Chapter 37

At precisely 2.43 pm, Sam walked back in the living room, followed by Grim. After a well-earned nap and some nice cuddling, they had a shower together and Sam felt ready to go back to work. Only Kestrel was there, asleep on his sofa, still looking like a half-restrained madman with the sling and the neck brace. But when Sam approached him softly, extending his hand to shake his shoulder, he started and awoke abruptly, seizing Sam's arm in a grip so strong Sam fought back a wince.

_ Whoa, sleepyhead! he said calmly. Relax! I didn't want to make you jump! Could you release me, please?

Kestrel, obviously awoken in the middle of an unpleasant dream, did not oblige at once. His eyes had trouble focusing on Sam, and he had a ferocious expression on his face. But when he recognized his boss, he opened his right hand and let go of Sam's arm.

_ Извините меня, Sam. (I'm sorry)

_ Bad dream? Sam asked, massaging his arm.

_ Yes.

Kestrel didn't elaborate, a grim expression on his face, and Sam didn't push him. He had a slight suspicion that the treason of Voron wasn't far from his ops' thoughts and nightmares, but he didn't want to rub salt into the wound. He offered his hand to him and helped him sit up on the sofa. Then he seated himself next to Grim on the opposite sofa as Briggs and Charlie were entering the room. Charlie sat in front of Grim, laptop oh his knees and Dubov's smartphone connected to it. He addressed Kestrel:

_ Do you remember the numbers of the sentences?

_ Yes, Kestrel answered. I'll sign the appropriate number to you.

_ Good.

_ Are you ready, both of you? Sam asked them seriously.

Charlie nodded gravely and Kestrel said "Yes". And at three o'clock sharp, the smartphone rang. Charlie picked up the line and put on the loudspeaker. Kestrel had told him that in these cases the caller was to speak first. Avilov's voice resonated in the room, and Sam found it very unpleasant, like a chalk on a blackboard.

_ Raven, Eagle there. Did you reach ckeckmate?

Kestrel signed the number four, and Charlie hastily pressed a key, so Dubov's fake answer appeared spontaneous and natural.

_ Kestrel wasn't there.

_ Where do the birds have their nest?

_ Voron's headquarters, Charlie made Dubov say, following Kestrel's number three sign.

Silence followed the simple word. Avilov clearly didn't expect the answer telling him that Dubov and Malkine were back to Russia, following Fourth Echelon.

_ Why haven't the raptors reported to the Eagle? Avilov asked with anger.

Kestrel signed twelve before Avilov finished his question, and Dubov answered him right on time.

_ The agents will be targeted, but I can't say anything more.

Avilov stayed silent for a few seconds, and Sam knew that the answer, telling Eagle that Fourth Echelon was aware of the two Voron ops and prevented them from communicating, was bothering him. Then Avilov spoke a last sentence, and Kestrel hastily signed one to Charlie.

_ The raptors will be contacted for the next hunt as planned.

_ Yes.

The line went dead, and Sam smiled. They wouldn't have to worry until the next day. He waited for Charlie to track down Avilov's phone and nodded at Kestrel. The ops wiped out some sweat on his forehead, breathing deeply, then smiled back.

_ Got him! Charlie said at last. He's back in Russia, thank God!

_ Well done, you two! Sam rejoiced. That was really good work, and you've bought us precious time. So let's take advantage of it.

_ Hang on, Kestrel said, eyebrows furrowed. Where is Avilov in Russia exactly?

Charlie zoomed in on the map displayed on his laptop, frowning in concentration, then announced, articulating with difficulty:

_ Saint Petersburg. Vassilievski island. If you want a more precise street, I'll...

_ No need, Kestrel said calmly. Avilov is at Voron's headquarters there, so Kossiak isn't there, probably in Moscow. That's standard security procedure in case one of the headquarters is under attack.

_ So Voron's headquarters in St Petersburg are there, Sam said thoughtfully. That could be interesting.

Kestrel had a joyless smile.

_ If you really want to know, Sam, Voron has eleven hideouts, aside from the headquarters, in the lone city of Saint Petersburg. And the main headquarters are in Moscow among fifteen hideouts.

_ Oh!

_ Yes, Kestrel said apologetically. I'm afraid Russian spies are a lot more paranoid than American ones.

_ That doesn't surprise me, Briggs said darkly.

