Necessary Retribution (25 page)

Alex sat stone still staring at Robin. Robin reached over and took the bottle and poured himself a drink. He looked over at Lev and saw his deathly pale face.

“Lev, drink up.”

Lev took his glass in his shaking hand and drank it empty, swallowing the vodka down with a tortured gulp. Robin refilled his glass. Then he filled Alex's.

“Speak up, Alex. Your silence is ruining a fine dinner.”

“Tell me who it is…who sold the device?”

“I plan to tell you, so you can kill him, because if you don't, we will. But I'm not telling you until we're released, so we have some negotiating to do.”

Without taking his eyes off of Robin, Alex sipped his vodka. Robin returned Alex's look in between bites of meat and potato pie. It was an act, of course, and Robin's patience neared its limit.

“I can't guarantee you will be released or even allowed to live.”

Robin leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. “Okay, Alex, we've played this game long enough. You already know I'm not connected with any government because you've contacted the usual suspects and they don't know us. You've already told them you're going to execute us and they said they don't care…and I'm still alive.

“You're not going to kill me because you want to know more about me and my organization and you want to know who my clients are. So, you thought you'd try the smart method and use honey instead of vinegar. I, on the other hand, want to stay alive and so I've been counting on the reverse Stockholm Syndrome. But you and I are professionals and both of us are only going to be partially successful at our little game.”

Alex finally laughed again and shook his head. “Perhaps you're right.”

“I'm always right and the reason we're playing this silly ass game is because on your side you're not the boss. You have people
you don't respect telling you what to do. I, on the other hand, have to play the game knowing other people are telling you what to do.”

“Who is your boss?”

“I'm the boss. Nobody tells me what to do. At some point, we are just going to have to trust each other. I have no desire to hurt you in anyway and I don't think you want to hurt me. You certainly could have killed me anytime, if you really wanted to.”

“We can trust each other, but you must not put faith in my ability to influence my superiors. They do not like being told what to do. I cannot guarantee anything.”

“That piece of honesty goes a long way with me, Alex. We'll work through it. I'm not without bargaining chips that'll influence your superiors.”

“I hope your organization will not do anything stupid.”

“I guarantee you won't think it's stupid.”

Sergeant Lev Rogov edged closer to panic. He was astounded and alarmed at the conversation between the two secret agents seated at the table…and he was drunk. When the American started arguing with the GRU man, Lev thought he would meet his death in this fancy restaurant right along with the insane Robin. So, Lev started drinking the vodka, keeping up with the other two men. He smirked at the thought he was drunk and he would not live to endure the wrath of his wife…because the GRU man was surely going to kill him.

Then he thought of his children and how his dedication and desire to be the best officer in Vladivostok now threatened their lives. This is the Soviet Union, the place where whole families disappear every day. The day for his family to disappear was at hand. Lev now knew he failed as a husband, father and officer. Tears were about to come when he realized the other two men were laughing. He fought to focus on their conversation.

“Yes, I believe your candidate for hero of the Soviet Union is thoroughly drunk!” More laughter.

“Lev, my friend, are you all right?” Robin asked.

Lev tried to speak clearly, but he couldn't make his tongue work correctly. “Noooo, I am nooot ookay. I d-d-doo not w-w-ant tooo die and I d-do not want my flaamblee to die.”

“Ease up, Lev. No one is going to kill you or your family.”

“I-I thsshink youuu arrre insshaane!” Lev tried to hold a belch back, but gave up. The other two men roared with laughter.

“Well, Alex, I think we should go to the hospital.”

“Yes, our friend needs a bed.”

“Come on, Lev, up we go.” Lev tried to work with Robin to stand up, but ended up just leaning on him. Alex paid the bill and the men went down the elevator. A valet brought the car for them and as they were getting in Lev turned to Robin and tried to talk. Robin understood the word drive in the jumbled sentence.

“No, Lev you don't have to drive. You've done your duty for now.”

Fifteen minutes later they arrived at the hospital and Alex took Lev to a room. Robin went to the nursing station near the surgery area.

“Excuse me, is my friend still here?”

Rada's voice came from behind him. “Your friend is in a private room. Where is Lev?”

“He's here.”

Rada came closer to Robin. “Is he as drunk as you?”

“No. He's more drunk…but we're all alive.” Robin could see the import of those words was not lost on Rada.

“Come with me.”

