http://hajimenoippolit.livejournal.com/ (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
hajimenoippolit.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
groznyj_grad2007-12-06 11:11 pm
hajimenoippolit.livejournal.com) wrote in groznyj_grad2007-12-06 11:11 pm
Entry tags:
The messenger, cont.
"Another without marks," Rakitin murmured. "I'll bet you anything there's enough sedative in his blood to bring down a timberwolf."
He drew back to the active center of the room like a reluctant iron filing to an inconsistent magnet. Whatever it was that Liadov and Irinarhov needed to discuss, it looked like it would wait.
Ever since the other night...both other nights...Rakitin had done his best to keep out of the way. Nika hadn't talked much to him since, any more than necessary, and he'd followed the cue and backed off.
In fact, it was the young Black Ops man, Aryol, who had approached him, with an open smile and disarming gregariousness.
At the first second Polya had frozen, the alarm of reflex in his head blaring, Nika told him. He told him, and they laughed. But logic had manned the override. He knew perfectly well that that was ridiculous, and all the reasons.
"Either our killer is well trusted, or he's got a skill for sleight of hand."
Nothing they didn't know already, but it helped to follow the old tracks, to look for the divergences that stood out.
Such as....
"This is the first time it's directly involved Major Ocelot and Major Raikov," he hazarded. "Does that mean something?"
He drew back to the active center of the room like a reluctant iron filing to an inconsistent magnet. Whatever it was that Liadov and Irinarhov needed to discuss, it looked like it would wait.
Ever since the other night...both other nights...Rakitin had done his best to keep out of the way. Nika hadn't talked much to him since, any more than necessary, and he'd followed the cue and backed off.
In fact, it was the young Black Ops man, Aryol, who had approached him, with an open smile and disarming gregariousness.
At the first second Polya had frozen, the alarm of reflex in his head blaring, Nika told him. He told him, and they laughed. But logic had manned the override. He knew perfectly well that that was ridiculous, and all the reasons.
"Either our killer is well trusted, or he's got a skill for sleight of hand."
Nothing they didn't know already, but it helped to follow the old tracks, to look for the divergences that stood out.
Such as....
"This is the first time it's directly involved Major Ocelot and Major Raikov," he hazarded. "Does that mean something?"
no subject
He dropped his eyes away.
Twenty four hours. It was more than enough.
Kassian knew that Liadov was thinking the same thing he was.
...Here's proof that this tape is for our ears only, Captain.
Liadov's words had been soft, but his eyes were hard as he had leaned across the interview table toward Kassian.
...If I found that Andrei had done this, I would bury it so fast your head would spin.
The words were like the cold comfort of a rifle barrel against his palm.
Kassian turned to Ocelot.
"Major. Permission to find Lieutenant Isaev and apprise him of the situation. I'm not on the bodyguard detail right now."
He'd actually had a rare morning free after practice, though as luck - or rather, Imanov's schedule - would have it, Isaev had patrol. Kassian had decided to spend his time fixing up his sniper tower to make it more conducive to long-term nesting.
Which was when he'd found Borishnakov.
Kassian checked his watch. Isaev should be getting back from patrol shortly, he thought.
no subject
"You don't have to stay," Rakitin told him in an undertone. "I'll give you a full report. I won't miss anything."
He couldn't be thrilled about this development, what with having had enough of a relation to Isaev to request that Polya conduct the interview on his own. However, he'd confessed that it had been a long time, and anyway it was the other brother he'd known better.
Very well, apparently.
Regardless, Nika wasn't the kind of man to let personal feelings get in the way of the investigation. He knew what he was doing.
no subject
"Permission granted," he hissed. "To do whatever you want, on your own time, Captain Irinarhov."
no subject
Why had he even bothered to couch his reassuring words in double-speak and entendre, if the righteous sniper was going to translate his true meaning directly after the fact?
Nika was chagrined, briefly, at being caught out in front of Rakitin, and having it broadcast that he was letting protocol slide on Isaev's behalf.
Those were the kind of things you didn't draw attention to.
If he was wise, thought Liadov, at this point he would be forced to redact his goodwill, upon having it called to general attention that the Captain, by his own declaration, was going straight to the most obvious possible suspect and tip him off.
If he condoned that outright statement now, he blatantly agreed to abet the compromising of an investigation, which was a seriously blatnoy proposition.
Tacitly that had been Nika's intent all along, but corruption was only corruption when it was underhanded.
When it was public it was unethical hypocrisy.
Liadov sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
He couldn't look at Rakitin.
"The body," he said. "If you don't mind, I'd like to observe. There are some marks, animal spots painted on the skin in blood. I want to see what you come up with when you run the samples, Polya."
no subject
He felt unsettled. Unease curled around him like the coils of a snake, slowly constricting his chest. He tried to shrug it off, tried to avert his mind away from the implications of everything he'd just heard.
Kassian didn't think it was working.
Without even a nod, he left the lab, but paused as he stepped into the anteroom where Kolyin stood watch.
Kolyin looked at him. Cautiously, Kassian thought. Probably wondering what he knew, or what else had transpired. Kassian didn't hold it against him, that Kolyin hadn't said anything earlier when they'd brought in Borishnakov's uniform pieces. It hadn't exactly been the time and place.
He felt like he should say something, but he didn't know what to say. Kassian hesitated for a few moments, then said, "I'll be all right."
To his surprise, Kolyin visibly relaxed, and then nodded.
What were words, he thought, though right then, he would have liked someone to tell him it was going to be all right, too.
Kassian nodded back, and then slipped outside. The chill air was crisp and refreshing, but even so, he had the feeling that things would get worse before they would get better.
no subject
That way, he would know immediately when the cause of death was discovered. Polya was certain it would be. A markless corpse was a distinctive calling card. If Isaev were a murderer, could he be that stupid?
Or that arrogant?
A charm that called people to him and ensured they would protect him...
No. That was ridiculous.
It was only natural that both, especially his own lover, would never think he could have really done it.
"Blood..." Rakitin mused. "Not the victim's?"
He winced.
"Let me guess. An ocelot's spots."
no subject
"Yes...that's it exactly. I'm impressed at your discernment."
He paused, fussing with the buckle on his generously cut grey coat sleeve, then letting it rest.
"Do you have a natural history book available? I'm sure there's one in the East Wing library, if not. I'm no zoologist, but that spot and stripe pattern is distinctive. Not a cheetah, not a leopard."
Nika pursed his lips, briefly.
"That it would be an ocelot...seems only reasonable."
If anything about this could be called reasonable. Liadov was beginning to feel like a Hallucinogenic Toreador in a surreal arena where the bull was a devil he knew.