2000
Irina is 49
Sunday – March 12, 2000
I saw Katya today in G.U.M. I ran into her at a kiosk. She was picking out a blouse. She looked good. We had not seen each other for a month. SVR sent her to Rome on some sort of financial mission and she was gone that length of time.
“Katusha, when did you get back?” I hugged her.
“Last night.”
“Have dinner with me tonight?” I asked looking at her.
“Time?”
“Nine!” I hugged her again. “Can you bring me an up-date?” I wanted to know how my money was doing.
“I need to tell you...I’ve seen Yelena!” Katya took a step back out of my space. “I saw her at old apartment. She’s rented it.”
“Family hell-hole?” I said.
“Da. She...she looks tired, older...”
“She is older,” I snapped. “I’m sure she didn’t mention me. You didn’t tell her anything?”
“No, of course not.”
“Is she still in town?”
“I doubt it. I’m not sure what she’s been doing, but, of course, now that KGB is gone, she can move around with impunity.”
“We’ll talk later at apartment.” I said. “Don’t forget the up-date.”
We had a good time talking about what had been happening to us. I told her Khasinau and I had moved some of our business dealings to a Hong Kong office. What I didn’t tell her was that my very good contact in Beijing, Ling Soo Ahn, had made some excellent deals for property in the city that now was under the jurisdiction of the Chinese. Good contacts was something I cultivated whenever I could. Sometimes they paid off better than my adventures did.
My money is thriving. Katya is a good manager and she has my money working in several different places: property, bonds, money markets, stock, and a couple of ventures that are long term in pay off, but will be useful when I close in on my 60th. As of this moment Sydney Anne is my beneficiary in everything I own. If I knew where Nadia was or even if she was alive, I’d include her.
Katya’s report is thorough and detailed. It took me four hours to go over it, process by process. I’ve nearly five hundred million in assets, which Katya has managed for me. I certainly didn’t think she’d do that well, but I am pleased.
I wasn’t pleased however, to hear Yelena was around. She made my growing up years a hell before she went to KGB school. Thank goodness for Katya. She sometimes stood between the two of us. I had to take Yelena’s felgercarb until I grew up past her shortness. Then I could run faster and far from her. She was his favorite, the oldest. She knew how to work him, to get what she wanted. Well, he’s gone. Maybe someday I’ll tell her how he died.
***
Tuesday – June 13, 2000
What a surprise! I certainly didn’t expect to be arrested, but today, at work, the police came in the form of Detective Inspector Petr Jankov and his partner, Detective Stephan Braginskiy. They were inquiring about the amount of money I had deposited at the Cial Bank.
“As far as our investigation has gone, we find no work that you do that would enable you to deposit over a million Euros in the bank.”
“I am a businesswoman with many interests.” I said calmly, but smiling.
“What interests?” Jankov asked. “A computer search finds no Derevko anywhere listed.”
I dropped my smile as they were not responding. “I dabble in stock market and make loans.”
“How did you get the money in the first place,” Braginskiy said.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” I said and realized instantly that it was the wrong thing to say.
“Your government wants to know. We have been working case for seveal months now and frankly, you are very interesting person Irina Derevko. You travel all around world and yet you show no means of support. You have no job that we can find. Yes, you worked for KGB, but resigned in 1988. Since then, no job, but you have money and much more than average Muscovite. Explain.”
He didn’t say please which meant trouble.
“I do what I do. I invest and loan.” What else could I say. That I blackmailed, stole and killed for the money.
“That is something we’ve already heard.” Jankov said. His blue eyes were not smiling. He stood six foot two and his hair was black. Braginskiy was younger and shorter with brown hair and eyes.
“Get up,” said Jankov. He took a pair of handcuffs out of his belt.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I said calmly, but did as I was told. Antagonizing the police was not my idea of fun.
“Put your wrists behind your back.” He said.
“What are you arresting me for—having money?” I did as I was told.
He handcuffed me, saying, “For having no reasonable means of support and refusing to assist us in an investigation of a possible black marketeer.”
“I am NOT!” I said vehemently.
“Perhaps, but your reluctance to tell us makes it a possibility.” Both took an arm and propelled me out of the office, past Maria who stared for a moment in consternation.
“Call Khasinau.” I called back to her. Alexander was out on a mission in St. Pete. I expected him back later today. I was fairly sure she could contact him.
The two detectives shoved me into the elevator which took us to the ground floor. Their police car was at the curb waiting with a driver in it. Braginskiy helped me into the back seat and sat with me while Jankov ordered the driver to go to the nearest police station. There, I was put into an interrogation room, not unlike those in Lubyanka, although a bit smaller I thought. They left me sitting, still cuffed, in a rickety straight-back chair.
“Hey, take these cuffs off!” I said as they left. They didn’t turn around.
Both men laughed a little and shut the door. I was alone in a semi-dark room—there were no windows—and cuffed. After ten minutes, I sensed I was being left there to decide whether or not I was going to tell them what they wanted to know. I wasn’t. I closed my eyes and began to meditate. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I leaned back a little to relieve my arms and wrists.
I’m not sure how long I had slept, but I was awakened when the two detectives returned. They were angry, I knew. Ahhh, Alexander had exerted pressure on our special contact inside the police department. He had ordered my release without further questioning. My wrists were freed. I grunted as I moved my shoulder to arm, feeling pain in both areas of both arms. The two men left, not saying anything.
