Fugitive

Chapter 10

The Russian Mafia? "As in Bratva right"? I asked trying to connect the dots. Alexander nodded his face scrunched up, already regretting telling me. "What is Bratva doing here"? Alexander looked at the ground. "I tell you this you must keep quiet, alright? You didn't hear it from me". I nodded firmly. 

"There is, was plan within Bratva. To hurt you, or something. I stayed out of it you know? Didn't want to be one to blame for anything. Must want revenge for something. I can imagine you've pissed a lot of people off". "I haven't done anything to anyone in the Russian Mafia. You're the only one I know. Except for your crew in Afghanistan I've never even met another Bratva member". 

"I told you. I don't know anything. I stay out of it. You will have to go to Moscow to find out what really happened". "Moscow? I can't go to fucking Moscow Alexander! I'm pretty fucking sure I'm on the 'no fly list' right now". Alexander shrugged. "Not my problem how you get there. I only telling you, that you have to go to figure out what they want you for. If they were here before, they're gone now. They'll be back in Russia. And I don't know anything". 

 There was no choice really. I needed to find a way to go. "Then I'm going to need you to hook me up with a fake passport". "You've got cash"? I think my expression said it all. Of course, I didn't have enough cash. A plan was already simmering in my head. "I will have. Just get the passports ready". "Good passport can take up to three weeks, you know". "Make it one. Call me on this when they're ready. Number's on the back. I'll bring the cash", I threw a prepaid phone at him and left. 

I brought my hood up over my head for the brief walk to the car. It was getting on lunch time. Food was hard to come by now that my stash had disappeared. The options were walk into a store and no doubt be caught on security tape, or dumpster diving. Neither option appealed in the slightest. I pulled out my wallet. Wads of cash were still roughly folded inside. I didn't have nearly enough for a passport but I figured I could pay some kid to run into a store and buy me some food if I had to. 

There was a McDonalds down the street a bit. That would be the best option. As I pulled into the drive through I put a cap low on my head and pushed some sunglasses over my eyes. It was warm out so the disguise was plausible. I ordered a burger, fries and a coke. The overweight woman working behind the counter didn't raise an eyebrow when she saw me. I gave her cash and told her to keep the change.

 A different woman handed me my bag of food a few moments later. After eating I decided to take a trip to the local swimming pool. I needed a shower. I can't even remember the last time I had one. It's the last place anyone would look for me so I didn't have to be on the lookout too much. I paid for an adult swim and headed straight for the changing rooms. Swimming obviously wasn't too popular today. 

The changing rooms were bare. An elderly man in good shape was just packing up his things. There was another man with a young boy on the other side of the room. The showers were just around the corner. I dumped my bag on the seat and stripped quickly, also removing the bandage from my shoulder and arm. 

Thoroughly, I washed my hair and scrubbed the grime that was building up under my fingernails. The water washed away old sweat and dirt. More dry blood slowly disappeared from the wound around my shoulder. I didn't want to scrub too hard there in case it started bleeding again or I ripped the stitches. 

Minutes later I swiped a towel from a nearby bag and dried myself off. It felt good to be clean. The towel was wrapped around my waist and I walked over to the mirrors. My shoulder looked better. It hadn't bothered me for the past few days. Probably because I haven't been doing anything strenuous, and all the aspirin I've been taking. 

I found a clean bandage in my bag and wrapped it around my shoulder while no one was around. I put on some fresh clothing from my bag before heading out. Taking the opportunity, I quickly broke into the car beside mine. It only took a few tries for the car to start. I converted my stuff including my sniper rifle into the neighboring car. It wouldn't be long until it was reported stolen so I would have to ditch it somewhere soon.