Trafford's Trading Club

The matter which Efim was most worried about eventually happened; and it occurred on the same day---He suddenly felt he had been caught in a huge net.

An uneasy feeling arose since his identity had been disclosed in the manor.

And when a police car arrived at the building, such a feeling reached its peak.

”Did they say why they came here?”

”No, they didnʼt.” He said quickly, ”He just showed his Police ID and said he needs to see you for an important issue. But he looks very anxious.”

Efim thought in silence before nodding, ”Tell him to wait for me downstairs and Iʼll right there after changing my clothes.”

”Got it.”

His follower nodded. He had to do many things, include receiving the policeman, cleaning this room thoroughly and taking away something that didnʼt belong to this place.

…

…

”Hahaha, thanks for waiting for me for such a long time. I was taking a shower just now, because I have a habit of going to sleep before ten oʼclock.”

Efim, who changed his clothes, went downstairs during this time. He glanced at the cop. His follower said he had verified his ID, so he didnʼt suspect him.

”Hello, Mr. Efim, Iʼm Victor, sorry for bothering you at night.” Victor nodded and suddenly approached Efim.

But Efimʼs bodyguard stopped him, and replied calmly, ”Mr. Victor, stay away.”

Victor said calmly, ”Mr. Efim, can I talk with you alone... I donʼt think you will refuse me.”

”Really?” Efim said indifferently, ”If I say to your boss that some of his subordinates came to my house to harass me, I donʼt think he will refuse my complaint.”

But Victor smiled and lowered his voice, ”I heard Mr. Efim bought a wonderful thing today, right?”

Suddenly, Efim narrowed his eyes, hesitating for a moment before waving his hand, ”You guys leave for now, Iʼll talk with Mr. Victor.”

After all his men had left, Efim sat down slowly, and asked calmly, ”What did you say just now? I didnʼt hear it clearly.”

Victor now revealed a smiling face, walking to Efim again. He took out his cellphone and put it on the table--- just in front of Efim.

”I think Mr. Efim will be quite interested in the contents of the video.”

”Oh, will I?” Efim picked up the cellphone--- and played it.

However, Efimʼs face gradually turned awkward as the video went--- He didnʼt need to watch it to the end and paused it midway.

He laid down his cellphone and looked up at Victor, whose fingers were slowly tapping the handrail.

After a long time.

Efim suddenly opened his mouth, ”What do you want?”

Victor slowly said, ”This is what my subordinate provided me with. I guessed he was hoping to provide some contribution... After all, this video clearly reveals that Mr. Efim bought a painting, which has been stolen from the art museum... It happened today, so we have reasons to believe that the painting is still in your hand. But I have buried the news, nobody knows about that for now except me.”

Efim calmly said, ”Wonʼt it be good to turn it in? This is a great merit, isnʼt it?”

Victor shrugged his shoulders, ”Does Mr. Efim know what the salary for a permanent detective like me is? What it would be after being promoted to the higher level? And how about a director generalʼs?”

Efim answered in a neither humble nor pushy tone, ”Do you know that Iʼve known your director general for some time.”

Victor smiled, ”Mr. Efim, a great merchant like you will definitely know a lot of people. However, most of the businessmen in Moscow will make a clean break with you… because of the video about a gang boss has been uploaded to VK, which has many implications. Mr. Efim, do you know how many years Iʼve been in this profession? 23 years. I even got Alexander•Nevsky Medal granted by the President personally.”

Victor said with confidence, ”I believe my words worked. Even our boss may not get me to pack up and leave my current position immediately.”

Efim said calmly, ”Itʼs good to be confident. In addition, I admire your courage to come to me alone... Good, I like to cooperate with a courageous person. Iʼll buy the video, tell me the price.”

While Victor said, ”Does Mr. Efim think itʼll be OK after simply purchasing the video?”

”What are you trying to say?”

Victor said, ”I donʼt believe that a newly graduated cadet can get this video. Did Mr. Efim offend anyone recently?”

Efim hand softly patted the handrail, standing up, ”Mr. Victor, thank you for bringing me the news, but Iʼm a businessman and I like to call a spade a spade.”

