Silent Thunder

'Why do you run any risks at all? You're obviously smart and very talented.'

'How clever of you to be that perceptive.'

'You're dodging.'

She shrugged. 'I lived on the edge for many years. I got used to it. Every now and then I'm still tempted to dip my toe back in the mire.' She glanced at the door through which Kirov had disappeared. 'I sometimes wonder how he'll be when he manages to kill Pavski.'

'He'll handle it.'

She was silent a moment before she stirred. 'Yes, of course.' She looked at the coffee carafe. 'Coffee with pizza? What are you thinking? I'll open a bottle of wine.'

They were on their third bottle of wine when Eugenia received the call on her cell for which she was waiting.

She grabbed a pen from her bag and started writing on a napkin. 'Got it. Many thanks.' She hung up the phone and beamed at Kirov. 'Am I not wonderful?'

'Are you?'

'Magnificent. Clever.' She nodded. 'And very well connected.'

'And a tiny bit tipsy?' Hannah asked.

'On wine? Vodka was my mother's milk. I'm merely mellow. It was good drinking with friends. Usually, I have to be careful.'

'Eugenia,' Kirov said.

'I'm getting to it. I just wanted a bit of praise.'

'You're fantastic. Now talk to me.'

'There's an antiques dealer in Fairfield, Connecticut, who specializes in interesting imports. The type of imports that one obtains outside the twelve-mile territorial waters limit and brings in under the cover of night.'

'Are we talking about narcotics?'

'No, nothing quite so distasteful. He buys jewelry, medallions, documents, and small trinkets with questionable ownership. Objects that may have been liberated from Eastern Bloc museums and government special collections in the past ten or fifteen years. His name is Boris Petrenko.'

'Why would he interest me?'

'Because he also imports people. He arranges passage for Eastern Europeans who want to slip into the country undetected. He uses the same network that he does for his antiques. He picks them up and brings them in along with his purchases.'

'Do you know him?'

'Not personally.'

'Interesting. Why do you think he may be involved with Pavski?'

'According to my sources, he's been boasting about a very rich deal he made for himself. A last-minute job to bring in three very important visitors from Russia.'

'Who?'

'I know I'm a miracle worker, but I'll need a bit more time for that one. I'll work on it. All I know is that he was boarded by the Coast Guard shortly before dawn Saturday, and the men slipped overboard several miles from shore.'

'Did they make it?'

'Apparently. He received the balance of his payment Monday morning.'

'How was he paid?'

'Can't help you.' She poured herself another glass of wine. 'Do your own work. His shop is at 1408 Post Road.'

'The timing is certainly right,' Hannah murmured.

'It's worth checking out.'

'But not tonight,' Eugenia said. 'It's 2:00 A.M. Tomorrow morning is soon enough. His shop is closed, and unless you want to roust him from his bed… You don't even know that he's your man.'

Kirov looked at Hannah. 'Your choice.'

She thought about it. 'We'll be at his shop when it opens in the morning.'

'Good,' Eugenia said. 'Because we have this perfectly wonderful bottle of wine to finish.'

ELEVEN

'It's good to see them doing so well.' Congressman Preston stared out the sliding glass door of Cathy's kitchen at Ronnie and Donna playing in the backyard with an assortment of Star Wars toys. 'They're amazing kids.'

'I'm lucky. Ronnie is taking charge of Donna. He keeps her busy. Heck, he tries to take charge of me, too.' Cathy poured coffee into George's cup. 'It's worse at night. At bedtime they're alone with their thoughts, and there's nothing to distract them.' She stared blindly out the door. 'I thought I was so tough, but I'm not. How can I help them when I can't even help myself? How does anyone recover from something like this, George?'

'I don't know,' he said quietly. 'But they will heal. And so will you.'

'I know we will. It's just difficult to see that time right now.' She sat down across from him at the kitchen table. 'So what brings you here?'

'I wanted to see how you're doing.'

'Uh-huh. You could have picked up the phone. So why are you here?'

'You don't think I'm sincere?'

'You're very sincere. But you're an extremely busy man, and you just saw me at your office a few days ago. What's up, George?'

He shrugged. 'The CIA called me yesterday. A man named Bradworth.'

'Why?'

'Because they weren't pleased about my information-gathering on Silent Thunder. Evidently it aroused some interest at Langley.'

Her eyes widened. 'Are you serious? What did you tell him?'

'The truth. I don't lie to U.S. intelligence agents. Particularly when he said your sister-in-law may be in danger. It seems she's associating with a man, Kirov, who may not be trustworthy.'

She frowned. 'I never heard of this Kirov. She called me a couple days ago and told me she was tracking down a lead. But Hannah wouldn't keep secrets from me if it concerned Conner's death. Bradworth told you this?'

'You know Bradworth?'

'I met him the day Conner died. Hannah doesn't trust him.'

'Well, he's very concerned about her. He's afraid that this man might be using her for his own purposes.'

'What purposes?'

'Search me. But if you talk to her, it might be wise to tell her to come home.'

'Why didn't Bradworth come and talk to me himself about this?'

Preston didn't respond.

Cathy stared at him for a long moment as the realization hit. 'He wanted you to talk to me.'

'Cathy, I-'

'He thought it would carry more weight coming from someone I trusted.'

'Okay, he did want me to talk to you. But I didn't argue with him. If your sister-in- law has even a possibility of being in danger, I thought you should know.'

'So now I know.' Cathy stood up. 'Tell Bradworth you completed your errand. You can also tell him to talk to me directly from now on.'

He made a face. 'Believe me, I will.'