Perfect Strangers

Sergei gave a short laugh. ‘I was rather wondering.’

‘We haven’t got a death wish, Mr Kaskov,’ said Josh. ‘The truth is, until we spoke to Ty Connor this morning, we genuinely had no idea who you were. All we knew was that someone was chasing us.’

‘Someone killed my friend,’ said Sophie. ‘I thought they were trying to kill me too.’

Sergei did not react, merely raised his eyebrows slightly, indicating that they should continue.

‘So when we heard who you were and what you wanted,’ said Josh, ‘we thought we would come and tell you what we know. Or in this case, don’t know.’

‘Very sporting of you,’ said Sergei.

‘I don’t want this money, Mr Kaskov,’ said Sophie fiercely. ‘I just want my life back.’

‘So what do you know?’ he asked, steepling his fingers in front of his soft pink lips.

Josh took Sophie’s bag and, unzipping the plastic make-up pouch, pulled out her copy of I Capture the Castle. He passed it to Sergei.

Sophie’s heart jumped. What was he doing? That was her dad’s gift to her! She wanted to reach out and snatch it back, but she knew that wouldn’t help their situation, so she stayed still.

‘This is all we have,’ said Josh. ‘You’ve searched Sophie’s flat; we presume it was you who searched her mother’s house too. This is the only thing that Peter Ellis gave Sophie that has any possible reference to the money. Look on the front page.’

Sergei opened the book.

‘Benedict Grear?’ He frowned. ‘Who is he?’

‘We don’t know,’ said Josh. ‘Neither does Asner’s widow and neither does the SEC apparently. But you found Peter Ellis and you found us, so you obviously have the resources to work this out.’

Sergei gave him the ghost of a smile, as if he was flattered by Josh’s observation.

‘And this is all?’

‘Yes,’ said Sophie and Josh in unison.

‘I hope so,’ said Sergei. He waved the book in the air and the squat guy stepped forward and took it.

‘No!’ cried Sophie, unable to stop herself. ‘That’s mine! My father gave it to me!’

Sergei shook his head, the smile gone.

‘No, Miss Ellis, it is mine.’

He waved his hand again and Sophie screamed as she and Josh were both seized from behind and pulled to their feet.

‘Please, you’ve got the book,’ shouted Josh, ‘We’ve told you everything we know.’

Sergei looked at him coldly.

‘Ah, now that is exactly what we’re going to find out.’

The squat man stepped forward and punched Josh in the mouth. Sophie tried to scream again, but a huge hand clamped around her face, pinning her jaw shut. She could only watch as Josh was held by two big Russians, while the squat man hit him again and again: to the body, to the head.

‘No!’ she screamed.

Sergei stepped in front of her, grabbing her hair and twisting it painfully.

‘You care about this man, I take it?’ he said. His voice was soft, almost feminine. Sophie nodded.

‘Then tell us where your father hid the money.’