278A/N - Oh I know, its been like 2 months since I updated and I feel really bad but it wasn't my intention to leave you all hanging! Life and work have been leaving me with no time to write, then when I finally got time last week...I couldn't find my muse anywhere. A huge thank you to all my beautiful writers, reviewers and followers, you all make me smile and I promise to be updating more regularly now.
A special shout out to assistant beta - Echoes of a Bird of Prey who has helped me out with all my American phrasing. I'm so glad you love the detail I put in. To my amazing beta roza m belicova, who has been MIA due to stupid computers...hang in there!
To make up for it, I have a super long chapter for you. PLS NOTE - I have changed Ivan's last name to save the explanation of his non-relation to Jesse. The last name used is also from the VA world...Can anyone tell me who it is?
Disclaimer - I do not own any of the characters from Vampire Academy, Richelle is the amazing creator of this world. Have you check out her other stories? Who is keen for the release of Soundless?
Chapter 22
DPOV
"Just in time Dimitri! Stan would blow a gasket if you guys were late for the meeting today. He's like a bear with a pine cone up his ass right now!" Christian smirked at me, while collecting up the paperwork on his desk.
I hurriedly placed Rose's present, which I had yet to wrap, and her card in my desk drawer and gathered what I would need for the meeting.
I was starting to become curious as to what Sydney had found and what Stan was so stressed about. Only on the rare occasion had I seen Stan angry so I followed Christian towards the meeting room, with Ivan in tow. I knew whatever Stan had come across had to be big.
Like the details of this case weren't bad enough.
I walked into the meeting room and breathed a sigh of relief. Stan had not yet arrived. My relief turned to jubilation when I recognized a follow agent and friend talking quietly to a man I was not familiar with.
"Mikhail!" I exclaimed with a grin.
Mikhail's head jolted up at the mention of his name and a warm welcoming grin, mirroring my own, spread across his face.
Leaving Christian and Ivan to take their seat, I took several strides over to meet my friend, accepting his handshake and bringing him into a hug.
Mikhail had been away for the past few weeks, taking his new bride on a well-deserved honeymoon to the Mediterranean.
"Mikhail, married life agrees with you my friend. How is the lovely Mrs Tanner?"
Releasing my hand, Mikhail stepped back into a relaxing pose, leaning against the wall.
"Good Dimitri, Sonya is great. We had a fantastic time. When you finally get yourself a special lady, I'll hook you up with a Mediterranean getaway. The beaches, the weather, the accommodation, all were amazing my friend." Mikhail spoke with such kindness and happiness I squeezed his shoulder in approval.
"I'm glad you both enjoyed your honeymoon, you deserved some time away." Mikhail looked up at me and smiled an infectious grin.
"Yes, only the best for my beautiful bride."
I settled back into a more serious tone and continued. "I didn't expect you back for another week. Why the early return? I'm sure Sonya is a lot better company!" I smiled, nodding towards Christian who was yawning and Ivan who was glancing over his cell.
Mikhail chuckled "Honestly Dimitri, I'm not sure. We got back a few days ago and I was going to spend some time doing some work around the house when I received a call from Stan this morning. He said you have a serious case going on and needs all hands on deck. "
Mikhail shrugged his shoulders in resignation of the lack of information.
Mikhail and Sonya both work here at Iskander Industries. Mikhail is a field agent, like myself and Sonya is a systems analysis, so neither are out of the loop for too long.
My thoughts were disrupted by Stan marching into the meeting room followed by Sydney close behind.
Without the pleasantries Stan began "Ok, take your seat so we can begin."
Stan paused for a few short moments until he had everyone's attention before continuing.
I took the moment to resume my position beside Ivan and took my seat.
"Right, as of this moment, all other case files are to be placed on hold or delegated to junior agents where necessary. Head office has instructed that this case become our number one priority."
He looked gruffly around at each of the agents acknowledging a nod of the head from us in understanding.
Stan motioned with his hand towards Mikhail and the agent seated beside him.
"Mikhail has been brought on board to assist with surveillance as has Agent Yuri" He briefly paused "You can handle the pleasantries later."
Stan looked a decidedly at Sydney who was already standing prepared at the head of the table.
"Sydney, if you please."
With papers and files on the meeting table in front of her, Sydney began.
