much as you do. It’s your job to figure it out.” The Bean Counter hoped it wasn’t another family. That kind of conflict was bad for business. “And make sure you get it right. The last thing we want is to go after the wrong people.”

“I understand.”

“If you need any other resources, let Lauren know.”

Korolev took that for the dismissal it was and headed for the door.

“Leonid,” the Bean Counter said.

Korolev turned back.

“The sooner you have the answer, the better. By tomorrow would be best. The day after at the latest. Beyond that...”

The look in his eyes told Korolev exactly what would happen in that instance.

Korolev called the first number from the list.

“Samuels,” a man answer.

“Officer Samuels, the Greek sends his greetings.”

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