CHAPTER 4
=== Alaska 2002 ===
Anton Simeonov cursed and tried again to move the locomotive's emergency brake. In vain. The damned thing was blocked, since this idiot of engineer had fallen on it during the fight. And the electric controls were gone, too! He had to think fast! They mustn't pass the transfer point! He turned back to get to his men again. Catching his distorted reflection in one of the metal panels, he gave himself a short grin. He WOULD outsmart them all, this time like all the times before!
=== Moscow 1994 ===
The flickering neon light over the mirror in the bathroom showed his face in a horrific, eerie manner. Anton stretched his fingers to the reflection and traced the lines as if he would see himself for the first time in years. Yes, he hadn't looked into a mirror very often lately… Because I had no time or because… I was afraid what I would find?
He stared into his eyes like hypnotized. Was there a sign in them of what he had done? Strangely enough, he found nothing betraying the raid into the National Guards barracks or the 'minor issues' before; nothing betraying the dead he had left behind. And every time, it had been easier than before. Every time a tiny bit of his conscience was left behind dead, too… What have I become?
Anton switched the light off and walked back into the living room in semi darkness. How silent it was! Too silent. Natalya had not called again since this unfortunate dinner over a year ago. He was longing for her that much, but he had not been able to reach her. Either she had changed her number or address or both…
He fell into one of the chairs and let his head sink in his hands. In doing this, he discovered a small trace of dried blood on his left shoe; a reminder from the National Guards' barracks. Grabbed by sudden anger and disgust, he slipped out of the shoes and hurled them through the room. By chance, one of them hit Natalya's framed picture. It shattered into dozens of pieces.
=== Alaska 2002 ===
The train rumbled below them. Fast, all too fast! Alex Brooks stared down, his pulse hammering nearly in the rhythm of the train. This was suicide! A hasty glance to the woman standing half a step closer to the rim. "Now!" Natalya whispered. "It's the only chance!"
He drew a last, deep breath, then grabbed her hand – and both jumped.
Brooks landed in the middle of the wagon roof and managed to get a foothold. Natalya slipped down at the side and would've fallen, hadn't he grabbed her just in time. With some effort he pulled her up on the icy metal.
"What now?" He had to shout to overcome the howling wind smashing snow and ice into their faces. She pointed ahead, to the locomotive and already fought her first steps forward. She was a hunter on the prowl for a prey she had failed to catch for nearly 7 years now!
=== Moscow 1995 ===
Natalya Verenkova sat in one of the MFS's briefing rooms and stared down at the files in the folder her supervisor had just handed her over.
"The photo was taken by a security camera two months ago," sounded his voice through the room. The cold blue light showed every detail merciless, punched every one of the dark letters in her mind.
"We have every reason to believe this man is the mastermind behind all these criminal acts listed below, agent Verenkova." He walked on and off in front of her, blowing little rings of smoke in the air, and from time to time tipping his cigarette over the trash bin. "The robbery of the weaponry depot in Obrinsk, of the National-Guard's barracks here in Moscow, and the assault on the cargo train to Ivanovo. We believe he is part or maybe even the head of an extensive weapons-smuggler-ring, and he has contacts to other sectors of the organized crime. This-" The supervisor pointed at the dossier, "might only be the top of the iceberg! Simeonov is a dangerous man. A very dangerous man."
Natalya still stared at the photography on top of the first page. This can't be… it has to be a mistake…. Unconsciously, her fingers moved over the picture in a caressing gesture. This is not true. Anton would never do such things! This is an error!
However, she rested silently, while her supervisor continued to enumerate the criminal acts imputed to Simeonov. Her mind fought violently against every word. She clutched her left hand around the chair in order to prevent herself from simply jumping up and running out of the room.
She had eventually tried to make it up with Anton nearly 8 months ago, and they had met several times since then. She had noticed he lived in a comfortable apartment again. The interior hadn't been luxurious, but decent and modern, and his cloths had been the same. He had told her working now as a strategic advisor, however had been elusive, whenever she wanted to know some details. To be honest, he had been vague concerning a lot of things… Natalya hadn't wanted to poke deeper – she was just happy then to have him back; grateful for the hours they spent together! Anton had been as gentle, charming and nice as during the first years of their relationship. She had refused to discern the changes he clearly displayed when he thought to be unwatched.
