In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva #1)(66)

“Alright, I’ll make you a deal. Since I’m going to be in New York for a case for the next couple of weeks, that should give you plenty of time to look at it all, but when I come back, so does the case.”

“That’ll work.”

He grumbled something intelligible, clearly not liking the idea at all, but she launched into conversation about her classes, not wanting to give him the opportunity to change his mind.

***

In one of the giant oak trees across the street from Aunt Sally’s diner, a lanky man with mousy brown hair and a mouth full of yellowing, crooked teeth sat on one of the thicker tree branches, concealed behind browning leaves that still clung it. Anyone passing beneath would not be able to detect him, he was especially gifted in his craft.

He could see everything around him clearly with the help of his digital camera, a special long range lens attached to the front of it. As he aimed the camera, adjusting the lens to focus the picture, he snapped photos of the girl with the cop.

He had been assigned surveillance over her and hadn’t been expecting anything substantial to come from it. Like many cases of his trailing young girls, he anticipated catching her partying with friends or sleeping around.

But this?

This was bigger than anything he had come across before. He dug out the burner phone from his pocket, cursing as he nearly dropped the tiny electronic device, it nearly slipping through his numb fingers.

Getting a firm grip on the phone, he dialed one for his boss, listening to it ring for ages before it finally connected, the man on the other line staying silent, just the steady sound of his breathing carrying over.

The photographer didn’t waste any time. “We have a problem.”

***

“You’re not serious. Are you crying mom?” Lauren asked as she stood next to Ross’ car, giving him a look over her mom’s shoulders.

She might have felt bad, but as Susan drew away, wiping the telltale wetness from her cheeks, she couldn’t help but laugh a little at her expense.

“It feels like I’m losing you all over again.”

“I’ll be back in a few months for the summer. One day you might actually let me out of the nest fully instead of teetering on the edge."

Susan had bee teary-eyed all day, running around the house like a mad woman as she prepared a care package for Lauren to take with her. She now had enough toilet paper to last her a few months. Since Susan had been spending her days watching the Walking Dead, she bought it was best to prepare for the Apocalypse early. Why that meant she bought out the local grocery store of toilet tissue, Lauren didn’t know.

There were a few more boxes full of her old clothes, her father’s things, and school supplies for the upcoming semester. It all fit into the back of Ross’ car and she was happy he happened to be heading up there this weekend because if he hadn’t, most of this stuff would have been left since the fees at the airport would have been unreal.

Susan pulled Lauren into another hug, squeezing tightly. “Please be careful,” she whispered.

“Always.”

“Have a safe trip you two. Call me when you get there.”

Waving goodbye one last time, they drove off.

“You know,” Lauren said a few hours into their trip. “I have my license if you want to take a break.”

“Do you remember the last time I let you drive?” Ross asked glancing over at her.

She knew exactly where he was going with this. “I was like fifteen and had just gotten my learner’s permit! You can’t still think I’m that bad.”

“You ran us off the road on a deserted street,” he remarked dryly. “And before you say it, no. I don’t remember the fictional squirrel that you saw.”

Needless to say, Lauren didn’t get to drive at all. She stayed up though, keeping the conversation going. It had been a long time since they had talked about him and what he was planning to do next year.

He had been thinking about retiring from the force for some time, but old habits died hard and he wasn’t quite ready to let go.

“What are you going to do once you retire? Buy a boat?”

“I just might,” he said with a smile. “Take it out on the weekends and go fishing.”

“Mom loves fishing.” She had no idea whether or not Susan could fish. “You could take her out with you. I’m just saying the two of you together—”

Ross turned up the radio.

***

Helping her carry her suitcases up, they had to make another trip just to carry up the case files. “I think that’s the last of it.”

“What hotel are you staying in?” Lauren asked sweeping her hair up into a ponytail.

“It’s not far from here, just on the other side of the bridge.”

“You never did tell me what case you were working,” Lauren said as they walked back down.

“You know I can’t discuss an—”

“Ongoing investigation, yep, I know.”

He chuckled. “Taught you well. Alright, well I better get going and get checked in.”

“Thanks again, Ross.”

He went all gruff when she went ion to hug him, patting her back awkwardly. “Don’t get into any trouble. I hope you find what you’re looking for in those files.”

“I’ll see you soon.”