murdered.'
'Why?'
'Because they tried to kill Ivanov. That's why he went on the run and defected.'
'Then how does he know that Captain Vladzar didn't just go on the run too?'
'He saw Pavski's goons take him off the sub. And he had contacts in Sevastopol who told him that the captain's reported 'retirement' never happened. He never showed up there. Ivanov waited six months on the run, one step ahead of the GRU before he contacted us. He wanted to be sure that there wasn't any way he could find to save the captain and get him out of Russia.'
She frowned. 'Who is this GRU?'
'Military equivalent of the KGB. They handled all military intelligence but their existence wasn't publicized by the government. They're Russia's largest intelligence agency and even commanded 25,000 Spetsnez troops in 1997. Very powerful, very nasty.'
'And Ivanov was willing to risk his neck against an organization like that? Why?'
Bradworth paused before he said reluctantly, 'Ivanov and Vladzar were related. That may have something to do with it.'
'Related?'
'Ivanov was his stepbrother. The captain sponsored his entry at the naval academy and pulled strings to get him accepted as a junior officer on the
'Stepbrother… Gratitude and family feeling?'
'More likely he wanted revenge and was pissed off because his fine career went down the tubes with Captain Vladzar.'
'You really do dislike him.' She shrugged. 'But you could be right. I'll have to find out.'
Bradworth swore beneath his breath. 'Didn't you learn anything tonight? He's a killer, an assassin, and he wouldn't give a damn if he had to snuff you out to get to Pavski. You'd be a fool if you don't stay away from him.'
'Perhaps I'd be a fool if I did. If he wants Pavski that much, then I may need him.'
'You don't need him. You have the United States government.'
'Who decided they needed Ivanov themselves several years ago.' She turned to face him. 'Don't talk to me about trusting you or any other bureaucrat, Bradworth. I've no more faith in you than I do Ivanov. And, at least with the Russian I'm dealing with someone who obviously doesn't give a damn about rules and red tape.'
'Look, he doesn't care anything about you, and you're going to need protection. Pavski's calling out the big guns. I was trying to reach you to warn you.'
'About what?'
'The men who attacked you at that gas station.' He drew a computer-printed photograph from his pocket. 'The lab was able to extract DNA from both men, and we've managed to ID one of them. His name was Anton Leonovsky. Familiar?'
She took the photograph. The picture was slightly blurry and shot from across a crowded restaurant, but it was clearly the man she'd last seen on fire next to the gas pumps. She shuddered. 'I recognize him.' She handed the photo back to Bradworth. 'What do you know about Leonovsky?'
'An extremely lethal Russian assassin. We didn't even know he was in the country. Leonovsky was ex-KGB, then associated with some particularly vicious Mafia families in Kiev. More recently he was freelance. You're lucky to be alive. If Pavski sent that caliber of assassin after you, then you
She shook her head.
'You can't believe anything Ivanov says. He's a murderer. He's as bad as Pavski.'
'No,' she said fiercely. 'As far as I'm concerned, no one's as bad as the man who killed my brother. No one.' She drew a deep breath, trying to control her anger. 'Now get out of here. I can't look at you without remembering how you set Conner and me up.'
'I thought we could protect you.'
'But you didn't do it, did you?' she said wearily.
'How can I convince you that we need to be on the same team?'
'Tell me what Pavski thinks was so important on that sub that he was willing to kill to get it.'
He shook his head. 'I wish I could.'
'Then get the hell out of here.'
He hesitated and then headed for the door. 'I'll be in touch. I'm not leaving you at the mercy of that son of a bitch.'
'Mercy? You're joking.' She turned her back on him. 'I don't expect mercy from either one of you.'
She heard him mutter something and then the sound of the door closing behind him.
Jesus, she felt raw and hurt and filled with searing anger.
Chess pieces. That's all she and Conner had been to all those bastards who'd circled the
Chess pieces.
She was coming.
Kirov watched Hannah walk down the pier toward him. It was almost dawn, and the misty gray light made her figure appear ghostlike and without substance from a distance. As she drew nearer, he could see there was nothing of the phantom about her. Her stride was as purposeful as her expression.
She stopped as she caught sight of him sitting on the deck. 'You were expecting me,' she said flatly.
He nodded. 'Actually, I thought you'd be here sooner. I was betting you'd come back as soon as you found out Bradworth was an exercise in futility. You're not one to waste time once a decision is made.'
'And what decision did I make, Ivanov?'
'Call me Kirov. Both the CIA and I prefer the world think my alter ego is dead these many years. It's safer for me.'
'What decision did I make, Kirov?'
'That I'm the lesser of two evils. You need help to get Pavski, and Bradworth isn't aggressive enough for you.'
'And are you aggressive enough?'
He smiled. 'Oh, yes. Ask Bradworth.'
'I don't have to ask him. He's already volunteered your dubious credentials. He says you're an assassin.'
'On occasion.'
'That you only want to use me.'
'I do want to use you.'
'And that you'd kill me if I got between you and Pavski.'
'Then you'd better not get between us.'
'I've no intention of preventing you from killing Pavski. I'd hand you the gun.'
'That's kind of you, but I don't like guns.' He leaned back against the rail. 'But I take it that you're extending a helping hand?'
'I want Pavski. I'm not going to take a chance on Bradworth's letting him slip through his fingers.' She stared him directly in the eye. 'You told Bradworth I was yours. I know it was part of the tug-of-war game that you two are playing, but I'll make it true. Everything I know and everything I am are at your disposal. You can help me. I can help you.'
'To get Pavski.'
'To get Pavski. What else?'
'And you're not heeding Bradworth's dire warnings?'
'I'm heeding them. I'm just not acting on them. Why should I? I don't trust him. I don't trust either of you. I'm not even sure that there is a Pavski or that he's responsible for Conner's death. As soon as I get back to Boston, I'm going to call the congressman and ask him to check out all the information he can gather on Pavski.'
'Very wise.'
'And about Dimitri Ivanov.'
'Even wiser. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to twiddle my thumbs here until you check us out. I'm sailing in
