“There is an alternative.”
“Alternatives are usually less satisfactory. And I do not have time to accommodate another failure.”
“I can do it before you can get someone else. You would save time.”
“You have already lost me time.”
“I will forgo the balance of the payment. Keep the four million.”
“I would be interested in hearing how you explain that to Abkashvili.”
“I will handle Abkashvili.”
“I don’t like giving second chances. Failure should not be rewarded. It should be punished.”
“With all due respect, failure is what you will have again if you employ someone else,” Bulkvadze pled. “I have seen Garin. I now have a full appreciation of his capabilities. A new team would not. And they would meet with the same fate as my first team.”
Bulkvadze paused but Bor remained silent. Bulkvadze pressed. “Also, assembling a new team would take more time and more money.”
For several seconds Bulkvadze heard only his own breathing, then: “The last location I have for Garin is near Lorton along Route 1, likely toward I-95. That was a few minutes ago. He is in a black Ford Explorer. Partial Virginia license plate VY72.”
A wave of relief and gratitude came over Bulkvadze, but he tried to keep his voice measured and businesslike. “Do you know his destination?”
“Yes. He may be proceeding along I-95, but he will be returning to the location from which he recently left, if he hasn’t returned already.”
“How do you know he will return?”
“I know how he thinks.”
“What is the location to which he will return?”
“I will forward the exact address by text,” Bor replied. “He will not, however, be at that precise location. He will be somewhere in the immediate vicinity, obscured or partially hidden. He will be watching the house at the address you will receive momentarily. Approach accordingly.”
“I will.”
Bor said, “Report immediately upon completion of the assignment with proof of death. You understand what will happen if you don’t succeed.”
Bor terminated the call. A few seconds later Bulkvadze received the text with the address. The wave of relief and gratitude began to recede, to be replaced by concern. He knew he couldn’t assemble another kill team any more quickly than anyone who would’ve replaced him. In fact, since word of the first kill team’s fate would spread rapidly, it was highly likely he couldn’t assemble a kill team at all. Five dead bodies were a powerful deterrent to anyone asked to finish the job.
Bulkvadze would have to complete the task himself. He would’ve preferred otherwise, but now that he had Garin’s location it was feasible. He was experienced. He was a good shot. He was tough. He was strong. And he was intensely motivated.
Bulkvadze took the next exit and drove toward the address in the text. He was in the most elemental of circumstances. Kill or be killed. The simplicity of it all focused his mind. He had but one objective, and every other thing in the world was irrelevant. He found it strangely liberating.
CHAPTER 48
NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
AUGUST 16, 6:11 P.M. EDT
The black Ford Explorer passed the dead man’s house and proceeded to the end of the block before turning right.
“Drop me off at that playground up ahead,” Garin said. “When you get back to Dan’s place make sure to call the FBI and tell them about the bodies in the woods.”
“What about the mole?”
“It’s pretty clear the mole knows about the bodies. Bor or someone associated with Bor killed those men. So it’s not like we’re letting the cat out of the bag.”
“Right.”
“Besides, we can’t just let those bodies lie in the woods. They need to be treated appropriately. Next of kin will have to be notified, arrangements made.”
“Do you want me to come back? Maybe bring some more personnel?”
“I’ll let you know if I need help.”
Knox stopped the vehicle near the playground beyond the view of the dead man’s house. Garin got out and waved Knox onward.
The playground was far from the best vantage point to observe the house. It was nearly two hundred feet from the front and afforded a view of only the front and west sides of the edifice. It would have to do.
The playground did have the benefit of providing a six-foot-high wooden fence that surrounded a collection of trash receptacles. Garin could lean against the fence and be hidden from view from any of the house’s windows. And that’s what he did.
There was no sign of activity. The drapes remained drawn. But for the four dead bodies in the woods behind the house, Garin would’ve concluded that the house had no connection to Bor. A reasonable person would think Bor would abandon the house for fear the four bodies would be discovered nearby. Therefore, reasonable people wouldn’t look for Bor at the house, which was precisely why it was a good place for Bor to be.
Garin settled against the fence and called Dwyer’s cell.
“Dwyer.”
“Congo call you?”
“He did. Those were good men. All my people are good people. They survived Fallujah and Ramadi only to die in tranquil northern Virginia.”
“I’m very sorry for you and their families.”
“Where are you?”
“At the dead guy’s house.”
“Don’t go in.”
“I won’t. But we need to keep eyes on. The execution of your four watchers proves the house is related to our old friend.”
“I’m all in, Mikey. Need anything from us?”
“Is Olivia still there?”
“Right across from me.”
“Can you forward this call to one of your secure phones? I need to give her some information.”
“Hold on.”
The line seemed to go dead for nearly a minute; then Olivia spoke from Dwyer’s communications room. “Michael?”
“Have you spoken to Brandt?”
“I have, and he’s going to brief the president. Not just about Bor, Michael. The Russians are doing peculiar things.”
“What kind of things?”
“There’s been considerable military movement. The Baltics, of course. Some of it appears to be staging movements. But there are Russian troops moving southward near the Caspian also, and Russian naval presence has increased significantly around the Persian Gulf.”
“You told Brandt this?”
“Yes. And he’s going to communicate his concerns to the president.”
“What are his concerns?”
Olivia was embarrassed. “Well, to be honest, I’m not really sure. I’ve told him that Bor’s possible presence in the US at the same time the Russians are involved in large-scale military maneuvers is something the president should be told about. He agreed.”
“There’s more, Olivia. Did Dan tell you about the suspected safe house and the four DGT men who were killed surveilling the house?”
“He did.”
“Also, earlier today five men tried to kill me.”
Garin heard a sharp intake of breath.
“Are you all right?”
Garin tried not to read into Olivia’s reaction, though the gasp made him pause.
“They’re dead. But that puts the exclamation point on everything to date. Not only has there been more than one attempt on my life, but there have been nine related killings in northern Virginia in a span of just a few hours. If there is any doubt something very serious is about to occur, it’s been completely erased.”
“I’ll let Jim know everything. I’m sure he’ll recommend to the president that the full resources of the intelligence community be applied to this.” She hesitated. “Are you all right?”
An expression of concern. Although it might not be anything more than simple courtesy. After all, most people don’t often talk with someone who’s been the subject of multiple assassination attempts. “I’m fine.”