Moscow, Lubyanka Square, NKVD Headquarters
August 14, 1944, 0730 hours
It was a bright morning when Natasha accompanied Vladimir to Lubyanka Square. She would continue her walk to work while Vladimir attended his to his business. Vladimir knew that it would be a long day – a messenger had sent word the previous evening that Marya had returned and that they would be meeting with the intelligence department to discuss the state of things inside of Germany.
As they neared the large yellow building that housed the NKVD Headquarters, Vladimir noticed someone sitting on the front steps of the building. It wasn't until they had moved closer that he saw it was Marya sitting there smoking a cigarette. She smiled and stood when she saw them approaching.
"Svetlana?" he asked in surprise. "You look more like a Boris! What the hell happened to your hair?"
"Vladimir Ivanovich," she said in formal greeting. Turning to Natasha, she added, "Tovarish Minskaya, it is good to see you again."
Natasha smiled. "You must call me Natasha," she said. "Vovochka told me what you have been through. I am glad to see you are all right."
Marya smiled. "You must also be glad to see Vladimir again … and to hear the news that he will be staying in Moscow," she said.
Natasha smiled. "I am very glad about that," she replied. "I cannot stay to talk now. I must be off to work. But you will come home with Vovochka tonight … I insist."
Marya looked at Vladimir, who nodded his agreement. "Spasibo, Natasha. I will do that," she replied.
They were quiet as they watched Natasha walk away. "You are a lucky man to have her," Marya said. "And now you are home and able to be with your family."
"And what about you?" he asked.
She looked at him before answering. "I have no family, you know that," she said. "And I am not getting any younger!"
Vladimir laughed. "You are far from an old babushka, my dear!" he exclaimed. He kept laughing. "Although you may have trouble attracting men when you now look like one." He was quiet for a moment. "I do have a brother who lost his wife during the birth of their second child," he said speculatively. "But I suppose that you wouldn't be interested in a simple cobbler after the opulent lifestyle you have been leading."
She hit him playfully in the arm. "Do not start with me!" she said. "I just might have to tell Natasha a few things!"
"Lies, you mean?" he asked with a smile.
"As you well know, I can tell very believable lies!" she said laughing. "Come, we have as long day today and a lot of things to go over. Michael is also here in Moscow. He will also be working with you here since it would be dangerous for him to return to Germany now."
Vladimir nodded as they began to climb the steps to the building. "I am glad he made it away safely." He nudged Marya with his elbow. "If he is not attached, maybe he might interest you."
Marya laughed and gave Vladimir a playful shove. "Do not give him any ideas!" she said.
- - - - -
Marya was correct – it was a very long day. In addition to Vladimir, Michael and Marya, several senior intelligence ministers were involved in the discussions. Beria was present for most of the day, and at one point, Stalin himself made an appearance to hear the information about the assassination attempt.
Vladimir had to recite the events that occurred on the farm in Rastenburg at least three times – and was getting tired of having to relive the events. The officials had agreed that he and Tadeauz had handled the situation correctly. It was a shame to lose the post so close to Hitler's Eastern Headquarters, but as Stalin had commented, that area would soon be under Soviet control anyway.
Michael went into great detail on the information he had learned as a member of the now defunct Abwehr, as well as the possibilities now that the German intelligence service was completely under the control of Heinrich Himmler. There was also much conversation about the indiscriminant recriminations that were taking place throughout Germany. Officials seemed to be using the assassination attempt and the plot to overthrow Hitler as ammunition to even the score against former enemies. Vladimir found this appalling, but he noticed that the officials in the room seemed to treat this as a normal course of business.
Marya then presented the information that she had about her remaining network in Germany. Many people had to virtually shut down until the wave of arrests and executions were completed, for fear of being caught. She was doubtful that they would be able to place any more contacts high in the chain of command, but she was glad that Jack was still in place. He had been a good source of information on the state of the government since the bombing in July.
When they finally wrapped up the meeting for the day, Michael walked out of the room with Vladimir and Marya.
"How does it feel to no longer be Major Kurt Wagner?" Vladimir asked Michael.
Michael smiled. "It feels good to be Gregori Kharpov again," he replied. "And I am very glad that you were able to get word to Jack in time to allow us to escape capture in Berlin … or else I would be past tense."
"I am glad you were able to make it out," Vladimir agreed. "When I saw Major Teppel on the list, I knew it could be trouble. I remembered his name from when he came to Stalag 13, and knew that you were working with him in Berlin."
"It would have been trouble," Michael replied. "They were looking for him within hours of the time I was able to get word to him."
"And he was able to make it out of Germany safely?" Vladimir asked.
Michael shrugged. "Assuming that your friends in the Stalag are good enough to get him out, I would think so," he said.
"Hogan is the best," Marya said. "They will make it to England safely."
"I will see you tomorrow," Michael said, looking at his watch. "Now that I am home, I want to look up an old friend to collect on a bet." Upon seeing Marya's raised eyebrows, he added, "She bet me that I would not return to Moscow alive."
"What kind of bet is that?" Vladimir asked.
"The kind of bet that she did not think she would have to repay," Michael replied with a smile. "And will spend the entire night doing so!"
"Gregori Gregorovich, you have not been in Moscow for six years," Marya said. "What makes you think this woman is still around? And if she is, what if she is married?"
Michael smiled. "I have my connections," he said mysteriously. "If I look tired tomorrow …"
"Get going!" Marya said with a laugh. "And make sure you are back tomorrow morning, or it might be the last night you ever do something like that!"
Michael laughed as he walked away.
"Well, you can cross him off your list," Vladimir said with a sly smile. He ducked as Marya tried to bat him in the head.
"Do not start that again," she warned. "Just because you also have someone to go home to …"
"Speaking of which," Vladimir said. "We had better get going. I know Natasha and Mama will have made all sorts of things to eat tonight."
Marya smiled her best saucy smile. "And what will your mama say about you bringing home another woman?" she asked.
Vladimir laughed. "With your hair cut that short, you do not look like another woman!" he exclaimed saucily. This time, he was not quite successful in dodging her playful slap to the back of the head. "Let me put it this way," he said. "How do you feel about being a cobbler's wife?" She gave him a shove. "I have another brother who is a milliner," he offered
"What is it with your family?" she said laughing. "You are a tailor. You have one brother who is a cobbler and another who makes hats. Does your family have any occupation other than clothing?"
"Well, there is my sister's husband," Vladimir said.
"What is his occupation?" Marya asked, regarding him skeptically.
Vladimir smiled. "He was a leatherworker before the war," he said. "Saddles were his specialty."
"Clothes for horses," Marya groaned. "I should have known!"
They both laughed as they left the building and began walking toward Vladimir's flat.