Only now, with this dossier in her hands, the memory showed her everything coldly and recklessly. She saw Anton silently leaving the bed at night, wandering around smoking or standing at the window, staring into the night. She saw him taking telephone calls and end them abruptly when she entered the room. She saw his features changing, when he believed to be alone, as if an invisible hand had wiped away all the boyish charm and exposed something else, something terrifying! The expression of a cold determination, of a haunted desperation – something Natalya did not dare to explore.
One day, when she had been alone at his apartment, she went on search for a headache – medicine. In one drawer, which he obviously had forgotten to lock, because the key was still on it, she found not only his old army pistol, but a whole weapons collection, including a new 'Scorpion'.
"It's a dangerous country," was all Anton answered when she asked him later. And Natalya had just WANTED to believe everything was perfect and fine! He didn't tell her all things – but could she blame him for that? She didn't tell the real nature of her journalist job, too… On one hand, because her new superiors had forbidden, on the other, because she did not know where to start. So, there were a lot of unsaid things and some lies between them, when they had parted 3 months ago. Maybe… too much unsaid things and lies! Now, Natalya remembered it had been the first time they were together and had not spoken about plans for a future marriage! In fact, they hadn't spoken about the future at all!
We have lived in the past… in our memories…
"… Agent Verenkova, do you have a problem with this assignment?"
She startled and looked her supervisor straight in the eyes. "No, Sir."
"That's good. There were some voices who thought you not fit to handle this. However, I was convinced you are the right choice, especially because you were in a … close relationship with the asset."
"Thank you for your trust," Natalya answered automatically, holding the now closed folder with the dossier in ice cold fingers. Her mind raced. So many things suddenly stood in quite a different light! They have used me, to get to Anton! … They observed me!
Her thoughts switched back to the day when the MFS recruited her… Because of her language skills, they had said, because of the sharp mind she had shown in her reports… Had this been the truth, or had something else motivated them?
No, this is not true, this can't be true! … Anton cannot have committed such crimes! Not he; he's such a wonderful and warm hearted man! … What shall I do? What on earth shall I do now?
"… We have pinpointed Simeonov's actual whereabouts. Was not easy; this man understands it to cover his tracks!" The supervisor handed another little paper over. A first glance said her that this was another address than last time they had met. "We suppose, somewhere is a leak, and if we start the police operation, Simeonov will get a hint and vanish!"
I'm not suspected, it crossed Natalya's thoughts, and a second later this particular thing confirmed for her she had been watched at least for some months – and the MFS was sure she wasn't that leak!
"… It will be your task to hold Simeonov in the actual spot, until our men arrive and can arrest him."
She opened her mouth, tried to say something, but had no chance. Her supervisor had turned the back to her at the moment and did not even notice her expression, when he continued: "I'm sure you'll come up with something creative in this matter, Agent Verenkova!"
"I will do my best, Sir."
"No doubt." Now he turned again. "It will be a great service for Mother Russia! Our land is inundated with these sorts of ruthless criminals. We have to fight back hard!"
…
Natalya had been nearly running the last part of the way. What she was about to do was risky, very risky. However, she saw no other option! The dossier in her bag weighed heavily – not the paper, but what was written on it. All those horrifying, unbelievable accusations! She had pondered about it since she had received this assignment some hours ago. Of course, her duties were clear, there was no such thing as an 'option'! But life didn't only consist of duties, she was no robot; even her supervisor had to know that! And he does for sure, the warning voice inside her head whispered. You can't do that! This is treason!
She checked the address again and walked yet faster. Only one block to go! It was getting dark; but the urbain area in which she was at the moment, was considered relatively safe. There it was, number 35; a newly renovated apartment building! Natalya pressed her bag closer to the chest and crossed the last few steps separating her from the entrance. Had someone watched her? Someone from the MFS? If so, they would think for sure, she was just handling her assignment, Natalya tried to reassure herself.
A moment later, she stood at the door which after the words of her supervisor, should lead to Anton's actual home. No name indicated him. She hesitated, staring at the fissures in the door's paint what seemed hours. Until she heard loud voices from the inside. One of them doubtlessly was belonging to Anton Simeonov. There seemed a dissent going on… Natalya rang the bell, but could hear nothing. Probably it had been deactivated or was out of order. She knocked several times – and eventually the door flung open and she looked into the barrel of a gun, behind which Anton's face displayed anger, and a second later shock.
"Natalya! What are you doing here?"
"I have to speak to you! It's urgent!" Her bad feelings about this grew, when she discerned the two men in the room behind him. One guy in leather outfit, the other in a long coat, under which the silhouette of a weapon was visible. Both looked annoyed and very dangerous. Natalya thought at her own gun in the bag…
Anton gestured to his other guests. "Out!"