"Ok, just to recap, so everyone is on the same page" Sydney quickly nodded in the direction of Mikhail and Yuri before continuing.
"After a number of local girls were reported missing, investigations led to one Jesse Zeklos being the common last point of contact, at the popular nightclub Forever 21. Agents Dimitri Belikov, Ivan Kislyak and Agent Christian Ozera were sent to observe the suspect and his nightspot on a busy Friday night."
A loud clearing of the throat turned Sydney's attention straight to Stan, seated at the end of the table.
"My apologies" Sydney continued as she nodded, looking over her notes.
"Agent Ozera and his girlfriend were in attendance in an unofficial capacity."
This drew a laughter from Ivan, a groan from Christian and I couldn't help the smirk that crept across my lips. As Christian held his head in his hands embarrassed, I looked at the young girl in front of us, reminded that in all her hard work and professionalism, she is still a girl that hangs out with her friends at the mall, discussing shoes and boys I'm sure.
I admired the grace in which she presented her information as I leant back into my seat and focused on the details she delivered.
"According to reports, both Agents Belikov and Kislyak observed the suspect, Jesse Zelkos, placing an unknown substance into two glasses of suspected alcoholic drinks and presented to two local high school students, 18 year olds Mia Rinaldi and Rose…" Sydney paused momentarily and looked directly at me in a prompt for information.
I suddenly realized there was so much I didn't know, but wanted to learn about Roza…which would start with her full name, later this afternoon.
Sydney took my silence for ignorance and continued. "One of the potential victims, Rose, physically matches the profile of the most recent victims here in Montana."
This revelation almost shook me to my core, how could I have missed this?
I turned to Christian whose wide-eyed shock reflected my own; Ivan on the other hand, appeared to be busy sketching down notes.
I scanned over the files that Sydney had placed in front of her and discovered a varied range of information, from the case files that Christian had discovered linked to a number of other states, autopsy reports namely the forensic toxicology test and information on substances I couldn't even pronounce.
I felt an anger burning in my chest down to my stomach, not only at this monster but also at myself.
Here I was, spending countless months on cases, years of blood and sweat in my position to have blindly missed something right in front of me.
Instead of focusing on the case and the suspect, my attention, I admit, was directed at Rose.
The way she danced, the way she felt seated beside me at the club, the sweetness of her scent…..Get a grip Belikov, I chastised myself. I have been an agent for a long time, it's time to get my head back in the game.
I felt overwhelmed with a new sense of determination to find this suspect…and stop them once and for all.
My attention was brought back to mid-sentence by the mention of my name; I hastily looked up at Sydney to find her continuing her presentation as she addressed the details of our report.
"Agent Belikov was able intercept and remove the suspect drinks before the females they were presented to, ingested them. These glasses were collected and placed in a clean zip lock bag, kept secure by barman of Forever 21, Adrian Ivashkov." Sydney attempted to hide a slight smile, no doubt at the thought of her time spent with our green-eyed friend.
I was surprised when Sydney was interrupted by a question from Agent Yuri. "Do we know this bar tender? Can we trust the chain of handling, that these items we not contaminated?"
It was Ivan that answered before I had a chance to. "I can vouch for Adrian and the security of these samples." Ivan sat up straight in his chair and continued.
"I was at the bar with Adrian as he followed my instructions to collect the glasses in a zip lock bag, without touching them and to keep them secure. Adrian proceeded to the back of the bar, which only Adrian and the owner of the bar, had access to that night and placed these items in a safe place. Adrian then delivered the glasses to our office the following morning, in the same bag and in the same condition as I last witnessed them."
Agent Yuri nodded at the new information and returned his focus to Sydney. Sydney's smile was forced as she turned back to the laptop on the meeting table. Do I detect a little protection over the question of Adrian's reliability? I may have to look into this at a later time.
Sydney quickly typed at the keyboard then turned to the whiteboard, where a number of reports appeared. "I began by testing the residue in the glasses, testing the 6 primary and most well know club drugs. These being MDMA, GHB, Methamphetamine, Ketamine, Rohypnol and LSD."
A few key strokes later, a report with the listed drugs came up on the screen as well as the words NOT FOUND. Sydney pointed at the results "As you can see, no traces of these drugs were found".
