Chapter 4

Kestrel went to the kitchen and started to cook. He hadn't made pierojkis for a long time, since Alpha's death, in fact. And cooking them again brought back good and less good memories. He concentrated on the good ones, and soon a faint smile was playing on his lips as he made the dough. He finished it as the pilot announced the take-off, and hastily secured his meal as the plane started gaining speed and height.

Once the Paladin reached his flying altitude, he stood up again and resumed his cooking. He even switched on the music on his smartphone, and listened to the titles he had asked Charlie to put in it months ago, but hadn't listened to yet. He thought about Alpha when hearing them, but the pain was almost gone, and he was smiling. He rejoiced at being able to think about her without guilt and grief, and being able to bring back memories without hurting too much. But when his smartphone played the slow dance Say you, Say me, he started to tremble and shut his eyes tight, fighting his urge to toss the phone across the room. He forced himself to stay put, and replayed in his mind this wonderful dance with Alpha in a pub nearly two years ago. He breathed heavily, forcing down the sadness and longing, and kissed the Alpha in his memory. He missed her much, but she was dead and couldn't come back, he had accepted it. He just wanted to let her rest in peace, and wring the necks of the bastards who dug her body out of the grave.

The song ended, followed by a Russian title from his youth, and his thoughts wandered on Voron and their intentions. Nothing good could come out of their sudden interest in Fourth Echelon, and he was determined to avoid his former agency as much as possible. He finished the pierojkis and looked at his OPSAT to know the time. 7.15, he read. But a message was waiting to be read. Frowning slightly, he opened the small text. It read: "We need to talk in private. Meet me after dinner in the cargo hold. Sam."

He wondered why Sam had to send him a message via his OPSAT when he could have told him directly. But then he remembered that Sam had made his gesture with his head indicating that something wasn't right. So he pushed the matter in the back of his mind for the moment, and took out his apron full of flour, washed his hands and grabbed his smartphone. Then he headed back to the control room for the meeting.

At precisely half past seven, Sam called his team.

_ Meeting, everyone!

They all gathered around the console, and Sam saw with satisfaction that they were exhausted but focused on the job.

_ So, he said, let's take stock on what we know. Grim?

_ Sarto's probably in Venezuela, she answered. He has an old friend there, a Brasilian arms dealer named Paolo Dos Anjos. He's in the country near the boundary with Brasil, but he shifts location every week, so he's quite difficult to track. I was thinking about putting someone special on his tracks.

_ You don't think about... Briggs started.

_ Kobin, Sam said grimly.

Grim nodded, and she shot a nervous glance towards Kestrel, but the guy had his poker face on, and Sam still couldn't read his thoughts when he had this expression on. Kobin had been released a short time after Alpha's death in exchange of his entire cooperation with Fourth Echelon, and he had come back to Malta, resuming his arms dealing. Kestrel had not been happy about it, but right now he looked unconcerned. However Sam knew that behind the front the emotions could boil to so high a level that his ops would suddenly lose control and destroy whatever was in his path, as it had happened twice before.

_ Call him, Grim, Sam said at last, and make him tell us where we can find this Dos Anjos.

_ Roger that.

_ Charlie?

_ Sarto escaped thanks to an accomplice in the prison, Charlie said, a guard hired eight months ago. He passed him fake blood to spit out to feign the bleeding and of course knew the course of the van and told the attackers.

_ Who's this guy? Sam rumbled angrily, hating all traitors.

_ The one who survived, Charlie said with a grimace. He disappeared soon after being questioned by the FBI, and when they searched his past they found he had a fake identity and forged papers.

_ Wonderful, grumbled the commander. Now we know why he survived. Can you find his true identity, Charlie?

_ I think so, he said hesitantly, but it'll be hard work.

_ Then you'll start after dinner, Sam said. This man could be the key to know why Sarto has escaped. Why him and not Coudray, who was in the same prison?

_ Okay, Charlie said sullenly.

