in Laredo. That same Sean Fox changed from being a corpse to being alive yesterday morning. I remember that case and that boy wasn’t coming back to life even with divine intervention.”
Katherine let him ramble on.
“Anyway, the wife lived in Laredo but looks like she’s moving up your way. US Marshalls just picked her up and are relocating her to Austin. No address listed, I’d imagine they’ll stop in a hotel and find her somewhere in the next couple of days,” he concluded.
“That’s very helpful, thank you Chief and I know the Governor will be very grateful for you assistance.” Not so sure Katie Fox will, but that’s another matter, she thought.
Katherine replaced the handset. She knew a young and impressionable US Marshall and quite frankly that was exactly what she needed.
Two hours later, the two were naked and soaked in sweat and the Marshall was begging for more, offering anything for more of Katherine. That anything just happened to be the hotel the local US Marshalls used for people under their protection. After another thirty minutes of passion, the young Marshall fell asleep before he collapsed from exhaustion. Katherine slipped into her clothes and made her way back to the mansion. She had a busy day ahead of her and needed to get some sleep. She had a lot to organize before they left for Moscow. She sent a message to Surkov, confirming he was correct in his suspicions and assured him she would deal with the matter, before turning out her light and dropping into a deep and restful sleep.
Chapter 66
Surkov was barking orders from 6.00 a.m. He hadn’t slept at all that night. He was like a child eagerly expecting Santa Claus, unable to contain his excitement. However, having waited all his adult life for this moment, it was hardly surprising that he was worked up.
As the President’s helicopter came in to land on the lawn, Surkov waited patiently for the blades to stop before walking forward and greeting President Alexey Gagarin, son of the famous cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, born just days after his father’s tragic death. Surkov greeted him warmly and guided him towards Grebnevo, a secret that the young president had been keen to uncover since his inauguration some two years earlier.
His presidency was more akin to a coronation. His name, handed down by his hero father, lived on in the hearts of every Russian and it was, when he began to show an interest in politics, more a case when and not if he would become President. Even after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Gagarins had benefited from financial support and through various anonymous benefactors, the young Alexey wanted for nothing and received fully funded scholarships to the best schools around the world. Little did he know that Surkov and his benefactors had been behind his education, that he’d been chosen from a select few and that the chance meetings that had directed his life had been engineered to perfection. From the day he was born, the young Alexey’s life was plotted and planned precisely. Right up until the moment he stepped off the helicopter and accompanied Dr Boris Surkov into his office. Surkov instructing his bodyguards to wait outside.
“So, Dr Surkov, you have me intrigued,” said the President, taking a seat on one of Surkov’s two sofas.
Surkov poured the tea just as he knew the President liked it. There was nothing Dr Surkov did not know about the young President. He knew his favorite meal, he knew his favorite TV shows, he knew he liked to play video games. He knew who he trusted and who he disliked in his cabinet. He knew more about the President than he probably knew about himself.
He carried the tea over and handed it to the President and joined him on the opposite sofa.
“Let me tell you a story about a young boy in Auschwitz who met a doctor who changed his life forever…” he began as the President took his first sip of tea.
A beep interrupted the proceedings but it was a beep that Surkov had been expecting. He excused himself and checked the message from Katherine. Borodin had failed.
“Everything OK?” asked the President, sensing something was wrong.
“Of course, everything’s fine.” He turned to see the President drink the last of his tea. Any thoughts of a change of plan were gone. He’d just have to hope Katherine succeeded where Borodin failed.
Just as he was about to rejoin the President, he noticed the message box still indicated one message. Katherine must have sent two in quick succession. He opened the second one and had Borodin been in the room, he would have happily gutted him with the blunt letter opener on his desk. It certainly wouldn’t have been the first time Surkov had gutted somebody with a letter opener.
“Are you sure everything’s OK?” asked the President, the back of Surkov’s neck was almost bright red.
Surkov noted the President was beginning to slur his words. There was no turning back, no more delays. The time had come. As the President’s eyes closed, Surkov opened the door into his secret study. The world was about to see a new dawn.
Chapter 67
As they approached the outskirts of Grebnevo, Borodin waited for the instruction to land but it never came. His helicopter was allowed through and it set down next to the President’s. Borodin exited the helicopter and marched proudly ramrod straight towards Surkov and President Alexey Gagarin who awaited his arrival. A warm welcome from both men had the General excited about his request to attend on such short notice.
“Shall we take the meeting inside?” asked Surkov, offering for the President to take the lead.
Borodin had only met the President on a few occasions and had spent little time with him on a one to one basis. All he knew of him really was what he had gathered from the President’s stance on various issues and from what he had read in the papers. His green agenda had upset more than a few of the oligarchs and it seemed he had a fairly liberal view on most things.
After just ten minutes in his company, Borodin realized that the President had the slickest propaganda machine he had ever experienced. The man before him bore little resemblance to the public persona. He oozed a strength that Borodin had craved for in his leaders. He wanted a military that would help stem the flow of resources from the country. The oligarchs’ days were over. Their billions would help build a strong Russia, a Russia they could be proud of again. The mafia and her bosses’ days were over. The tide was about to turn and he wanted to know if Borodin was his man to help. Borodin could hardly contain his eagerness to be part of what the President wanted to do.
“Excellent! I will announce your appointment as my Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces before the banquet this week,” announced the President with a finality that ended the discussion.
General Borodin left the room and was accompanied by Surkov. The general was walking on air until Surkov cut him down.
“You misled me about Sean Fox, General,” he announced coldly.
Borodin stumbled for an answer. He had noted the chemistry in the room. It was only after Surkov had nodded that the President had offered him the role. Surkov had promised him the role and Surkov had delivered the role.
“I was misinformed, Doctor. I promise I did not intend to mislead you, I have somebody dealing with it as we speak,” he replied conspiratorially.
“I assume that’s before he attends our state banquet?!”
Borodin couldn’t understand how Surkov could know about the VISA.
“I assure you that the VISA was issued on the basis that he had been killed. Had we thought he was alive of course it would not have been approved!”
“And that, General, is the only reason I believe you. You are not that stupid!” replied Surkov as they arrived at the General’s helicopter.
“Make us proud, Marshall Borodin,” said Surkov patting Borodin on the back as he climbed into the helicopter. Marshall, the highest rank in the Russian Military, a rank that had not been in use for a number of years.
“I will see you in two days at the banquet, Doctor,” saluted Borodin, unable to contain the grin on his