Alexander waited at the front desk. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Let’s go.” Grigor was driving and had the engine running when he saw us. “We are going to make some new arrangements. I did not appreciate the police arresting me.”
“I can have those two detectives taken care of.” Alexander said.
“No. They were just doing their jobs.” I knew it was that damned account at the Bank Cial. “I’m going to move most of my money in Cial.”
“I thought you liked to have a cash cushion?” Alexander looked at me.
“Yes, I do, but if I’m going to be harassed...”
“Get someone in the operations book to back you. How about Mikhail Khodorkovsky? You know him.”
“He’s a friend. We haven’t used anything we have on him yet and I may not have to if he helps me..” It was a good idea, I thought.
“He’s powerful enough to stop the police investigation.”
I nodded. “Hopefully he isn’t out in oilfields.”
“We won’t know until we try,” said Alexander. “Do you want to talk to him?”
“Of course.” I took the phone from him. “Leave, please.”
I punched in the number from my black book as Alexander, none too happy about having to go, and waited as the phone rang at the other end.
Tuesday – October 17, 2000
Sark has returned from Taiwan with news that the laboratory is up and running. I will send a couple of my scientists to run it. I’m flying out tomorrow to oversee the building of a larger Mueller device. Sydney as Sloane’s agent took the small one including the equipment. I’m ambivalent about her role in this matter: proud because she is my daughter and angry that she was successful, causing us to lose valuable time in learning just what the device is supposed to do.
***
SYDNEY
She put down the journal with a sigh. So her mother knew she had stolen the first working model. Given what she had read so far it didn’t surprise her. Mom was not stupid.
Sydney’s memory took her back to the fateful night she raided the laboratory by herself and returned to SD-1 with the model. It had been exciting and by the time she walked into the office with the item under her arm, her adrenalin was racing enough that she felt as though she were walking on air.
***
Thursday – October 19, 2000
I met with my scientists and they showed me some progress. They were going to increase the size by more than a hundred fold. I saw that we did have enough room. The liquid that is in the red ball is water, but something must happen to it when the machine is turned on. No one, however, has any idea what it is supposed to do. I only have Muller’s plans and nothing to tell me its purpose.
I have given the go ahead for the expenditure to build it. I’ll have funds transferred to a bank here in Taipei. They tell me it will take about two to three months or so to have it up and running. They are good men and I’m paying them a bonus if they can get it to work.
***
Monday – November 6, 2000
Sydney has clashed with K-Directorate’s agent, Anna Espinosa again. This time it was Sydney who won. I hear that she got away from Anna after almost being killed. The bullet meant for her was taken by the old clock maker. Something is going on that I do not understand. I’ve got to think about it more.
I have a new agent whom I hired on the recommendation of Sark, who met him just before he left for Taiwan. His name is McKennas Cole and I hired him because he is no friend of Arvin’s. According Cole, Sloane left him and his men high and dry after he sabotaged a pipe line. He was captured and tortured. I knew he had succumbed to the pain and given whatever information he had.
I pulled him out of prison using my connection with the deputy police chief. Cole had knowledge and I needed it. I told him I might have a job for him in the US. I wanted something that Arvin Sloane had. Mention of his name made Cole look triumphant, as though he had already been victorious over Sloane.
Meanwhile Anna Espinosa has flown out of Russia heading to South America. The reason is not clear yet. An informant in Los Angeles whose specific duty is to keep watch over Sydney has notified me that she left LAX for Argentina with her SD-6 partner, Marcus Dixon. I’ve a feeling the two of them are going to clash again, but where I do not know.
Thursday – November 16, 2000
Anna Espinosa has returned with an intriguing package. My man in K-Directorate has indicated it is a large manuscript by the old scientist, Milo Rambaldi. I’ve heard from my mole that there is a blank page in the manuscript, page 47. I wonder...The vial of Rambaldi liquid...perhaps its use is connected to the blank page. I’m going to send Cole to retrieve it from Sloane’s vault.
I’m also going to send Sark back to destroy FTL. However not until after the new year.
***
Wednesday - December 13, 2000
We’re having a mild winter. There doesn’t seem to be any snow left from the storm we had in November. It has rained though.
Sark has instructions and is on his way to meet with Ivankov and his lieutenant. This time I instructed him to tell Ivankov that it was The Man who wanted to talk with him, but that when he arrived he was to say that he was my representative. He is to offer Ivankov a hundred thousand dollars for the manuscript. I know Ivankov. He’ll decline. Sark has some cash with him to pay one of Ivankov’s bodyguards to turn on him.
I’m concerned about SD-6 because they have been close on our heels whenever we make a move. I am beginning to wonder who is selling information. Khasinau is one. He might be trying to move in on The Man. He is not happy that I won’t involve us in drugs. He is a fool. He is paid extremely well as are all my employees. Alexander is probably the only one who is not comfortable with me as the head of my organization.
I may have to do something about it and...soon.
***
2001
Irina is 50
Monday – January 8, 2001
Sark did call about the death of the FTL leader, who was gunned down in Taipei. He seems to think that the organization will be disorganized and eventually disband. I have contacted Ling Soo Ahn to recover all of their Rambaldi artifacts and send them to me.
McKennas Cole was sent to Los Angeles yesterday to invade and take down SD-6. I want the liquid in the bottle that evidently resides in his vault. He is to use any means that he can to get the vial. I’m sure it will reveal what is on that page. Cole has put together a group of mercenaries to help him. He’s promised he’ll get the vial.
