Favors [giving challenge]
Title: Favors
The Christmas spirit must be in the air, as Mischa learns when someone asks him to do them a favor. Good thing he's in a giving mood....
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It was so unusual for Major Klaus von dem Eberbach to request his help that Mischa sent the letter to the Ciphers Department for a thorough check. The results were negative, and he knew he would get an earful from White Bear if he didn’t follow up on the curiosity. He sent Elk to search the database for the Major’s home number, as the man had specified confidentiality.
Mischa had the vague worry of someone who suspects they are about to become the butt of a practical joke, but he couldn’t think of a more unlikely perpetrator. Iron Klaus’ sense of humor was twisted and violent, and certainly didn’t run to practical jokes. The Ciphers Department had confirmed the handwriting. Mischa would call.
The phone was answered after two rings by a crisp voice. “Eberbach residence.”
Mischa blinked for a bewildered moment before remembering that as a scion of Western corruption and laziness, Iron Klaus likely employed servants.
“I am Mischa Lebed. I wish to speak with the Major.”
“The Major is not in at the…”
Mischa checked his watch and made some calculations. He knew Iron Klaus. The man would be home at this hour on a Sunday, baring some work-related emergency. Mischa interrupted the servant’s polite lies. “Tell him it is Mischa. He will be home.”
Exactly 56 seconds later, the Major picked up the phone. “What’s your business, Mischa the Cub?”
Feeling certain he had been set up, Mischa only replied, “Your letter.”
“Took you long enough!”
Well, that was slightly reassuring. Aggravating as well. “I do not run at the beck and call of NATO, Major Eberbach. Now, I have important things to attend to…”
“Stop! Don’t hang up, you idiot!”
“How endearing, Major. Now I will ask you: What’s your business?”
“…I need your cooperation.”
“Are you asking for help?”
“No!!”
The line disconnected abruptly, causing Mischa to smile grimly. He had annoyed the other man. Good.
The phone rang and his eyebrows rose. The Major was that desperate?
“Mischa.”
“Damnit, Mischa!”
“You hung up on me, Iron Klaus.”
“Because I don’t like you. Now listen. My agent has been abducted. They’re holding him somewhere near Obninsk. Beyond that I’m hitting a brick wall.”
“Why aren’t you going through official channels, Major?”
“…I can’t.” The sound of Klaus grinding his teeth was clearly audible. “I will… owe you a great deal for this.”
Alarm bells began ringing in Mischa’s head. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing! Nothing…”
“All right, Major, at least tell me which alphabet you’ve misplaced. Will my men recognize him?”
“Just you, Mischa, no one else.”
Whistles joined the bells. “I see.”
“It’s Z. The kid.”
And suddenly, Mischa did begin to understand. “I see.”
“Well?”
“I will help you find your lost lamb, Major. You have my promise. And so, I want the full story.”
“You’ll get it. I’ll be at Vnukovo Airport in three hours.”
* * *
Mischa didn’t expect that the story he would hear would be entirely truthful. He certainly wouldn’t reveal anything if their positions were reversed. But it would be entertaining -and perhaps enlightening- to hear whatever tale Iron Klaus would script.
It fulfilled all of his expectations. No, it exceeded them.
“Your agent was being black-mailed and he took off to confront his black-mailers?” Mischa put a mild effort into suppressing his amusement.
“That’s how it seems from the notes I found in his apartment after he disappeared.”
“But what were they black-mailing your fine, upstanding young man with?”
“No idea. Probably nothing, knowing that idiot.”
“Obviously something spooked him.”
Klaus shook his head irritably. “He has a history of running into bad situations.”
“That’s true. Well, since I wasn’t certain what I would be looking for I don’t have much useful information yet. All I learned was that Mr. Z arrived in Obninsk under his own power, which you obviously already knew.
‘He was last seen in a rather seedy district known for its…” Mischa paused to savor the moment, “…gay night clubs.”
