Forty-five minutes later I was looking pretty good. I felt like a new man, which I guess I was. So much of my life had changed in one day. Since Emma had left, the man I once was had almost completely disappeared and what stood in its place was a contradiction. Half confident and half terrified of his own shadow. I had achieved things I never thought possible but still couldn’t shake the fear of things to come. That’s normal though when your wife gets kidnapped by the Russian mob who threaten to kill (and maybe torture her) unless she helps them do something incredibly illegal, isn’t it?
I had to break into a sprint to make it back to the garage on time and even then the tubes delayed me so I ended up being almost twenty minutes late. The man-mountain was still there although they had closed the garage to the public. I knocked on the door and at first he waved me away. Then, realising who I was, he turned and unlocked the door.
‘Fuck me, I didn’t recognise you there mate,’ he muttered. He was breathing deeply. He looked sweatier than usual as if he had been working hard. I hoped it was on my car.
‘It’s all ready for you mate. She’s looking pretty sweet,’ he added, walking me through the doors.
To my surprise it did. I mean it was still a piece of shit, but it was one that looked like it had been shown some love. The most important thing to me was that the windows were blacked out.
He ran me through all the things he added and made sure I felt I had my money’s worth. I was impressed. After what seemed like hours he finished talking and I handed him the rest of his cash.
‘I appreciate this,’ I said. ‘Thanks again.’
Holding the money, Blubber waved me out of the garage, shocked at how easily he had earned himself two grand extra.
The car was ridiculous. I found it impossible to have the music on anything except ‘deafeningly loud’ and I wasn’t a hundred percent sure the black tinting was legal. But it was doing the job. I was definitely not the sort of person you expected to be driving in this car. If by some bizarre reason I drove straight past the Kozlovs they would never suspect I was inside. It was perfect camouflage.
I made my way home, via the clothes shop to pick up my new wardrobe, and spent most of the evening trying to unpack everything. It was late by the time my new flat was in some sort of an order. I threw away my old clothes, which seemed a bit extreme but I wanted a complete change and jumped in the shower. I was in there a long time but it felt good; after all I was exhausted.
My beautiful little iPhone was on charge and ready to use as I collapsed on my bed. I found the scribbled note of my old contact’s numbers and saved them on my phone. I could at least now contact Mum, Sophie, Rachel and - most importantly - Jack.
I was no longer the man I used to be, but sadly I still had the same problems. I had no idea where Emma was or how she was coping. She was strong in every sense of the word and she would be fine. She had to be.
Buying all my new belongings had distracted me but now I was back on track. I was in a better situation, surely? I had money at my disposal and had convinced the Russians I was out of the country. If I could just track Emma down I could save her.
I fell asleep, hoping my dreams would bring a plan. It killed me, not being able to find her. Even if I knew where she was I couldn’t do anything. They were too powerful and it was too hard to get away from them.
I wanted to do this on my own. I'd left Sophie behind hoping it would keep her safe and I had my reservations about involving Jack and Rachel again. But time was running out. I opened the drawer and checked that the gun was still there, in case I needed it. It was.
I needed help. Tomorrow I would phone Jack.
Chapter Sixteen
‘I was going to eat here once...but we decided to get a mortgage instead!’
Jack was pleased to hear from me. Since his visit over the weekend he had heard nothing and had begun to worry. My number was one he did not recognise and he answered it with little hesitation.
‘Hello?’ he questioned.
‘How’s it going Jack?’ I asked as calmly as I could.
‘Tom! Am I glad to hear from you,’ he exclaimed.
‘Are you and Rachel keeping safe?’
‘Of course, you know me. How are you?’
I told him I was fine and not to worry.
‘I've loads to tell you,’ I said honestly.
‘Yeah, me too,’ he breathed, which seemed encouraging.
‘But not over the phone, can we meet? I can come to you if it’s easier.’
‘Let me come down to you mate. Rachel is working late tonight and she is safe there. I can be there in a couple of hours and get back before she is home.’
‘Great I looked forward to it.’
‘Shall I come to your place?’
‘Not exactly...I’ll text you an address.’
*****
Less than two hours later we were sat together at a small table in one of the most expensive restaurants in London. ‘Startle’ was slowly building a reputation as the best restaurant in the country. It was a little too trendy for me but it had as many Michelin stars as it was possible to get and we were guaranteed a good meal.
I figured it was the best way for me to explain to Jack what my situation was. He was flabbergasted as he approached the table, escorted by two men who were dressed smarter than I was at my own wedding. I could see him eyeing me up and down as he got nearer and shaking his head in disbelief.
‘What is going on mate?’
‘What do you mean?’ I joked. ‘Have you never eaten at Startle before?’
‘I was going to eat here once... but we decided to get a mortgage instead!’
It was good to see him again. I loved the banter we'd always had.
‘So you’ve got to fill me in quick buddy, before I order a main course,’ he said.
‘You don’t order a main here, it’s a set five course menu,’ I replied, smirking. ‘OK, I'll tell you everything.’