***
Tuesday – January 9, 2001
Cole’s crew has been defeated. He didn’t return and I’ve heard nothing. I’m guessing he was over-confident. I need that vial when Sark returns with the manuscript. The meeting is set for 20 days from now.
***
Monday – January 29, 2001
The meeting is set up for tonight at the Petrovoskiy building between The Man and Ivankov of K-Directorate. Sark is on his way with complete instructions on how to handle the matter. He is to call as soon as it is over.
Later: Sark called. Ilyich Ivankov is dead and the new leader of K-Directorate is Lavro Kessar, who is a weakling. He accepted the offer and said he would sell the manuscript for the money offered. Sark set up a meeting to pick it up in Tunisia where Ivankov had hidden it when Anna brought it back.
***
Friday – February 2, 2001
Sark went to Tunisia to the Golfe de Gabes. The manuscript supposedly was attached to the wrist of one of their most trusted lieutenants who was on a K-Directorate yacht. He took two more of my men so he could not be surprised by the K-Directorate. I don’t think anything will happen. They are in flux now, just as the FTL was. They will either make it or not. My guess is they won’t.
Khasinau is in Rio de Janiero contacting a man who we will be adding to our roster of informants. Hopefully I’ll have the manuscript when he gets back.
Saturday – February 3, 2001
Son of a bitch! Sark didn’t get the manuscript. Someone beat him to it. He said he stood on the dock waiting for them to come to him. Instead, he says, the boat took off leaving him flat-footed with no way to follow. He had no idea who double-crossed us.
“You’re sure you didn’t see anyone?”
“No, Irina, the boat just left and headed out to sea.”
“Could you follow?” I wanted to throw something at him, but he was thousands of miles away.
“No! There were no boats at the dock and no one responded when I offered money. We were stuck.”
“Any idea who it was?”
I visualized him shaking his head. “None,” he responded. “How did anyone find out that we were coming for that manuscript?”
“I don’t know,” I said, sighing. “Very well. Come back. I’ll see you in a couple of days.” I hung up and turned to look out the window. I had an idea it might have been SD-6 or any of the other SDs. I swung around and reached for my cell. I needed intel and soon.
***
Monday – February 5, 2001
Both Sark and Khasinau have returned. No manuscript is irritating. I had a temper tantrum as Mama would say like those I had when I was young. Sydney had two or three herself, trying to see how far she could test me. She did not get her way. Mama was stern also. I did not get my way either.
I had a huge headache when I was finished throwing things at Alexander. I used the intercom to ask Galina to come to the office.
“What’s wrong,” she asked entering and shutting the door.
“My head aches. I need you.” I was slumped in my chair, watching her approach through the pottery shards and glass.
“My, my, you do have a temper. What happened?” She walked up behind me and started massaging my shoulders and neck. Moy boje, it felt good.
“They didn’t get the manuscript!” I moaned in pleasure of her strong fingers and hands massaging my body,
“Who did?”
“They don’t know. I don’t know.” I felt my voice rising as anger rose with it.
Galina pulled me around in the chair. “Stop! Don’t say another word. You can tell me later. Relax so I can make the pain go away.” She turned the chair back and began again.
Thirty minutes later, she had worked her magic. My roaring headache was but a murmur. “Can I see you tomorrow night,” she asked. “My brother is in town and we’re having dinner together.”
“Of course. Now go back to your work and thank you.” I smiled.
*
SYDNEY AND ISABELLE
Mother and daughter were in the market, picking up something for dinner. Iz was riding in the basket, her back to the items Sydney was placing in it. She was curious, looking around for items to help her mother buy. Sydney was checking her list. She was almost done.
“Mommy, mommy buy that!” Iz was pointing at a package of Doubt Stuft Oreos.
“No, Iz that’s not on my list.”
“No, no,” Iz screamed. “I want that!!’ Then she kicked her legs, striking Sydney on her pregnant tummy.
Sydney gasped; then she turned the basket around heading for the front of the store. Isabelle was screaming and kicking. At the end of the aisle, Sydney lifted her purse onto her arm and then pulled Isabelle out of the basket and headed for the front door. People were staring, but they were not upset understanding what was happening, at least those who were mothers.
Isabelle was crying, but hiccupping too, as she tried to stop, realizing they were outside the store and heading for the car. Sydney dropped her into the car seat, tightened her in and walked to the driver’s side.
Minutes later she had Iz out of her seat and down on the ground, walking her toward the house. Inside, she tossed her purse on the sink and gripping Isabelle’s hand, marched her down the hall to the stairs and up to her room.
“That was the worst thing you’ve ever done, young lady. You will stay in bed in this room until I say you can leave. You get nothing to eat tonight. No television. You will sit there and think about what you did. If I hear one peep out of you, before I say you can talk, you will stay in your room all day tomorrow.” Sydney dumped her on her bed. “Remember, not one word!”
She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment. A memory flood back into her mind and she realized she had done to Isabelle exactly what her mother did to her when she had a temper tantrum. She laughed, realizing she was like her mother so much, especially when it came to raising her daughter.
Reading the journals were providing her with so much insight about Irina. Sydney had had a problem with her temper when she was young, but ‘Laura’ had taught her that it wasn’t really worth the punishment.
*
Tuesday – February 6, 2000
My contact in Los Angeles informed me this morning that it was Sydney who had taken the manuscript back to Sloane. Damn, Damn, she is becoming a pest. If I tell Khasinau, he’ll want me to do something about her. I’m not about to order her killed. I didn’t get a chance to look at it either and Arvin will be able to see it all.
