'Yes. We got a break there. It was a straw for Ataman.'
Austin nodded. 'Why does that not surprise me? I should get back above. Joe will wonder what happened to us.'
They followed the network of corridors and stairs that took them back to the surface. It was a relief to break out into the sunshine and fresh air. To Austin's surprise, the soccer field was clear of carnage.
Petrov sensed the question on Austin's lips. 'Before we went below, I ordered my men to drag the dead into the woods and bury them.'
'That was considerate of you.'
'There was nothing considerate about it. I wanted nothing left that could be seen from the air.' They walked across the field toward the downed helicopter. 'I've taken care of the dead,' he said, glancing toward the helicopter. 'I will leave it up to you to deal with the living.'
IT WAS A wonder that the chopper had been able to land as softly as it had. The Cossacks had shot high, and the upper cockpit and engine housing were riddled with bullet holes. Kaela sat on the ground nearby with her legs crossed, writing in a shorthand notebook. Austin put on his most winning smile. Kaela felt his shadow and looked up.
'Small world,' he said, with his best show of tooth enamel.
Kaela skewered Austin with a hard stare. Undaunted, Austin plunked onto the ground beside her. 'Nice of you to go to all this trouble just so we'd have the opportunity to reschedule our dinner date.'
'You're the one who didn't show up back there in Istanbul.'
'True. Which is why I'm glad I have the chance to apologize and see if can make it up to you over cocktails.'
She raised an eyebrow. 'Apologize for standing me up or for stealing Captain Kemal?'
Kaela was no pushover for the Austin charm offensive. This was going to be more complicated than he thought.
'Okay. Let's deal with this in tiny steps. First, I apologize for missing the dinner date. I was unexpectedly tied up and couldn't make it. As for Captain Kemal, you'll have to admit you made a mistake by not holding him with some sort of retainer while you went off to Paris.'
'Please spare me the lecture. I never thought you would steal him after you warned me to stay away from this place because it was too dangerous and an infringement of Russian territory.'
'You'll have to admit I was right about the danger,' he said, glancing at the wreckage of the helicopter.
Kaela took a deep breath and slowly let it out. 'I'll grant you the obvious. But I'll bet nobody gave you or your NUMA friend an invitation to drop by for tea.'
'That's correct, but it doesn't make it right.'
'You sound like my mother,' she said with mock disgust. 'Your apology for missing dinner is accepted. Luckily, my producers bankrolled enough money to lease a helicopter, so I wouldn't have hired Captain Kemal anyhow. You still owe me, though.'
Austin noticed the twinkle in the amber eyes and realized she had been setting him up, using his guilt as leverage.
'You're playing me like a fish, aren't you?'
Kaela threw her head back and laughed. 'I'm certainly trying to. You deserve to be jerked around after trying to put me off with that phony shark smile and the 'small world' routine. Real smooth character! Next thing you'd be asking me what my astrological sign was. Well, it's Capricorn, in case you're interested.'
'I didn't mean to make it sound like a singles bar. My sign is Pisces, by the way.'
'Pisces? That's fitting for a NUMA guy.' She put her notebook aside. 'I'd advise you to stay out of singles bars. With that corny line, you'd go home alone every night.'
Austin decided he really liked this woman. She was tough and feminine at the same time, had a sharp sense of humor and plenty of intelligence. And the qualities he admired were gift wrapped in a lovely package.
'Okay, now that I've snapped up the hook, I'll let you reel me in. But only to a point! What does your devious little soul want from me?'
'The truth, for starters. Why are you here, for instance? And who are the tough guys in the black suits? And why are the people around here so damned unfriendly?'
'Is this for a story?'
'Maybe. But I want to know mostly because I want to know. Curiosity is the best tool of a good reporter.'
Austin was no fan of mendacity, but he didn't want to involve Kaela and her gang in something that could bite them. They had been lucky twice so far. Their third encounter with the bad guys could be a strikeout.
'You're not the only one who's curious. After my first run-in with those guys on horses, I wanted to know more. I also felt I had to do something for Kemal's cousin Mehmet.'
'Is there a submarine base here?'
'Yes. Quite extensive, as a matter of fact.'
'I knew it. I want to get inside.'
'Okay by me, but you may have problems with that gentleman over there.' Ivan was making his way across the field from the woods, where he had been inspecting his men's work.
'Who is he?'
'His name is Ivan. He's the boss man.'
'Military?'
'Why don't you ask him yourself?'
Kaela grabbed her notebook and sprang to her feet. 'I think I will.' She strode toward the Russian and intercepted him. Austin watched with interest as she used her body language to send a tantalizing message. She was wading in with a full feminine court press, standing first on one leg, then the other, hip out, touching Ivan lightly on the chest, flashing him her incredible smile.
Ivan stood there with his arms crossed like a granite statue, resisting the full assault. When she was done, he spoke a few words. Kaela's shoulders suddenly squared, she leaned forward and stuck her jaw into his face, then she wheeled and strode purposefully back to Austin.
'What a stubborn little man,' she fumed. 'He said that the sub base is the property of the Russian government and is off-limits to the public. He suggests that I make arrangements with you to leave here as quickly as possible or suffer the consequences.' She grinned. 'Well, we can still run the story. I've got film.'
She marched over to the helicopter wreckage with a determined step and talked with Lombardo and Dundee, who had been poking around in the wreckage. Their conversation was animated, and grew more so when he showed her the jumble of metal and plastic that was what was left of the video camera. Kaela slowly walked back to Austin.
'It looks as if we'll have to bum a ride with you,' she said, without enthusiasm.
Austin saw Joe Zavala making his way toward them from the direction of the beach, where he'd been checking visually and on the radio to see if the NR-1 crew had made it to the fishing boat. He excused himself and took Zavala aside.
Zavala said, “They all made it to Kemal's boat.'
'Good news, but we've got a problem. Kaela and her guys need a ride, and I don't want them anywhere near the NR-1 crew.'
Zavala cast an admiring glance toward the TV reporter. 'Then you'll be happy to know the Argo was keeping an eye on us and monitoring radio transmissions. I just talked to Captain Atwood. They've sent a boat in to transfer the navy to the survey ship. Kemal's boat is free and clear.'
Austin let out a nasty chuckle. 'Would you send a message to the Argo and ask them to pick us up, too? Then call Captain Kemal, tell him that we will be transferring to the Argo and ask if he wouldn't mind taking on a few passengers in our place.'
'Aye, aye, sir,' Zavala said with a snappy salute.
While Joe was calling the fishing boat, Austin went over.to tell Kaela and her friends that first-class transportation had been arranged.
