"How did it go with Frank?" Eric working at Auggie's computer on some crucial intel about the facial identification he was running. A way to keep prying eyes from knowing, both Eric and Auggie had a slight distrust about some of the co-workers. Leaks to the press being rampant these days and most of the information could be coming from their area.
"Got my ears pined back for not being more forthcoming with my suspicions. Said I wasn't a team player."
"So did you become a team player and tell him about our uncertainties?"
"Nope. Not until our little flushing out plan has a chance to work. Don't want to put the rest of the department through hell yet. You got any news for me."
"Arthur has called in Lamorak to find Joan and he has given us some request. I'm working on them now. Annie will be in route to Warsaw in five hours."
"Did you speak with him and what type of request?"
"Didn't talk with him, the request came by encrypted text. Movements of any type of large vehicles like a van or truck but he specifically mention an ambulance and validate ownership. Also establish fake border crossings of a Catholic priest and nun."
"A priest and a nun, wonder why those cover." Auggie mused out loud.
"Mind if I set up operations in the corner of your office, working with ear phones isn't what I call my greatest desire."
"Nor mine but yeah, go ahead, keeps me for yelling for you all the time."
"The facial recognition of Stanislav Ostrovsky is running on your computer." Eric leaving to get his equipment for the move.
Auggie told the four other co-works about a special project to work on in South American. He gave them task of gather information about troop movement and government leaders' recent meetings and movement in Argentina and Venezuela.
Auggie set at his desk, transfer the facial recognition to run in the background and started reviewing the intel already been gathered. As he listened his mind drifted to Arthur's directions to him about Annie and of course Annie would be the only person allowed in, she had worked with Lamorak before and knows his identification, what had she said, a Frenchman. 'Bet he is as much a Frenchman as I'm a Russian' Auggie chuckled, had a strong idea but would keep it to himself. Soon or later all covers get blown but not by him.
Twenty minutes later and both Auggie and Eric working on the vehicle request when, "Hey Eric we got a hit."
"Yeah boss, what?" Eric rolling his chair close to Auggie's desk so he could view the screen.
"How close of a match do we have with your rephrase of his picture and the hit?"
"About nine-eight percent and holy crap." Eric reading the name and his position in Russia.
"Holy crap is right, talking about a big fish." Auggie keying in a request for information and background.
Eric reading and Auggie listening, 'Nicholai Bolshakov, age 56 and the Deputy Director of External Counter-Intelligence for the SVR'.
"Jesus, we have a real disaster in the making on our hands." Auggie whispering.
"Is Stanislav Ostrovsky a fake or real person?"
"Good question Eric." Auggie researching more background information using his skills to break the blocked data. "He is a real person with the Department of Labour and Social Affairs. He also vanished without a trace four weeks ago."
"It's getting deep. You going to let Arthur know we have been digging?" Eric reading additional intel about Nicholai Bolshakov.
"Not if I want to keep breathing. Arthur said it was top-secret and that's how we are going to keep it, for our eyes only." Auggie deleting all traces records of their search and findings, would not help in any way to locate Joan.
Warsaw, Poland a modern city having to rebuild after almost total destruction during World War II. Eyal has spent time in Warsaw once living there for two years while working the old eastern Communist bloc countries.
Gwalbert waiting for him at the airport, "My friend, good to meet you again."
"Thank you for coming." Eyal shaking the hand of his asset. "Is there a place we can talk?"
"You look hungry and I could use a bite to eat. There is a grill near here and we can have a meal together." Gwalbert with a hand signal pointing to security cameras. "Should be free of those things."
Eyal had also known about the placement of the cameras and was careful, wearing a brimmed hat and keeping his head turn, only if someone was definitely looking for Eyal Lavin he would never be ID. They moved quickly out of the heavy traffic area and on to Gwalbert waiting car. A short drive to a well established restaurant without security eyes, a calling card for business deals being made by powerful people. Anonymity being top priority.
"What do you have for me?" Eyal looking over the printed menu and ordering tea to drink.
"I have every item you requested in the car and the car is yours, traceable back to the Church of the Gracious Mother of God." Gwalbert nodding to the waiter receiving his drink. "Not as much as I would like to have but it's a start. Grigori Lermontov is in Poland and you know what that means."