I’ve sent Khasinau to buy two super-computers which are capable of five hundred million calcuations per second. Its purpose to simulate theoretical design. Maybe, just maybe, it will be able to simulate what Rambaldi’s ultimate project was. They are costing us $250 million cash, but I need that simulation. It could move me closer to the answer to Rambaldi’s quest.
Later: I ate dinner at eight, earlier than I usually do. Galina was coming over and I anticipated she’d have dinner with her brother again. I was staring out the window, sipping an iced vodka. I was contemplating Sydney and what to do with her. She and I were on a collision course and at any moment we would meet. We were on opposite sides, but still—she was my daughter, my flesh and blood.
There was a knock. I finished my drink and walked to the door, to let Galina in. “You look good,” I said.
She said nothing but kissed me hard. “Are you feeling better than you were yesterday?”
“I’m in a better mood, Galenka,” I answered smiling.
“Good, because I’m going to make you scream your head off.” She pulled me tight to her and kissed me with such passion that I responded, my heart pounding.
I took a step back and stared. There was a bulge in her pants. I’d felt it when she kissed me. “What…is…that?”
“Let’s go to bed and I’ll show you.” She pulled me to my bedroom.
She undressed me as always and took her time. She ran her hands over my body, caressing my back, buttocks and thighs as she pulled down my pants. Galina is smaller by three inches, but strong. She moved around to the front of me and gently stripped my bikini panties down to the floor. I stood silent and still as she kissed the dark patch between my legs. Her tongue caressed my clit making it shiver in anticipation.
“Into bed,” she said pushing me.
I dropped down onto the sheet, watching her remove her blouse and bra. Her skin was smooth and her breasts deliciously small. My eyes moved down to that bulge in her pants and then back up to her face. “Are you going to show me?” I whispered.
She smiled. “Moya milochka, I am going to show you more than you expect tonight.” She pulled off her boots and socks, then unbuckled her belt, letting her pants slide down to the floor. She was wearing men’s jocket shorts and there was a large bulge in the front where a man’s penis would be cupped. Before I could object, she turned off the light on my night stand, leaving us in the dark.
“Galenka, sweetheart, what are you doing?” My heart gave a little leap.
“My dear one, I am going to give you something back that you lost…in Kashmir. I know you do not love me as I love you, but I want you to have your life back. Perhaps someday you will find someone you can give your love too. Now hush. Let me do what I do best…frackin you until you scream.”
“Seychas…” I couldn’t say anymore because she put her hand over my mouth.
“Shhh, don’t talk, just feel.”
Galina let her lips do the talking, softly moving them from left to right, down my jaw to my neck, just under my ear. That was one of my erotic spots. After licking and kissing me there, she moved back to my mouth, thrusting her tongue deep several times, simulating a frack; then she moved it around in my mouth, prying into every nook and cranny she could fine. I could hardly breathe and a soft cry gurgled up from my throat as I felt my emotions take over.
She moved to my throat under my chin, kissing and licking. Both hands were working at my breasts, almost in a ryhthmic pace to her kisses. She then sucked on my right breast, taking as much of it as she could.
“Oh boje,” I whispered, feeling the core of me heating up.
“Tasty,” she whispered and moved to the left one, repeating the same activity as on the right.
I was breathing heavy and could feel my juices rolling up to my labia. I was wet, very wet already and I knew she was going to do more. She did.
Galina’s mouth moved down my center, plastering my chest and abdomen with soft, wet kisses. She added a moan or two as she was affected too by her actions.
”Umolyayu,” I whispered begging.
She didn’t respond, but kept her mouth busy working its way to the dark patch. Her hands were stroking my thighs. She was kneeling now and moved her mouth to the inside of my right thigh, licking and kissing it.
I groaned.
“Skoro, moya milochka, skoro.” She said moving from my right thigh to my left. I thought I would go crazy. I wanted her inside me, because I was ready...oh so ready.
“Seychas, umolyayu.”
A minute later, I heard her say, “Spread your legs.” I did so and felt her hands moving over my core. “You are very, very wet,” she whispered.
Then I felt her inside me, shoving hard and sliding in with ease. I gasped. That was not fingers or a hand, it was something…something like a penis. However I had no time to ruminate on that as my cunt was responding to her thrusts. Galina began to go faster as I was running up a mountain of white hot fire as fast as I could go. I was breathing as hard as I would in an all flat-out run up a hill.
I screamed as my orgasm hit sending me crashing into an emotion of fire fueled by Galina’s almost non-stop thrusts. I peaked again, screamed, and fell twice as hard as I did the first time. She fell on top of me, sweat on her face and body. I felt it as I took her face between my hands, kissing her. My legs gripped her thighs, holding her down and in me. I didn’t want to let her go. She had to stay there deep inside.
My arms hugged her to me. I felt so many emotions. She was deep inside the lips of my labia which was still wet with my cum. I tried to feel what it was inside me. I knew she had not grown a penis. It was something else and whatever it was, it had not shriveled up. It was hard and able to do it again immediately if its owner was able and willing.
“You want more, moya dorogaya devushka?” She whispered.
“Da!” My entire body responded with a delicious shudder. “I want to see!” I reached over and turned on my lamp. “Take it out.” I opened my legs and Galina pulled her instrument of pleasure out for me to see. “Moy boje,” I said.