Sydney looked resigned to the fact that these tests had failed to direct us with any new leads…but then again, I knew Sydney! I admired the girls' determination when it came to her work.
I was right when Sydney continued with another stroke of the keys, bringing up a new page with new information. Sorting through the files in front of her, Sydney located and held up a folder I recognized as from the Medical Examiner's office.
"The first thing that is done in an autopsy is a basic screen for drugs in the urine and blood. The initial search would be for drugs such as Opiates, Amphetamines, Marijuana, Alcohol and Barbiturates.
Of course, any first round of positive tests have to be confirmed by the more sophisticated method, of which our specialized laboratory…"Sydney stated proudly with an enthusiastic grin "….is more than capable of running!"
The perks of working in this division is the state of the art of equipment we work with to make our jobs easier and to catch the suspects faster. It also helps the morale of the team, when you're working with the latest and most up to date technology so we don't have the hassles and frustrations of getting caught up on paperwork and test results, when we could be out in the field catching the perpetrators.
Looking at the enjoyment that Sydney takes in her work, she feels the same.
"So I thought to myself, if the drug of choice is not here then we could be looking at an organic compound, something that breaks down quickly in the body so undetected by our tests. There is no way young girls are going to disappear voluntarily or the perp would risk witnesses seeing him walking out with a ….say 120 pound girl unconscious over his shoulder." I tried not to smirk at her changing references between laboratory professional and teenage school girl, although I doubt the work ethic of this girl would ever fault and you had to have respect for that.
"So I looked into a number of organic psychotropic drugs that would be easy to administer with limited knowledge and the length of time to function then break down in the body"
Again, Sydney swiped through files on her laptop, bringing 2 documents up on the screen, side by side. No doubt for comparison.
"I have narrowed the list to psychoactive's Chloral Hydrate and Salvinorin A. Let's start with Chloral Hydrate. This compound is a sedative and hypnotic pharmaceutical drug, which would relax the victims into a false sense of security, making any suggestion easy to follow. The intended victims would practically walk right out alongside the perp. Chloral Hydrate is soluble in both water and ethanol..." Sydney paused as she noticed Ivan looking lost to the overwhelming amount of information.
Quietly and slowly Sydney recapped her information in easier to understand terms. "Basically you could put a tablet of this into a drink of coke or alcohol and it dissolves within seconds. It is colorless, tasteless and is effective within 20 to 60 minutes and is metabolized in the human body within just seven hours. More than enough time to sedate, kidnap and return the victim to a place of hiding."
Sydney turned her attention back to Stan. "Chloral Hydrate is illegal without prescription and is a schedule four controlled substance in the US. It is currently on the list of unapproved drugs that are still prescribed by clinicians."
Looking up and then at each one of us agents directly in the eye Sydney continued. "Chloral Hydrate is no longer used in the medical world due to a large number of poisoning in hospitalized patients. Mostly little children, who were accidentally poisoned while undergoing simple dental or surgical procedures."
I didn't miss the way she blinked back the tears, even in the lab, Sydney couldn't avoid the harsh world we live in. I suppose knowing the work we do to solve each case and find the innocent victims, is the best way to overcome the evil we know we fight against each day.
Sydney regained her composure and continued. "Salvinorin A is a naturally occurring psychotropic that…" Sydney took a deep breathe "of course, drug makers have utilized into a harmful hallucinogen. This drug takes a similar time, from a few minutes to an hour for the person to become susceptible to any suggestions. Similar to LSD, Salvinorin A is active at low doses and is soluble in ethanol but not so much in water. This would make it strictly suitable for alcoholic drinks. Although this drug is more powerful, impairing recall and recognition memory. So the perpetrator would have no need to be concerned with the victim recalling events, places or faces during their time under the control of this drug."
Looking at Ivan, to ensure he is still following the line of Sydney's discoveries, she continued. "Similar to Choral Hydrate, Salvinorin A is an illegal substance. Now that we suspect the use of these or related organic compounds, they can be identified by the metabolites left over in the body."
I tried hard not to giggle at Ivan scowling at Sydney, the guy never was good at science but hated feeling out of the loop so I interjected. "Metabolites are like finger prints left behind. The body breaks down the drug into the different compounds and are like traces left behind." I looked up at Sydney addressing her directly.
