“No,” Wakefield said, “it’s not.”
“Shut up, Tammy; I’m not talking to you. If the CIA wants to send Tammy Wakefield after me with a bunch of dipshit agents like Hodges and Franks, ‘cause that’s who they hire nowadays, then fine. I’ll see you coming a mile away. I know how you operate, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m only talking about Heely and his crew.”
“You don’t need to worry about me, Ryan. I’ve been terminated.”
“Good. What about the other two?”
“I’m out, too,” Val said.
“I resigned this morning,” Leecy added.
“Wonderful, then you three have nothing to worry about, and neither do I. Looks like we’ve run out of things to talk about.”
“It does?” I asked, “I have to admit I’m curious.”
“About what?”
“Is whatever Tia promised you really worth betraying your country?”
“Yes, it’s worth it, and do you know why?”
“Can’t wait to learn.”
“In a few months, you won’t recognize that country.”
“Ryan, what does that mean? Ryan? Are you there?” I asked, looking at Zach.
“He’s gone,” Zach said. “He ended the call.”
“Now what?” Leeds asked.
“First thing we need to do is accept that he’s already talked,” I said.
“You don’t know that, Ron,” Wakefield said.
“He’s told Tia and Ilion. I guarantee it. They paid him to roll over on the three of us.”
“He said he would tell, not that he had,” Wakefield argued.
“No, I disagree. In his way, I think Ryan regrets giving us up and he used the phone call to warn me. Think about it, Tammy; he needs money. He doesn’t have any resources. He wouldn’t go on the run empty-handed, and don’t forget, there were two million reasons for him to talk inside that van.”
“What does that mean?” Zach asked.
“It means,” Leecy said, “that this is far from over.”
“We’ve got to find Tia and this Ilion, and stop the hacking operation,” Val added.
“In Russia?” Leeds asked. “This is a right bloody cock up, this is. How am I going to explain this?”
“You don’t,” Wakefield answered. “We don’t. We clean it up.”
“Zach,” I said, “trace the planes that left here last night. We’re looking for the one that landed in Russia. Do you still have that card I gave you?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Good. Trace the number and the address.”
“What are you thinking, Ron?” Wakefield asked.
“That we’ll find the hacking operation at the address,” Valerie answered for me. “And Tia and Ryan and maybe even Ilion wherever the plane landed.”
“Fingers crossed it’s just that easy.”
“Can someone please catch me up?” Leeds asked.
“I think I can help with that,” a voice said behind us.
We turned to see Mr. Furukawa standing in the open doorway of the hangar.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been waiting nearby,” he said, his Asian accent no longer present, but replaced with a hint of a British accent. “After I left you three last night, I came to the airport. I was planning on intercepting Tia when she tried to board the plane she flew to Geneva the other day. I knew she was planning to take the money and run. Then to my surprise, she shows up here with one of your guys. He was with you, correct?” he asked, looking at me.
“He was.”
“So I surmised. I assumed you’d beaten me to her. So I just kept my distance and watched your man approach the silver Gulfstream 6.”
“That’s the plane I arrived in last night,” Leeds interjected.
“Right. Your man approached the plane and called to the pilots to come and help him transfer the prisoners.”
“How could you possibly hear that?” Wakefield asked. “Where were you?”
“I was wearing a maintenance uniform, working on a plane less than twenty-five feet away.”
“Bloody hell,” Leeds said. “Who the hell are you? And why didn’t you stop them from killing those agents?”
Ignoring Leeds, Furukawa continued. “What happened next was so fast. Your man led the pilots to that van,” he pointed at the van with the dead men in it. “He led them around the van to the other side where I couldn’t see. I heard four pops and then the van drove away. Not having any transport at the ready I had to acquire some, but I eventually sped off in the same direction. It took me another hour to find the van stashed inside here. By then I knew I’d lost them. I returned to where I’d last seen the plane Tia flew to Geneva only to find it was no longer there. That’s when I decided to wait and see who showed.”
