MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO MOSCOW
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Zoya arrived in Moscow and had an office at the American Embassy. It was not uncommon for agents from the different branches to be stationed at there. Zoya's job was to review various documents that came in regarding the travel activities of suspected terrorists.
She had made arrangements to get a few days off before she started officially. Her first morning there she walked through Red Square. One of the world's most famous landmarks, Red Square is in the heart of Moscow, right outside the Kremlin. She had work to do but she also decided to see the sights.
She went to Lenin's Mausoleum. It was after all a part of history. Lenin was the founder of the Communism and the Soviet Union. She was amazed to see the groups standing on line waiting to see Lenin in his glass-enclosed casket and to watch the hourly ritual of the changing of the guard. It wasn't Buckingham Palace, but it was still interesting.
She also went to St. Basil's Cathedral, due to the construction she couldn't go in, but the exterior was awe inspiring. It was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 in celebration of the Russian victory over the Tartars. The Cathedral is actually eight individual churches joined together, each with its own dome, around one central belfry.
She went to the Kremlin and saw the palaces. The Grand Palace overlooked the Moscow River. This imperial residence was commissioned by Czar Nicholas I in 1838. It was the largest structure in the Kremlin, about 500,000 square feet, and cost 11 million rubles to build. From there she went to the Terem Palace, which was the residence of many Tsars. After that she went to the Palace of the Facets, this was the residence of Ivan the Terrible.
Zoya remembered visiting these places when she was a young child. Her mother had taken her to Russia on a break from school. At the time she didn't understand the history and what had happened to her ancestors, but she loved being there just the same. It wasn't until she was much older that she understood the significance of being there. To walk the same paths that her great grandmother and cousins had walked, or to be in the country that her great great grandfather had once ruled, filled her with pride. Now that she was there once again, she could appreciate it.
RED SQUARE – A WEEK LATER
Zoya had found a little café by Red Square where she would get coffee every morning before she reported to work. Her routine never deviated. She would get her coffee, a newspaper and then report to the American Embassy where she reviewed daily reports. She was just leaving the café when someone literally ran into her, spilling her coffee all over her.
"I am sorry for spilling your coffee," Alex said. "Allow me to buy you another cup."
"It's fine," Zoya laughed. "At least your uniform didn't get messed up."
"Are you American?" Alex asked.
"Yes, I am here on holiday," Zoya replied.
"We are honored to have such a lovely visitor." Alex said.
"Thank you," Zoya smiled. "I need to get going."
"It was a pleasure to meet you." Alex smiled. "I am Alex Volkonov."
"I'm Zoya Nassar," Zoya said. "Maybe we'll run into each other again."
THE NEXT MORNING
"I thought I would take the chance that you would be here," Alex said. "May I buy you that cup of coffee now?"
"It's nice to see you again." Zoya smiled, "A decaf please."
Alex ordered the coffees and they walked through Red Square.
"Is your husband with you?" Alex asked.
"I'm not married," Zoya said.
"A beautiful lady, traveling alone," Alex said.
"So, what do you do in the military?" Zoya asked.
"I am a lawyer," Alex replied.
"Really, I am friends with several Navy lawyers back home." Zoya stated.
"Where is back home?" Alex asked.
"I live outside of Washington," Zoya said.
"You wouldn't happen to know a Commander Harmon Rabb and a Colonel Sarah MacKenzie?" Alex asked.
"Actually, it's Sarah MacKenzie-Rabb now," Zoya laughed.
"They got married?" Alex asked. "You know them?"
"Admiral Chegwidden is a very close friend of mine, an honorary uncle of sorts." Zoya said.
"This is a small world," Alex said. "Harm and I are good friends. I knew he and the Colonel would eventually be together."
"Alex, would you like to have dinner sometime?" Zoya asked. "I have no friends here."
That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Zoya and Alex had dinner at least three times a week. They chatted and traded stories about the people at JAG.
Tonight, three weeks later, they were going to the ballet. She had box seats at the Bolshoi to see Swan Lake. It wasn't exactly on Alex's top ten of things to do, but he found it hard to say no to Zoya.
A RESTAURANT NEAR THE BOLSHOI THEATRE
"Nice of you to finally get here," Zoya teased.
"Sorry, I had some work to finish up. Military law is just as cumbersome here as it is in the states." Alex smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"Very well, how are you?" Zoya said.
"Good, very glad that the weekend is here." Alex replied.
"Do you have any special plans?" Zoya asked.
"Not really, what about you?" Alex replied.
"I have things to keep me busy," Zoya smiled.
"Zoya, it's time come clean," Alex smiled. "You've been here a month. You aren't here on holiday are you?"
"What makes you say that?" Zoya asked.
"You remind me of a spy I knew," Alex replied.
"An American spy?" Zoy asked.