“We call it a dildo.” She rolled across me and stood. I pushed myself up a little. She moved to me. It was slick with my juices. I took it in my hand and felt along the shaft which was a good eight inches. Hanging at the other end was two soft like balls of latex. I touched them. “What is in them?”
“I’m not sure, but tell me do they feel real?” She moved closer. I cuddled them in my hands and nodded slowly. “You had a screaming orgasm. Did this bring terror to your heart and mind?”
“Nyet,” I said softly, “only pleasure.” Perhaps she was right, I needed this to bring me back. I would soon see when I went to sleep, but first...
Galina smiled. “Would you like to try something a little different?”
“What?”
“You be the one on top.”
I was still wet and so she dropped onto the bed where I’d been, as I straddled her over her abdomen. “Slide back,” she said.
I knew what to do. Jack and I had made love in this manner many times. I felt for the magic penis and fed it into my cunt. I was on my knees facing her with it in me. I moved down until my entire core was filled with the dildo. I could even feel the latex balls move into my labia until they were very nearly swallowed. Their presence gave me pleasure I hadn’t anticipated.
Groaning, I lifted myself up and back down, slowly increasing the speed and slowly feeling the beginning of my ride up to the peak. Galina was playing with my tits, tweaking the nipples both at once and watching me with delight. I gasped as the first small spasm warned me I was getting close.
Galina sat up, but leaned back on her elbows watching me and grinning. Then she began to slowly move her hips and lower back swiveling the hard penis in a circular motion. That increased the heat in my core to the point I wanted it to happen, but still held back until I couldn’t take it any longer.
I lifted myself up and screamed, plunging down hard to trigger the orgasm. I heaved trying to get up, but I couldn’t as Galina kept moving the penis inside me. I screamed again and again. My brain felt as though it was on fire and then it was numb while the rest of my body shuddered with orgasm after orgasm, each one a little less than before. I didn’t know if I would ever stop and pleasure became pain. I gasped and lifted myself off and to one side my body heaving. I wanted to curl up and not move.
Galina leaned over me and kissed me softly. “Ya tebya lyublyu, moya osobennaya.” She had tears in her eyes.
“What is wrong, Galenka?”
“I wish you had what you really want.” She said.
I leaned up on my right arm, looking at her. Now her face was bathed in tears. “I—I don’t understand. I have what I want.”
She shook her head. “I hope you have no more nightmares...and I hope you find him again someday.”
Now I was puzzled. What was she talking about...well, the nightmares... “I feel good, but I don’t know whether the bad dreams will disappear or not. As for the other, I’m not sure I know who he is.”
“Yes, you do. Twice while I’ve made love to you, you have called for him.”
“What?”
“Twice now, at the peak of your orgasms, you have said, ‘Jack’”
I sank back onto the pillow, my mind whirling. Jack! I called his name? That was impossible. I couldn’t have. “You—you must have heard me wrong.” I said.
Now she rose up on her left arm and stared at me. “No, moya dorogaya devushka, I heard it perfectly. Jack!! Who is he?”
I sighed. I was confused. This was the first time she’d ever mentioned this to me. “He was my husband in America.’
She stared. “Your husband still?”
“I betrayed him and my daughter when I was extracted. He has divorced me by now if he knows I’m alive.”
“You still have feelings for him.” She said softly, running her finger along my jaw line. “I could hear it in your voice. He must be very good man.”
“Yes, I guess he was.” I looked up at her. “Galenka, I care for you very much. You have helped me stay sane when there were times I wanted to just...just go on a rampage. The things that happened to me in Kashmir are sometimes hard to forget. You seem to know when I am close to the edge of hell.”
Galina leaned over and kissed me softly. “I wish I could be him and have your love. Do you think he still loves you?”
I shook my head. “No. It has been too many years and there were too many betrayals. I’m sure he found out when the FBI paid him a call.” I yawned. “I’m tired. Stay the night with me and tell me if I had nightmares.” I pulled her head down and kissed her gently; then turned over and fell asleep.
RUSSIAN TRANSLATION
Soon – skoro
Now – seychas
Good - horosho
moya dorogaya devushka – my dear one
moya milochka – my darling
Umolyayu – please (I beg)`
Ya tebya lyublyu – I love you
Moya osobennaya – my special one
Moy boje – my god
Wednesday – February 7, 2001
Galina was gone when I awoke this morning. I felt refreshed and eager for the new day. I showered, dressed and fixed me some breakfast: eggs, toast and tea. I was just finishing my last piece of toast when my cell rang.
“Yes,” I said.
“Irina, it’s me.” It was Galina. “I think you’re being watched.”
“What? How do you know?”
“I left this morning about six and saw a car across the street. Two men were in it. They didn’t follow me.”
“Why do you think they’re watching me?”
“I think they may be Khasinau’s men. I’ve seen him with them just yesterday.”
“Govno.” I walked to the window with my cell to my ear. Standing back so they could not see me, I looked out. Yes, there was a car and there were two men inside. A chill went up my spine as I tried to figure out why.
“Is he in his office?” I asked.
“Not yet.” Galina responded. “Do you think he suspects us...?”
“I don’t know, but thank you for telling me. We can’t see one another for a while. You understand.”
“Da,” and she hung up.
I called Grigor to tell him to pick me up in the courtyard. When I was in the back seat I informed him that I thought I was being followed.
“I want to know who they are and why they are following me. Can you trap them?”