"So if you can identify the metabolites and their properties, then you can identify not only the drug used but we can find where it's sold. Most drug makers have unique identifiers within their recipes, using anything from rat poison, cut glass and talcum powder."
Sydney smiled then quickly became sullen. "Correct Dimitri. However, therein lies the problem. We have identified the compounds….." Sydney paused, almost not wanting to proceed. She took another deep breath before looking directly at me and releasing the final statement. "They are pharmaceutical grade!"
"SHIT!" I exclaimed, perhaps a little too loudly. Ivan turned to me. "D, in English brother?"
I ran my hands through my hair "Pharmaceutical grade means they weren't made in a backyard. They were made in a laboratory, or maybe a factory. This makes the un-sub that much more dangerous."
I looked at Stan and stated "This means we are looking at someone highly intelligent to go to all these lengths. Someone who would have to have access to these drugs, we need to be looking for someone working in or with connections in the health care industry."
Ivan broke my train of thought, which was welcome as the stakes just became that much more serious. "That would also explain the easy movement between states over the years. Many Doctors and nurses relocate to different hospitals all the time. It's not hard to pick up, move somewhere else and find a job if you're working in one of these positions. Hospitals are always calling out for experienced health care professionals."
"Agreed" I continued with speed. "Not only hospitals, we have to look into dentists, hospice workers, anyone with access to these kind of scheduled drugs."
Mikhail finally shook his head "That's a wide net to spread, my friend."
Looking over to Mikhail, I saw the similar expression that we all felt after hearing the gravity of the case from Christian just days ago.
"I know, but it's a lot narrower than what we had yesterday." I replied with what little confidence I had. I knew I needed to show strength in front of my team in the situation that we now had all our focus on. Failure can't be an option.
As if Sydney knew that this discussion was at an end she again, gained our full attention.
"I've been thinking about how they would keep their victims subdued." Sydney looked directly at Christian. "In your report, you mention that the victims appeared to be kept alive for some time. There is no evidence of chains, ropes or other restraints so how were they kept? If they are going to start with psychotropics, then you might as well continue with the same product. There has been no determination of long-term effects of these drugs."
"Well, not if you don't include the overdoses you mentioned earlier Syd." Ivan sighed.
Sydney ignored his interruption and continued. "Other psychoactives may also be applied sublingually, so no risk to injecting the victims or forcing them ingest the drug hidden within a solution." I was pretty sure Sydney used a number of scientific terms in her last sentence to intentionally annoy Ivan.
Sydney turned to Ivan directly and spoke "So we're clear Ivan, Sublingually means that the drug is placed under the tongue and it dissolves quite fast as it bypasses the stomach, goes directly into the bloodstream and to the brain. It's easy to treat someone already unconscious or affected by hallucinogenic drugs." She smiled sweetly and turned to me, continuing by addressing me directly.
"It's for this reason Dimitri, that I'm unsure about Jesse. I mean, he is definitely involved but I think he is at the bottom of the food chain. It seems like he is the one on the lookout for these girls but I'm almost positive, he isn't the brains of the operation."
I hadn't even realized Sydney had taken a seat during my discussion with the other agents, until she stood up and sorted further through her paper files on the table.
"I took the liberty of looking deeper into Jesse Zeklos and unfortunately found nothing special."
"Ah here it is…" she stated as she pickup up a file. I recognized the symbol of the Juvenile Justice Department on the front of the folder and the cocky smirk Christian held as he sat comfortably back in his seat.
Sydney continued, starting to read from the file. "Jesse Zeklos, only child of Ekaterina and Howard Zeklos. Parents divorced four years ago, the papers lodged in Oregon. Jesse chose to live with his mother, moving to Nevada and the father moved to Arizona.
Mother remarried and moved to Utah shortly after. Jesse has several petty criminal charges in his Juvenile file such as breaking and entering, resisting arrest, drunk and disorderly as well as, get this…..an assault of his then girlfriend." Sydney dropped the file, looked up to Ivan and myself then continued.
"Jesse is by no means a hardened criminal, not doing any time for these charges, thanks to daddy, Howard Zeklos, former lawyer and now head of criminal justice studies at Northern Arizona University."
