CHAPTER 30

If you want to hide a diamond put it in a tiara.

Eggy headed for the tiara. He dropped his crew off at Spice shopping centre and made a smooth-as-silk move right into the gorgeously decadent luxury car dealership off Lielirbes Street. He left the key in the ignition. Wouldn’t that be someone’s lucky day? A black Mercedes with tinted windows! More luxurious than even the president of Latvia could ever dream of.

Having dumped the Merc, Eggy headed back to his crew. A cab had just dropped someone off at Spice and the four of them descended on it like a murder of crows on fresh road kill. Vika, Svetlana, Simone and Eggy piled in. They had been getting increasingly more nervous, even scared. What would they find once they arrived back at Simone’s?

A turning point had been reached. This was no longer an exciting adventure but a life and death situation where one or all of them could fall victim to a gang land killing. The medical diagnosis would be that they were all in shock.

Simone rummaged in her purse for her flask, found it (luckily it was full) and passed it around to the women in the back seat. Eggy, in the front passenger seat, was about to light a cigarette when the driver sharply reprimanded him not to stink up the cab. Other than that it was dead silence. Outside the streets glittered, carpeted in snow which shone incandescent in the lamplights.

As they drove over the Vanšu Bridge the panorama of the old city stretched before them, the reflected light dancing on the river Daugava—a magnificent sight often depicted on post cards. Vika had shut down her mind and stared at the passing scenes as if she were watching a travelogue.

Out of an abundance of caution, they asked to be let out a couple of  blocks from Simone’s place. From there Simone called Aunt Velga. “Oh yes, an ambulance came and took away a man who was lying on the pavement.” That’s all Velga had seen. She had been busy in the kitchen when the incident had occurred. Simone was glad of that.

Eggy, free to light up again, took full advantage and inhaled smoke as if his life depended on it. He was worried sick. Had a neighbor seen what had happened? Seen him shove a man to the pavement, possibly killing him? Yet he consoled himself with the fact that he had probably saved Svetlana’s life.

The four of them seemed to be members of the less-said-the-better club. Here they were, standing on a street corner, uncertain about what to do next.

Eggy smiled a chilly smile. It was a cover for anxiety, or even panic.

“If the police question any of us, it was self-defense.”

Three pairs of wide eyes fixed on him. Heads nodded.

The snow kept falling and it was getting cold. Vika didn’t have the right shoes for this weather even though she still had on a man’s heavy jacket which she had used as a disguise.

Once they got out of the warm cab it didn’t take long for the cold to penetrate. They shivered, stomped their feet, blew into their hands. At the same time they were reluctant to move away from each other, needing comfort and support from the group.

Vika took the lead. “I think Simone and Svetlana should go home. It’s not a long walk from here. I know Eggy has a home.” Then she shook her head and gave a sad little smile, “But I’m not sure about mine.”

Eggy frowned. “You have to be careful, Vika. I hope the driver of the Merc didn’t get on the phone to one of his buddies and tell them about your apartment.”

Vika gave a short bark of laughter. “Ha! Remember, I’ve got the gun! And Bernie taught me how to shoot, how to defend myself. In his line of business, it was always best to be prepared.”

Eggy’s frown deepened. “ A gun. Yes, you picked it up. I’m no expert on guns. They’re not so easy to get. Not like in USA.”

“Really!” Now Vika’s laugh was genuine. “It was easy for me to get one right here in Riga. Besides, how do people protect themselves?”

“Pepper spray, usually.”

Eggy shrugged. He was freezing and losing patience. “Anyway, let’s go. We’ll take public transport. You’ll get to experience what a lot of tourists don’t. I’ll get you back to your apartment and from there I can easily walk home. My father will be waiting for me.”

Vika sighed. “Yes, your father…” she murmured.

Two gents, (one tall, one short) hopped on the trolleybus and headed for central Riga. No one bothered to glance at them. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. They spoke little during the ride, other than agreeing to meet again the next day.

* * *

At the front door of her apartment house on Valdemara street Vika pulled a wad of euros from her purse. “Give this to your buddy. Of course if he wants his clothes back that’s okay  too.”

Eggy made a snuffling noise, his version of a laugh. “I wish mine would fit you.”

Unbidden, a thought flew into Vika’s mind. She was no longer just a tourist. She had friends. She smiled. Then she stood on tiptoes and gave Eggy a heartfelt kiss.

* * *

Vika was back on track. Her mother. Bernie. But before she made a move to contact them she toured her small apartment. Nothing seemed disturbed. Still, she made sure the curtains were closed and the door had been double locked before she inspected her hiding place. Svetlana’s package was safe and sound.

When was the last time she had eaten? She couldn’t even remember. Of course there was no food in the house. The fridge was empty as were the kitchen cupboards. In New York she’d simply pick up the phone and order: Chinese, Indian, Italian. Could she wait till the next morning? Bending over to remove her shoes she noticed how easy it was. She had lost weight. Fasting was a great idea.

As she got ready for bed (thank God there was hot water) Vika worried.  She didn’t trust this seemingly peaceful interlude. Was this the calm before the storm? Or were they in the eye of the storm, waiting for the other wall of the eye?

She picked up her phone to call her mother but realized it would be late at night in New York. She texted, giving instructions. She needed her mother out of the grips of Bernie. Next she sent a loving text to her husband. Kill him with kindness was her modus operandi.