Victor said indifferently, ”Our director general is not free from corruption, he may be dismissed at any time. I think Mr. Efim may need a more stable and younger partner.”

”Is this your purpose?” Efim squinted his eyes.

”I was the recipient of Alexander•Nevsky Medal, but I have to stayed in a small office all the time, donʼt you think itʼs a pity, Mr. Efim?” Victor got close to Efim and lowered down his voice ”Someone wants to oppose Mr. Efim, and I think Mr. Efim needs some more helpers as well, right?”

”Why should I believe you?” Efim sneered.

Victor shrugged his shoulders, ”Time can prove anything. Our boss is not in a good situation now, maybe shortly after… Anyway, only I will know about this video. However, I think the person who wanted to spread the video will do something if he doesnʼt hear any rumors from us. This is my business card, Mr. Efim can contact me if necessary.”

Looking at Victor, who took back the cellphone and walked toward the door, Efim suddenly said before he opened the door, ”Hold on.”

”Anything else?”

Efim took out the checkbook from his clothes, signing his name and tearing down one piece without an amount, ”Write down a nice number youʼd want. I cannot let you down and feel like it has been a wasted trip.”

Victor two fingers nipped this cheque and waved his hand, ”Well, Iʼm looking forward to the call from Mr. Efim.”

…

…

”Boss, what did the vile cop say?”

His subordinate asked while looking at Efim, who was in deep thought.

Efim simply described it, which had the follower frown, ”Boss, it seems the Typica Family is opposing you deliberately this time. But out of their expectations, it was stopped by Victor…Heʼs an ambitious man; money and power are both his favorite.”

While Efim suddenly asked, ”Do you think Victor doesnʼt have a problem?”

His follower thought for a while, ”But it doesnʼt make sense that he came to you with such important evidence. It has seriously violated military discipline. If he thought it was a chance to make rapid advances in his career, I think he would have took it. In my opinion, itʼs really a pity that the recipient of Alexander•Nevsky Medal is still working in the small and common policeman office.”

Efim fell into silence for a while and suddenly said, ”Did you clean up everything?”

”Iʼve packed up the garbage, and itʼs been taken away by a garbage truck.” The follower looked at the watch, saying coolly, ”Itʼs almost the time for burning it.”

Efim nodded and said slowly, ”Book one air ticket to Italy next week for me, any time is acceptable.”

…

…

”9:05, Miss Anna went into the building.”

”9:10, Victor came to Efimʼs building too.”

”9:30, someone threw a black sack into the garbage truck.”

”9:50, Victor left the building.”

”11:40, Miss Anna hasnʼt appeared yet... Boss, I think the big bag on the garbage truck should be...”

Urey waved his hand to stop the man from talking, who was sitting next to the driver. He just opened the car window, looking at the garbage truck stop by the roadside from afar.

Two men wearing the uniforms of garbage collectors moved a big black bag down. They spilled gasoline and burned it while nobody was nearby at night.

He witnessed the flame cover the whole bag at one go... When it turned into ashes, he closed his eyes slowly.

Finally, he said, ”Letʼs go.”

The black motor vehicle hit the road and the garbage truck was drove away secretly. Then, the high wind blew away the ash.

Maybe there would be no trace remaining there tomorrow.

…

…

The sound.

”... Later, a canal connecting the Moscow River and Volga River was built, giving accesses to five different sea areas; therefore, the river transport becomes more developed.”

”Five sea areas?”

”Yes, master, they are the Black Sea, the White Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Azov Sea.”

”Ah.” He sighed with a gentle smile, ”I may no longer need a web search engine…”

She heard voices.

From a man and a woman, who seemed to be chatting.

So she opened her eyes, but only darkness and stuffiness appeared. She seemed to be trapped in a narrow space.

She struggled for a while, and finally found the exit to leave this narrow space--- a zipper.

She pulled open the zipper, and broke through the black bag. She could breathe fresh air again.

The night light in Moscow interspersed the riverside, turning it into a starry river. A couple were talking about something softly while pointing at the river bank.

She remembered where she had seen them.

When she was strangeld.

She seemed to have heard this manʼs voice.

- Customer, what do you need?”

She, Anna.