Moment in Time Part 3
Chapter 42
Dead Red
Part 5
Finding Kate in her office, Vikram closes the door and holds up a folder. "This is from Emily Hopper's cloud storage. She archived old FBI files. That's what Grigory Mishkin was after."
"What kind of FBI files?" Kate asks.
"A 1980's Cold War operation to identify and flip Soviet sleeper agents." Vikram pulls out a photo. "This was Anatoly Arkady, the FBI's biggest catch. He defected in 1987 and went into WITSEC as Frank Thomas." Vikram pulls out another photo. "And this is Frank Thomas today."
Kate's eyes widen. "That's Anya Mishkin's boyfriend!"
"And look at the woman in the background," Vikram adds. "That's Anya Mishkin. She was also a Soviet agent."
Kate bites into her bottom lip. "Anya's trips to Cold Springs were about a lot more than an illicit affair. And if Grigory found out, that could have been what got him killed. I think Vasily knows a lot more than he's telling. Sit on this. I don't want any of my detectives involved right now. I may need to revive a contact."
Kate signals Rick, who's chatting with Vasily and the boys, to join her in her office.
"Playtime?" he inquires hopefully.
"No, things just got a lot more serious. Babe, you remember Sophia Turner and her gang of sleepers."
"Until the day I die. But Sophia's dead, and her comrades are either dead or in prison."
"Maybe not all of them, and the lead on tracking them down was Martin Damberg. We need to get a hold of him. Do you have one of your magic little phone numbers?"
"Not for Damberg directly. But I can still reach Agent Gray. He may be able to put us in touch. I'll see what I can do."
"Do it fast, Babe. I'm pretty sure Vasily knows a lot more than he is saying. And if we get too close to anything the Russians want to cover up, the evidence will pull a disappearing act."
"I knew I couldn't trust him when he wanted to break up Heat and Rook," Castle declares.
"What?"
"Never mind." Rick pulls out his phone and thumbs a contact. "Thai food is pleasing to the tongue." Then, shoving his phone back in his pocket, he leans in for a quick peck. "Hopefully, Gray won't take too long getting back to me."
As Rick returns to the bullpen, Vasily's phone buzzes. He looks regretfully at Rick. "I'm sorry. My mamochka needs attention."
Rick offers a sympathetic smile. "Go ahead. I know a few things about needy mamochkas."
When Vasily takes the call in Russian, Rick wishes Kate was listening in. But he can pick up a word here and there, enough to suspect that Vasily isn't talking to his mother.
Vasily smiles as he ends his conversation. "She is most excited that I have met you."
"I could arrange an autographed copy of my next book," Rick offers.
Vasily lunges in for another hug. "You are very gracious. But she also requested a few souvenirs. So perhaps we could go shopping while your wife and her detectives pursue their research."
Rick is anxious to hear from Gray but doesn't want to raise Vasily's suspicions by begging off. "Of course. I know just the place."
Rick drives Vasily to a large gift store just off Madison Square Park. He hopes that the massive assortment of New York-themed merchandise will keep Vasily well enough occupied that he can slip off and take a call if need be. Of course, Rick can always claim to need a restroom, but Vasily could follow. As they enter the busy tourist hub, Rick mentally crosses his fingers.
While Vasily marvels over an array of T-shirts, Rick's phone emits a tell-tale ring tone. "I'm in the handbags aisle," Gray's deceptively mild voice announces into Rick's ear.
"I'll look for one now, Mother," Rick replies. He smiles apologetically at Vasily. "My mamochka. It seems that she wants a new bag every week. But she needs one from here as a prop for one of her plays. I won't take long."
"Please, go ahead," Vasily urges. "We all must make our loved ones happy, yes?"
"We've been watching your friend ever since he landed in New York," Gray reports. "He is not what he seems."
"Which makes two of you. So is this about cold war sleepers?"
"He stole the phrase from us, but as Frank Herbert said in Dune, 'The sleeper awakens.' Actually, more than one did. We flagged the access on Anatoly Arkady and Anya Mishkin's files. So we're aware you already know who they are."
"Are?" Rick questions. "I thought Anya Mishkin was dead."
"She faked her death. She's active. But your pal Damberg has her under surveillance. You and Captain Beckett can talk to her, but only under his control. It will take him a while to round her up. He'll let you know."
"But what do old sleepers have to do with Grigory Mishkin's death?" Rick asks.
Gray looks fleetingly sheepish. "That is one thing we don't know yet. But we believe Anya is preparing some form of attack on a party at the Russian Embassy. I understand that you already know it plays a part in your investigation. You and Beckett should make a showing there." Gray points to a tote displaying the New York skyline. "Buy that one. It contains the most recent surveillance on Anya and Anatoly."
Rick holds up the bag for Vasily to see. "I've got what my mamochka needs. How is your shopping going?"
"I was considering a snow globe, but Russia has enough snow. So what do you think would be the best remembrance of my trip?"
Rick points to a miniature statue. "Lady Liberty always works."
"Not in Russia." Vasily selects a fur hat sporting feathers and emblazoned with "I love New York!" "This will keep her happy and warm at the same time. She doesn't have as much hair as she once did."
"Before you go, I'll recommend a volumizing shampoo," Rick promises.
"That's very kind of you. However, I believe I will need something else. I will give you directions to where I'll find it."
Rick feels a niggling in his gut. "All right."
Rick pulls up to the curb at a decrepit building. "Unless your mamochka is a fan of rat droppings and dirty needles, there's not much around here in the way of souvenirs."
"Her tastes can be unusual. But actually," Vasily admits, "I lied about our purpose here." He pulls a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket and drags Rick toward the passenger seat. Snapping one cuff around Rick's wrist, he attaches the other to the passenger side door."
"Ow! Ow! Vasily, what are you doing?" Rick demands.
"You have your meetings, and I have mine, Castle." He reaches inside Rick's jacket and turns off Rick's phone.
"Why did you do that?"
"You'll find out soon enough. You can see from here."
Rick watches as Vasily crosses the street and grabs Anatoly Arkady. Then, threatening Arkady with a gun, Vasily forces him into the "frunk" at the front of the Ferrari. Finally, Vasily gets back in the car, taking the wheel. "That's the last souvenir I need for today."
When Vasily pulls up outside a warehouse, he unlocks Castle's wrist. Rick stares at him. "What are you? You're not some happy-go-lucky diplomatic security agent shopping for his mother."
"Remember Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in Red Heat?" Vasily replies. "Compared to me, he was like Schwartzenegger in 'Kindergarten Cop.'"