Russian Retaken

By Dragan Vujic

Four extraordinary outlaws go head-to-head with a powerful Russian crime lord in a valiant effort to terminate a viable human trafficking operation. The notorious quartet pursues all available options to liberate the existing abducted young girls and to prevent further kidnappings. Opposing forces collide resulting in explosive action and violent confrontations. Betrayal leads to capture. Tenacity prevails. The final showdown takes place at a remote location.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475973945

Dragan Vujic

Dragan Vujic is a writer and an avid outdoorsman. He resides in rural southern Ontario, Canada where he enjoys a quiet, serene lifestyle. Dragan may be contacted at: [e-mail] or [e-mail].

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Copyright © 2013 by Dragan Vujic

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Any resemblance to actual people, either living or dead, is purely coincidental. This is a work of pure fiction.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-7393-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-7394-5 (e)

iUniverse rev. date:

Contents

1. Three Worlds

2. Taken

3. Aftermath

4. Contact

5. Medved

6. The List

7. Aspirations

8. Dark Deeds

9. Rescue

10. Judas

11. Conclusion

Dedicated to my friend,

Eileen (Ramblin’ Rose) Renton.

Russian Retaken

Abstract One

Four extraordinary outlaws go head-to-head with a powerful Russian crime lord in a valiant effort to terminate a viable human trafficking operation. The notorious quartet pursues all available options to liberate the existing abductees and to prevent further kidnappings. Opposing forces collide resulting in explosive action and violent confrontations. Betrayal leads to capture. Tenacity prevails. The final showdown takes place at a remote location.

Abstract Two

Four friends offer to help a former high school chum after his teenage daughter is kidnapped. Initially, the father is reluctant to accept anything from a band of outlaws. However, deep down in his heart, he knows that the police will never find his daughter. The government’s track record in these matters is disgusting. Misfits, outcasts, criminals, murders, psychotics. Perhaps, these are exactly the kind of people that he needs to get his daughter back. In fact, these individuals may be his only hope of ever seeing his daughter alive.

Three Worlds

A large red brick house on a quiet street in an exclusive neighborhood was bustling with activity. Breakfast was always the busiest time of the day. The owner had just finished tying his tie and was donning his suit jacket. His two children, Karen and Kevin, were already downstairs. He could hear them arguing over some trivial point of view. They always found something to fight about. However, despite that blatant fact, they loved one another dearly and stood up for each other in every situation. Karl smiled as he adjusted his tie and walked towards the staircase. The intensity of the argument waxed and waned in pitch. It seemed to be coming to an unresolved conclusion.

Karl was an overachiever by nature, having been blessed with a high energy level. In high school he found an outlet for all of this excess energy in sports – particularly in football and wrestling. The secondary school years culminated with the completion of grade twelve and it was time to move on. Karl soon realized that, irrespective of his obvious physical talents, he fell short of becoming a professional athlete. No opportunities presented themselves and no talent scouts ever approached him.

Lacking the intellectual acumen and financial resources, Karl did not pursue higher education. Instead, he married his collegiate sweetheart, Katie, and commenced to work in a variety of different jobs, hoping to find something that he would enjoy doing. Kati also worked in several low paying menial positions. Within a few years, the two of them saved enough money for Katie to go to college. Thereat, she completed her nursing degree and found suitable employment within one month of graduation. Shortly thereafter, Karl finally ended his odyssey when he settled into selling real estate. This appeared to be his true calling. Despite his rather abrasive personality, he seemed to click in with his clients. They all loved him for his unconventional and brutal honesty concerning everything. Karl became very proficient at selling property. Referrals and repeat business allowed him to prosper in this sector.

Soon, the Muellers bought their first home and life was just grand for them. They soon outgrew that domicile and purchased another. By their fourth home, which resembled a mansion, Karl and Katie decided that they were ready to parent a couple of children. Katie took several years off and gave birth to two children, Karen and Kevin, roughly a year and two months apart. Karl continued to work while Katie enjoyed the early years of motherhood. When Karen turned five, Katie went back to work. As the children grew older, the household expenses increased substantially. Katie and Karl realized that they had to commence working longer hours in order to maintain their chosen lifestyle. Everything has a tradeoff. Approaching their teenage years, Karen and Kevin were often neglected in favour of monetary gain. This caused them to grow closer to each other and further apart from their parents.

Then something horrible happened. This unexpected tragic twist of events forced Karl to involuntarily become a single parent raising two teenagers on his own. Devastated and heart-broken, he somehow found the courage to carry on. This terrible strike of fate left a deep scare on everyone. Surviving the pain of it all, Karl, Karen and Kevin attempted to piece back their lives to the best of their abilities. However, everything was a mess. As a family, they all realized that they had become dysfunctional. Something had to change or Kevin and Karen, although close to one another, would continue to shut down and drift apart from their remaining parent. They loved their dad, however, both of them found it difficult to relate to him.

