CLOSING IN

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THE US EMBASSY

Mac and Harm arrived in Moscow and went straight to the Embassy.  When they got there they had a quick reunion with Alex and were taken completely aback when they saw Zoya's condition.

"Before we discuss anything, I have a question." Harm said.

"Go ahead," Zoya replied with a smile.

"Does the Admiral know about this?" Harm asked.

"No, and I would appreciate you not telling him, he doesn't even know I am here." Zoya said. "I can only deal with one crisis at a time."

"When are you due?" Mac asked.

"In about two months," Webb answered.

"So, I guess it's a safe assumption that you're the daddy?" Harm asked Webb.

"HARM!" Mac admonished.

"I was just kidding," Harm smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thank you. Now let's get down to business." Webb said.

"What is going on? Who is using Mac's name and are you sure it's not just a coincidence?" Harm asked.

"We have been tracking a mole since we were in Zanzibar, Catherine Gale, and I seriously doubt it's a coincidence, in that order." Webb replied.

"Catherine Gale?" Mac said. "She is such a stickler for the rules. I can't believe she would be involved in something like this."

"Believe it," Zoya said. "She is the only employee unaccounted for.  She's not on vacation, she's not on leave, but she is in Russia.  Alex spoke to her yesterday."

"What do we do now?" Mac asked.

"We find out why she is here and who she is meeting with," Alex stated.

"Where do we start?" Harm asked.

"She told me she was meeting friends in Moscow," Alex began. "But she didn't give me much more."

"How are we supposed to find her?" Mac asked.

"That shouldn't be too difficult," Alex smiled. "I gave her a tour book, and there was a tracking device in the binding."

"Nice going," Harm stated. "So let's go find her."

"Harm, more important than finding Catherine, is finding who she is working for." Zoya said.

"We can just follow her," Harm replied.

"And she won't notice the four of us?" Zoya laughed.

"She has a point," Mac stated.

"What we need to do is see where she is going and then see who she is meeting with." Webb advised. "Once we get a clue of where she is going, catching her and her partners should not be a problem."

"We just need to catch them doing something illegal." Alex said.

"Why aren't the Russians handling this?" Harm asked.

"According to Sokol, they can't get involved because of their actions during the war with Iraq." Webb stated.

"Mark Sokol had something to do with this?" Mac asked.

"He's the one who gave us the original transcript that let us know the mole would be here." Zoya said.

"So, what do we do?" Mac asked. "I can't just sit here while she runs around Moscow using my name."

"Zoy, have you picked up anything?" Webb asked.

"She hasn't left the hotel," Zoya said looking at her laptop. "It looks like she moved to a different floor. Maybe she went to her room."

"Did anyone think of contacting our favorite cab driver?" Mac asked.

"I used his name, but it never occurred to me to contact him." Alex said.

"We need to be careful.  He goes to the highest bidder." Webb said.

"We can trust him," Harm stated. "He's never let us down before."

"Let's find him," Webb said and he and Harm left.

"I'm going to get us some dinner," Alex said. "I am sure the beautiful colonel and the beautiful mama are both hungry."

"You know me too well," Mac laughed.

"I will be back shortly." Alex said and left.

"Now, tell me really. How are you?" Mac asked once they were alone.

"I'm good, a lot better now that Webb knows everything." Zoya replied.

"How did you keep this hidden from everyone?" Mac asked.

"I didn't keep it from everyone," Zoya laughed. "Harriet knew."

"She never said a word," Mac smiled.

"That's why I shared it with her." Zoya replied.

They spent the next hour talking, waiting for the men to return and watching the screen monitoring Catherine.  When the men returned, they ate a good meal and discussed what was going to happen next.

"What did Alexei say?" Mac asked.

"He said he has heard that there is some group meeting here. He didn't know where, but he did know that they were planning something big." Webb replied.

"Is that all he knew?" Zoya asked.

"Alexei is a lot of things, but he's never lied to us." Mac defended.

"What was the last thing Catherine was working on before she left?" Webb asked.

Zoya took a few minutes and pulled up some files on the laptop.  She quickly read them and then turned to the group.

"She was approving security clearance of the American delegation for the reception at the Hotel National."

"Not the NATO reception?" Harm asked.

"That's the one." Zoya said. "There is no need for her to be here. Getting the clearance was paper work."

"Do you realize the people who are going to be there?" Webb asked.

"I know," Mac said, "Heads of State, military personnel and the President."

"If they were to do something there, it would bring down several countries." Zoya said.

"When is that reception?" Webb asked.

"Tomorrow night," Harm replied. "The President was leaving today."

"That doesn't give us much time." Webb said. "Who was cleared?"

Zoya printed out the names of the security team that had been approved by Catherine Gale and handed the list to Webb.

"Do you know any of these people?" Webb asked as he perused the list.

"I recognize about 3 of them," Zoya said looking over his shoulder, "But I haven't been there in a month."

"Check and see where they came from," Webb ordered.

