Chapter 23 Framed Views
Framed Views
Mikko
Mikko couldn’t bring himself to believe in coincidences. The break in, Anika targeting him, and leaving the menacing yet intriguing note. A blatant murder in a warehouse she’d toured mere days earlier. And now this—his missing car keys turning up in a dead man’s body.
It was all becoming a little too sinister.
Even if murder wasn’t a part of her strategic plans, Mikko was certain she was behind some of those occurrences. And he’d be damned not to get her to confess to some of it.
Seems like I may need to pay someone a little visit, he thought darkly.
Glancing down at his phone, he eagerly awaited a text back from Levi, but nothing. Jealousy made him grip his fork tighter. Being ignored wasn’t his strong suit.
His most recent message glared up at him.
Any updates? :Mikko
Annoyed, he typed out a follow up message.
I’ll take that as a no :Mikko
As he was about to call the man, three little dots popped up. Finally.
Levi: Nothing concrete yet
Levi: Also, since when do you double text?
Mikko rolled his eyes.
Keep it professional :Mikko
Levi: Always boss…although I might have to bend that rule a little
Something flared in his gut at that little blue message.
With the murder at that property, we need to tread carefully; bend but don’t break :Mikko
Levi: Of course, but I have to make this believable, wear her down
A tick in Mikko’s jaw showed his annoyance. Cristiano—who was sitting across the table from him—noticed it. “Who are you texting?”
“A certain blond mutt,” Mikko quipped. “Why?”
Cristiano laughed before saying, “Let’s just say, I wouldn’t want to be your phone right about now.”
Mikko turned his glare onto his friend. “If only this person could read the room as well as you.”
“Let’s be honest, all of our lives would be easier if they could do that.” Cristiano chuckled. “Do I even want to know what they’re saying?”
“No.”
“Of course. But I also think you’re getting into a habit—a bad one might I mention—of keeping things from me.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“But it makes sense since your kink is being lonely n’ all.”
“That’s not even real–I don’t have—”
“Ah, ah, ah, never say never. You’d be surprised what’s out there.” Mikko huffed tiredly into his shot glass as his friend continued. “Besides, I’ve known you for too long not to know something is bothering you.”
Another eye roll only encouraged Cristiano’s behavior.
“At least tell me you’re texting other people…
ones who aren’t work related, “Cristiano quickly added. “Perhaps a single lady? Are you finally tryin’ out dating apps like I told you too? That would explain the look of disdain that’s always on your face,” his friend rambled on while Mikko locked his phone and put it away, done commanding Levi for now.
“Hell, I wouldn’t even care if you were chattin’ it up with a man,” Cristiano continued.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Mikko didn’t say anything for a moment as Cristiano trailed off.
Then, “While I appreciate your fervor, no, I’m not talking to a woman.”
“So it’s a man then?”
“Yes, but not like that. You know men aren’t my preference.”
“Speak for yourself, although this Ivan conspiracy is taking up precious time in my personal life. Even I can’t get any di—”
Their waiter returned then, preventing the men from saying anything more. The man refilled their waters and took note of their dwindling alcoholic beverages before promising to return with more.
The brisk silence gave Mikko time to collect his thoughts, mind wandering to the images and news on a repeated loop in his head.
Both men had decided dinner might soothe their worries, a routine they’d formed long ago.
Each week, either Mikko or Cristiano, would pick a restaurant and they’d spend the whole evening eating and drinking.
It was a good time to catch up and blow off some steam from the week.
God knew they needed it now.
After the waiter was gone, Cristiano continued. “Anyway, let’s hope my stomach has calmed down when the food finally comes out. I’ve been cravin’ a steak for a while now.”
“You had one last week when we went out.” Mikko’s finger tapped the edge of his glass.
“I know”—he took a sip of his wine—“but that’s too much time in between for my liking. But that’s besides the point. Ivan. We got together to talk about Ivan. What the fuck is going on with all this?”
Mikko wished he had more vodka to sip on, anything to take the edge out of his voice. “You know the DNA sample I got back on the gum?” Cristiano nodded, his neon hair now faded to a light sea green. “Well, I think it’s time I told you about that lead.”
“I’m afraid to talk right now lest you stop, so go on…” his friend murmured.
Mikko continued on, unphased. “The profile is for a woman named Anika Simmons.”