Thus, Karl Mueller reconsidered his present position as a single parent, trying to raise two teenagers on his own. His priorities had to change. Having failed grade five in public school, Karen turned nineteen about six months ago and was in her final year of high school. Kevin, a year and two months younger, having just turned eighteen, still had two more years of high school left. Academics were not his forte and he had also failed a grade along the way. Recently, Kevin had received his drivers licence and had started driving his deceased mother’s vehicle. He did not have insurance coverage. This sporadic practice of taking the car for various events continued for over a period of a few months. Karl turned a blind eye on this well known fact, neither condemning nor condoning this practice. Kevin would often drive his sister to places she wanted to go. Karen did not have her drivers licence at this point.

This morning started off as a typical breakfast event at the Mueller residence. Karen was always the first one in the kitchen. The coffee was ready and the table was set by the time Kevin arrived. As usual, they quarreled over some trivial matter to start the day off. When Karl entered, Kevin was half way through his cereal and Karen was loading the dishwasher. Karl was the only one who drank coffee. After saying good morning to both of his children, he sat down at a round oak table to a plate of buttered toast. Karen poured her father a cup of coffee, added the right amount of cream and sugar, and placed it in front of him. Karl thanked his daughter. Karen acknowledged and sat down in a comfortable wooden chair. She had something to discuss with her father. Kevin finished his cereal, put his empty bowl into the dishwasher and returned to the kitchen table. He also had something to say. After Karl finished his first cup of coffee, Karen spoke.

Dad. Are you coming with me to my intercollegiate competition tonight?, she asked, hoping for an affirmative answer, but knowing that her father would reply in the negative.

Karen had recently won her annual high school beauty contest. Karl had promised to attend that significant event, but he failed to appear due to pressing business matters. In an effort to appease his daughter, Karl assured her that he would definitely be at her next competition. Having unintentionally lied in the past, his credibility factor wavered in the low range. Despite that fact, Karen hoped with all her heart that he would be there this time to support her and rejoice in her upcoming victory. She was confident that she would win at the intercollegiate level. All of her friends were always accompanied by their parents at every major outing. Karen was the only one who ever showed up alone. Irrespective of her obvious independence and self confidence, she still hungered for her father’s approval and validation.

Most children do, even at her age.

Is that tonight? Oh, honey. I’m so sorry! I thought that it was next week. I can’t come tonight. I have an important meeting tonight. I have this deal to close on a five hundred thousand dollar home. My commission will be very hefty on this one. I’ll definitely make the next competition. Here, let me give you some cab fare., apologized Karl, rising from the table and reaching for his wallet.

Forget it. I don’t want your money, I want your time. Just forget it. It’s not important anyway., replied Karen in a low, depressed voice, standing up and preparing to leave the kitchen.

Karen. Honey. I’m sorry. I’ll plan better next time. Hey, look. I’ll close this deal tonight and when my commission comes in, we’ll go out and celebrate. We can go to the Breslau. It’s the best restaurant in town and the food is absolutely fabulous., stated Karl, placing two hundred dollars on the kitchen table.

Celebrate? Celebrate what? Your success? Your money making ability? What about my achievements? What about my victories? Oh, forget it. You wouldn’t understand anyway., retorted Karen, hurrying out of the room before the tears welled up in her sad eyes.

Karl did not know how to respond. What was he supposed to say? What was the right answer? What was he supposed to do? Confusion set in. He sat back down at the kitchen table and grew silent. This particular situation was poorly handled on his behalf. Karl was steadily losing the ability to communicate with his daughter in a meaningful manner. They were not relating well. He could feel the rift between them widening exponentially. At this rate, they would become total strangers very shortly. His quietude was interrupted by his son who had patiently sat through the previous conversation. Kevin was not hopeful of a more favourable response to his request, but he had to ask anyway.

Well, I don’t suppose that you’ll have the time to attend my first Dan Black Belt promotion test this Saturday at Laurier High?, queried Kevin, cleaning off the kitchen table and putting everything back in its proper place.

Maybe. Maybe. That’s a couple of days away. I’ll see what I can do. I may be able to rearrange some stuff. I’ll try. I may be able to go. We’ll see., answered Karl, walking towards the counter.

Don’t put yourself out. It’s no big deal. I’m sure you have more important stuff to do., responded Kevin in a sarcastic manner.

I said, I’ll see., said Karl, trying not to become angry at his son’s attitude.

