The Vanishing Act - 5. Chapter 5

Alexi Dumarov wasted no time in getting straight to the point.

"I have been following you through Russia and to here," he frowned as he looked first at Ethan and then Maxim.

Ethan attempted a half-smile. "Please," he gestered, "sit down.

Alexi moved through the hall and into the large lounge. The paintings and sculptures which filled the apartment did not escape his attention.

"Would you like something to drink?" Ethan asked and the professor nodded whilst taking a seat in one of the plush leather armchairs.

"What can I offer you?" Ethan continued.

"Vodka!" Alexi announced with an air of triumph. He was tempted to add, what else, but he had spent too long a time in the West and knew it quite well, including those TV ads!

All this time Maxim simply stood watching the encounter unfold. He had actually heard of Professor Dumarov, the man was well known in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. He had seen him only recently on the news when he was being interviewed about his research.

Alexi Dumarov explained in detail how he had come across Damien Moreau and that he knew they were in possession of the box and scroll. The professor warned Ethan that he was in danger, that the box must be returned along with the scroll to its rightful owners, the Russian government.

As the professor sipped his vodka Ethan sat quite still regarding him, his thoughts turned to the wooden box and scroll which he had securely hidden away in Damien's safe. A shiver ran down his spine as he thought about the events that had led him to this point. It had been a whirlwind of danger, intrigue, and the unexpected.

"You are right, Professor," Ethan finally spoke, "I do have both items."

"And..." Alexi Dumarov began, his voice grave and insistent, "you agree, I trust, that this treasure is not yours to keep?"

"Yes," Ethan nodded, "of course. I was seeking only to find the people who murdered Damien Moreau, my..." he hesitated, thinking about exactly what Damien had been to him. "My patron."

That was it Ethan thought as he considered their relationship. Damien Moreau had never listened to him, he was in fact another possession of the rich collector. But he had cared for the man, perhaps even loved him, he didn't know. He did know he owed it to Damien to find his murderers.

A knock at the door startled him. He hurried out to the hall and peered through the peephole. A man in a dark suit stood there, his face partially obscured by the shadows, but Ethan recognised the figure. He hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door.

“Mr. Blake?” the man addressed Ethan, his voice low and raspy.

Ethan, his heart pounding, opened the door. “Detective Carter, come in.”

The man stepped inside. The seasoned detective with a reputation for solving the most complex cases had never abandoned his pursuit of Damien Moreau's killers. Carter was aware of the developments in the case and the possible significance of the wooden box.

“I understand you have the box,” Carter said, his eyes fixed on Ethan, but taking in the Professor and Maxim.

Ethan nodded. “Yes, I do. Professor Dumorov has agreed to return it to Russia.”

The professor stood up, smiled at the detective and made to leave. "I will be in touch about the box," he said, "and its return to Russia." He turned to Eliott Carter and extended his hand.

Eliott shook hands.

"Of course," the Professor added, "when you have finished your investigations."

Now the three of them were left alone.

"You are?" Eliott addressed Maxim.

"Maxim, Maxim Turev. I work at Russian Dolls," he replied in a thick eastern European accent.

Carter's face darkened. “I need to know more about the box. What do you know about its contents?” he asked Ethan.

Ethan hesitated. He didn't want to reveal too much about the scroll or the card with an address for Russian Dolls that had led him on a dangerous journey to Russia. Nor did he want to compromise Maxims escape to the West.. “Not much,” he said. “I know it's old, very old. And it seems to be important to someone.”

Carter nodded. “I’ve heard rumors about a scroll hidden inside. Is that true?”

Ethan didn't respond. He knew Carter was a skilled detective and he didn't want to give him any clues.

“I also need to know about Damien Moreau,” Carter continued. “Was he involved in acquiring the box?”

Ethan hesitated again. He had always thought that Moreau was simply an antique collector, someone who had stumbled upon the box by chance. But now he wasn't so sure. “I don't know for sure,” he said. “But I think he may have had some connection to it.”

Carter leaned forward. “Do you know anything about a man named Ivan Volkov?”

Ethan's heart skipped a beat. He had heard the name before, mentioned in hushed tones by the Russian mobsters who had tried to kill him. “Yes,” he said. “I've heard that name.”

Carter nodded. “Ivan Volkov is a very dangerous man. He's wanted in several countries for his involvement in organized crime.”

Ethan felt a wave of fear wash over him. He had no idea how deep Damien Moreau's involvement with this Volkov guy went. Had Moreau been working for the Russian mob? Had he known about the scroll?

Carter stood up. “I'll need to talk to you again soon. There's a lot we need to discuss.”

As Carter left, Ethan sat down on the couch and thought about the wooden box. He knew that his life was in danger. Ivan Volkov would stop at nothing to get his hands on it and the scroll. And it was undoubtedly that which had caused Damien Moreau's murder, the stakes were high.

Maxim had been very quiet throughout, but now, in a gesture of friendship or perhaps something more, he moved next to Ethan and took his hand in his. "Don't be scared," he spoke softly, "we will work things out."

Despite Maxim's confidence, real or presumed, Ethan spent the next few days in a state of constant anxiety. He knew that he couldn't stay in the city for long. He would have to give the box to the professor and hope it got safely back to Russia. But how could he do that without attracting the attention of Ivan Volkov and his men?

The next morning, Ethan called Alexei and explained his situation. Alexei listened intently, his voice calm and reassuring. “Don't worry,” he said. “I'll take care of everything.”

A few days later, Alexei sent instructions that he had arranged for a private jet and Russian security agents to pick up the box and scroll and fly them directly to Moscow. The box would be transported in a secure container. Ethan would be safe once he no longer held the artefacts.

Meanwhile, a more sinister force was also taking an interest in events. A group of unscrupulous individuals, driven by greed and a desire for revenge, who had already acted and would stop at nothing to take possession of the artifacts.

Led by the ruthless mafia head, Ivan Volkov, the group began plotting to steal the box and scroll from Dumarov. They had been foiled once before, but would not fail a second time. They knew the treasure was being closely guarded, but they were confident they could find a way to infiltrate his security and seize the box. However, it was neither the box nor the scroll that Volkov was really interested in. It was something Ethan was unaware of, the contents of the box. What it had contained and how that might be recovered.