Sandecker was invited to a White House meeting with the president and his advisors. The White House was worried about the deteriorating political situation in Russia. Some of the president's men scolded Sandecker for allowing Kurt to violate Russian sovereign territory at the abandoned Soviet submarine base. They were worried that it would give Russian opposition forces ammunition to use against the government, which is already fighting for its life. The admiral apologized, said it was an accident and offered to talk directly to the Russians. His offer was rejected. Then he asked what the White House was doing about the NR-1. Strangely, the president and his people had forgotten to tell Sandecker the sub was missing.'
Paul grinned and said, 'Assuming the admiral wouldn't know was pretty dumb on their part.'
Gamay shook her head. 'It's unbelievable that the NR-1 could vanish with no trace, as if it had been swallowed by a sea monster.'
'You're not far off the mark. The NR-1 was hijacked and transported on the deck of a submarine.'
'That's more far-fetched than the sea monster theory,' Gamay said.
'We were trying to figure things out, when Kurt called and said a source had told him that a mining tycoon named Mikhail Razov is behind the political unrest in Russia. According to the White House, there's a tie between the NR-1's disappearance and the mess in Moscow. In addition, Razov's company, Ataman Enterprises, has leased the sub base from the Russian government.'
Gamay said, 'That's why Kurt asked us to look into Razov's operation at Novorossiysk.'
'You think the NR-J was taken to this old sub base?'
Paul said. 'We thought that was a possibility. But we were more worried about something else Kurt's source said, that Razov was connected to a plot against the United States.'
'What sort of plot?' Paul asked.
'We don't know. Sandecker considered the tip serious. When Kurt said he was assembling the Special Assignments Team and planned to go back to the base, the admiral gave his unofficial blessing. Kurt must have mentioned that his mission was, uh, unofficial.'
'He put it quite colorfully,' Gamay said, laughingly.
'I won't even ask,' said Rudi, imagining Austin's report. 'The White House specifically warned Admiral Sandecker to stay clear of the NR-1 investigation. I'm sure it won't surprise you to know he managed to get around that warning by a technicality. He agreed not to search for the sub, but said nothing about the sub base.'
'I'm shocked, shocked,' Gamay said with mock horror, echoing Casablanca.
'Me, too,' said Paul. 'Who would have thought such a thing?'
'Your sarcasm is dutifully noted and ignored. But you get the point. We had to keep the admiral insulated to give him room to maneuver.
'Risky,' Paul said. 'The whole thing could blow up in NUMA's face.'
'Sandecker was well aware of that possibility, but the gods who watch over the Black Sea were in a benevolent mood.'
'You look like the cat who swallowed the canary,' Gamay said, noting Gunn's enigmatic smile. 'Apparently, Kurt has some good news.'
'Very good. He and Joe found the NR-1's crew – the package I mentioned. They were being held captive at the Russian base. They're on the Argo now.'
'That's great, but I don't understand,' Paul said, furrowing his brow. 'The Russians were holding them prisoner?'
'It's more complicated than that, from what I gather. The captain and pilot are still missing, along with the sub itself. Kurt wanted us all to be at the crew's debriefing.'
'Finding these guys is quite a coup for NUMA and the admiral,' Paul observed.
'Unfortunately, we can't claim credit for the rescue. I'm not sure how it will be announced, since no one has ever told the public of the hijacking. The top brass has been keeping the sub's hijacking a secret.'
'Hard to keep a secret in Washington,' Paul said. 'The story is bound to get out.'
'I agree. We've notified the navy that we found the sub's crew, but we've deliberately been short on details. We won't be able to get away with that strategy forever. Which is why this brainstorming session with the crew is so important. We've got to get to the bottom of this. Why don't we help ourselves to more coffee while you fill me in on your encounter with Ataman?'
Gamay volunteered to refill their coffee mugs. 'I'll let Paul do the play-by-play and I'll add the color,' she said.
Gunn listened to their story without interrupting. From experience, they knew that Gunn would absorb every detail; his analytical skills were legendary. He had been the first in his class at the U.S. Naval Academy, had formerly held the rank of commander and before he became second-in-command to Sandecker, had overseen logistics and oceanographic projects for NUMA.
Gunn peppered them with questions after they finished their tale. He was particularly interested in Boris, the 'mad monk,' and in Yuri's comment about the absence of the big drilling ships. Ataman's violent reaction was simple to explain. Razov had something to hide and didn't like people snooping around. But Boris and the missing drilling ships didn't fit into any equation he could formulate. He sat back in his seat, adjusted the horn-rimmed glasses on his hawkish nose and tented his fingers, much as Sherlock Holmes would have looked, absorbed by a puzzle. All he needed to complete the picture was a pipe and a deerstalker's cap.
The pilot's voice broke Gunn's concentration. 'We're coming up on the Argo, folks. If you look off to the right, you'll see the ship.'
The Argo had switched on every light in greeting and looked look like a giant floating Christmas tree against the inky darkness of the sea. The helicopter hovered over the ship and slowly descended onto the large, blinking X that marked the landing pad. The touchdown was nearly perfect, marked by a slight thump of the wheels on the deck. The rotors spun to a stop, and the copilot came back to open the door. The passengers thanked the crew for a smooth flight and descended the boarding steps, eyes blinking against the brilliant floodlights that turned the night into day.
Austin's broad shoulders and pale hair were easy to spot among the crowd that had gathered to greet the arrivals. He strode over, shook hands with Gunn and put his arms around the Trouts.
'Hope you had time for your martinis,' Austin said.
Gamay smiled and pecked his cheek. 'We squeezed in two drinks apiece, thank you.'
'Sorry to drag you out here so soon after your Novorossiysk trip.' He guided them to the mess hall and brought them three tinkling glasses of fresh-squeezed lemonade. 'Joe's baby-sitting the crew in the conference room. We're meeting with them in fifteen minutes to hear their story. The crew is anxious to get home, and I've asked them to give us an hour while the chopper fuels up.'
Gunn puckered his lips in amusement as Austin filled them in on the crew's rescue. 'I don't mean to demean the dangers you described, Kurt, but it sounds like a Pink Panther movie, with all those people running around.'
'I was thinking more of the Keystone Kops,' Austin said. 'Someday I'll look back and chuckle over the whole crazy episode.' He brushed his head lightly with his fingers. 'But if my hair could have gotten any whiter, it would have.'
'I'm intrigued by this Russian you call Ivan,' Gunn said. 'How do you know him?'
'Our paths crossed when I was working for the CIA.'
'Is he a friend or foe?'
'I'd call him a friend for the moment. I suspect that he'll do pretty much what he thinks is in the best interests of Russia. He is devious and shrewd – and he didn't survive all those purges in Russian intelligence by being a choirboy.'
'That's quite a resume. Despite his checkered background, you think we should trust him?'
'For now. And for one very good reason.'
'What's that?' Gunn said. 'He's all we've got.'
19