Yeah. Right. Maybe I should have made an appointment. At least you keep your appointments., stated Kevin, hanging his head and leaving the scene.

Hey. Make sure your sister gets this money., Karl called out after him.

Yeah. I will look after her. I always do., answered Kevin as he opened the front door.

Karl realized that there was a serious problem. However, no solution readily presented itself. He did not know how to handle this dilemma. Somewhere along the path of life, his priorities had changed. Money seemed to have come to the forefront. His once beloved and cherished children appeared to be getting lost in the dark background. Something had to change and soon before it became too late. The point of no return was fast approaching.

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Much further north, on the same morning, a different scenario unfolded. Lucan Archer stepped out of a relatively large two storey cabin on to the wooden veranda and quietly closed the door behind him. He was a tall man with thick black hair. Bristly stubble of the same colour covered the lower half of his face. Shaving was on the agenda for this afternoon. His leathery tanned face was accented by piercing blue eyes that reflected an inner sadness. However, Lucan resolved to enjoy today to the best of his ability. He took a deep breathe and observed his surroundings as his right foot touched the stony path that descended towards the nearby dock.

Dawn was breaking and a heavy morning mist swept across the sheltered inlet of a huge lake in northern Ontario. A floating dock protruded approximately twenty feet into the water. Lucan walked towards the far end with a fishing pole in his right hand while his left hand grasped a tackle box and net. He heard the distinct crunch of frost beneath his feet and he felt the early morning chill. The melodic morning song of the loons chased away the silence of twilight. Only one thought occupied Lucan’s mind at this moment – fresh fish for breakfast.

Having reached his destination at the far end of the dock, Lucan put down the items that he was carrying and took his time searching through his tackle box for that special lucky lure. Several quiet minutes passed. Since he was fishing for pickerel, Lucan decided to try a sinking Rapela. A pronounced splash resounded through the mist as the lure struck and entered the water. It was heard but not seen. Lucan, having allowed the lure to sink to a calculated depth, slowly started to retrieve his lure. The first cast was uneventful. Lucan saw the lure approach the dock with impunity. No strikes this time.

Lucan cast once more. Usually, he would cast twenty times with the same lure. If it was not hit at least once in that interval, he would switch to another lure. This was his typical routine. According to Lucan, the best times to fish were early mornings and late evenings. These were also the best times to hunt deer. As he commenced to retrieve his second cast, the fisherman recalled the events of the past couple of days. These were difficult times and all four of them were embarking on a novice lifestyle.

The night before last, Mary, Lucan, Bill and Allen had stowed their Spartan belongings into Lucan’s single engine plane. Thereafter, having taken one final look at his home, the pilot flew north-west for several hours. Bill guided him. The night sky was clear, full of bright stars and the moon was unusually large. A perigee position offered the best explanation for this phenomenon. In any event, visibility was excellent. At long last, they arrived at their destination. Allen and Bill commenced to tell Lucan how to land the plane.

Don’t tell me how to fly, just tell me where to land!, retorted Lucan.

They were all tired and somewhat irritable. Mary placed a warm hand on Lucan’s shoulder. Her tender touch had a soothing effect on him. Bill uttered specific instructions. Lucan spotted the exact landing zone and glided his craft across the surface of the water. The plane gradually slowed and crept in alongside the long dock. Everyone deplaned. Allen and Bill tied down the aircraft, while Lucan handed Mary all their gear. Each one of them grabbed their stuff and followed Bill to his cabin which was situated on a slightly higher elevation approximately fifty yards from the shore. Bill had a flashlight that proved to be redundant due to the fact that everyone could see clearly tonight without any aids. Once inside, Bill fired up the woodstove and directed everyone to their private quarters on the second floor. Within the hour they were all sound asleep. This would be their temporary new home. The itinerate lifestyle that they had chosen allowed for no permanence.

Bill’s domicile was a spacious, two storey wood frame building with an eight pitch roof. The steep rise assisted in dissipating the heavy snow load. All around, it was a solid structure. Two huge windows overlooked the lake. A large oak door stood between them. The oversized veranda ran the full length of the front face. Although it was off the grid, this shelter had been fully wired. A gas powered generator ran more than adequate current and could light the place up like the fourth of July. In addition, an abundance of battery operated lanterns and kerosene lamps were distributed throughout the residence. Also, the cabin had indoor plumbing. A heavy duty pump sent fresh water from the lake to the interior appliances. They would not want for amenities and comforts. And on top of all of that, the view was absolutely spectacular.

