Gwynn swallowed hard.“No . . . I . . . I mean . . .”
Anya pressed her fingerto Gwynn’s lips. “Shh. I know what you mean, but you mustremember. I am well trained to make anyone believe anything I want.If you believe I choose to be here, this is only because it is what Iwant you to believe. I am actress. Just ask Viktor Volkov.”
13
VASHLICHNYY UBIYTSA
(YOUR PERSONAL ASSASSIN)
Gwynn shoved pastAnya but turned after a few strides through the foyer. She threw anaccusatory index finger toward the Russian. “You told me you’dnever do that, and I trusted you.”
“I told you I wouldnever do what?” Anya demanded.
Gwynn scowled. “Iswore I would never lie to you, and you swore you’d never seduceme. I’m not your enemy!”
Anya’s gaze fell tothe floor as Gwynn stormed away.
Fifteen minutes later,the teakettle whistled, and Anya balanced two mugs in one hand as shelightly tapped on the door to Gwynn’s bedroom.
“What?” came theharsh reply.
“I made for you tea,and I would like to talk with you.”
Gwynn sat up in bed.“I’ll take the tea, but I’m not in the mood to talk.”
Anya twisted thedoorknob and crossed the floor without a sound.
Gwynn reached up forthe steaming mug, and Anya sat on the edge of the bed. “If you donot wish to talk, this is okay. I will tell to you what I have tosay, and then I will leave you alone.”
Gwynn blew across thesteaming tea, ignoring her intruder.
Unfazed, Anya said,“I’m sorry. I did not mean to be unkind. I was only making pointabout how it is easy for me to make others believe something that isnot true. I know you are not my enemy. You are the only girlfriend Ihave ever had. I need for you to know one important thing, and thisthing is absolute truth.”
She paused to take asip, and Gwynn couldn’t hold her silence any longer. “How can Itrust you, Anya? How do I know whatever you’re about to tell me isthe truth and not just part of your whole ruse to fool everyonearound you, including me? Huh? How can I know?”
Anya set her mug on thenightstand. “You will know it is truth because you can test me, andyou will know instantly if I am telling the truth.”
In spite of her anger,Gwynn listened intently as Anya continued. “I am not doing this ofmy own will, and you know this is true. But you didn’t have toarrest me and threaten for me to go to prison for rest of my life toget me to do these things for you.”
Gwynn lowered aneyebrow. “What are you talking about? You said you weren’t hereby choice.”
“This is true, but Iwas given no real choice. Prison or this thing we are doing . . .this was my choice. No one would choose to go to prison, even if itis American prison.”
“Then what are yousaying?”
Anya licked her lips.“If you had come to me with tea and asked me to help you stopRussian mafia, I would have said yes without threat of prison.”
Gwynn placed her mugbeside Anya’s. “Are you telling me you would’ve volunteered forthis assignment if we’d asked?”
She nodded. “This isexactly what I am telling you.”
Gwynn curled her legsbeneath her and leaned toward the Russian. “That’s easy for youto say now, but there’s no way to go back in time and test thisclaim of yours.”
Anya took Gwynn’shand in hers. “Is not necessary to go back in time. To test mywords, you only have to free me from Agent White’s threat to sendme to prison, and then ask for my help. If I walk away, I have failedtest, but if I stay with you to finish job, you will know my wordsare true.”
Gwynn stared in wonderat Anya, weighing her words carefully. “You do understand that Idon’t have the authority to free you from this agreement with theJustice Department, right?”
Anya nodded. “Yes, Iknow this is not something you can do alone, but you can take offerto Special Agent White.”
Gwynn flattened awrinkle in the sheets around her legs. “Anya, if I do this, and itgets approved, and then you disappear, my career is over. They willbury me in the basement of the DOJ, and I won’t see the light ofday until I retire in thirty years at the same pay grade I am now.That’s if they don’t charge me with collusion for helping youescape.”
Anya sucked her bottomlip. “I know you do not have reason to trust me, but I believe weare doing something good. I have no loyalty to my former country andespecially none for the criminals like Leo in Miami and ViktorVolkov. I am not sure exactly what Volkov is doing yet, but we willknow soon. Whatever it is, I think he is criminal and should bestopped.”
Gwynn lifted her mug.“I don’t know, Anya. You just put on a performance about how youcould make anyone in your world believe whatever you want. You’re acon artist—maybe the best in the world at it. I can’t tell thedifference between sincerity and performance art from you. I willtell you this much, though. There’s no way I’m taking this crazyoffer of yours up the chain until we’re finished with thisassignment. Volkov is committing fraud to the tune of millions ofdollars per year. We may not know exactly how he’s doing it, butthere’s no question it’s happening. When this is over and Volkovis behind bars, you and I will have this conversation again, but I’mnot making any promises tonight. It’s not happening.”
Anya stared into theair above Gwynn’s bed. “Okay. Thank you for listening. I willleave you alone now, just as I promised.”
Gwynn laid a hand onAnya’s knee. “Spasibo for the tea.”
Anya covered Gwynn’shand with her own. “You are welcome for tea. Good night.”
Anya pulled the doorclosed as she crept back into the hallway. For most of her life,sleep had come easily for the Russian, but the lingering regret ofwhat she’d done to Gwynn left her restless, though that wasn’tthe only thought pouring through the assassin’s mind. Havingclaimed to be willing to continue working with the Department ofJustice, even without the threat