One of the men murmured something she didn't understand, but they both obeyed without discussion.
"How do you know I am here?" Anton asked when they were alone.
She watched him taking the silencer from his Makarov and putting the weapon back in a shoulder belt. It is true! It is all true! it echoed loud just like thunder through her mind. She fumbled for words. "Someone … gave me the address…"
"Someone? What do you mean? No one was supposed to know this place! Natalya, what's going on?"
"Anton, listen, the police are after you!"
He frowned. "What?"
"I'm… I'm a member of the MFS and I got—" She stopped mid-sentence, for a second thinking he would hit her. But then, he only shook his head. "That's a fucking bad joke."
"Listen! I was assigned to hold you back until the taskforce arrives!"
"You? You are an agent of the MFS? So that was your wonderful new journalist job?"
"They came to me and asked if I wanted to serve my country! Look, Anton—"
"You lied to me all those months?" His voice was husky.
"You lied to me, too! About… all this!" She gestured to his weapon and through the room. "You have no job as strategic advisor, haven't you? You steal weapons and sell them to criminals! AM I RIGHT?"
"I have to survive somehow!"
It is true… O God… it is true… "But… people are going to die by these weapons!"
"People have died by these weapons for decades! Only then, no one cared! In fact, I got plenty rewards for the bad killing with the bad weapons!" Anton grabbed a drawer from the sideboard and smashed it on the floor. Various medals glinted in the lamp light. He trampled on the stars, ribbons and colors. "All useless junk! Not even a collector wants to buy it for one shitty Dollar!"
"You are not fair to yourself! The world is simply changing and—"
"Yes, I know. I lived here and saw the changes first hand, my love. Contrary to you! I saw things crumble and crash! And I saw some few reckless corrupt persons smash the rest of the still standing ruins and crawling men, when they didn't come down fast enough! So don't tell me about changes!"
She hadn't seen him ever in such a fury. "Anton… what I try to say is… everybody must adapt, and I know it is not always easy! Please—"
He spread his arms and smiled evilly. "Oh, don't you think I have adapted very well? I get rich at the expense of others. I make huge profits. Isn't that the ideal of the new era?"
"I … don't recognize you anymore. You are so… so sarcastic and cold!" Natalya receded slowly, rejected more than she could bear. "You're not the man I knew once…"
He sneered. "The world is not anymore the one we once knew! Everything I ever believed in, the ideals I served, were declared rubbish and evil! The enemies from yesterday are now our big bosom-friends; so people like me, reminding at the old not-so-friendly times, have to vanish! Our new government threw me out on the streets without ANYTHING to live on! So what did you expect from me? Sit in a doorway and beg, too?"
"Why didn't you ask me for help? We could've found a way!"
He sighed, shook his head and turned away, suddenly sounding very exhausted when he answered: "You didn't even listen, Natalya. You came visiting me in this **** hole I lived in then… and you were so full of admiration for this NEW world, for everything you saw OVER THERE in Berlin, in Munich! How wonderful, shining, modern and right anything was!"
"I worked to make things better in Russia! Many people did!"
"In the MFS?" He retorted ironically.
"In the MFS, too!" She started to get angry. Angry at herself, angry at him, and angry at the whole world.
"Do you remember, this childhood story you told me years ago? The one about the star which had fallen from heaven? 'Even angels' hands can destroy, if they move too fast. And then, the result is worst than devil's work.' Do you remember?"
Her hand was already at the door grip, and with the other she had grasped her bag. "I don't get what this should have to do with committing crimes!"
"Natalya!" Anton tried to grab her arm. "Nothing has changed between us! We—"
"Don't touch me!" She hissed nearly hysterical. "Nothing has changed? You stole, robbed, injured and killed people!"
"I had no choice!"
She was already outside, hurrying towards the staircase. "And you try justifying it on top of all!"
"Natalya! I love you! Wait! Natalya!"
She didn't turn around. She ran downstairs and then left the building through the rear exit. At least, she tried it. In her haste, she slipped over the icy pavement and crushed her head against a garbage container, losing consciousness. It was a piece of luck. When the operatives of the MFS and the police discovered her two hours later, Natalya told them she had fought with Simeonov, he had tried to kill her and thus pushed down the last stairs. They believed her. The apartment had been empty, when the police kicked the door. No trace of Anton Simeonov.