“Da, Irina.” Grigor sounded excited. He had been prowling around the office for days wanting to have some action. Maria, his wife, was taking care of business as I knew she would. He, however, liked going on adventures.
I had put on a shoulder holster and then covered it with my fleece jacket. It was very cold so no one would suspect I was armed. “Do you think they will follow us anywhere?”
“We can see,” he growled.
He drove the car out across Moscow Bridge into Red Square, past G.U.M. and up into the area where there were a lot of office buildings. We passed Lubyanka and doubled around the square. I used my compact mirror to check on the cars behind us. The one in question was still following.
“You do have a plan, Grigor?”
“Da, Irina. Do not worry. We will catch them unawares.” We headed north toward the warehouse district and began driving slowly as if looking for a particular address. Grigor suddenly made a quick right turn and then another into an empty warehouse. He knew the other car would have to stop and return to the small, narrow street.
“Get out,” he said, pointing to a door about a hundred paces distant. “They will find it turns and becomes a dead end.” He ran to the door and shut it quickly as I ran toward the door, pulling out my Glock 15 and flipping the safety off. I heard the car enter the narrow street and roar past the closed door. I opened the small door and looked out. They evidently had made the turn and now had to back out so they could turn around. I backed up against the wall, waiting with my gun out.
They were backing up and ready to turn down the street when Grigor pulled the car out of the warehouse and blocking the street. He jumped out and got behind the car, waiting for them. The two men argued about something and didn’t see me. I ran to the passenger side, yanked open the door and pressed the barrel of my gun against the nearest man’s cheek bone.
“Move and you are a dead man!” I growled, keeping my voice lower than usual. I could see Grigor waiting. “Why are you following me? WHO sent you? I want answers or I blow your head off.” I jammed the barrel harder against his cheek bone.
“frack,” he yelled, obviously frightened. He knew I would do it. “Tell her who we are.”
The driver was visibly shaken by the turn of events. “Look we do private investigations for people.”
“Are you licensed?”
“N...no, just do things for people they don’t want to do themselves.”
“Like spying on innocent citizens.” I said. “Who hired you? How much did he pay?”
“Comrade Khasinau. He paid us a hundred US dollars.”
“What exactly did he want you to spy on me for?”
“He said he thought his fiancée was two-timing him and wanted to know who it was.”
I pressed the gun harder. “Who am I two-timing him with?”
There was silence and the man with the gun to his head reddened. “A...a woman.”
“Just how did you find that out?”
“We saw her enter your apartment. She didn’t leave until six this morning.”
“Well for your information, I am not his finance and never plan to be married to him. Did you tell him?”
“Da,” said the driver who cringed as he said it. “He called us.”
I wanted to kill them, I was so angry, but decided they too were just doing their job. The one who I was most angry with was Khasinau. “You have two hours to leave Moscow. I am sending my men to see that you do. Come back and I will have you killed.”
I opened my cell and made a call to Sark to send a couple of our men to escort these two out of the city. Sark said they would be there in fifteen minutes. I had Grigor wait and drove to the office myself.
Khasinau was in his office as I saw his car parked in his space. I entered the outer office and paused at my secretary’s desk. “Is he in?” I pointed at Alexander’s office.
“Da, Irina,” she answered, her blue eyes widening when I took out my gun and snapped off the safely.
“Don’t come in and keep everyone else out!” I ordered.
I slammed open the door and shut it just as hard. Alexander’s head snapped up from the paper he was reading, startled. I reached behind my neck and pulled out my knife I kept there and threw it before he could react. The knife missed his ear by millimeters. My gun I switched to my right hand.
“Don’t move an inch, you son-of-a-bitch!” I covered the distance in a mere two seconds. I held the gun trained on his forehead.
“Now, Irina,” he said, visibly shaken by the knife and gun.
“What gave you the right to spy on me? Who I sleep with is none of your business! You work for me!” I wanted to hit him, but we had known each other for a long time. “Explain!”
“Irina, I—I didn’t think you were gay.” He mumbled gruffly.
“You stupid man! You risk everything you have because you want to get into my pants also? Have I not told you and told you that that wasn’t going to happen? Are you deaf? What don’t you understand? I will sleep with whomever I want to sleep with, but it will never be you...ever.
“If you want to stay in my organization and make money, you will keep your nose out of my personal life. You managed to do it quite well when I was sent to Kashmir for re-education! You did nothing to help me...nothing! We were friends when I was young before going to America. Now I’m having serious doubts about your loyalty and your friendship.” I kept the gun leveled at his forehead. “You have a choice. You can stay and be my second-in-command, or you can die.”
His face turned a little white and he nodded. “I will stay.”
“Of course you will. You like the money.” I put the safety on. “Listen again, Alexander, and listen carefully. My personal life is none of your business. Is that understood?” I saw no reason to discuss it any further with him.
“Da, Irina, and I—I am sorry.”
I wish I could believe he was, but I’d known him too long. I said nothing, took the knife out of his chair and left. “I will see you this afternoon at the planning session.” I called over my shoulder and shut the door behind me.
I can no longer trust him, although I need his expertise. There would come a time when I would have to end our business relationship.
Later this afternoon, Galina, Alexander and Sark joined me in the conference room. We had a problem. No manuscript even though we paid Kessar for it.
Our new computers had been compromised. My automatic security system wiped the data clean as soon as it had been breached. No one knew who had done it especially since the security was what I thought to be perfect. It obviously wasn’t.
“Did they get what they wanted,” I asked Khasinau.
“I doubt it.”