Klaus’ face was almost apoplectic and Mischa counted at least four different ticks as the man struggled to keep control. He was obviously mellowing in his old age, because in the end all he said was: “I see.”
* * *
The apartment had been extremely neat for a young bachelor. No signs of violence, though the clothes inside the wardrobe drawers seemed to have been hastily riffled through. There were dirty dishes in the sink as well. All signs pointed to someone leaving in a hurry.
Z’s laptop had been humming quietly on the kitchen table with a window open to a website about tourism in Obninsk. There had been another page open but hidden behind the first-a search engine with results for various photo-developers in the same city.
The three typed notes spread next to the computer had been simple enough.
Threats of exposure, of his “dirty secret” revealed, of his career ruined. Photographs had been mentioned.
It had been one of the rare instances when Klaus was truly bewildered. “Z?”
* * *
Klaus’ disgruntled pride was both soothed and aggravated when Mischa brought him the news that his lost lamb had been found. As expected, Mischa’s sources had made the discovery hours before he would have been able to, perhaps even days.
They went in together - broad shoulders brushing the edges of the doorway, guns extended. One of the blackmailers was stupid enough to pull his own gun. Neither of the two government men was in a good temper to start with, so once the shooting began it didn’t take long.
Z looked up with exhausted and hopeful eyes when Klaus kicked in his door. One arm was chained to a thick hot water pipe that ran along an exposed wall and his wrist was red and raw. Obviously he hadn’t been waiting quietly for his rescue.
“Major!”
“You absolute and utter fool!”
Z flinched back, and even Klaus was surprised by the acid in his voice.
“Sir? I knew you wouldn’t want things tampered with, but you were busy in the Baltic. Better not to tell anyone else so I-”
Mischa gave an amused snort. “What a babbler. You do have them cowed, Iron Klaus.”
“Stop, Z.” Klaus held up a hand, palm out. “Once again, from the beginning.” He glanced at Mischa.
“If you think I am leaving now, Major, you are vastly mistaken.”
“The envelope was suspicious, Sir. I knew you wouldn’t be back into the office until Tuesday, so I decided to … open it. They, uh, said they had pictures, Sir.”
“If you were confident enough to discuss this matter with your superior officer, why not skip above me in my absence and talk to the Chief?”
Z looked horrified. “Sir!?”
“Right, understood.” Klaus wouldn’t want to reveal anything of this ‘nature’ to the fat fool either.
“Well, another one appeared the next day, and then another two days later. I don’t know how they were getting into the building, Sir, I really don’t.”
“We’ll deal with that later, Z. So then you decided to try to … what? Find the black-mailers? Capture them?”
Z looked rather hangdog. “Well, I thought I would try to find the pictures and destroy them.”
Mischa smiled, more amused than ever. “And were there pictures?”
Z glanced at Klaus for permission before replying. “No, but they seemed certain that there would be eventually. … Sir, is it really true then?”
“How the hell should I-“ Klaus stopped mid-sentence. His face went pure white, which made his green-eyed glare all the more poisonous. “Z!” He leaned forward until his teeth were centimeters from Z’s vulnerable ear. “These envelopes… They were on my desk? Don’t say anything! Just nod your head.”
Z complied. His eyes were slightly wild and ringed in white. “You thought….”
“Yes!” Klaus’ voice still hadn’t built back up to its usual bellow, and the resulting hiss was unnerving.
Mischa cleared his throat. “Secrets, Major? From your old friend who did you a favor?”
Klaus whirled around with a curse, but Mischa shook his head. “No, I think I can guess. Well, is it true…. Major?”
“NO!”
“So there’s no need to worry about… pictures?” Mischa continued. There was a definite gleam behind his dark glasses.
“NO!”
“Good, then. I’ll leave you to find your own way home. Remember, Major Eberbach, you owe me.”
Z tried to remember if he had enough money in savings for severe cold weather gear. He would have to ask A if everyone really lived in igloos in Alaska.
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I know, the black-mail angle has been used a million times before. Heh. The story just wrote itself out this way and I wasn't going to fight it.