Sydney pulled out a school transcript as well as a piece of paper that looked like nothing more than a mess of sketches. "Jesse appears to be barely smart enough to tie his own shoes and write his own name. Barely passing high school and gaining his GED, he dropped out of University of Mexico after only six months, majoring in History. There is no record or any science based subjects or medical knowledge and I doubt his less than average school marks got him into university in the first place."
Ivan intervened without looking up from his notes "Daddy Zeklos no doubt used his connections to get little Jesse into a degree in the first place and he still threw away that opportunity? I don't think that impressed the parents much!"
Sydney nodded in agreement. "I've made some connections between the missing girls and Jesse, which dates back only 4 years. I have placed Jesse Zeklos in the areas of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and of course the recent abductions here in Montana, at the times of the reported girls going missing.
However, the 3 years prior and those unsolved cases in Iowa, Missouri, California as well as Colorado, Jesse's whereabouts has been confirmed in Oregon at the time of these girls' disappearances.
This isn't to say he isn't involved…but I believe he is an addition to the already functioning serial abductors'."
Sydney promptly sat back in her seat, packing away her notes in a manila folder, similar to the small pile of folders that surrounded her. How this girl runs a lab, organizes her work and still has time to be a teenager, I'll never know.
Stan took no time in taking charge of the now quiet boardroom. Leaning forward to reach the conference phone placed on slightly in front of the head chair, Stan pressed the speaker button and then a short combination of numbers that I recognized as an extension number. A soft female voice answered on the other end.
"Good Afternoon, Reception, Avery speaking."
Without so much as a hello, Stan spoke gruffly and fast. "Avery. I need two tickets on the next plane to Arizona. Dimitri and Ivan have business to attend to. I want the usual; business car, double room for two nights….and no mini bar!" I almost laughed when Stan turned his head and narrowed his eyes at Ivan when stating his instructions for the hotel mini bar. Why am I not surprised that he isn't springing for a single deluxe suite for each of us?!
"Send the details straight to Dimitri and Ivan via email, they can access the information from their tablets."
"Yes sir!" was the only response from Avery, before Stan disconnected the call.
Stan returned his attention to his agents around the meeting room. "Agents Tanner and Yuri, I want 24 hour surveillance on Jesse Zeklos, I want to know where he goes, who he speaks to, even what breakfast cereal he eats. Dimitri and Ivan, Jesse is still our only connection to this un-sub, I want more information on this kid. He seems a little too wrapped up in these case files, spanning over the last few years, for just a coincidence. Go speak to his father, find out what you can about the family background and just how Jesse went from high school dropout and petty criminal to his involvement in missing girls over several states, spanning the last ten years. If he is a recruit, I want to know when, where and how!"
Stan turned his attention to Sydney but before he could speak, Sydney interrupted his current task delegation. "Sir, I will need Christians help to look a little deeper into the older case files. Given what I have uncovered regarding the use of these pharmaceutical drugs, I suspect that if the un-sub has access to these levels of drugs, then they could be utilizing compound of similar drug families to use on the deceased girls. I have a theory but I will need to run some more tests."
Stan nodded in agreement "Christian, you can assist Sydney in any regards she requires."
Sydney coughed in yet another disruption, causing Stan to roll his eyes. "What is it now Sydney?"
"Umm, well…how do I go about applying for the exhumation of bodies?"
Stan looked at Sydney wide-eyed but his answer was more relaxed. "Really? Do we need to go to these extremes?" Sydney hesitated. "Mmmm maybe?"
Stan shook his head "Only because I know you are going somewhere with this, I'll look into it."
Sydney smiled and nodded. "But Syd, only as a last resort, ok! I want you to find what you need a little more under the radar."
Stan looked around the room at the agents seated, taking a deep breath. "I already have the director of our organization breathing down my neck about this case, the last thing I want is him and his guardians showing up taking over the show..." Stan paused when his eyes reached Ivan and myself "...trust me, you don't either!"
I didn't realize that we had all held our breath in anticipation of Stan's next move…but it was more like an outburst. "Well, what are you all waiting for, an invitation? I want these guys caught…last week!" The only noise that followed was the many chairs being pushed out and our footsteps exiting the meeting room.
