Dana said slowly, «And you think they might sell some of the plutonium to other countries?»
He nodded. «Before Taylor Winthrop became ambassador to Russia, friends told him about Krasnoyarsk-26 and asked him if he wanted to make a deal. After he talked to some of the scientists here who felt betrayed by their government, Winthrop was eager to make a deal. But it was complicated, and he had to wait until all the pieces fell into place.»
He was like a crazy man. He said something like «All the pieces have fallen into place.»
Dana was finding it difficult to breathe.
«Shortly after that, Taylor Winthrop became the American ambassador to Russia. Winthrop and his partner collaborated with some of the rebel scientists and began smuggling plutonium to a dozen countries, including Libya, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, North Korea, and China.»
After all the pieces had fallen into place! The ambassadorship was important to Taylor Winthrop only because he had to be on hand to control the operation.
The commissar was going on. «It was easy, because a mass of plutonium the size of a tennis ball is enough to make a nuclear bomb, Miss Evans. Taylor Winthrop and his partner were making billions of dollars. They handled everything very cleverly, and no one suspected a thing.» He sounded bitter. «Russia has become a candy store—only instead of buying candy, you can buy atomic bombs, tanks, fighter planes and missile systems.»
Dana was trying to digest everything she was hearing. «Why was Taylor Winthrop killed?»
«He got greedy and decided to go into business for himself. When his partner learned what Winthrop was doing, he had him killed.»
«But—but why murder his whole family?»
«After Taylor Winthrop and his wife died in the fire, his son Paul tried to blackmail the partner, so he had Paul killed. And then he decided he could not take a chance that the other children might know about the plutonium, so he ordered the other two murdered and arranged for their deaths to look like an accident and a burglary gone wrong.»
Dana looked at him, horrified. «Who was Taylor Winthrop's partner?»
Commissar Shdanoff shook his head. «You know enough for now, Miss Evans. I will give you the name when you get me out of Russia.» He looked at his watch. «We must leave.»
Dana turned to take one last look at the reactor that could not be shut off, that was turning out deadly plutonium twenty-four hours a day. «Is the government of the United States aware of Krasnoyarsk-26?»
Shdanoff nodded. «Oh, yes. They are terrified of it. Your State Department is working frantically with us to try to find a way to turn these reactors into something less lethal. Meanwhile…» He shrugged.
In the elevator, Commissar Shdanoff asked, «Are you familiar with the FRA?»
Dana looked at him and said cautiously, «Yes.»
«They are involved in this also.»
«What?» And then the realization hit her. That's why General Booster kept warning me away.
They arrived at the surface and stepped out of the elevator. Shdanoff said, «I keep an apartment here. We will go there.»
As they started to walk along the street, Dana saw a woman dressed as she was, clinging to the arms of a man.
«That woman—» Dana started.
«I told you. Certain men are permitted to use prostitutes during the day. But at night the prostitutes must return to a guarded compound. They must know nothing of what goes on below the ground.»
As they walked along, Dana noted that most of the shops' windows were empty.
The luxuries are gone. The state no longer has money to pay the scientists and technicians who work here. They have not been paid in months. Dana looked at a tall building on the corner and noticed that instead of a clock it had a large instrument mounted on top.
«What is that?» Dana asked.
«A Geiger counter, a warning in case anything goes wrong with the reactors.» They turned into a side street filled with apartment buildings. «My apartment is in here. We must stay there for a little while so no one will be suspicious. The FSB checks on everyone.»
«The FSB?»
«Yes. It used to be called the KGB. They changed the name, but that is all they changed.»
The apartment was large and was once luxurious, but it had become shabby. The curtains were torn, the carpets were worn, and the furniture needed re-upholstering.
Dana sat down, thinking about what Sasha Shdanoff had told her about the FRA. And Jeff had said, The agency is a cover-up. The real function of the FRA is to spy on foreign intelligence agencies. Taylor Winthrop had once been the head of the FRA, working with Victor Booster.
I would stay as far away as you can from General Booster.
And her meeting with Booster. Can't you fucking journalists let the dead rest? I'm warning you to stay the hell away. General Victor Booster had an enormous secret organization to carry out the murders.
And Jack Stone was trying to protect her. Be careful. If Victor Booster knew I was even talking to you…
The FRA spies were everywhere, and Dana felt suddenly naked.
Sasha Shdanoff looked at his watch. «It is time to leave. Do you know yet how you are going to get me out of the country?»
«Yes,» Dana said slowly. «I think I know how to arrange it. I need a little time.»
When the plane landed back in Moscow, there were two cars waiting. Shdanoff handed Dana a piece of paper.
«I am staying with a friend at the Chiaka Apartments. No one knows I am there. It is what you call a “safe house.” Here is the address. I can't go back to my own place. Come here at eight o'clock this evening. I must know your plan.»
Dana nodded. «All right. I have a phone call to make.»
When Dana got back to the lobby of the Soyuz Hotel, the woman behind the desk stared at her. I don't blame her, Dana thought. I've got to get out of this dreadful outfit.
Inside her room, Dana changed into her own clothes before making a phone call. She prayed as the phone kept ringing at the other end. Please be in. Please be in. Dana heard Cesar's blessed voice.
«The Hudson residence.»
«Cesar, is Mr. Hudson in?» Dana found that she was holding her breath.
«Miss Evans! How nice to hear from you. Yes, Mr. Hudson is here. Hold on, please.»
Dana felt her body tremble with relief. If there was anyone who could help her get Sasha Shdanoff into the United States, Roger Hudson would be the one person able to do it.
His voice came on the line a moment later. «Dana?»
«Roger, oh, thank God I got you!»
«What's the matter? Are you all right? Where are you?»
«I'm in Moscow. I found out why Taylor Winthrop and his family were murdered.»
«What? My God. How did you—»
«I'll tell you all about it when I see you. Roger, I hate to impose on you again, but I have a problem. There's an important Russian official who wants to escape to America. His name is Sasha Shdanoff. His life is in danger here. He knows the answers to everything that's happened. We have to get him out, and quickly! Can you help?»
«Dana, neither of us should be involved in anything like this. We could both get in trouble.»
«We have to take that chance. We have no choice. This is too important. It has to be done.»
«I don't like this, Dana.»
«I'm sorry to drag you into this, but I have no one else to turn to.»
«Dammit, I—» He stopped. «All right. The best thing to do right now is to get him to the American embassy. He'll be safe there until we can work out a plan to get him into the United States.»
«He doesn't want to go to the American embassy. He doesn't trust them.»
«There is no other way. I'll call the ambassador on a secure line and tell him to see that he gets protection.
