Chapter 13 - The Return to Rogers Park
At two o'clock that afternoon, a heavy snow storm began to fall over Chicago, dusting the brick buildings of Rogers Park in pure white.
A silver sedan pulled up two blocks from Mara’s apartment building. Inside were Kirill, Alexi, and Mara, all dressed in dark winter clothing.
Down the street, parked directly in front of Mara’s building, was a dark red van with tinted windows—Saranov’s watchers.
"Kirill," Alexi commanded softly. "Initiate the distraction."
Kirill raised a radio. "Team B, go."
At the far end of the block, two black pickup trucks deliberately slammed into each other at an intersection, creating a noisy, chaotic traffic pileup. A garbage truck pulled across the street, blocking the red van’s line of sight completely.
"Now," Alexi whispered.
Mara slipped out of the sedan, keeping low behind the snowbanks, moving with silent, rapid grace down the service alley behind her building. Alexi followed two steps behind her, his hand resting on the weapon concealed inside his heavy coat.
They reached the rusted iron fire escape behind her building. Mara pulled out her old key, unlocked the rear service entrance, and slipped inside the warm, quiet hallway.
They crept up the wooden stairs, reaching the second floor without alerting anyone. Mara inserted her key into her apartment door, turning it silently.
The apartment was cold, the windows dusted with frost.
Mara rushed to her desk, unlocked the bottom drawer, and pulled out the faded leather journal.
May you like
"Got it," she whispered, turning back to Alexi.
Before Alexi could answer, the front door of the apartment was kicked open with a thunderous CRACK.