His thoughts were abruptly terminated by a hard tug on his line. Something had hit his lure. Instinctively, Lucan set the hook and commenced to play the fish. The clutch on the reel had been adjusted this morning before he had exited the cabin. It was set loose enough to allow the fish to pull some line out without breaking it and tight enough to permit the fisherman to gain ground in retrieving his catch. The first fish of the day was a fair size and gave Lucan a good fight. He held his rod high in order to maximize his efforts. Within twenty minutes the fish grew weary and resistance slackened noticeably. Methodically, the experienced fisherman reeled in his catch. When the fish was near the dock, Lucan hung onto the pole with his right hand while his left hand grabbed the nearby net. He bent down on one knee and netted the pickerel in the water. The fish was about four pounds. It would easily feed two hungry people.

Lucan had to catch one more to satisfy the needs of four individuals. Having put the pickerel on his stringer and back in the water, the tall Irishman checked his lure and cast anew. Due to the fog, he still could not see where his lure was hitting the water. Three casts later, Lucan hooked another pickerel. This one was roughly one pound smaller then the previous one, but the two fillets would easily gratify two more friends. He had enough for breakfast and it was time to return to the warmth of the cabin. Lucan did not expect the weather to be so cold at this time of year. He should have worn warmer clothing.

With the advent of the day, the mist was staring to thin and to lift. Prior to leaving, Lucan looked across the inlet to the second floating dock where his plane was tied down. On the opposite side of the dock a motor boat was anchored. It was a twenty-five foot Crestliner with a powerful inboard engine. The vessel was simply awesome for getting away and touring. However, it was completely useless for the task of trolling for fish. Bill, despite his marksmanship, had never been much of an outdoors person. Fishing and hunting were just not his bag. Mary and Allen also did not overly care for these recreational activities. Lucan was the only one among them who was a passionate hunter and fisherman.

Half way up the dock, Lucan had a thought to fillet the pickerel there and thus keep the mess out of the cabin. He decided to follow his intuition. Kneeling down, he retrieved his knife from his tackle box and in the space of a few minutes had four nice fillets on the dock. The entails, skin, fins and heads were tossed back into the water. Lucan looked all around, attentively scanning his environment. The terrain was rocky and the vegetation was sparse. He started to wonder just how far north he had flown.

The heat, emanating from within the cabin, hit Lucan as soon as he opened the door. Mary flashed him a smile while he stepped across the threshold. After all these years, she still took his breath away. Those sparkling emerald eyes and that long red hair reflected her fiery disposition. Lucan had always felt her warmth and sincere love. Why he had ever left her became a troubling thought – all those wasted years. However, those terrible times were over now. They were together in the present moment and that was all that mattered.

Mary had risen with Lucan and had managed to manipulate the wood stove into blazing at a comfortable level. The coffee was ready. Toast and a pot full of potatoes were in the making. A heated frying pan already had a pool of melted butter. All Lucan had to do was simply add the fillets and pepper them. Bill and Allen were still upstairs, presumably sleeping. This had all the appearance of a typical Irish breakfast – fish, tatters and buttered toast. The sole disparity consisted of coffee being substituted for tea. The smell of fish frying soon brought Allen and Bill scrambling into the kitchen. To say the least, breakfast was grand. After the usual morning greetings, everyone ate in silence and gratitude. After the second cup of coffee, the conversations commenced. Lucan initiated the first topic.

Well, Bill. Where the hell are we?

You should know, Lucan. You flew us here., replied the host.

Yeah, I did, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was just following your directions., responded Lucan.

Well, let’s just say that this is probably the furthest north that any of you have ever been. But, not to worry. We won’t be here long. We’ll be gone before the first snowfall., stated Bill.

That’s too bad. I was kinda looking forward to spending the autumn here. The fishing is great. What about the hunting? Are there any deer up here to hunt? Venison is still the best meat that money can’t buy., inquired Lucan.

Well, I don’t know about that. The fish that you caught this morning were pretty tasty., interjected Allen.

Nope. We’re way to far north for deer., answered Bill in response to Lucan’s query, while pouring himself another cup of coffee.

How about moose?, asked Lucan, receiving the coffee pot from Bill and pouring himself and Mary the last of the brew.

Nope. Still too far north. Lucan, my friend, you are just going to have to acquire a whole new skill set and learn how to hunt caribou. There are lots of them around. And, from what I hear, they are delicious. Some say that they even taste better than deer., commented Bill as a grin crept across his face.

I doubt that. Nothing tastes better than venison., defended Lucan, replacing the now empty coffee pot to the pad located at the center of the table.

Everyone chuckled. Bill reached into a nearby drawer and retrieved four cell phones. There were five identical communication devices neatly laid out in a row. The fifth phone had been for Neil. However, since Neil had been shot and killed a few days ago, his phone remained in the drawer. Bill handed out the other Apple iphones to his gathered friends.

"Here you go. This is how we will stay in touch. This is more than just