And I did. It took me through two-courses to tell all about working out what they key meant and my journey from then on. I could tell he was impressed by what I had achieved in just a few days. It seemed a lifetime ago when I was standing in Victoria Station, unsure of how Emma felt about me. Eventually Jack knew as much as I did about the situation and sat in stunned awe.
‘Tom, that’s incredible.’
I wasn’t sure to what he was referring exactly so I shot him a quizzical look.
‘All of that. To find the locker and the money. And avoid the Kozlovs. And the whole airport trick. And to do it alone so quickly. It’s unbelievable!’
I smiled proudly. It had been a long time since I had felt proud of myself. It was a big achievement and I was happy I had done it. Not that I'd had a choice.
‘You know the money she gave you is going to be illegal right? There are loads of issues here.’
‘So is me having a gun, but my situation isn’t exactly normal, right?’ I said back.
I could see Jack thinking. He hated doing things that were openly illegal but he knew what I was going through.
‘You're right,’ he said at last. ‘Compared to the things you have done, and probably will do, spending some dodgy money is probably the least of our worries.’
We ate in silence for a second. The food was incredible. I was more of a ‘Chinese takeaway on a Friday night’ kind of guy but I could get used to it. The plates were considerably smaller than the size I was used to but the courses kept coming out. At points, water with lemon wedges were brought out to clean your fingers! That’s what your trouser legs were for. It was completely over the top, but for the price we were paying, it'd better be.
‘Is there any order to using this cutlery?’ Jack asked, clearly no more comfortable than I was.
‘I don’t think so,’ I replied. ‘I think it’s just to give you a choice.’
*****
By the time the final course came we were stuffed. The flavours were incredible and I just wished I had
a palette that could properly appreciate it. It was good day so far; I always felt safer having Jack around, but I knew we needed to push on.
‘You said you had things to tell me,’ I said through mouthfuls of pudding.
‘Yeah, it’s just a theory but it might be a lead,’ he said tantalising.
‘Go on,’ I begged, desperate to know.
Jack pulled out his phone and flicked through the apps until he found a photo.
‘Do you know what this is?’ he asked, showing me the image on his phone.
The picture wasn’t particularly clear. It looked a bit as if he had taken a photo of a photo. It was a jug of some sort. I couldn’t tell you what sort as I’m not a scientist or... nerd. But it looked old, expensive and important. It was blue with white fragments and some sort of animal emblazoned on the side (I couldn’t tell what animal).
‘It looks like a jug,’ I deduced.
‘Technically it’s a ewer. It is basically a large jug which people used to carry water in. You used it to wash from. This one is a very important Chinese artefact from the Yuan Dynasty. It’s over seven hundred years old.’
‘And a very nice one,’ I said, not sure what this had to do with me.
‘It is a very nice one. Artefacts of this importance are worth millions. To China this jug is priceless.’
‘OK, so what does this...?’
Jack ignored me and carried on talking.
‘Can you see what is on the side of it?’
I shook my head, so he continued.
‘There's a Phoenix painstakingly detailed into the side. It has huge significance and importance.’
‘Is this what the Kozlovs want?’
‘Wait, let me finish.’ He shot me a glance that told me to keep my mouth shut and I listened.
‘The point is that this isn’t the only one. There were five identical ewers made at the same time. They were made to celebrate some huge event and each one has a different animal on it to represent different things.’ Jack’s factual knowledge was beginning to become patchy but he knew enough. He took a deep breath and I decided to risk a question.
‘So where are they kept?’
‘This is the point. For centuries they were kept in China. They survived thousands of attempts from people trying to steal them but eventually it became the Holy Grail for thieves. It became dangerous to keep them together.’ This was starting to seem important.
‘So in the 1980’s China decided to split them up. They were given to the most important museums around the world; one in America, one here in London...you get the idea. It was a gift to the world apparently and showed China’s strengthening relationship with the western world. It put a huge responsibility on the museums that held them and the security became state of the art. Nobody could touch them.’
‘So why do people want to steal them so much? Loads of things are worth a million pounds.’
‘Two reasons. Number one: the respect. No one has ever done it, so if you can, you're the best thief in the world. Number two: alone they are worth a million or two. On the black market, the whole collection together would be worth over seventy million pounds!’
I sat there in silence, taking this in. I was getting that sinking feeling that I only got when Emma was involved in things I really didn’t want her to be.
‘This is where it gets interesting. Seven years ago there was a scandal where one of the jugs was stolen out in Milan. It was missing for over a week before it was discovered. Then last week, another one was somehow taken in Paris. When they looked carefully at the one in Milan they found it was a fake. An incredible fake that fooled everyone at the museum, but a fake nonetheless.’
‘So what does that mean?’
‘It means that two have now been successfully stolen. I think the Kozlovs are behind it.’
‘Why? I mean it makes sense but what makes you sure?’
‘Because, four years ago, some of their known associates were caught trying to steal the Paris one and went down for it. It is almost impossible to get these out of the museum, let alone the country. The Kozlovs are smart enough to never get involved.’
‘So you think they need Emma to try and take them?’
‘I do.’
‘But why? I know Emma is good and all that but this is an impossible job. Why do they think she could do it?’
