Page 56 of Savage Roses
Solnishko
Real interesting.
The contact I’m supposed to find in Stefania’s phone. I tuck the photo into my wallet for future study and return the photo albums to a wall shelf in my office.
That’s next on the agenda—tracking down whoever the fuckSolnishkois. It means ‘sunshine’ in Russian… so was Stefania’s lover her Russian sunshine? That seems off, but why else would she have that scribbled on the back of her photograph?
I intend on finding out.
* * *
“Psycho, you asked to see me?” Stitches crosses the club dance floor and drops into the booth I’m reclining in. “Why’re you down here?”
I hold up my whiskey highball. “Waiting on you. Want a drink? I had Linq come in early.”
He tosses a glance over his shoulder toward the bar area, where Linq wipes down the counter.
“I’ve still got bleeding gums from that beatdown. I’ll pass.”
“How’s the black eye feeling?”
It’s a real shiner. The guards at the Neptune Society’s party weren’t messing around. Mr. Thomas must’ve really told them to fuck Stitches up.
But it’s alright. Because tomorrow night, on his way home from his company, Mr. Thomas will get a taste of his own medicine. Fabio and a couple more guys will rough him up a little. Make him regret his cheap shot from the night of the party.
Stitches pulls off his wire-framed glasses. “About as shitty as it looks. Why’d you need me?”
“I’ve been thinking about my next few moves. Which means I’ve got tasks for you.”
“For which of our main endeavors?”
“Both.”
Wariness wrinkles his brow. “Alright.”
“I found a photograph of interest in Stefania’s photo album. Her and another man.” I slide it across the table at him. “We need to find out who this is. On the back it saysSolnishko, which means sunshine in Russian.”
“Wasn’t Leandro allies with Kozlov?”
“From what I’ve learned, yes.”
“Maybe this guy’s a relative. Or… it could betheVolchok.”
“That thought crossed my mind too. But the ages don’t match up. Volchok was Lena’s father. Lena’s only a few years younger than Stefania. This man doesn’t seem much older, if at all.”
Stitches shoves his glasses back on and squints at it. “I guess not.”
“Run this through that facial recognition software. See if it can at least get a read on his profile.”
“It usually needs a full face.”
“Give it a shot anyway,” I say. “If we can get his name by this photo, then we might not need Stefania’s phone… which would save us a potential shitshow.”
The wrinkle on Stitches’ brow deepens. “Uh oh. Shitshow?”
“You’re being very negative today. Is it the black eye and bruises? Yes, shitshow. If we don’t figure out who thisSolnishkoguy is, we’ll need to get her phone for his contact info. It’s saved in there. So Florina and Marsia claim.”
“And where’s her phone?”