_ Okay, Sam said. Let's get back to the problem at hand.

He caught Kestrel's stare, and the ops grabbed the phone at his feet. He dialed Kossiak's number, and the line was picked up after two ringings.

_ Da?

_ If you look for perfection, you'll never be content, Kestrel said in Russian.

_ Tolstoi, my favourite author, Kossiak said calmly. I have a book written by him in my bookcase, you're lucky. And it's Anna Karenina, what a coincidence.

_ Hi, Falcon. So you checked my story, I hear.

_ Yes, and you were right, Kestrel. I owe you an apology for calling you a liar.

_ I have a lot to tell you, Falcon. Bad news.

_ Me too, Kestrel. The thing is, many Voron ops support Eagle. I don't know who to trust, except Kite. And I'm not a hundred percent sure I can trust you either.

_ I understand that, Kestrel replied calmly. I'm in the same situation. But if we don't work together the war is inevitable, and that is unacceptable, Falcon. Would you agree to meet me and my team?

_ No, not your team, Kestrel. You alone if you want, and unarmed.

_ Okay, but the same applies to you, Falcon.

_ Where do you want to meet? Not in the US, I refuse.

_ And not in Russia. I was thinking about neutral territory. Ideas?

_ How about Indonesia?

_ Yep, maybe. Or Thailand?

_ Bangkok? Why not?

_ Okay, a busy plaza, then.

_ Of course, Kossiak said. Better for the two of us.

_ Yes, but it's not you who's bothering me, Falcon. I risk my life with this meeting, I do hope you realize it. If Voron knows about it...

_ I won't tell them, Michka. I swear on my twin brother's grave.

Sam saw Kestrel's eyes darken in sadness. He had also lost his best friend Ivan, Igor Kossiak's twin.

_ But what if your team captures me, Michka? Can I trust you?

_ I swear on my love's ashes that are in this bloody sunken submarine that me or my team mean you no harm, Igor, Kestrel said solemnly. I just want to talk to you and see if we can help each other.

_ Okay, I trust your word, Kossiak said finally. When can you be in Bangkok?

_ Let's see, Kestrel thought aloud. We're on January 2th, and in Thailand...

Sam signed "four" with his right hand, and Kestrel gave him the thumbs-up, adding:

_ Right, let's meet on the 4th at 9 am for the local time, agreed?

_ Okay, Kossiak answered. Victory Monument, does that suit you?

_ Yes, Kestrel acknoweledged, knowing the place.

_ Right, I can't stay any longer. See you in two days, Michka.

_ Take care, Igor.

The line went dead, and Kestrel hung up, worry on his face. Sam wanted to comfort him, but he didn't know what to say, except maybe...

_ Don't worry, Kestrel, he said at last. You won't be alone. Briggs and I won't be far from you, we'll blend in the crowd. I know Victory Monument, a good choice.

Kestrel simply looked at him and blinked once, since he couldn't nod. Sam asked him:

_ Who is Kite? Valentina Stepankova?

_ Yes, Kestrel confirmed. My former supervisory agent is a legend among Voron ops. It is said, though she never confirmed it, that she met you in Moscow some twenty years ago but didn't realize who you were before it was too late and you already gone.

_ Really? Sam was astonished. And what was I doing in Moscow twenty years ago? My God, twenty years ago?

_ She never said anything about it, Kestrel smirked, but the rumours circulating among the ops state that you were spying the director of the GRU, and that she was supposed to prevent you from doing so, but she failed. You supposedly recorded a conversation in the director's bedroom by hanging from the balcony fifty meters above ground, and when she saw you it was too late, you had disappeared like a ghost. You see, Kestrel beamed at him, your fame in Russia is quite old.

_ I'll take it as a compliment and not a brutal reminder of my approaching sixties, Sam grumbled, making everybody laugh at his disgruntled expression. Right, we'll leave the chalet first thing tomorrow, so gather your belongings and do some housework.

The team got up and soon dispersed in the chalet, and Sam sighed inwardly. The few days they had spent there had been so tense and full of surprises that he doubted his team had had enough rest. But it would have to do. They had a war between two major countries to avoid, and another one to wage against some traitors in Voron. And he wouldn't bet on which one would be the bloodiest if the two happened.

Thanks for reading! Chapter 38 coming soon! ;)