“And that’s it?” Leeds asked. “That’s bollocks.”
“No, it’s the bloody truth. I’m sorry about your men, but there wasn’t anything I could do to prevent what happened. Believe me; I would’ve stopped him had I known your guy had turned.”
“So you didn’t see who killed the pilots?” Wakefield asked.
“No, they were on the opposite side of the van. Like I said, I couldn’t see. I only heard the shots. May I join you? I’d very much like to help.”
“Sure,” I said extending my hand toward him. “The man that saved my wife and child’s necks, not to mention my own, is welcome in my book.”
“Hold on a second,” Leeds said. “Will somebody please tell me who this chap is, and why the hell we believe anything he has to say?”
“This is Mr. Furukawa,” Val said, looking at Leeds. “He helped us escape Tia’s torture chamber.”
“He what?” Wakefield asked. “I thought he was the mastermind behind the kidnapping.”
“I was,” he admitted, “just keeping up appearances. I prevented anything too bad from happening.”
“And a good thing, too,” I said. “Nice trick with the jumper cables, making sure everyone was behind you so they couldn’t see you never touched me.”
“Yeah,” Leecy agreed. “The same can be said for leaving us loosely tied to the stairs down in the pit.”
“And telling us it was just a family of raccoons living down there,” Val added. “But I’m not as trusting as Ron. Tell me, Mr. Furukawa, or should I refer to you by another name? Who are you working for?”
He smiled, unbuttoning the black overcoat to reveal the Blues Brothers suit he was still wearing, and said, “Furukawa is fine, Valerie. I, like you and your husband, am a freelance operator, currently under contract with MI5.”
“Bollocks. Why in the hell would MI5 contract work they can easily handle internally?” Leeds asked. “Or turn over to Special Branch or MI6?”
“Robert, may I call you Robert?” he asked, but not waiting for an answer. “The reason is plausible deniability, as always. MI5 let the components be stolen in the first place. They didn’t want to be associated with a botched attempt at effecting their return.”
“I still say bollocks.”
“Understandable. But if it helps, I can also tell you that I’ve done business with just about every agency in every country. I’ve even worked for the Mossad. What matters here is I can help. I’ve been embedded in Tia’s operation since shortly after her purchase of the MI5 components last year. My assignment from MI5 was monitoring her work and, when the time was right, shutting down her operation, which is what I was about to do when you showed up,” he said, looking at me, “and blew my chance. That was my device she found that day.”
“What in the hell have you been waiting for?” Wakefield asked. “She’s been hacking US companies for over a year. What more did you need?”
“MI5 gave me very specific orders. I haven’t yet acquired the item I needed to complete my mission.”
“What item?” Leeds asked. “Are you referring to the computers?”
“No,” I answered for Furukawa. “He’s after Tia’s hacking algorithm.??
? I shifted my gaze to Wakefield. “The one Tia used to hack the CIA.”
“Yes,” Wakefield admitted, “she did hack the CIA, but I was ordered not to mention it.”
“Granger’s correct,” Furukawa said. “The end game for me was possession of the algorithm.”
“You say you’ve worked with Mossad?” Val asked, walking toward him. “If you were ever contracted by them, then I know the man that would’ve been your handler.” She said un-holstering her Glock. “Tell me the name of your Mossad liaison officer.”
“Yes, I understand you need verification,” he said, staring at the weapon. “I worked for the same man you worked for during your time with Mossad, Ira Wenzel. Would you like to speak with him right now? I can give you his personal mobile number.”
“Sure, lets…” Leeds started to say, but Val interrupted.
“Hold on, Robert. Tia could’ve gained access to a phone number. No, instead, describe Ira for me.”
“He’s a diminutive man that favors dark gray fedoras during the winter months. He uses a cane and has for thirty years. He looks fragile, but that’s because he prefers out of date three-piece suits that are wrinkled more often than not. But one shouldn’t be fooled by his appearance as his voice is still commanding and authoritative.”