“Chyort, we have to be more careful. I do not like that we’ve come up short several times lately. No manuscript, we don’t get ampoule, and now someone has broken into our computers. Was there anything else on file?”
“Yes, Irina. Financial records of people who work for us.”
“Why would they want those?”
“I don’t know,” said Sark.
“Get me a list.” I motioned to Galina. “Maria can print one out.”
She was back in five minutes with a sheet of paper. She handed it to me. I looked at the names and a chill came over me. Valenko alias Calder was on it. I leaned back in my chair and looked at Khasinau. “Igor Valenko. How did he become one of my men? I can’t recall approving that hire.”
“I did. He is our contact in Cape Town. He is in the financial planning business.”
“Contact the Snowman and tell him to kill Valenko.” I sat back as I looked at Sark. He nodded and I know he would take care of it.
“Why?” Asked Khasinau.
“You know he was my handler in the U.S. I thought he was dead; he disappeared into a prison somewhere, although it wasn’t Kashmir.”
“Yes, but he didn’t stay long. They released him to me after he’d served six months.”
“Six months?” I think I was trembling I was so angry. I said nothing until I felt I was under control. “He’s a risk. If CIA learns who he is they will go after him. Kill him.”
“Yes, Irina.”
“Galina, have you heard anything out there about Rambaldi artifacts?”
“There’s a rumor that there is another ampoule of Rambaldi liquid which could reveal the facts on the one page that The Alliance cannot see. Perhaps we should try to buy it.”
“I have a better idea; we’ll steal it away from whoever has it.”
“Not a good idea. Where is it?” Asked Khasinau.
“Supposedly the Rislak Jihad, a fundamentalist group, has it and they are willing to sell. They need money to fund their revolution.” Galina said, looking at me.
“Sark you will go to buy it. Galina, get in touch with them and make the arrangements. Sark, be careful. See me before you leave.”
RUSSIAN TRANSLATIONS
Govno – felgercarb
Chyort – Damn
***
Tuesday – February 20, 2001
frack! Things are not going the way we plan them. CIA and SD-6 are becoming pests that won’t go away. Sark was compromised and taken prisoner by SD-6. I don’t know who got the ampoule. I think SD-6 got it along with Sark and maybe not. He is resourceful and if there was an opportunity to escape, he would. I know he was to pass the ampoule to Khasinau in our Paris night club.
Khasinau called me to say that last night’s meet was a fiasco. The ampoule was taken as well as the missing page. Who took it? Did SD-6 get it or CIA? What the hell was Will Tippin doing in Paris? Khasinau supposedly had him in custody. He was tortured for information without my permission. But who had him now?
“Alexander, what happened?”
“He was rescued by a girl singer, who didn’t fight like a girl.”
My heart thumped. Sydney? “Where is he?”
“My guess is that whoever rescued him, took him back to the U.S.” There was a pause. “Perhaps we can find him and take him back. We could offer him in exchange for that missing page and the ampoule.”
“Do it.” I hung up and buzzed Maria. “Maria, get me a first class ticket to Taipei with a stopover in Hong Kong.”
The intercom buzzed. “Irina, there’s a gentleman on the phone who says he is a friend...a Gerard Cuvee. Shall I put him through?”
“Da,” I answered. Now what was Cuvee after? I know he wanted to get into my pants, but that wasn’t going to happen. I picked up the phone. “Hello Gerard. How are you?”
“Good, Irina, good. I have a new project. Maybe you can help me?”
“Go on...”
“I’m the leader of the PTL, a radical group located in Kashmir and the surrounding territory. I’ve heard that you have a new weapon in your arsenal and I want it. I’ll pay for it, of course.”
“Of course. Do you know what it is?”
“Some kind of device by a German alchemist.” He paused.
“And how do you plan to use it?” I asked, knowing full well he had no idea what it was let alone know its power.
“You tell me, because if I’m going to pay for it I’ll want to know everything.”
“I don’t know yet. Damn it, Gerard, I’ve got a lot going on and one of them is to find out just what kind of weapon it is.”
“Let me come to Taipei. Maybe I can help you figure it out.”
I rubbed my head. “Very well, but I’m not going yet. My scientists have indicated that they are progressing, but it won’t be ready to set up for a few more weeks. Give me your number and I’ll call you.”
He did and hung up. I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. What was I going to do about him? I wanted to put the weapon up for bid after I learned what it was supposed to do. We were spending a great deal of money to learn what this Muller device would do and had to spend more. I thought about it and knew I was not going to put my own money into it. I would have to get someone else’s money to help.
I needed someone who was in my book, someone who was vulnerable and who might be persuaded to invest. I needed someone who would not be poking around at the Taipei laboratory. I did know. He would be perfect.
I picked up my cell and called Jean-Marc Ravais, a member of the French Assembly. He was a billionaire dabbling in politics. As a young man, he had sold out his friends to the Gestapo during the occupation of France. They were all executed and he was the only one left who was alive when France was liberated.
Jean-Marc invested in the Muller device.
*****
Monday – March 5, 2001
Galina is dead. I can’t believe it. Impossible! The police called this morning saying her car was in a bad accident near the bridge last night. The car had gone off the bridge into the river. They recovered her body and it was on the way to the morgue. They wanted to know if she had family. They said someone would have to identify the body. I said I would take care of it and thanked them.
I began to cry. She was my best friend. No one had helped me as much as she had to overcome the nightmarish hell that had been Kashmir. The last time we had been together had been in February after I caught men who were working for Khasinau following me. She had warned me about them.