"No a Hungarian one," Alex laughed. "What are you doing in Moscow?"
"Visiting my ancestral homeland," Zoya replied.
"I did some checking, I also called Harm this morning." Alex said.
"You told him I was here?" Zoya asked.
"I mentioned it, why?" Alex asked.
"I requested this assignment," Zoya said. "I didn't let anyone know where I was."
"You are a spy." Alex said.
"Former spy," Zoya whispered. "I work for the Department of Defense now."
"Do you spy for them?" Alex asked.
"Now how am I supposed to answer that?" Zoya laughed.
"Were you with the CIA or the FBI?" Alex asked.
"What do you think?" Zoya smiled.
"I assisted someone from the CIA, a friend of Harm's. Perhaps you know him?" Alex said. "His name is Clayton Webb."
"Excuse me," Zoya said choking on her water.
"You do know him," Alex smiled.
"You already knew that," Zoya interrupted.
"Harm mentioned it," Alex said. "You and Webb were partners."
"I hope Harm keeps his mouth shut," Zoya stated. "I don't want anyone to know I am here."
"Are you hiding?" Alex asked.
"I am doing my job," Zoya replied.
"Did you pick this location because of the baby?" Alex asked.
"I didn't think you noticed," Zoya said.
"I didn't at first," Alex said. "It's only been recently that you show. How far along are you?"
"A little over six months, I just found out a month ago." Zoya sighed.
"I don't mean to be rude, but how is that possible. I thought women just know." Alex replied.
"You want the details?" Zoya laughed.
"If you want to talk about it," Alex smiled.
"In a nutshell, my method of birth control stopped certain monthly events. When things didn't progress, I just assumed it was because of that." Zoya said.
"How does the father feel about it?" Alex asked.
"He doesn't know," Zoya sighed.
"You should tell him." Alex said.
"I didn't want to worry him," Zoya said.
"I think Clayton Webb would want to know, you are going to tell him, aren't you?" Alex asked.
"I didn't say he was the father," Zoya said.
"You didn't have to," Alex smiled. "The look on your face when I mentioned his name told me."
"Alex, I need you to promise that you will not tell anyone." Zoya said.
"Don't you think they will notice at your work?" Alex asked.
"As long as those back in Washington don't find out, I am safe." Zoya replied.
"Your bosses?" Alex asked.
"No my friends," Zoya said and finished her meal.
"When was the last time you saw Webb?" Alex asked.
"One month and 5 days ago," Zoya sighed. "I took him to the airport."
"Does he know you're here?" Alex asked.
"No," Zoya said. "Everything got screwed up."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Alex asked.
"Clay and I got involved and our boss found out. As a result, Webb was transferred and it was my fault." Zoya sighed. "I requested the transfer to the DOD. With me no longer at the company, there was no reason for Webb to be banished."
"Then why did you leave?" Alex asked. "You would have been together."
"When Webb asked me why I quit, I told him it was because I loved him more than my job." Zoya stated. "He replied that it was something we should have talked about. He was right. I should have made sure he loved me as well before I left my job."
"I think you need to tell him," Alex said. "No matter what you think, he does have a right to see his child."
"I'll tell him," Zoya said, "Eventually."
They finished their meal and walked to the theatre and made their way to the box. The seats were amazing. The overture began and the smile on Zoya's face could have lit all of Moscow. At the intermission, they went to get refreshments.
"You are enjoying yourself?" Alex asked.
"Yes, it's absolutely wonderful." Zoya smiled. "You aren't having a good time are you?"
"I am enjoying the company," Alex smiled. "It's not every day that I get to spend the evening with a beautiful woman."
"Alex, as long as we have been trading personal stories, I have a question for you." Zoya said. "Why the hell are you single?"
"I just haven't found the right woman yet," Alex shrugged.
"I guess that is something we are going to have to work on," Zoya stated.
"This is because you are such an expert on relationships?" Alex teased.
"Oh look, they're flashing the lights. It's time for the second act." Zoya said and walked ahead.
They enjoyed the second act of the ballet and then took a stroll through Red Square towards her apartment. They walked passed a hotel and were chatting when Zoya noticed someone walking into a hotel.
"Alex, I need to get to the Embassy," Zoya said.
"Is everything okay?" Alex asked.
"It's fine, but would you call me a taxi please?" Zoya asked.
"Of course," Alex replied and hailed a taxi for her. "I'm coming with you."
"Now how would that look?" Zoya asked, "A former spy with a Russian soldier."
"It would look like the proper thing to do. A woman should not be riding alone at night." Alex stated. "It would be rude of me to let you travel by yourself."
"Alex, I could most probably beat you up," Zoya laughed.
"Then I will come with you for my protection," Alex replied.
"Come on," Zoya smiled. "I can use your help anyway."