“And what’s Ira known for doing?”
“Spilling food on his shirts and ties.”
“Welcome to the team,” Val said, returning her gun to its holster and shaking his hand, “And thanks for helping us last night.”
“Thank you for welcoming me. Helping you three out of the situation I created was the very least I could do. Now, I heard some of the conversation you were having as I entered the hangar. What were you discussing?” Furukawa asked.
“Tia,” Leeds answered. “But before we go a step further, I want it made crystal clear that you will not be fulfilling your assignment. The algorithm, if we succeed in locating it, is the property of Interpol.”
“Hey, you’ll get no argument from me,” Furukawa said. “I’ve informed my contact at MI5 of the current situation, and he’s ordered me to help you, Mr. Leeds, in any way I can.”
“Great,” Wakefield said. “Now that we’re all on the same page, any ideas on where Tia might be heading?”
“We know Ilion Volodarsky’s plane was waiting to fly her somewhere,” Leecy said. “And Zach’s attempting to track the plane’s destination.”
Holding up a hand, Furukawa said, “Excuse me, but if Zach will check the St. Petersburg airport in Russia, I’m sure he’ll find that the plane landed there.”
“He’s right,” Zach agreed, looking up from his computer. “Using the tail number of the plane we identified last night, I tracked it to Geneva, and from there to St. Petersburg. The address on the card is also in St Petersburg.”
“What about the microdots we planted on the cash?” Wakefield asked.
“Too far out of range. Well, if I could boost the receiver, maybe, but not realistically. We’ve got to be within a mile of the microdot’s transmission signal for the receiver to work.”
“So what are waiting for?” I asked. “Let’s go.”
“What?” Leeds asked. “You’re not suggesting an unsanctioned mission.”
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. I’m going with or without Interpol or the CIA. I don’t report to either organization anymore. Please tell me you’re not thinking of trying to stop me.”
“Ron,” Tammy began, “I appreciate your wanting to help, but I…”
“We’re not asking to help you,” Leecy said. “We’re asking to borrow the plane. We don’t need any help.”
“If they won’t lend you theirs,” Furukawa said, “you can use my plane, as long as I get to come along.”
“To hell with it,” Wakefield said. “Let’s go. Come on, Zach, grab your gear. We’re going to St Petersburg. Robert, I’ll call you if we locate the hackers, and you and your Interpol agents can swoop in and make the arrest.”
“Bloody hell. You’re not leaving me here to explain all this. I’m coming with you.”
Walking toward the hangar’s exit, Wakefield said, “I’ll phone the local authorities about the bodies. Leecy, gather all personal effects from the pilots, and anything left inside the van. Zach, follow SOP for dead agents. Let’s go, people; wheels up in twenty minutes.”
“Hold on,” Furukawa said. “I was told to be of assistance in any way, and if you, Tammy, would allow me, I can have a cleaner come and take care of the van and the bodies inside. I can even arrange for the bodies safe transport back to your country.”
“Do it. I’ll arrange the reception on my end.”
“Very well, and I’ll have the plane met in St. Petersburg with ground transportation. One van or two?”
“Two,” I said, walking toward the open hangar doors.
“Come on, Furukawa,” Wakefield said. “We’ll talk weapons in the air.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ST. PETERSBURG
“THIS IS THE ADDRESS on the card Tia gave you,” Zach said, pointing at the TV screen mounted on the cabin wall of the Gulfstream G550 airplane, where the satellite image of a mansion filled the screen.
“I ran a records check on the property,” Zach continued, “and it belongs to the Volodarsky family.”
“She was telling the truth,” Leecy said.
“Yes, she was,” I agreed. “Question is, did she tell Volodarsky what she divulged to us?”
“I think we check out the house regardless,” Val said. “We don’t have anywhere else to start looking.”
