Searching for Stolen Love Page 13

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  Jasmin slipped his jacket on and headed out the door.

  As he stepped onto the fresh snow, his right boot exploded as his toes poked through the gaping hole, like a tongue sticking out of a mouth.

  He returned to the kitchen, grabbed a roll of duct tape, and quickly wrapped his boot with three coils of duct tape. His toes were snuggly tucked into the ancient boot. He mumbled smugly to himself, “I should get at least another year out of these old boots.”

  Then he headed for the door.

  Jasmin glanced at the clock, 6:45, and he wanted to be at the chemist's place by seven. He must make sure the chemist produced more products for the consumers. He wanted to keep Damir happy, and keep the money machine running at full capacity.

  Jasmin climbed into the big silver sedan and headed over to the chemist's place.

  Jasmin pulled into the driveway, and he could see coal smoke bellowing out of the chimney while a layer of fresh snow covered everything.

  Jasmin scanned the front door and then the yard surrounding the place. He examined the area's foot traffic, a habit he picked up from the Bosnian War. He opened the car door and climbed out. He knew the snowdrifts were good at erasing evidence and traces of footsteps, so he placed his hand on top the gun handle.

  Jasmin quickly approached the front door. His heavy boots crunched the soft snow beneath his feet while his right boot would slip in the snow from the layer of duct tape.

  Pounding on the door, Jasmin yelled, “Boris, are you there?”

  After several minutes, Jasmin banged on the door again.

  Then the large deadbolt clanked as someone pulled it back. The door sprang opened with Boris holding the doorknob.

  “Good morning Boris.”

  “Good morning Jasmin. Come on in!”

  Jasmin entered the house and quickly shut the door. He smelled the remnants of brewed coffee and a homemade chevapi as his stomach began growling.

  Boris hobbled up the stairs into the living room while Jasmin followed him.

  Boris pointed at the empty chair and said, “Please have a seat.”

  Boris hobbled to the table and pointed at the ecstasy that he packaged into five small packets and said, “I made the ecstasy here. Each packet contains a thousand tiny white tablets.”

  Jasmin replied, “Good, the boss will be extremely happy.”

  Jasmin's grumbling stomach interrupted the conversation, and he added, “Did you make a chevapi for breakfast?

  “Yes, would you like me to make you one?”

  “Yes, that’ll be great.”

  Then Boris returned to the kitchen, and he made rattling sounds as he moved large pots and pans around.

  Jasmin leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach as his stomach purred in anticipation.