The Christmas spirit must be in the air, as Mischa learns when someone asks him to do them a favor. Good thing he's in a giving mood....
-----------------------------------
It was so unusual for Major Klaus von dem Eberbach to request his help that Mischa sent the letter to the Ciphers Department for a thorough check. The results were negative, and he knew he would get an earful from White Bear if he didn’t follow up on the curiosity. He sent Elk to search the database for the Major’s home number, as the man had specified confidentiality.
Mischa had the vague worry of someone who suspects they are about to become the butt of a practical joke, but he couldn’t think of a more unlikely perpetrator. Iron Klaus’ sense of humor was twisted and violent, and certainly didn’t run to practical jokes. The Ciphers Department had confirmed the handwriting. Mischa would call.
The phone was answered after two rings by a crisp voice. “Eberbach residence.”
Mischa blinked for a bewildered moment before remembering that as a scion of Western corruption and laziness, Iron Klaus likely employed servants.
“I am Mischa Lebed. I wish to speak with the Major.”
“The Major is not in at the…”
Mischa checked his watch and made some calculations. He knew Iron Klaus. The man would be home at this hour on a Sunday, baring some work-related emergency. Mischa interrupted the servant’s polite lies. “Tell him it is Mischa. He will be home.”
Exactly 56 seconds later, the Major picked up the phone. “What’s your business, Mischa the Cub?”
Feeling certain he had been set up, Mischa only replied, “Your letter.”
“Took you long enough!”
Well, that was slightly reassuring. Aggravating as well. “I do not run at the beck and call of NATO, Major Eberbach. Now, I have important things to attend to…”
“Stop! Don’t hang up, you idiot!”
“How endearing, Major. Now I will ask you: What’s your business?”
“…I need your cooperation.”
“Are you asking for help?”
“No!!”
The line disconnected abruptly, causing Mischa to smile grimly. He had annoyed the other man. Good.
The phone rang and his eyebrows rose. The Major was that desperate?
“Mischa.”
“Damnit, Mischa!”
“You hung up on me, Iron Klaus.”
“Because I don’t like you. Now listen. My agent has been abducted. They’re holding him somewhere near Obninsk. Beyond that I’m hitting a brick wall.”
“Why aren’t you going through official channels, Major?”
“…I can’t.” The sound of Klaus grinding his teeth was clearly audible. “I will… owe you a great deal for this.”
Alarm bells began ringing in Mischa’s head. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing! Nothing…”
“All right, Major, at least tell me which alphabet you’ve misplaced. Will my men recognize him?”
“Just you, Mischa, no one else.”
Whistles joined the bells. “I see.”
“It’s Z. The kid.”
And suddenly, Mischa did begin to understand. “I see.”
“Well?”
“I will help you find your lost lamb, Major. You have my promise. And so, I want the full story.”
“You’ll get it. I’ll be at Vnukovo Airport in three hours.”
* * *
Mischa didn’t expect that the story he would hear would be entirely truthful. He certainly wouldn’t reveal anything if their positions were reversed. But it would be entertaining -and perhaps enlightening- to hear whatever tale Iron Klaus would script.
It fulfilled all of his expectations. No, it exceeded them.
“Your agent was being black-mailed and he took off to confront his black-mailers?” Mischa put a mild effort into suppressing his amusement.
“That’s how it seems from the notes I found in his apartment after he disappeared.”
“But what were they black-mailing your fine, upstanding young man with?”
“No idea. Probably nothing, knowing that idiot.”
“Obviously something spooked him.”
Klaus shook his head irritably. “He has a history of running into bad situations.”
“That’s true. Well, since I wasn’t certain what I would be looking for I don’t have much useful information yet. All I learned was that Mr. Z arrived in Obninsk under his own power, which you obviously already knew.
‘He was last seen in a rather seedy district known for its…” Mischa paused to savor the moment, “…gay night clubs.”
