A/N: Some what of a filler chapter, but it's important and Elizabeth does appear in it. And because I don't know Russian, the conversations in bold is when the characters are speaking Russian. The italicized words are actual Russian words. Confusing, yes, but deal with it. J

Inna turned the Cadillac DeVille into the alley and parked behind the condemned building. She flashed her lights twice before killing the engine and popped the trunk as she stepped out of the car. Just as she lifted the trunk lid, Mikhail came out of the building.

"New one?" he asked. His accent was heavier than hers, almost to thick to understand. It sounded like he was talking around a mouthful of cotton.

Inna nodded, "Take him inside. Have Lanka help you with him."

Mikhail nodded, grunting as he hefted Halden's body over his shoulder. She followed him into the building, lighting a cigarette as she went. Mikhail took the stairs up; Inna took them down. The building was three levels of apartments and a basement that was once used for tenants' storage. But the building had been gutted and now the levels were bare but for a few structure holding walls.

The basement had been claimed by Serge. He'd needed the room to work with his enormous amount of computer equipment and to build there weapons. The vast room was dark but for the soft glow of the numerous computer screens. Inna flipped on the light.

"The light hurts my eyes," Serge complained without looking away from his computer.

"The dark hurts your eyes," Inna countered, "because you do not use the light. What are you working on?"

"Tracking data. I'm nearly finished."

"Good. I have some things for you to do."

Inna pulled out her gun and ejected the magazine. Serge grunted.

"Another one so soon? We only just got rid of the last."

"It was necessary. I used both bloodlets."

"I can see that. And the ring?"

Inna took the topaz ring off her middle finger on her right hand. She handed it to him as he dug in the drawer of his desk. He tossed her a different ring. She frowned at the owl signet staring back at her.

"An owl?"

Serge shrugged, turning back to his computer, "I think it is fitting. The owl is a great huntress."

Inna smacked the back of his head and left him chuckling in the dim basement. She rode the lift to the second floor where Mikhail would have taken Halden. When the doors opened, she was met by Sofia. The little girl stared up at her with wide blue eyes behind locks of blond hair.

"Is he dead?"

Sofia had the best American accent of them all. She'd spent five of her nine years in America, listening to their music and television. Not only the most eloquent, she was also perceptive. A trait Inna wished she'd never acquired.

"What are you doing on this floor?" Inna asked.

"I saw you pull up," Sofia answered, "and you didn't answer my question."

Inna rolled her eyes. She didn't much care for the American attitude either.

"Go to your room. I will call you in a minute."

Sofia crossed her arms, "If you're going to call me in a minute, why do I need to go anywhere?"

Inna glared at her and Sofia grumbled, but obeyed. Relieved of one pain in the butt, she crossed the room to deal with her second. Mikhail was leaning against the wall separating the main room from what they'd begun to call the infirmary. He was smoking rolling a cigarette, a habit he'd picked up in the work camps decades ago.

"You are getting careless," he said.

She stopped, waiting for him to continue.

"Too many in too little time," he shook his head, "Will rouse suspicions."

"Nyet. No one suspects anything."

He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass. She forced herself not to react. Mikhail was a strong man, tall and well built. He had ten years on her, but he was still as active as he was at twenty. Her instinct was to tear away from him, incapacitate him before he overpowered her. Of course, looking into his steel blue eyes, that wasn't her only instinct.

"We are close, Inna," he said softly, "Do not ruin it."

She pulled away and went into the room. Lanka, their pseudo-nurse and weapons specialist, was washing her hands. Her dark hair was pulled back in a bun, revealing the burns on her face. She flicked her dark eyes up to Inna.

"His head is hurt," Lanka said, the accusation hanging on her every word.

"He fell."

Inna treaded softly with Lanka. She was a quiet girl, but she had the temper of a dormant volcano.

"His injuries are not severe."

"When will the sedative wear off?"

"Less than an hour."

Inna nodded and breezed out of the room.

"Mikhail, come with me," she called over her shoulder.

Mikhail followed her into the lift, taking a long drag off of his cigarette, "Where are we going?"

"To pick up Mr. Halden's friend."

Smirking, Mikhail placed the cigarette behind his ear, pulled out his gun, and checked to see that it was loaded.

The lift doors slid shut.

Mikhail dropped her off in front of the house. He gave her a small nod, knowing his orders, and drove away. Inna walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. The door opened, revealing a beautiful dark haired, blue eyed woman. Her eyes were red rimmed and it was obvious that she'd been crying.

Inna didn't have to guess what about.

"Can I help you?"

Inna didn't return the smile, "Mrs. Burke?"

"Yes?"

"My name is Inna Dragomirov."

Elizabeth Burke frowned, "I'm sorry. Should I know you?"

"Nyet. But your husband does. I met him earlier today. I also met his friend, a Mr. Halden."

Her eyes widened and she tried to slam the door shut, but Inna was one step ahead of her. Inna grabbed the door and shoved it backward. Elizabeth stumbled backward and would have fallen, but Inna caught her wrist and flung her onto the couch, shutting the door behind her. The dog came running into the room, barking up a storm, teeth bared. As the dog lunged at her, Inna grabbed the collar and pressed her right hand to its neck. Slowly, the dog fell to the floor and laid on its side. Like he were sleeping.

"Who are you?" Elizabeth demanded, "What did you do to my dog?"

"Relax," Inna said, giving the dog an extra pat, "He is only sleeping,"

She stood and sat on the edge of the coffee table, pulling the gun from her waistband. Elizabeth straightened and did her best to hide her fear, but Inna could read it in her eyes.

"And I have already told you who I am," Inna said, "but allow me to clarify," She leaned forward, "I am the woman that killed Nick Halden."

Tears sprang to Elizabeth's eyes and she swung out intending to slap Inna, but the Russian woman caught her easily and tossed her back to the couch. Elizabeth glared at her angrily.

"You bitch."

Inna smirked, "Such language."

She put the gun on her knee and leaned forward, lowering her voice.

"You have no idea what I am capable of."

A/N: Next Chapter: We find out what's going on with Neal. Review please!