Ivan and I headed straight for our desks, as Ivan gathered his notes, tablet and cell, I reached for the drawer I had placed Roses' gift in. I quickly pulled out the small gift card and jotted down a note that would accompany her birthday gift. Placing the small card in its envelope, I took the card, the wrapping paper and gift box with her new cell, over to Christian's desk.
"Christian. Doesn't look like I'll be making this afternoons date with Roza, so I need a favor!"
Christian leaned back into his chair and taped his fingers together like an evil mastermind on a Disney film. I heard Ivan shouting over my shoulder "Come on D, we have to go, now!"
I tilted my head and got straight to the point. "Ok Christian, what do you want in exchange?"
Christian didn't hesitate his answer "Next raid you guys go on, I want in!" I lifted my eyebrows in response. Was he kidding? He was the brains, the guy behind the screen, not behind the gun.
"Oh come on. Do you know how boring it gets behind this desk? I'm not looking for a drug lab raid or an illegal gambling den….just, well just when you break down the door to arrest some scumbag."
I rolled my eyes, this boy has definitely been watching too many episodes of Law and Order lately or maybe he just missed his time as a street cop. In the respect for the limited time I had and the friend who always finds just the right information we are looking for, I agreed.
"Ok, fine." I'm sure I could find a simple no risk raid to take him along to. Christian's wide grin returned to a normal size as he held his hands out and looked at the box I held.
"What do you want me to do?"
Eagerly, I spoke my instructions quickly. "I need to you set this cell up, it's a birthday present for Rose. I need you to have it ready to go when she opens the box. I want my number as well as Ivan's saved in the contacts, put a nice background on it, something that a girl would like. Send me the number when it's ready to go then wrap it up with this." I handed over the silver sparkling wrapping paper.
"Dimka, let's go" Jeez, Ivan only used my Russian nickname when he was pissed off or really serious so I knew we had to go.
"Christian, tell Rose I'm really sorry that I could meet her today but….just tell her I had to go away for work and give her the gift for me."
I stepped back over to my desk and grabbed my wallet, cell, keys and gym bag but before heading down the hall, I quickly turned and spoke. "Thanks Christian, it means a lot. This girl is something special." I didn't worry about whether Christian would do a good job with my requirements of the gift, I knew Christian took pride in anything he does and even more so in favors for his friends.
As I walked down the hall following Ivan rushing off in front I thought I heard Christian say "No worries, I have just the picture in mind for the background. She's gonna love it!"
I smirked, hoping he was right. Without a second thought, Ivan and I jumped in the elevator that lead us to the basement secure parking.
Just over an hour later, Ivan and I were in the airport lounge waiting for our flight heading to the Missoula International Airport where we would catch a connecting flight to Arizona.
Ivan had already found some company in the cute barista, making me wait even longer for my coffee.
I looked down at my cell and noticed it was a few minutes after three p.m. Roza would be out of school and waiting for me. I hoped Christian caught up with her before she got worried. I didn't want her thinking I had stood her up, my mama would hang me by my ankles if I ever treated a girl like that.
I forced myself to wait another five minutes before sending a text to the number Christian had sent me, my Roza's new cell number.
Roza, I'm sorry I couldn't spend another beautiful afternoon in your company, I have been called away for work. I have had both mine and Ivan's numbers programmed into this phone so you can always reach me.
The events of last night still replay in my mind, I really hope that is just a preview of what is to come.
I would really like to take you out when I get back.
Stay safe and Happy Birthday.
Yours, Dimitri
Ivan returned with my coffee and a smirk while trying to look over my shoulder to read my text.
I held my cell close to my chest, hoping for a reply when I heard the announcement of the boarding of our flight.
I slipped my cell in my pocket and began gathering my things when I felt the familiar vibration of my cell in my pocket. I can't remember the last time I was this eager to receive a text message.
I quickly unlocked the screen and opened the awaiting message.
Comrade,
Thank you for my amazing gift. I really do love it. Blue…just a coincidence or a reminder of the drive home in your truck.
I enjoyed the preview and look forward to a little more.
Travel safe
Rose
The use of the nickname Rose has so nicely given me, made my heart race faster. In the first time in a long while, as I handed my ticket to the check in desk, I was hoping the next 2 days would fly with no drama so I could return and spend more time with the girl I knew I was falling for….hell, I think had already fallen, the moment I saw her!