Robin followed Rada to a private room and saw Mark in bed with his eyes closed. As Robin came closer, Mark opened his eyes.

“I'm glad someone's having fun.”

“You have no idea. How ya doin', bud?”

“Apparently, I'll live.”

“Actually, the doctor says you'll fully recover.”

“I know, he told me. He also said it would be a long and painful journey.”

“Yes, he did say that would be part of the deal.”

“Are we going to get out of here, Rob?”

“We're taking it one hour at a time, but it's looking promising.”

“The doctor says we'll be going to Moscow in two days.”

“That's the plan, so you better rest up.”

“Yeah, I'm pretty sleepy right now.”

“Night, night, brother. I'll check on you later.”

Mark's answer was a snore.

Robin turned to Rada, who looked tired and older since Robin had first seen her.

“Rada, we're going to get out of here…all of us.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I really can't go into much detail, but our organization isn't sitting around doing nothing. They'll be working on getting bargaining chips to get us out.”

“Yes, but that will be for you, not us.”

Robin put his hands on Rada's shoulders. “I'm the leader of this organization and I'm telling you, we are not leaving without you and your family.”

“But what if we don't want to leave our home, our family and our friends?”

“That I can't fix. In order for you and your family to be safe, you need to come with us. After some time passes, we can work on getting you back with your family and friends.”

“Why do you care about us? We are nothing to you.”

“I got you into this mess. You're good people. I can't let anything happen to you.” A moment of silence passed between them. “Rada, you're exhausted. Go get your husband and go home and get some rest. Don't be angry with Lev, he did what I asked and later I'll explain to both of you why.”

Rada turned away and started for the door then turned back around. “I don't know if I should hit you or kiss you.”

“I'm like that.”

She came closer, kissed him on the cheek and left.

T
WENTY
-E
IGHT

ERNIE PACED THE DECK
of Kwan's boat. The team had been in contact with Colonel Sinchu, but now they couldn't raise him on the satellite phone. As the night wore on, he knew he had to act.

“Marv, you and Willy do a recon and see what the hell's going on with the colonel. Mike you run the boat. Once you're feet dry, give yourselves thirty minutes to see what you can find out. If you can't make contact, get back and we'll scratch the mission for tonight.”

“Sir, I would like to go also,” Gunner said as he came forward.

“This is a recon job, Gunner. These guys have a lot of specialized training.”

“I am a soldier, Major. I may not be as well trained as Marv and Willy, but I know enough not to get in their way. I also know all the places the colonel might be.”

“That could be helpful, Ernie,” Marv noted.

“All right, Gunner get moving. You guys take care of him.”

“Oh, I think the ol’ Gunner here can take care of himself just fine,” Willy added.

The men climbed into the RIB and with a salute disappeared into the night.

Maria came out of Rick's room with a concerned look on her face.

Emmett walked up to her. “You look worried, Maria. What's up?”

“Rick is in critical condition. He owes his life to you. The doctors here have done a good job to stop all the bleeding and minimize the damage to his kidney, but they can't do more until he gains strength.”

“I was afraid the bullet in his side hit the kidney.”

“It did, but only on the lower end. It should still function properly.”

“Then you're worried about his leg.”

“Yes, it's badly damaged. The bullet glanced off the bone breaking it and the circulation has been affected. The longer we wait the more damage will occur.”

Doug spoke up. “Rick's a tough ol’ bird and in damn good shape. He should be coming around in short order.”

Maria looked at her fiancé and put her arm around him. “I know you want him to be okay and I'll watch him closely. We'll do the best we can.”

“He's always been an agile, quick athlete. I don't think he could stand being crippled.” Pain laced Doug's voice.

Emmett's deep voice came low and soothing. “Rick will fight, Doug, and with Maria here, he's in good hands. I think his chances are good.” Emmett's gut felt otherwise.

Mike held the throttle low until the RIB bumped the shore and Marv and Gunner jumped out and pulled it up. Willy slung his medical pack on and the three men saluted Mike and moved silently through the shadows, stopping frequently to listen. After two hundred yards they could hear yelling interspersed with screams coming from a warehouse next to the one where Willy treated the soldier.

They crept closer and as they came to the opening, Willy saw a man standing with a gun pointed at the head of Colonel Sinchu as they stood in front of an assembled formation of soldiers. Another man raised a wooden club and hit the side of the soldier Willy had treated two nights before. The soldier screamed. The man yelled at the soldier.