Zoya started to review the names on the list. Several of them had unidentifiable backgrounds, which wasn't always an uncommon thing with the security teams.  Others were agents, who they recognized and even worked with at one time or another.  There was an e-mail that she found from the head of Secret Service, questioning some of the choices with a follow up from Catherine stating that these were the best men for the job. When they were done reviewing the files they decided to get some rest.  They took turns sleeping and watching the screen.  It was about 2am when Harm noticed that the blip was moving at a rapid pace.

"The idiot," Harm laughed. "She must have put the book in her bag.  Some spy."

"What did you say?" Webb asked walking into the room.

"She's moving." Harm said.

"I think we need to follow her," Webb said. "We are very short on time."

"I agree," Harm replied. "What about Zoya and Mac?"

"I don't want Zoya anywhere near this," Webb said.

"I feel the same about Mac, but you try and tell them." Harm replied.

"He already did," Alex said waking up. "She was not pleased."

"I think I have an idea," Harm said. "I don't know if they will go for it, but it's worth a shot."

"Let's hear it," Webb said.

"You and I will track Catherine." Harm advised. "Alex, you, Mac and Zoya go to the hotel and check things out there, if something is being planned, they would have had to start preparations already."

"I think you need to contact Sokol," Webb said.

"I agree, I will contact him and have him meet us at the hotel." Alex said.

"I'll go wake Zoya," Webb said.

"We're up," Mac said as they walked into the room. "What's happening?"

"Catherine is on the move," Harm said. "You three are going to meet Sokol at the hotel and do some checking there, while Webb and I follow her."

"Sounds good," Zoya said as she moved next to Webb and quietly whispered, "No arguments."

"Thank you," Webb whispered back.

"Let's go," Harm said.

"I love you," Zoya told Webb.

"A thousand times back," Webb smiled.

"Be careful flyboy," Mac said.

"I love you," Harm said.

"Me too," Mac replied.

"Alex," Webb said.

"We'll be safe, no worries." Alex smiled.

The groups departed for their destinations with caution and concern.  None knew what they were going to find.  On the way to the hotel, Alex contact Sokol who met them there.  They advised them of their discovery and Sokol agreed to meet them at the hotel and to assist with investigations. 

Harm and Webb followed Catherine Gale as she walked alone through the streets of Moscow.  She finally stopped at a small tavern.  They watched her walk inside and then out again but this time she had two men with her.

"This can't be happening." Webb said.

"Who are those men with her?" Harm asked.

"The taller man on the right is Abraham Abdullah, the man we were after in Zanzibar.  The man on the left is Omar Bin Atta, he is an explosives expert.  People say he was the mastermind behind the Casablanca bombing.  He usually isn't around when the bombs go off."

"They're on the DOD top 5," Harm said.

"Yes, I realize that." Webb replied. "If she is with them, then something big is going to happen. I think it will be the NATO reception."

"I've been thinking about that, isn't it too obvious?" Harm asked.

"Obvious but effective," Webb replied. "We better head back."

Three hours later the group, minus Sokol, met back at Zoya's apartment.

"There was nothing unusual at the hotel," Mac announced.

"We saw Catherine with Abdullah and Bin Atta." Webb stated.

"What are they planning?" Zoya wondered.

"Did Sokol say anything?" Webb asked.

"He said that every precaution has been taken." Alex stated. "He said there is no way they would be able to get into the hotel."

"That's what they said about the night club in Bali." Zoya reminded. "Look what happened there."

"Do they need to be in that hotel?" Mac asked. "The reception is there, but for security, they are staying at various hotels."

"We can't possibly cover all the hotels in Moscow." Zoya said.

"No, but we can eliminate some." Harm said, "Any chance of getting an itinerary?"

"Not likely," Zoya said. "That is classified to everyone. The only people who know where officials are staying are the people who handled the…she knows."

"She has access to the lists," Webb said going to the computer. "I hope she was stupid enough to save something."

Webb accessed Catherine's files again and began to look around. 

"This one is password protected," Webb said. "Any guesses?"

"Try her initials," Mac suggested.

"No go," Webb said.

"What about her social?" Harm asked.

"Not working," Webb replied.

"Try MacKenzie," Alex offered.

"Nothing," Webb said.

"Try Allah," Zoya said.

"We're in," Webb said looking at Zoya. "What made you think of that?"

"I don't know," Zoya said. "It seemed to fit."

"Well, it was a good thought," Webb said. "Here's the list.  The President and the Prime Minister of England are both staying at the Marriott Grand."

"Who put them at the same hotel?" Mac asked.

"Who do you think?" Zoya replied.

"We are agreed that's the target?" Harm asked.

"I think so," Alex said, "Now to stop it."

They sat in silence, each trying to determine what was going to happen.  Daylight was approaching and they were no closer to figuring anything out.  The one thing they agreed on was that they were going to the Grand Hotel and they would wait.  At 8am, exhausted mentally and physically, the group made their way to the Grand Hotel.  It was now or never.