On the fourth day, the skies above Moscow brightened and a virtual heat wave of not freezing blew into the city. It was what they were looking for. They had narrowed their choice to two buildings, the upper floors of the club and a small warehouse situated behind that building separated by a narrow service alley.
“They might even use both buildings for their operation.” Danil looked around the dingy safe house, wishing his time in this god-awful place would come to an end. At least it was a bit warmer.
“That’s true, Danil,” Donald replied. “It would make sense. One for a public showing and another building for stashing whatever goods they deem profitable at the time. Typical mafia scams.”
“So now what do we do?”
“Now Sasha, we get ready to go. We get ready to take them out.”
“But we still don’t know the layouts of the two buildings other than what we’ve seen in the club.”
“True, but I’m sure in your world as in mine, you never really know all the aspects of what you’re up against. At some point, we just have to rely on ourselves to make the best decisions we can.”
“So, what do we know about this guy? Who is he?”
“His name is Boris Vetrov,” Donald replied. “I’ve been doing a little digging on him the last day or so, trying to find a few things out. He started out about ten years ago as a small-time hit man for the local mafia. He was a real bad-ass and slowly moved up the ranks. Then, a couple years ago, he made a big play. He knocked off the second in command of a certain family and was able to point the finger at someone else. He took advantage of that by killing the person he blamed. He quickly became the voice to listen to. He has power and is aggressive. He isn’t afraid of anyone or anything.”
“And that’s his downfall,” Ivan blurted out.
“Not necessarily, Ivan. Remember those other four guys sitting at the table with him? They’re his infantry, and they don’t back down. Not from the Russian police, not from other gangs. He’s sitting pretty in this section of the city. And he’s got money rolling in. That means he can bribe whoever he needs to look the other way. Although it’s changing, Russia is still a wide open place to make a buck, or lots of them.”
“Let’s see what we’ve got,” Sasha answered.
The rest of the night was spent going over various contingencies, attacks and escape plans. Once the mission was completed, they would split up and go their separate ways to leave the country. Ivan and Polina would leave as a couple, as would Sasha and Anya. Danil would trail Sasha and Anya discreetly, pretending not to be with them in any way. With passports and papers they would travel west and make their escape into Europe. And no one would ever know they were there. Tomorrow night, after the club closed, the mission was a go.
Day Twenty-two
The White House
President Edwin Kiger stood looking out over the lawn of the White House from the Oval Office. He watched as crowds passed by on the streets outside the fenced grounds. One small group had a sign about the actions in the Ukraine. How fitting he thought. The door to the official office of the President of the United States opened and his chief of staff walked in accompanied by the Director of the CIA.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen.”
“Good afternoon, Mr. President,” they said in unison.
“Please, have a seat,” the president said as he extended his arm toward the chairs before the famous desk. “I think you can guess as to why I’ve asked you both here.”
“I can hazard a guess,” Stephen replied.
“Do we have any word on what is happening with our team in Russia?”
“So far, we have heard nothing, sir. I can only think that is a positive sign.”
“I don’t know that I would totally agree with that, Stephen.” President Kiger pulled out his chair and sat down behind his desk. “I don’t always believe that no news is good news. Surely there has to be something, something someone has picked up.”
“Not at this time, sir.” The director looked toward the president’s chief of staff before turning his attention back to the president. “I think if anything had been uncovered in a negative way, we would have heard something back-channel by now.”
“And if it went off without a hitch?” Martin asked.
“Then likely hearing nothing is a positive sign. That would mean the mission was a success and everyone is on their way back without discovery.”
POTUS sat back in his chair and crossed his arms as he sighed. He was hoping for better news, hoping for some news, any news. There just wasn’t going to be any today.
“And we have recovery assets in place?”
“As close as we are able. Ground support is impossible.”
“I understand. Thank you. Keep me posted. I want to hear the minute you get any, and I mean any intel on this.”
“Yes Mr. President,” they replied in unison once again.
Day Twenty-three
Moscow
The sun melted into the western sky, its remnant nothing more than an orange glow blistered across the darkening heavens. Night would settle in over the Russian capital within the hour. He lifted the glass to his lips as the clear liquid filled his mouth. He felt its soft burn against his tongue. It warmed him; something he needed in the midst of this drafty safe house. But he knew it wouldn’t be much longer and this situation would be over. He swirled the drink around the glass before draining it completely. Tonight would end it all.
The crowd continued to build as the evening wore on. It seemed that a Friday night was just like a Friday night anywhere else in the world. For the first time, the place they had watched for days seemed to have a life all its own. Western music filled the club as the dance floor began to come to life and the liquor began to flow. Ivan and Polina watched from a corner booth as youth overtook common sense in the world of the young.
“They sure know how to party.” Polina rolled her glass around on its base. She had a habit of doing that, Ivan noticed.
“You don’t drink much, do you?”
“Not all that much, Ivan. I put that behind me a long time ago. Too many hangovers, too many issues.”
“I hear you.” Ivan extended his legs beneath the table. His face cramped at the effort, just like the muscles in his thighs. “Why can’t they make things for tall people?”
“There’s tall,” Polina said as she looked up to Ivan and smiled, “and then there’s you.”
“Funny.” Ivan smiled back. He felt comfortable with her. “We need to try and blend in a bit more.”
“What do you have in mind?”
Ivan winked as he grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the booth as he stood up.
“No way in hell, stretch.”
But Polina was no match for his strength. One step backward and she was up on her feet. He stooped, bending at the knees as he pulled her toward him. He began to sway, the music moving him from side to side. She thought he looked like a scarecrow flailing in the wind. He smiled again as he pulled her forward. She rolled her eyes as her feet made the edges of the dance floor, and her hips caught the sway of the music.
“Damn you, I love this song.”
The music slowed and Ivan pulled her close. He could feel the shape of her handgun in the small of her back as his hand closed about her waist. She put her hand up to his chest to keep him slightly away. But just slightly.
“Don’t get any ideas.”
“I’m just trying to blend in, remember?”
They stayed on the floor for another song before the booth, and their mission called them back. Another hour passed and more young Moskovites packed the club. They could tell it would be a long night. At least it felt good to be out and around people. Ivan looked up as another couple, this one a bit older closed the door behind them. Anya and Sasha slid along the wall and up to the bar. Sasha fluffed his coat as he straddled the stool. He could feel his own weapon push against his leg. He nodded as Anya ordered their drinks.