60: Thin Ice

The flight concluded without any delays or abnormalities. They had reached their destination. It took a while for the plane to get in a suitable position to let the passengers out. Aaron and company were fully charged after the long awaited unbroken slumber. They ditched the plane. Security personnel approached them for some inspection and waved them through as soon as they saw Michael Rosenberg leading the pack. They headed out of the airfield and were received by a black Mercedes sedan that Mike had ordered. The chauffeur ran out of the car and greeted Mike. He was looking for bags and suitcases to relieve him of. There weren’t any. He awkwardly ran back to the car and opened the door for him. They all boarded the vehicle. Mike asked the driver to drive them to a specific address. The chauffeur accepted and drove to the address dutifully. When they reached the spot, they realized that the place was the headquarters of one of the smaller companies owned by Michael. The car slowed to a halt and Mike paid a hefty tip to the chauffeur who left the scene almost dancing. Aaron didn't know what the building was to Mike. The watchman didn't seem to recognize Mike, probably because Mike visited the site very rarely. Mike made a call to the General Manager of the company. In a matter of seconds, the GM came out of the office running. He was a man in his late forties with a head full of gray hair. By the time he reached the main gate, he was huffing and panting. He ordered the watchmen to let them in.
The GM himself was only seeing his boss for the second time in his life. He tried to start some small talk but Mike was in no mood. The guy was getting on Boris’s nerves. He was the perfect example for a boot licker. When they were just at the glass door of the building Mike stopped walking. The GM looked at him, scared that he had pissed off the big guy.

“How’s my car?”, Mike abruptly asked. It took a moment for the question to register in the GM’s brain. But as soon as he did, he responded excitedly.

“It’s doing great, Sir!”, the GM responded and gawked at Mike, expecting a pat in the back. He would have deserved it if Mike wasn't paying him a fortune to keep the vehicle in perfect condition.

“Can you have someone fetch it for me?”, Mike requested and the GM ran like his life depended on it. He quickly fetched the car and handed the keys to Mike. The car was significantly better than the one they had arrived in. Aaron, Sophie and Boris found their seats. Mike took the keys without speaking one unnecessary word to the man. They drove out of the establishment.

Everyone knew where they were headed. The mansion of the Hudsons was no secret. The man was a celebrity. Only a handful of people knew the reality of the so-called plain and honest businessman. Nobody in the car dared to speak one word. Aaron was still trying to come up with a plan if Mrs. Hudson turned out to be similar. He would have no answer if she came for his blood as well. Boris was thinking the same thing. There was no way that Rick would leave his wife without any security. Afterall, she was the only family he had left. Boris decided to think about their plans after they reached the mansion. The car finally reached the mansion. Mike slowly drove past the estate to get a look at things. He dreaded the mansion after his run in with Rick Hudson. But the mansion looked gloomier than he remembered. It looked like a haunted house. He drove around the block and parked the car behind the house, obscured by the tall hedges. He asked the party to ‘act natural’ as they walked to the main gate. A security official wearing a black suit and black Ray Bans, asked their name and purpose for the visit. Aaron, Sophie and Boris stood there like fish out of the sea. Mike had already figured it out.

“Hello there! I’m an old friend of Mr. Hudson’s. I was passing through the city for business and thought that I should pay him a visit”, Mike excitedly spoke to the guard. Aaron was baffled by how believable Mike had sounded. It was as if he had rehearsed those lines over and over on his way to the mansion. Mike almost barfed when he had to call himself a friend of that monster. The guard bought it.

“Mr. Hudson is out of town”, the guard responded. Mike displayed some disappointment.

“Well I guess Mrs. Hudson will do then”, Mike said and proceeded to walk through the gate. The guard didn't stop them but walked with them. He spoke on his radio and announced that they were Mr. Hudson’s guests.

“You’re gonna have to wait though. Mrs. Hudson won’t be home for a couple of hours”, the guard revealed as they walked towards the mansion. The visitors stopped in their tracks. “She’s at the exotic flowers exhibition across town”, he added. Mike quickly planned on his feet and came up with a line of action.

“Even better! We’ll surprise her there”, Mike announced, sounding ecstatic, and started to walk back outside. The guard didn't seem to mind. “It was a real pleasure meeting you, young man!”, Mike said farewell to the guard. They walked back to the car.

“The exhibition? Any idea where it is?”, Aaron asked Boris. Boris nodded in affirmation.

“Yeah. It’s an annual shitshow to swindle the spoiled wives of rich men through over priced flowers. It’s nearby”, Boris told and started directing Mike to a famous auditorium that hosted a lot of exhibitions over the years including the ones where the presidents were invited as chief guests. It was a short drive from the mansion. Mike kept cursing himself for pulling the enemy’s family into the war just like he was. He comforted himself in telling his conscience that ‘At least we’re not going to threaten her’.