Page 44 of The Wrong Monster

Around the table sit Ariadna, Art, Timur, and three of my senior captains. Coffee grows cold while nobody touches it. Everyone is waiting for bad news—including me.

Ariadna delivers it first.

"Beaumont disappeared early this morning."

I don't look up from the reports spread across the table.

"Disappeared."

"He emptied his office sometime before dawn."

"Destination?"

She flips a page in her notebook. "Michigan. Bought a private flight out at the airstrip."

I look up, impressed. Lake Placid Airport is a public facility, and has no commercial flights. Convincing any of the hobby pilots out there, and less than twenty-four hours since he was in my office, would have cost him a pretty penny.

"His hometown?"

Ariadna nods. "As far as Kevin can determine. I haven’t actually sent men out there…"

Silence settles over the room. Timur shifts uncomfortably; all eyes are on me.

"So... do we go after him?"

"No. Let him go."

Art studies me carefully. "You're sure? He knows so much about the business, Vasily."

"He's no use for me anymore. And he’s not as much of an idiot as he’s shown himself to be lately. When he’s on safer ground, he’ll come to his senses and keep his mouth shut."

The words leave my mouth colder than I intend, but no one challenges them. Beaumont served me faithfully for years, and was a good friend to my father. Then, the moment the water reached his own neck... He ran.

I don't have room in this organization for men who choose themselves over everyone else.

"We move forward." I slide another folder across the table. "Matilda has her first confidential call with Mikhail tomorrow."

Ariadna leans forward.

"She agreed?"

"She didn't just agree." I allow myself the faintest hint of satisfaction. "She's already building a defense strategy."

Timur sits back, his dark brows disappearing into shaggy bangs. My little brother, who has never wanted to touch the dark side of the business, understands enough to be impressed. Beaumont has been tying us up trying to talk me out of defending Mikhail. Matilda hasn’t seemed to even consider the option.

"Once she interviews him," I continue, "she officially takes over."

Art nods. "That's one problem solved."

"Not quite." I drum my fingers once against the tabletop. "This morning she informed me that a friend of hers is insisting on coming to Lake Placid."

Ariadna's expression tightens immediately. "The veterinarian. Isla something. You confirmed it?" One of her people, whoever was monitoring comms last night, would’ve reported that to her. Though judging by the twist of her lipstick-tinted mouth, she was hoping it was an exaggeration.

"She showed me the message herself."

An unexpected visitor is inconvenient.

An unexpected visitor looking for a missing defense attorney is dangerous.