“The same Anika whose name you let slip out the other day? The one you told me wasn’t a crush?” Cristiano asked.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“So she is a crush, then?”
“No, no that’s not the point of this.” Cris made a face that said he didn’t really believe Mikko’s words, but he’d keep listening. “The point is she’s the same one who approached me at Bubblegum and the same woman who toured the warehouse…”
“The same one Ivan ended up dead in,” Cristiano finished. “Do you think she’s behind it? Levi could also be a suspect. He’s the one who knows the lockbox code and has motives.”
“His motive is just misdirected envy and self-loathing. Everyone knows he wants my position one day—thinks I’m not good enough for it—therefore, he’d be dumb to start doing something like this.” Mikko explained as he continued tapping the rim of his shot glass.
Cristiano snorted humorlessly. “Exactly, he is dumb. Have you forgotten?”
“No, he makes it hard to forget, but Anika could have a motive too.”
“And what would hers be?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. I’ve searched her name in our databases and nothing pops up. She’s never been related to our business, the mob, or any clients we’ve dealt with. At least on paper.
“I’ve followed her and searched through her house. There was and is nothing to be found to connect her to all of this outside of a gut feeling and coincidences,” Mikko finished.
“Alek was never one for believing in those,” Cristiano mumbled. “Wait, she approached you at Bubblegum? Where the fuck was I?”
Mikko sighed. “It was the night we interrogated Ivan, but you’d wandered off and she cornered me.”
His friend looked him up and down. “You’re hardly someone who’s easy to corner. You think she’s hot, don’t you?”
A pause. Then, “No.”
“Liar,” Cristiano smacked the table. “Of course the one time I’m not by your side, you get hit on by a woman.”
“Maybe it’s actually you who’s scaring them off.” Mikko’s tone was teasing.
“You better let me meet her, I need to know who cracked Mr. Romanov’s steely facade. I bet she could melt you in—”
“Anyway,” Mikko interrupted, “the signs are pointing to her. While our men usually favor brute force—a moment to teach a lesson—this is more calculated.”
Cristiano’s brow raised, signally he’d let the subject change slide this time, but he’d be pressing about Anika later no doubt.
“You know I stand with you no matter what. At first, I thought it was Ivan’s lifestyle and debt catching up to him.
I mean, it was only a matter of time. That man could hardly keep food on the table for his family.
” His dark eyes flicked up toward the sleek ceiling in contemplation.
The soft, ambient lighting in the restaurant colored Cristiano’s deep brown skin in warmth.
“If not Anika, then maybe it was his wife?”
“Would his wife be able to break into my penthouse, steal the keys found in Ivan’s body, and edit out her entire presence being there?”
Cristiano’s eyes met Mikko’s. “A scorned woman is capable of anything.”
Mikko’s voice was low. “Exactly, and until I know what Anika’s angle is, she could be that scorned woman.”
“True. Anger mixed with passion and revenge would be enough fuel for anyone to cut someone up, let alone go for the eyes; if it was money she was after, eyes do sell for a fair amount on the black market.”
“Whoever it was, they knew how to make a statement. There’s got to be a connection between his mutilation and making someone ‘see’ something.
” Mikko mused. Something he hadn’t thought of popped into his head while talking to Cristiano.
Maybe Anika’s motive did have something to do with Romanov Real Estate, and she was trying to show him.
His friend piped up as the waiter returned with their replenished drinks, “Now there’s a twisted thought.” A couple seconds passed and Cristiano spoke again. “Do you think she has them in a jar somewhere?”
With a snort, Mikko could only shake his head and sip his vodka while his friend speculated about Anika’s alleged science experiments.
* * *
THE REST OF dinner with Cristiano had been uneventful, his friend making him promise to not do anything stupid while he was alone when it came to Anika. She was unpredictable with a background they had no record of.
But Mikko was feeling restless. If she killed Ivan, that type of violence and precision would indicate it wasn’t her first time.
She should be in the system for something: petty crimes which could escalate to torture and murder.
Still, every time he searched her name, nothing appeared.
She was squeaky clean in every way. Although paper had a tendency of lying, and Mikko feared this was the case.
He might have to call in another favor…
Dialing Devon, Mikko waited for him to answer. He was still parked outside of the restaurant, sitting in his idling car where the valet had left it for him. The sky darkened overhead with the promise of another storm, but for now, it held off.
“Long time, no see, Mikko,” the man finally responded. “What can I do for ya?”