Klaus’ face was almost apoplectic and Mischa counted at least four different ticks as the man struggled to keep control. He was obviously mellowing in his old age, because in the end all he said was: “I see.”
* * *
The apartment had been extremely neat for a young bachelor. No signs of violence, though the clothes inside the wardrobe drawers seemed to have been hastily riffled through. There were dirty dishes in the sink as well. All signs pointed to someone leaving in a hurry.
Z’s laptop had been humming quietly on the kitchen table with a window open to a website about tourism in Obninsk. There had been another page open but hidden behind the first-a search engine with results for various photo-developers in the same city.
The three typed notes spread next to the computer had been simple enough.
Threats of exposure, of his “dirty secret” revealed, of his career ruined. Photographs had been mentioned.
It had been one of the rare instances when Klaus was truly bewildered. “Z?”
* * *
Klaus’ disgruntled pride was both soothed and aggravated when Mischa brought him the news that his lost lamb had been found. As expected, Mischa’s sources had made the discovery hours before he would have been able to, perhaps even days.
They went in together - broad shoulders brushing the edges of the doorway, guns extended. One of the blackmailers was stupid enough to pull his own gun. Neither of the two government men was in a good temper to start with, so once the shooting began it didn’t take long.
Z looked up with exhausted and hopeful eyes when Klaus kicked in his door. One arm was chained to a thick hot water pipe that ran along an exposed wall and his wrist was red and raw. Obviously he hadn’t been waiting quietly for his rescue.
“Major!”
“You absolute and utter fool!”
Z flinched back, and even Klaus was surprised by the acid in his voice.
“Sir? I knew you wouldn’t want things tampered with, but you were busy in the Baltic. Better not to tell anyone else so I-”
Mischa gave an amused snort. “What a babbler. You do have them cowed, Iron Klaus.”
“Stop, Z.” Klaus held up a hand, palm out. “Once again, from the beginning.” He glanced at Mischa.
“If you think I am leaving now, Major, you are vastly mistaken.”
“The envelope was suspicious, Sir. I knew you wouldn’t be back into the office until Tuesday, so I decided to … open it. They, uh, said they had pictures, Sir.”
“If you were confident enough to discuss this matter with your superior officer, why not skip above me in my absence and talk to the Chief?”
Z looked horrified. “Sir!?”
“Right, understood.” Klaus wouldn’t want to reveal anything of this ‘nature’ to the fat fool either.
“Well, another one appeared the next day, and then another two days later. I don’t know how they were getting into the building, Sir, I really don’t.”
“We’ll deal with that later, Z. So then you decided to try to … what? Find the black-mailers? Capture them?”
Z looked rather hangdog. “Well, I thought I would try to find the pictures and destroy them.”
Mischa smiled, more amused than ever. “And were there pictures?”
Z glanced at Klaus for permission before replying. “No, but they seemed certain that there would be eventually. … Sir, is it really true then?”
“How the hell should I-“ Klaus stopped mid-sentence. His face went pure white, which made his green-eyed glare all the more poisonous. “Z!” He leaned forward until his teeth were centimeters from Z’s vulnerable ear. “These envelopes… They were on my desk? Don’t say anything! Just nod your head.”
Z complied. His eyes were slightly wild and ringed in white. “You thought….”
“Yes!” Klaus’ voice still hadn’t built back up to its usual bellow, and the resulting hiss was unnerving.
Mischa cleared his throat. “Secrets, Major? From your old friend who did you a favor?”
Klaus whirled around with a curse, but Mischa shook his head. “No, I think I can guess. Well, is it true…. Major?”
“NO!”
“So there’s no need to worry about… pictures?” Mischa continued. There was a definite gleam behind his dark glasses.
“NO!”
“Good, then. I’ll leave you to find your own way home. Remember, Major Eberbach, you owe me.”
Z tried to remember if he had enough money in savings for severe cold weather gear. He would have to ask A if everyone really lived in igloos in Alaska.
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I know, the black-mail angle has been used a million times before. Heh. The story just wrote itself out this way and I wasn't going to fight it.