Deep Trouble with You

6 Investigation

It’s a good thing that nowadays there are plenty of modern technologies, and my phone has a card linked to it for cashless payments. We paid the seller and moved further through the park, just walking and chatting.

I’ll deal with that little piece of trash later. She won’t run from me, I’ll dig her out from under the ground if I have to, because my driver’s license and cards were in that accessory. The cards are protected with a solid password, so she won’t be able to do anything with them, but I really don’t want the headache of restoring and replacing them, especially restoring my license and other documents. And punishing that little s**t is simply necessary!

Stuffed with melting sweetness, even Kirill became more sociable and agreeable with my little ones, getting involved in their shared game. But time was mercilessly slipping away, and my brunette had to leave.

Of course, I didn’t forget to exchange phone numbers with her, and I planned to invite the beauty on a real date very soon.

“And now, Daddy, we’re going to buy a Sony PlayStation!” the twins look at me, arms crossed over their chests, pleased and expectant.

“And a doll!” Soli doesn’t stay behind either, frowning demandingly.

“You little…” I squint at this young racketeering crew, shaking my head.

“We’re your partners,” Andry declares with a smart expression. “There was a deal, and we fulfilled our part of the agreement. Now it’s your turn to fulfill your obligations.”

“It seems you spend way too much time at your father’s workplace!” I look at these little geniuses in shock, amazed at their very un-childlike grip.

“Actually we almost never go there,” Egor smiles. “But we visit our grandfather often.”

And how did I not guess that right away. After all, our father is a business shark, worse than all of us put together. He’s raising replacements and worthy heirs from childhood. That’s just the way he is. Among all the Yartsevs, only I am one big disappointment!

No, I know that my father loves me. He loves all of us immensely. But my lifestyle and the independent path I chose never suited him.

Although, if you think about it, I really am pretty messed up in the head. Just take my “dating” website that I created seven years ago. It was and still is a special site where women and girls can choose a man according to their taste and preferences for pleasant intimate entertainment.

That’s actually how I met Vicky. She was one of my clients, because at that time I myself was earning pretty well as one of the call men on my own site.

Ah, that wasn’t a job, it was pure pleasure! True, after the scandal with Kirill and Vicky, I had to step away from business. I no longer go out on calls, but the site still works, bringing me passive income.

And what a scandal there was with my father when he found out how his son was making money! Never in my life had I seen such furious desire in a parent’s eyes to finally whip my ass with a belt!

I’m a difficult person, with my own quirks, and I don’t like dancing to someone else’s tune. That’s probably why I’m still not married. Not that I really want to, of course…

“Alright,” I give in. “You really did work off your part of the deal.”

After visiting a specialized store and spending some time installing the new gadget in Kirill’s living room, the kids began hacking away at games with complete devotion. As for me, I had completely different plans for the evening. So I called Valentina and asked the woman to sit with the kids.

Armed with cash and the charm that’s always with me, I went out to look for that little piece of trash who cleaned me out. And I decided to start with the pizzeria where we collided. Surely they have outdoor surveillance cameras, and I’ll be able to get a better look at that little pest.

As expected, for a decent sum of money, they gladly provided me with the video of our little incident. Taking the recording with me, I went to my office to study it.

And the brat is good! Even on the video it’s practically impossible to see how she screws me over. Almost… Catching a good angle and zooming in, you could still see how her hand was under my jacket. Look at her, soft-pawed little thing! I didn’t even feel a thing!

Finding the best frames, I print out the images with that girl to make the search easier for myself. Taking everything I need, I leave my office and head to that park.

With the coming of evening, the park became even more beautiful. All sorts of lighting turned on, illuminating the decorations and the open kiosks. There were more people now, because besides those walking with children, older people and couples in love came out for evening strolls. I should invite Ann for such an evening promenade sometime… Right, focus!

I approach the nearest kiosk and ask the saleswoman, showing her the photo of the girl, whether she knows her. But she only shakes her head negatively, leaving me with nothing. Similar failures await me at the next kiosks as well.

What the hell is this?! After walking around the entire park, no one gives me any information, driving me into anger and irritation.

Leaving the park from a completely different side than its entrance, I run my hand through my hair, growling. Little pest!

I see that across the road from the park there’s another kiosk, so I head there.

“Oh, I know that girl,” the girl in a kitchen apron smiles at me cautiously. “She’s here often.”

“You don’t say?” I twist my mouth sarcastically, because it’s obvious the saleswoman is flustered by my presence and unconsciously trying to please me. “Then why did no one in the park recognize her?”

“Well, during the day only one or two kiosks in the park are open, and by evening the sellers change and the rest of the kiosks open,” the girl enlightens me mockingly, scanning me from head to toe. “And the girl often comes here during the day.”

“And you probably don’t know her name, address, or parents?” I ask hopelessly.

“No,” the saleswoman presses her lips together. “But judging by everything, she’s a street kid. There’s a whole gang of them here. I don’t know any detailed information about her.”

Well, at least I got some kind of information. Thanking the girl with a generous bill, I go to my car, planning to wait here a bit and watch, maybe she’ll show up.

But after sitting in the car for about two hours, luck still didn’t smile on me, and because of that I returned to Kirill’s house. The kids were still hacking away at the console, loudly and emotionally shouting over each other.

“You shouldn’t have bought them that console,” the former nanny of the little ones looks at me reproachfully. “They’ve been like they’re on energy drinks all evening, yelling at each other from excitement.”

“I wouldn’t have bought it either, but… I lost a bet to them,” I come up with an excuse for Valentina on the spot.

The woman only shakes her head and we say goodbye. I barely managed to tear the little ones away from the Sony, sending them to bathe and sleep. That’s enough for them today, and for me too.

The next day, without any shame, I dumped the kids on my father. Their faces were angry and dissatisfied, because that meant they wouldn’t be playing the console today.

I arrive at yesterday’s observation spot and sit there, waiting for at least something that might help me in my search.

And how surprised I was when I saw a familiar filthy sweater and a blond crown of a head among several rough-looking kids.

Well, well… looks like you’re caught now, you little bastard!