1960 AKRAAN Arms Co. Est. in Russia - Vladek's Father?
1961 Vladek Rostrovich, born - youngest child of 3
1963 Muhammad Rafiq, born - eldest son (younger sister?)
1980-1982 Vladek, UofOregon (no major)
Meets Elizabeth Cole (could have been student? Next of Kin?)
Father and siblings die in car accident (Dec of '82 - Vladek heir)
Aug 3, 1983: James Cole, born. Why not list Vladek on birth certificate?
1983-1988: Vladek and Rafiq - arms dealing, trafficking
Diamonds? 1987 (something happens between here and 1989)
Mar 14, 1989: James Cole, kidnapped from home. (No suspects)
Kidnapped by Rafiq? Why?
Look into Rafiq mother/sister death (revenge motive)
1992-1994: Rafiq, Desert Storm
Stash kid instead of kill? Ransom? Collateral? What the fuck am I missing?
James Cole kept in brothel (Narweh - deceased) Check years 1989-?
Narweh (no known last), death cert? Pakistan? Review Olivia statement for other possible countries.
1997 James Cole (Caleb) 'rescued' by Rafiq
Olivia statement: Caleb seeking revenge for 12 years.
Why would Rafiq come back for boy? "Caleb" age 14
2002 Balk Diamond's goes public
Why the delay 1987-2002? Vladek Rostrovich: reinventing or hiding?
Knows about son? No current offspring. James Cole sole heir?
2009 Olivia Ruiz kidnapped
James Cole "Caleb" deceased?
Balk suddenly interested in slave trade? Motive?
Balk - location unknown. ????????????????
Chapter Twenty-Two
Caleb swirled his scotch in his glass, but didn’t take a drink. His thoughts were with Livvie. Felipe had gone upstairs, despite Caleb’s best efforts to stall him and get there first. Fifteen minutes had passed and he hadn’t heard a gunshot, or any screams. Good news, but his worries were far from dispelled. He wanted his wits about him if things suddenly took a turn for the worse. In many ways, they already had.
Caleb’s mind felt ravaged over how to deal with Rafiq. Their relationship had always been complicated, but it remained the closest Caleb had to family or friendship. Rafiq had been Caleb’s salvation and so many other things over the years…and now he contemplated killing him.
Caleb knew he couldn’t run away with Livvie. Rafiq would hunt them down to the ends of the earth and while Caleb could take care of himself, it was no life for Livvie. She deserved better. He had considered separating himself from her, but he knew if Rafiq couldn’t find Caleb, he would find Livvie again and use her to get to him.
Rafiq deserved his revenge. Livvie deserved to live her life. That left Caleb thinking about what he deserved: nothing. He’d fought so hard to live, to survive, and he didn’t relish the idea of ending it all, but he would…for Livvie, he would. He’d lived a meaningless life that would culminate in him destroying every meaningful relationship he’d ever had. At the very least, he thought, he could have meaning in his death.
“What has you so troubled, Khoya?” Rafiq asked in Arabic, now they were alone. He had sent Jair away once he’d regained consciousness, and Felipe had used the opportunity to excuse himself from the room. Nancy remained, but she seemed unaware of her surroundings as she huddled on the floor and supported Rafiq’s legs on her back.
Caleb gestured toward her with his drink, “Is that really necessary?”
Rafiq smiled, “No, but she’s here, so why not make use of her? Answer my question, what has you so troubled?”
Caleb’s heartbeat accelerated and heat traveled down his spine, but he attempted nonchalance, “Things are moving quickly now. I keep going over things in my mind.”
“Yes, it’s been a long battle. I don’t know which of us has sacrificed more to see Vladek suffer. The auction is only the first step. It will be up to you to earn his trust, but it will be worth it when everything he has belongs to us, even his very life,” Rafiq said. He took another drink of scotch and Caleb noted it was his third.
“Yes,” Caleb replied, but his tone hinted at his unease.
“You’ve been strange these last few months, Caleb. I would have thought you’d be happier to have your vengeance so close at hand,” Rafiq said. He sounded irritated.
“Why can’t I just kill him, Rafiq? I would do it. Gladly and in front of everyone, I would kill him. We’re wealthy men. We don’t need his company, or his money,” Caleb said and instantly regretted it.