“Maria, will you come in here.” I used my intercom.
“Yes, Irina?” She came toward my desk.
“Galina has been killed in an accident. Go to personnel and bring her file here. Do not tell anyone about her death.”
“Oh Irina,” she began to tear up.
“Don’t...just be quiet. Wipe those tears or you’ll give it away.”
She nodded, sniffling. “I’ll be right back.”
Ten minutes later, Maria returned with Galina’s file. I opened it. “She doesn’t seem to have any family listed?”
“Oh!” Maria was concerned. “What are you going to do?”
“I’ll make all the arrangements. Go back to your desk and don’t say anything. Promise?”
“Absolutely.” She left my office.
I studied the file and no where was there listed any family. Everyone evidently was dead. She had been alone. I stood and turned to look out the window. In the distance I could barely see the Kremlin, some three miles away. The bridge mentioned was just a few hundred feet away from this building. It was not close to her apartment or to mine. What was she doing in this part of Moscow at night?
I didn’t like the smell of this and called Grigor into the office. “You have a friend who is a mechanic?”
“Da Irina. He is very good one. Many people bring cars to him to fix.”
“Can he check a car that has been in a wreck and tell me if it has been tampered with?”
“I think so.”
I wrote out the information where the police had the car. I handed it to him. “Get to this address and have the car taken to his shop.” I handed him several thousand rubles. “Use this to grease the hands of the police if you have too. Tell your friend to do a thorough job and I will pay him 50,000.”
Grigor’s eyes widened. “What is wrong Irina?”
“Do not tell anyone. Galina was killed last night in an accident at the bridge.” I waved in the direction of the bridge.
“I am sorry. I like her. She was nice.” He squeezed my hand and left.
“Grigor, make sure your friend tells no one but you.”
“Da.”
***
Monday – March 19, 2001
Grigor came to my office this afternoon. He had his friend’s report on Galina’s car. I also had the report of the accident. There had been an eye witness. According to the report, Galina’s car had been traveling over the bridge when a large big rig had careened in front of her. She was unable to stop and her car careened off the side of his front wheel, sending her through the wooden railing and over the side of the bridge into the river.
So my question was why had she not hit the brakes hard?
Grigor answered the question when he came to the office. He stood in front of me. “Brakes were cut.”
“What?”
“My friend said brake lines had been cut. Galina could not stop.” He didn’t continue.
“I see... spasibo.” I nodded toward the door. He left, understanding I think. I knew instantly who had done it.
Khasinau! Revenge could wait.
***
Friday – April 13, 2001
Supposedly Friday the thirteenth is a bad luck day. We Russians might think of bad luck as being Fate. I don’t know. Today has not been a particularly good day for me.
I am at our Taipei laboratory. My scientists have the Muller Circumference up and running. It is awesome. Khasinau was almost gaping as we stood looking at it. It was huge, perhaps fifty meters in diameter. It seemingly turned by itself, but I knew it was turning electro-magnetically. There was fluid inside it, but what was happening was impossible to ascertain.
Of course my two men said they could get some of the fluid out for testing. I ordered them to do it. I would need some volunteers.
Then when we were in my office, Cuvee called. He wanted to see the ‘weapon’. I told him I wasn’t even sure it was a weapon. He insisted. I knew he would continue making my life miserable if he didn’t get his way.
“Where are you?” I asked, but had the feeling he was here on Taiwan.
“In the city. Give me your address.”
I did and he was in my office within a half hour. Khasinau greeted him as an old friend from the days of the KGB. I greeted him warily.
“Well, show me,” he said. “I want to see it.”
“Gerard, we don’t even know what it is supposed to do yet?”
“Irina, stop stalling. I want to see it.”
We entered the warehouse and headed through the passageway to the big lab. My two scientists and their technicians were busy over something at a table when we entered. They hardly looked up when we walked inside. Gerard gasped. I knew he had no idea what it was from the beginning.
“We do not know what it will do?”
“Where did you get plans?”
“Oscar Muller had them. We removed them from his care and killed him after he gave us instructions.”
Gerard was in awe. “He didn’t tell you what it was for?”
Irina laughed. “He didn’t know himself. He couldn’t even tell me one thing about the device. He did say that another scientist had devised this but never built one.”
“Who?” He snapped. “Can’t we find him and get him to tell us?”
I laughed. “He couldn’t tell us his name or where he was from—just that he found the plans in a deserted church, under the altar.”
“Where are the plans?”
I took him over to my desk that I used when in the laboratory. I pulled them out of my drawer. He looked at them and then shrugged. He didn’t know anymore than I did.
“How soon do you think you’ll know anything?”
“Wait here.” I walked over to the table where the technicians were talking to the scientists. I spoke with them and then returned. “They have removed some of the fluid and are going to start testing it on the technicians. I may know something soon.”
We returned to my office and then went out to lunch.
Tonight I saw the money spent on getting the Circumference to work go literally down the drain. Someone had broken into the laboratory and destroyed it. The water plunged through the warehouse and the connecting passageways. One door was closed, before it reached us. The flooded part of my headquarters dissipated through the drains we had fortunately built. However it took time.
In the meantime, the girl responsible was captured and knocked out by my men. They took her to the storeroom at the rear of the building and handcuffed her to a chair. She was, they said, unconscious.
I knew it was Sydney. She had done it again!
NEXT, THE GLASS CAGE h34r: