Black And White Ops

So where was his connection? This one he knew. It was a man named Yuri who exported furs to the United States for the furriers. He’d taken some flak from the animal rights people and didn’t care. One of them had tossed paint on one of Yuri’s models at a fashion show. It was funny until the young guy who’d tossed the paint was paid a little visit from two of Yuri’s buddies one night. There was no more paint tossed where Yuri was involved. Some people don’t like to get lawyers involved to solve problems and Yuri was definitely in that category.

At close to ten a man entered the coffee shop in a long coat and made an order at the counter. The owner saw who it was and decided to keep the shop open later. An employee went to the door and let the other patrons leave, but told everyone else they were fixing to close. This allowed Yuri a chance to meet with Rick and Monique.

Rick nudged Monique when he saw Yuri enter the shop. She woke slowly, rubbing her eyes, trying to remember where she was. Monique saw the man sit down with them and realized it was the connection Rick had mentioned.

“Good evening, brother,” Yuri said to him in Russian, using the familiar term gangsters called each other. “It seems you are in some trouble. How can I help?”

“I need a place for her and me tonight,” he told the man. “We are supposed to meet with someone tomorrow who will get us out of here, but tonight I need to hide us both.”

“Trouble with the SVR?” he asked. “Don’t look so surprised, Rick, word is spreading around about the bomb that went off yesterday. Did you have anything to do with it? Ah, I see by your expression you did. No bother, I had thought that operation looked strange. My people told me about it. Crazy world, these intelligence types. Oh, I took care of the problem with the men at the warehouse as well as I figure you were involved with them as well. The SVR showed up, but they didn’t tell them anything they could use. Really, how do you expect to remain unseen with a black woman in this part of Russia?”

“I was hoping you could help me again with the last part,” Rick told him.

“I will this time,” Yuri responded, “but only because of the help you have given me in the past. I do not forget those who have helped me.”

He wrote down an address on a piece of paper and handed it to Rick. “This is a warehouse of mine. It doesn’t have a night watchman, so you will not be disturbed. I’ve written down the pass code on the bottom. You can stay there for the night and make your connection in the morning. Don’t worry about the SVR; I’ll hold them off for one day. Did you know they’ve been watching you in this shop?”

“I suspected,” Rick responded. “The women in blue?”

“Yes,” he said. “Field agents. They pick them younger and younger. Probably will trade the information for access to some pop star from Europe. Please be safe and I will see you again.”

He stood up shook their hands and left, the employee locking the door behind him. The shop owner took a long hard look at Rick and Monique after Yuri left. The meaning was obvious.

“Time to go,” Rick told her. “The owner kept the place open for Yuri now he wants us to leave.”

Monique grabbed her hand bag, put on her jacket and left with Rick. Their car was still unmolested on the side street where they had parked it. On the way to the car, Rick looked at the address Yuri had given him and frowned.

“Other side of town,” he told her. “Some drive, but we’ll have to take it.”

Rick drove her to the warehouse on the other side of St. Petersburg. It was now close to eleven on a Friday night and the party crowd was beginning to file into the streets. Stretch limos blocked the avenues and traffic cops did what they could to keep the cars moving. Rick was able to get around the worst of it and find the warehouse using the address Yuri had given him.

He parked the car in a small area behind the warehouse and brought Monique out with him. Monique was tired and ready to lay down somewhere from all the running around they had done. But first they had to get inside the place. She zipped up her jacket when they left the car and made their way to the rear entrance just like Yuri had told him. Using the paper and a flashlight, Rick punched in the security code into the digital lock on the door. He waited.

Two seconds later a green light appeared over the lock and the sound of a door popping open could be heard. Rick pulled it open and stepped inside. It was pitch black on the inside, but he felt around for a light switch as Monique joined him in the warehouse. He flicked the switch up and the warehouse was flooded by light from the inside. Monique shut and locked the door behind her.

The warehouse was of a new construction and had a poured concrete floor. It was smooth and had been coated with epoxy to make it easier to clean. To their right were the manager’s office and a shipping clerk’s station. A small building in front of them served as both a locker room and break area. Beyond the work areas was the reason for the enhanced security: racks and racks of furs.

Monique had never seen so many animal pelts gathered in one place. Different furs were sorted according to animal and color. The racks were mounted on wheels to make them easier to move around the warehouse. She put her hand on a chinchilla pelt and felt its softness. She had an aunt who owned a mink coat, but she only wore it to special occasions. Each pelt had a tag attached to it showing the source, quality and destination. The furs had been tanned prior to being shipped and the entire warehouse smelt like tanning acid.