Commit To Violence

"What kind of work?" Black asked.

Nick looked at Black. "You wanna hear about this?" He asked Black, knowing that he was trying to stay out of the day-to-day stuff.

"I do," Bobby said definitely.

Black nodded his head. He would tell both Nick and Bobby of his decision to step back in, later.

"Bo’s got something goin’—something big. And he forgot to tell me about it," Nick continued.

"What’s the deal?" Bobby asked.

"I don’t know. That’s what I got Harmon lookin’ in to."

"You sure you can trust Harmon?" Bobby asked.

"I’ve done business with him before," Nick told them. "Let’s see what he’s got. I’ll be right back.

Until a month ago, Jack Harmon was a decorated New York City homicide detective. He was under investigation for use of excessive force. The charges were dropped, but not before Jack ran up a huge legal bill. It was only by chance that he ran into Nick and told him about a surveillance job. "It pays five grand," Nick told Jack that day. Being broke, Jack couldn’t say no.

"What you got for me, Jack?" Nick asked as soon as he sat down with the detective.

"Your boy Bo is doing business with the Russian mob," Jack said.

Nick sat back in his chair. Bo having a deal with the Russian mob was the last thing he expected to hear. "Ex-KGB agents, veterans of the Afghan and Chechen wars; out-of-work but with skills that are useful to criminal organizations," Nick said and thought about how useful his military experience had been to him.

"Bo’s contact is a guy named Nikolai Mikhailov. He’s a member of the Izmaylovskaya Gang.

"Never heard of them," Nick said and signaled for a wai

tress.

"They’re considered one of the country’s most important and oldest Russian Mafia groups in Moscow," Jack said. "But they operate here in New York, in Tel Aviv, Paris, Toronto, and Miami."

"How strong are they?"

"My information says they’re estimated to consist of about anywhere from three to five hundred active member’s worldwide. It’s run on a quasi-military style and strict internal discipline."

"What are they into?" Nick asked.

"They’re involved extensively in murder-for-hire, extortion, and infiltration of legitimate businesses. A lot like you guys."

"When is the job goin’ down?"

"Tonight at ten."

Nick looked at Jack, took an envelope out of his pocket and put it on the table in front of him. Jack opened the envelope and peeked inside. "Thanks, Nick. This will help out a lot with my legal bills. Any time you need info like that, you give me a call," Jack said and got up.

"Anything else I can do for you, Jack, you let me know," Nick said and rejoined Black and Bobby. He wasted no time telling them who Bo was doing business with.

"Bo had made a deal to deliver high-end vehicles to the Russian mob," Nick said. "Ever heard of the Izmaylovskaya Gang?"

"I think I might know somebody connected to them," Black said.

"You mean that Russian you and Angelo drink with sometimes?" Bobby asked.

"That’s right. He’s ex-KGB turned showdown artist."

"He fits the profile," Nick said.