Ganglands: Russia: Russia by Ross Kemp Read Free Book Online Page A

monastery’s antechambers to find the Englishman reading a history book on Josef Stalin, his feet propped up on the table by a laptop.
    ‘Have a seat,’ he said breezily, snapping the book shut. ‘I was just doing some background reading.’
    ‘You interested in communism?’ Alexei asked.
    ‘A little,’ Madison replied.‘How about you?Ever find yourself hankering for the good old days of the Cold War?’
    Alexei shrugged.‘Before my time,’ he said. ‘Politicians are all the same, anyway.Whoever’s in charge, they only care about lining their own pockets.’
    ‘You may have a point there,’ Madison said wryly.‘I can’t help but wonder whether you’d have such a problem with neo-Nazi gangs in the old days, though.When your country was still the Soviet Union, internal travel restrictions meant that immigration could be kept under tightercontrol.These days, it’s a lot easier for a poor man in the former Soviet republics – in Chechnya, say, or Tajikistan, or Azerbaijan – to come to Moscow in hope of getting a better-paid job in the big city.Problem is, that spawns the kind of discontent that the Moscow Eagles thrive on.’ He blew out his cheeks. ‘You know, Alexei, we’ve studied gangs all around the world.Ninety per cent of the time, gangs get new members for the same reasons: people want respect or protection, or think it’s the only way they can make money.In some of the hellholes I’ve visited, you can almost understand them.The 88s aren’t like that.The only thing they’ve got in common, the only glue that binds them, is racial hatred.Every foreigner is a “black” to them, every “black” is inferior.Street riots and punishment beatings are their stock in trade.In conclusion: the quicker we can shut them down the better.’
    Calling up a virtual map of Moscow on a laptop, the Englishman zoomed in on a building off Komsomolskaya Square – a rundown area in the north-east of the capital.
    ‘Now, this is the dragon’s lair,’ Madison explained. ‘It’s a gym run by the Eagles.We’ll take you there tomorrow morning. Remember: first impressions count for a lot around these guys.It’s not just about skinheads and tattoos; it’s about attitude.Don’t think – don’t doubt.I know we’re asking a lot of you.But if you complete this mission, it’ll be worth it.Never forget that.’
    Alexei nodded.‘I won’t.’
    ‘Good lad,’ said Madison.‘I’m sorry we don’t havemore time to get you ready.This might help make up for it, though.’
    The Englishman pressed a tiny metallic disc several millimetres in diameter into Alexei’s palm.Alexei turned it over in his hand.
    ‘What’s this?’
    ‘This, my friend, is the height of miniaturized technology. It’s a bug.Not only will it record everything it picks up with superb sound quality, but you can even phone it and listen in live over your mobile.It’s quad band, so you could call from the Amazon jungle and it’d sound like you’re in the same room.If you can find somewhere to plant it around the Eagles, we’ll hear exactly what they’re saying in private.This is a bloody high-tech piece of kit – so for God’s sake don’t drop it down the toilet, or something stupid like that.’
    For the first time in what felt like an age, Alexei smiled. ‘I’ll do my best,’ he said, slipping the disc into the pocket of his wallet.
    That evening, he insisted on being taken back to the hospital.In the stillness of Lena’s room, Alexei felt the doubts temporarily close in over his head, but one glance at the marks of abuse on her face stiffened his resolve.Deep down, he knew that she would have said he was doing the right thing.Knowing Lena, she would probably have wanted to do it herself.Alexei leaned forward and kissed her softly on the forehead.
    ‘I’ll be back soon,’ he whispered.‘I promise.’
    He was driven back to the monastery, which continued to hum with activity through the night.Unable to sleep,Alexei read his