10: The job is yours

KATHY

I should have been terrified.

Instead I was excited.

This was a blessing in disguise. It was the perfect way to infiltrate his home.

It was easier this way. Maybe this made me a bad detective but I didn't have much of a choice.

I was still a little bit scared because I was about to move into a Mafia boss's Mansion, that was probably filled with armed men that would probably kill me if they found out about me.

He paid for Nana's medical bills and I couldn't say no to his offer, not while Nana was still recovering.

So here I was, standing in front of a massive black gate. Viktor Svyatoslav's estate. My heart was beating a little too fast.

Not because of him.

Definitely not because of him.

Because my undercover job seemed to be coming easier than I'd expected.

The tutoring position solved multiple problems.

I could earn more money.

I would be close to my target.

Gather information and be out of here as soon as I possibly could.

That was simple.

At least that's the plan.

When the mansion came into view I almost lost my footing.

What in the name of Sherlock Holmes.

I had never seen a property this big much less a single house. It looked ridiculously huge and I could already imagine how many times I'd get lost in it.

One of the guards led me inside and the inside was nothing short of expensive and elegant.

Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, painting that cost more than my yearly salary... sheesh!

I had sent my resume about two hours before now just like Viktor had asked me to back at the hospital.

It didn't even take 10 minutes before an email of acceptance was sent to me, with an attachment of the house address.

It felt like he was waiting for me.

A few minutes later I was led into a study expecting to see Viktor. Instead it was an older man that sat behind the desk.

His silver hair was neatly combed back, his posture was perfect and his suit looked more expensive than my whole car.

This place and the people in it screamed wealth.

He glanced up from a file he was holding, sharp green eyes studying me.

"Miss Bishop?"

I nodded.

"Please sit"

I obeyed.

"I'm Yuri. I manage the household"

"You're not..." I caught myself quickly, "I expected to be interviewed by Mr Svyatoslav"

"Mr Svyatoslav does not conduct staff interviews" Yuri said smoothly, "he trusts my judgement on these matters"

I had expected Viktor to handle this personally, I should have been relieved but instead I was strangely disappointed.

For the next 20 minutes he asked questions. Questions about teaching. About literature. About language. About working with children.

I answered everything honestly.

Well...

Mostly honestly.

He eventually closed the file.

"Impressive" Yuri said finally. "Your credentials are excellent, Miss Bishop. The position is yours if you want it"

"I want it" I said smiling.

Me wanting the job would have been great if I didn't want it for all the wrong reasons.

To bring the Russian Mafia down.

"Wonderful" He said, standing up, "let me show you to your room. You'll begin with Anya this evening, once she's finished her studies for the day"

We walked through some parts of the house until we came to a stop at a door.

"Your room"

"Thanks"

He headed for the door, wanting to open it then a strange look crossed his face.

"One piece of advice for you Miss Bishop"

"Yes?" I frowned.

"Curiosity can be dangerous in this house"

And before I could ask what he meant, he walked off.

Somehow, I knew exactly what he meant.

I shrugged it off and turned to look at "my room" and lord, it was big.

I stood in the doorway for a long moment, just taking it in.

I finally walked in and closed the door behind me. I sat on the luxurious soft bed.

I should have unpack. I should have rested, instead I did none. I just waited.

One hour. Two hours.

I slipped out of the room the second the hallway was empty. I should be finding some kind of evidence not sitting around acting like a princess.

That's exactly what a detective would do. That was the whole point of getting into his house in the first place.

I should have waited till I was familiar with the place. Until the people in it were familiar with me.

'What if you get caught and killed'

'Your body would be put in a body bag and thrown into the river'

My conscience was trying to warn me but I ignored all of it.

I started snooping.

The mansion was enormous and the hallways seemed endless.

Eventually I found myself at a large wooden door and my pulse quickened. It looked different from all the other doors I had come across.

It was locked and it didn't use a normal key so there was no way to get in there. There was a smaller door at the side of it, possibly a study.

Maybe Viktor's study?

I opened the door gently and sneaked inside.

A large desk, dark wood, bookshelves. It was surprisingly simple. Nothing too flashy like all the other parts of the mansion.

Nothing to find in here and honestly, it was disappointing.

I moved across the room, opened a drawer. Nothing.

Of course he wouldn't put anything incriminating in the house.

Opened another drawer, nothing.

Another and another and another... still nothing.

Then I noticed a big book on the shelf, slightly opened, it looked like there was something inside.

I started making my way towards that shelf when I suddenly heard a voice behind me.

"Dyadya Vik ne lyubit, kogda lyudi zakhodyat v ego kabinet."