“Having spent a year with Tia,” Furukawa said, “I don’t believe she would own up to doing anything as stupid as having given Ilion Volodarsky’s name and address to the authorities.”
“And why is that?” Leeds asked, looking more himself after spending some time washing up in the plane’s lavatory.
“She’s in love with him, that’s why,” Leecy said. “She’s not about to admit to anything that might jeopardize the relationship.”
“Just so I understand,” Wakefield said, getting our attention, “we’re placing all our eggs in this one basket and betting Tia and Ilion are at this location?”
“Yes,” I said, walking toward the flat screen. “Zach, tell me everything you’ve got on the house.”
“I’m looking at the plans I found on file with the city,” Zach answered. “The home was built sixty years ago.”
“Entrances?”
“Six,” Zach said, studying the architect’s designs. “The main entrance faces the front garden. There are two side entrances located at either end of the house. If you’re facing the house, the side entrance on the left will put you in the kitchen and the other in a solarium that’s connected to a library. Then you have three entrances across the back of the house. Two are on the main floor. One connects the formal living area to the back garden and the other does the same through a downstairs bedroom. The third, I now realize, isn’t an entrance but access to the upstairs patio located off the master bedroom.”
“What about alarm systems?” Leecy asked.
“If one’s active, I can disable it.”
I was still studying the satellite image when Valerie said, “Leecy and I will provide cover from the hillside overlooking the back of the house. Furukawa, can you get your contacts on the ground to provide us with two sniper rifles and ammo?”
“No problem,” he said. “You have something specific in mind?”
“Yes,” Leecy answered for her mother. “Russian-made, with noise suppression.”
“Anything else?”
“No,” I answered.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Furukawa said, moving toward the rear of the plane. “I have a call to make.”
“Me and Furukawa are the entry team,” I began. “We’ll approach from this wooded area near the solarium. Val and Leecy will provide backup on the hill overlooking the back of the house, covering the most likely escape routes. Wakefield, you and L
eeds will cover the front. Tammy, you’re here in this thicket of trees on the eastern corner of the property, covering both the solarium and front exits. Leeds on the opposite side near the kitchen exit, cutting off that escape route and any cars inside the detached garage.”
“And what about me?” Zach asked.
“Don’t worry, Zach,” Leecy said, “when we find the hacking operation you’ll have plenty to do then.”
“You’ll have plenty to do at the house,” Valerie said. “You’ll be watching the road for us and keeping us apprised of any approaching vehicles.”
“Two vans and more than enough weapons will meet us when we land,” Furukawa said, rejoining the group huddled around the flat screen.
Wakefield was looking at her watch. “Zach, issue everyone an earpiece and run diagnostics. We’re live in fifteen minutes.”
*
“Okay, team,” I said, approaching the solarium with Furukawa at my six. “Anyone seeing any movement inside the house or on the grounds?”
“No,” Val said, followed by the others reporting all clear.
“Here we go,” I said, trying the handle of the glass solarium door. “It’s unlocked; we’re inside. Furukawa will check the main level and the basement. I’m heading upstairs. Any movement detected?”
“No, it’s all clear,” Val answered.
“Nothing,” Leeds said. “I don’t think anyone’s home.”
“I’ve got Furukawa in my sights moving toward the kitchen,” Leecy informed us.
Furukawa’s voice broke in. “Sorry, but I’ll have to disagree with Agent Leeds. I’ve got dishes on the table and shoes by the back door. They’re here. Checking the basement next.”
“Car approaching,” Zach informed us. “Green five-door Citroën wagon passing by the van now. It’s turning into the driveway and coming your way, Leeds.”
“Got it. I see it. Parking. It’s a delivery boy. Take cover inside the house; he’s ringing the kitchen bell.”
“I’m taking cover in a bathroom just off the upstairs landing near the master,” I said. “I can hear voices. Bedroom door’s opening. It’s Tia. She’s heading downstairs to answer the door. Do not engage. Let her come back up stairs, Furukawa.”