Sam watched him carefully, and Charlie regained composure under the imperious stare of his boss. But Sam saw that the young tech's mind was somewhere else, and he almost exploded with exasperation. Grim hastily put her hand on his arm, and he saw she had guessed his feelings. He exhaled slowly, shot her a grateful look and turned towards Briggs.

_ And what about Voron?

_ Basically, Briggs said with a disgusted look on his face, all they want is Kestrel's head. The missing torpedoes sure are a thorn in their asses, but what really matters for them is killing who they call "the traitor". And they hope that we'll accept a joint mission and deliver Kestrel to them on a plate.

_ You're sure about it? Charlie asked him. Because I've heard that all Voron wanted was finding the torpedoes and ask Kestrel a few questions.

_ Who told you that, Charlie? Kestrel suddenly demanded to him before Sam could ask.

_ Er... I...

_ I see, Kestrel said menacingly. Your girlfriend again. Isn't she a CIA analyst? How can she know about me and Voron? Only Fourth Echelon knows about my past as a Voron operative, even the CIA thinks I was a spetsnaz since they don't know anything about Voron.

He glared at Charlie, and Sam couldn't help being satisfied at the conversation's turn. Kestrel was asking now what he himself wanted to ask him later on the evening, but now was a good time. Charlie looked like a cornered animal, and was watching Kestrel's balled fists with great anxiety.

_ Look, Kestrel, I... I told her about you with Voron, but...

_ And what else did you tell her? Kestrel shouted, shaking with fury. You told her about Alpha and her grave too?

Charlie was trembling, but Sam did nothing to stop Kestrel. The guy's threatening attitude was working wonders on the young geek.

_ I... maybe I... I told her about it...

Kestrel's swing punched the computer screen behind Charlie's head, an inch from the young man's terrified face. Then Kestrel took Charlie by his neck and smashed him against the desk.

_ Kestrel! Grim shouted.

_ I trusted you! Kestrel yelled at Charlie, throttling him. And you told her all about me! Now Alpha's body has been fucking stolen! Voron fucking knows about me in Fourth Echelon! And it's all your bloody fault! I should kill you!

_ Kestrel! Sam intervened at last. Let him go, please.

Kestrel held on for a few more seconds, then let go. Charlie slumped on the floor, coughing and clutching his throat. Kestrel shot him a heinous glare then left the room, and Sam saw a murderous glance in his eyes.

_ Briggs, he turned to his other ops, can you... ?

_ On my way.

_ Do not approach him yet.

_ Don't worry, I know. We're persona non grata in the Washington's Hedgehog pub since he smashed the furniture to pieces with throwing on it some drunk son of a bitch who insulted him.

_ Okay, Sam said, not really surprised.

Briggs left, and Sam knelt in front of Charlie, who was breathing heavily, dismay on his face.

_ Are you all right?

_ No, the tech murmured. How could I be all right? I trusted her, and she betrayed me. And now I lost Kestrel's trust, along with yours, I assume. Kestrel's right, it's all my fault.

Charlie was in shock, and Sam took pity on him. He knew the young man could be very naive and straightforward, not seeing the danger or thinking that the people he met could mean evil. He put a hand on the tech's shoulder, and said gently:

_ You made a mistake. I told you long ago that what happened in Fourth Echelon must stay aboard the Paladin at all times. Now you know why. Some secrets must be kept for very good reasons. The damage you've done is huge, but you're gonna make it up for it. And the very first thing you're going to do is learn everything you can about your girlfriend, and why she told our enemies about Kestrel's whereabouts. I suppose you told her a lot about us too?

_ No, not really. In fact, she was mostly interested in Kestrel, but I didn't see it was suspect. She told me she worked on Russian special forces within the CIA.

Sam breathed deeply, then stood up and held out his hand to Charlie. He pulled the tech on his feet, and said:

_ Go to the infirmary and put some ice cubes on your throat. Grim will accompany you. I'll go and see Kestrel.

_ I won't be able to look at him in the eyes again, Charlie moaned, devastated.

_ Time will arrange that, but for now avoid angering him and concentrate on finding the data we need.

Charlie nodded and left, escorted by a disgruntled Grim. Sam braced himself, then headed toward the training room.