Smarties down my neck at the same time.
‘Anna?’
We both kept eyes on the bar.
‘I’ve been thinking about what you said … You know, Moscow and St Petersburg … Sounds a good plan.’
She looked at me, waiting for the catch. ‘That would be … lovely. How long for?’
‘I don’t know - a month or so?’
I wanted to keep on talking, to tell her everything, but felt like I was standing in front of the phone in the kitchen all over again. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t get the words out.
Irina came out of the bar. Thank fuck for that. Slobo was close behind her, downing the last of a beer before tossing the bottle over the wall. He looked very happy with himself. They turned towards the Skoda. He was porkier than his pictures suggested. His baggy jeans were hardly baggy at all. But you had to hand it to him. He certainly knew how to make the best of a bad job.
They were both laughing. She slipped her arm through his as they passed us, flirting away in Russian.
They crossed the road and walked under the Flash Gordon meets Star Trek billboard, then through the gate into the Afghan graveyard. The darkness swallowed them.
Anna and I jumped out of the car. I locked both doors the old-fashioned way and handed her the keys.
We fell in behind the two of them, close enough to hear their murmurs and giggles, but far enough back not to breathe down their necks.
16
They carried on past a row of slate slabs surrounded by gravel, then slowed and stopped. It looked as if Slobo had picked the spot for his big moment.
Anna was still a few steps behind me. I moved just near enough to make out their silhouettes. I wasn’t going to jump in and fuck things up. Irina knew what she was doing. All I hoped was that she’d know when to call for help.
Slobo turned to face her. I watched his hands reach inside her coat. He grabbed her arse, pulling her towards him. Irina put her hands on his waist. They kissed briefly, and then she pulled back, toying with him. I could hear her murmuring gently as Slobo’s hands moved up inside her coat and fondled her breasts. She kissed him again. She was holding him static, waiting for me.
This was as good place as any to grip him and get it over with. We could be heading back across the border within the hour.
I took a few paces towards them. They had stopped kissing and Slobo was now almost dragging her along the path. The tone was still playful but it was starting not to look like much fun. I checked behind. Anna was with me.
They moved beneath a dim light suspended over another gate. Beyond it was a narrower street than the one we’d parked in. It, too, was lined with cars. There were no neon invitations on this one, just grey apartment blocks that looked even greyer in the drizzle. A lot of the rendering had given up the struggle, exposing the blockwork beneath. TVs flickered behind net curtains and watery light seeped from windows steamed-up from another night of cabbage-boiling.
We watched from the shadows as they left the graveyard and crossed the road. Slobo kept a hand on Irina’s arse. He seemed to be steering her towards the cars. One of them was the old-style silver Merc convertible.
‘Fuck it - I’m going to have to take him now. Let’s go.’
As they neared the car I broke into a run.
Not straight towards them, but diagonally across the street.
He was more concerned with her arse than his own security. I couldn’t see him getting any keys out and there was no flashing of indicators.
I reached the pavement as they slid between the front of the Merc and a knackered van. The entrance to the apartment block was less than three strides away. She stalled him some more with a kiss. I didn’t know if she could see me or not. He fumbled around with some keys, trying to get one of them into the lock while still copping a feel.
They tumbled into the hallway. I ran forward as soon as they were out of sight and jammed my foot in the closing door. I waited
‘Anna?’
We both kept eyes on the bar.
‘I’ve been thinking about what you said … You know, Moscow and St Petersburg … Sounds a good plan.’
She looked at me, waiting for the catch. ‘That would be … lovely. How long for?’
‘I don’t know - a month or so?’
I wanted to keep on talking, to tell her everything, but felt like I was standing in front of the phone in the kitchen all over again. I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t get the words out.
Irina came out of the bar. Thank fuck for that. Slobo was close behind her, downing the last of a beer before tossing the bottle over the wall. He looked very happy with himself. They turned towards the Skoda. He was porkier than his pictures suggested. His baggy jeans were hardly baggy at all. But you had to hand it to him. He certainly knew how to make the best of a bad job.
They were both laughing. She slipped her arm through his as they passed us, flirting away in Russian.
They crossed the road and walked under the Flash Gordon meets Star Trek billboard, then through the gate into the Afghan graveyard. The darkness swallowed them.
Anna and I jumped out of the car. I locked both doors the old-fashioned way and handed her the keys.
We fell in behind the two of them, close enough to hear their murmurs and giggles, but far enough back not to breathe down their necks.
16
They carried on past a row of slate slabs surrounded by gravel, then slowed and stopped. It looked as if Slobo had picked the spot for his big moment.
Anna was still a few steps behind me. I moved just near enough to make out their silhouettes. I wasn’t going to jump in and fuck things up. Irina knew what she was doing. All I hoped was that she’d know when to call for help.
Slobo turned to face her. I watched his hands reach inside her coat. He grabbed her arse, pulling her towards him. Irina put her hands on his waist. They kissed briefly, and then she pulled back, toying with him. I could hear her murmuring gently as Slobo’s hands moved up inside her coat and fondled her breasts. She kissed him again. She was holding him static, waiting for me.
This was as good place as any to grip him and get it over with. We could be heading back across the border within the hour.
I took a few paces towards them. They had stopped kissing and Slobo was now almost dragging her along the path. The tone was still playful but it was starting not to look like much fun. I checked behind. Anna was with me.
They moved beneath a dim light suspended over another gate. Beyond it was a narrower street than the one we’d parked in. It, too, was lined with cars. There were no neon invitations on this one, just grey apartment blocks that looked even greyer in the drizzle. A lot of the rendering had given up the struggle, exposing the blockwork beneath. TVs flickered behind net curtains and watery light seeped from windows steamed-up from another night of cabbage-boiling.
We watched from the shadows as they left the graveyard and crossed the road. Slobo kept a hand on Irina’s arse. He seemed to be steering her towards the cars. One of them was the old-style silver Merc convertible.
‘Fuck it - I’m going to have to take him now. Let’s go.’
As they neared the car I broke into a run.
Not straight towards them, but diagonally across the street.
He was more concerned with her arse than his own security. I couldn’t see him getting any keys out and there was no flashing of indicators.
I reached the pavement as they slid between the front of the Merc and a knackered van. The entrance to the apartment block was less than three strides away. She stalled him some more with a kiss. I didn’t know if she could see me or not. He fumbled around with some keys, trying to get one of them into the lock while still copping a feel.
They tumbled into the hallway. I ran forward as soon as they were out of sight and jammed my foot in the closing door. I waited
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