‘Because Emma was in Milan, seven years ago. I think the only person to be able to steal these is Emma! They must have found out that she had the first one and tracked her down, blackmailing her to get the others.’
Shit!
‘Are you telling me that Emma has stolen one of these vase things in Milan? And was then forced to steal one in Paris last week?’
‘Yes, I think so.’ He was looking at me gravely.
I tried to look at the bright side.
‘OK, so she's been able to do it twice already. Maybe she can do all of them and then she’s free. Right?’
‘Don’t you get it?’ he said. ‘It’s a trap. It’s win-win for the Kozlovs. Either Emma pulls off the impossible and they get seventy million pounds, or she gets caught and they get revenge. And even if she does it, which she won’t, do you really think they won’t just kill her? I’m sorry but it’s true.’
‘So what do I do?’ I was panicking now. Jack was right. The good news was they needed Emma for a while so she was in no immediate danger but how long would she need to steal the others.
‘I shouldn’t know anything about this, you understand. I have been poking around the Kozlovs and I managed to get hold of this idea. It’s just a theory so far. The force has no idea about Emma's involvement and, if they do see her, they'll just assume she's working with the Russians. They have eyes on the Kozlovs all the time.’
‘So they make her do all the illegal stuff and they get away with it,’ I said, boiling with anger.
‘The police here are watching the one in London, as are the ones in America and Amsterdam. No one will be able to get within ten feet of them. Emma is going to get caught if she goes near them. No matter how good she is.’
So that was it. They had known Emma had taken the first ewer and traced her around the world to force her to steal the other four. Somehow she had got the second one from Paris and now the police were on high alert. If I couldn’t get to her in time then she was going to end up in jail... or shot.
We finished our coffee in silence. Despite the wonderful food I was still left with a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn’t know what to do. I knew the Kozlovs were serious guys, that they were after something big. But this was huge. Emma could maybe beat one security system for a museum, but she couldn’t outrun the police, Interpol, the FBI and whoever else would be waiting for her to make a mistake.
‘That food was incredible,’ Jack said, breaking the tension.
‘Yeah, I’ve never had five courses before,’ I replied, trying to smile.
‘So what do we do now?’ Jack asked me. “
‘We don’t do anything. I could never have done this without you, you know that, but you've done enough. There's nothing you can do and I can’t put you or Rachel in anymore danger. I mean it,’ I said, ignore the shaking of his head.
‘I can handle myself and I’m here for you...’
‘I know you are but you've done enough. Seriously. I can’t have you losing your job over this. End of. Now let me get the bill.’
I grimaced as the waitress brought over the bill. Taking out a friend for lunch has cost me the best part of five hundred pounds. Ridiculous. It doesn’t matter how good the food was. Half a grand. Seriously?
Jack stifled his laughter as he caught a glimpse of the bill and raised a disapproving eyebrow when I pulled out twenty-five purple notes and dropped them on the table.
‘Stop carrying cash about,’ Jack said. ‘There are some terrible statistics about muggings in London.’
‘It’s OK. I’m armed anyway,’ I smirked.
‘Tom, tell me you aren’t carrying it with
you!’ he whispered, all the laughter draining from his eyes.
‘Joke!’ I replied.
‘Not funny.’
We walked out of the restaurant and Jack acknowledged it was time for him to head back. He didn’t want Rachel to worry.
‘How much does Rachel know?’ I asked, turning to say goodbye.
‘Nothing yet. It’s better that way. When you find Emma and save her life I’ll tell her all about it.’
‘Deal.’
Jack hugged me and turned to walk away. I knew I had to let Jack get on with his life and stop dragging him into it. Soon.
‘Hey Jack. One more thing.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Do you know where the Kozlovs are? Could you find them?’
‘Yes probably, but they haven’t done anything wrong so we can’t arrest them.’
‘I don’t want to arrest them, but if I need to know where they are, can you find them?’
‘I think so.’
‘Thanks Jack, I may need that.’
‘Don’t do anything stupid.’ I paused for a second.
‘Goodbye.’
Chapter Seventeen
‘Time to man up! Time to not be scared! Any minute now!’
My new apartment wasn’t as large as it had first appeared and even then it had looked small. I realised quite how little it was when I paced around it for several hours that night. I'd left Startle before four and gone straight home, yet I was still pacing well past eight. I didn’t know what to do but I was getting used to thinking on my feet. I hadn't known how to find the locker and I had. I hadn't known how to get into ‘Raynmer and Stein’ and I had. This would be no different. I hoped.
I had resorted to talking to myself again. By seven, I was physically shouting out loud. People walking past would have heard me calling out, ‘Time to man up! Time to not be scared! Any minute now!’ It wasn’t working a great deal. I had no plan forming in my head and I was struggling to contain the stress (and fear). Eventually I gave my voice and legs a rest, settling down to eat a take-away pizza. Wealth had ruined me. I used to try being healthy but now all I was eating were fancy restaurant meals and take-away pizzas. I had even become a snob, refusing to eat pizzas from my local and ordering the dearer option from ‘Pizza Express.’