MOSCOW : ONE MONTH, TWO WEEKS AGO
From the time Anja told Ryan that Horatio knew where he was he found it hard to keep quiet about it. He wanted her to find out more, to tell Horatio more, but he knew the danger of trying to talk to her about it, so he remained silent. It had led him to days where he doubted her and refused to cooperate with her, but she always reassured him by whispering, "Time soon come. Patience."
"Anja," Chrissie said.
Anja stopped and turned to her. Chrissie said something in Russian and Anja nodded. She left the room. Chrissie got up, picking up Ryan's jacket and holding it open for him.
"The opera isn't coming to us. Come on, Ryan."
He got up and put on the jacket. She grabbed his hand and they headed downstairs. In front of the flat a limousine waited. The back door opened and one of Chrissie's associates got out. The two struck up a conversation in Russian, excluding Ryan. He looked down until something flashed in his eyes. He looked up, expecting it to be one of the children that often played across the street. They were two were sitting on stairs, one of them flashing a mirror into Ryan's eyes. When he noticed Ryan was paying attention, he stopped and looked at the man sitting next to him. Ryan's eyes followed.
Even after two years the sunglasses and wisps of red hair peaking from under a hat were unmistakable. Horatio's face was half hidden by a newspaper, but Ryan knew he was watching him. He wanted to bolt or to call out to Horatio, but he knew better. He knew he couldn't give him away. Horatio would have made a move if he could have, he knew that. Ryan had to wait. Just knowing he was in Moscow and knew where he was would have to be enough. Ryan climbed into the back of the limousine, sliding next to the door. He stared at Horatio, who held his eyes without moving.
Chrissie got in and curled up against Ryan, kissing his cheek. He closed his eyes, sneering.
She kissed his cheek, whispering, "Behave. It's not to late to drag your ass back inside and remind you about good manners."
Ryan looked at the floor. He wouldn't give Horatio away to Chrissie. Ryan sat back and she slid an arm around his shoulders. She and the associate continued their conversation.
Delko watched the front door of the flat on the monitor. The room was filled with police and government officials with long titles. He looked back when Horatio came in and pulled off his hat.
"Did he see you?" Delko asked.
"He saw me." Horatio sat in the chair next to him.
"He looks sick. Thin."
"Didn't Agent Anja tell us he hardly eats?"
Delko looked across the room. Anja was talking with police and soldiers -- she told them they weren't getting Ryan today, again. They had to wait for a party Chrissie was throwing tomorrow. Delko argued, but Anja calmed him down. She told him that her specialty was dismantling drug rings in Russia by whatever means were necessary, but she had every intention of keeping Ryan safe doing it this time. She liked him, she admitted, and no one deserved the life Chrissie had forced him into. There was something angry in the way Anja said that. Something that hinted Anja more than liked Ryan, but her duty came before her heart.