"Trouble. Do you have anything on his whereabouts?"
"He has taken up residents in Lublin with a small army of five or six henchmen. Don't know the place but yesterday one of his goons purchased a large amount of food supplies and Vodka."
"Any information on the types of cars or trucks they have?"
"No. They also purchase several throw away phones and here is the serial numbers and manufacturer."
"Damn good man. You know how much that helps and can't thank you enough."
"We Poles are sick and tired of Russians on our soil and I have a personal beef with Lermontov. I will be delighted to help you any way to get rid of him."
"Yes I know and he is not who I'm looking for but if the time and place is right, well he possibly just may be a bonus." Eyal putting the phone listing in his pocket. More work for Eric.
"Well I shall drink to you finding time for a bonus shot." Gwalbert raising his cup to Eyal.
Early morning and cold dampness welcome two travelers as they made their way to the docks and pier 87D. There in the misty fog towered above them an US Naval Destroyer and several men standing at the gated area.
"There is you ride to freedom." Annie with a lighthearted laugh. "Wish I could be going with you."
"I must say our journey has been anything but normal. Thank you for your service." Dr. Puusepp looking at the gray ship, once he stepped onboard he was on American soil and protection. "Sorry you wouldn't be coming along; I have enjoyed your company."
"You are a very interesting man sir and I have enjoyed the down time we spent talking."
"Agent Walker?" An Ensign meeting them at the gate.
"Yes and you must be Ensign..."
"Ensign Paulson." Handing Annie the transfer orders.
"Good, Annie reviewing the orders. I would like to go with Dr. Puusepp on board to see his quarters."
"Follow me, please."
Standard protocol to inspect the transport vehicle in this case, an US Destroyer and if her contact had refused, Dr. Puusepp would not have gone. Her orders were to get him to American soil. Everything went smoothly and Annie's mission in Estonia being complete.
Straight away to her next mission, Warsaw, Poland. No need to call Auggie as it is still night-time in Virginia and he should be sound asleep. Next stop, something to eat and buy a change of clothes, something other than dark sneak around in the shadows jeans and jacket. She had four hours before her flight to Warsaw so may as well make the best of it. Down time has always been hard for her to cope with.
Flight time nearly two hours and she was in Poland in late afternoon. Time for Auggie to be at work and she needed further instructions. Finding a quiet place inside the airport, a nice little cafe and corner table, she call Langley.
"You in Warsaw?" Auggie's voice cheerfully came ringing in her ear.
"Just landed. Good morning to you Auggie Anderson." Annie answering.
"Give me your exact location."
"In the airport at a little cafe, wait a sec let me look at the menu for the name." Annie picking up the menu, "Here we go, Restaurant Rosanna."
She could hear Auggie clicking on his keyboard. "Stay there and your contact will meet you shortly. You will be able to recognize him as you have worked with him before. Need for you to ditch your phone."
"Why, it is encrypted?"
"If we can follow Russian's encrypted phones what makes you think they can't follow ours." Annie remember Eyal so viciously destroying her phone on their first meeting. "Ok, if you have any other identification, destroy."
"Even the passport I'm using?"
"Everything Annie. Most go my time is up." Auggie abruptly disconnected.
Annie quickly removing the sync card from her phone, wrapped all prints away and dropped the phone on the floor, kicked it under the next table, good no one was sitting there. Survey the restaurant to see any out of the norm activity but then again, spies excelled in blending in. She waved to the waiter for service, ordering a light meal and drink, she left her scarf on the back of the chair indicating the table was in use. Off to the ladies room, one cut up sync card flushed now for her passport. Starting a fire would bring too much attention when she noticed the ceiling was a dropped type. Removing the picture, cut into pieces and another flush, it too was gone. Climbing on to the wash basin counter and standing on tippy toes to reach the ceiling tile, with her fingers she moved a tile slid the passport onto the next tile and replace everything back as it had been. Because the passport wasn't burned in flames, the name would be forever and a day burned. That was fine with her, she never liked Beulah Clevelen. At least her little trip to the ladies room was in private, no one came in.
Back at her table, Annie was a nobody, no identification or cell phone and she felt miss placed. Not the first time however but still a little out of joint. Her meal arrived and she started to eat, keeping a watchful eye on the doorway. After all Auggie had said she had worked with her contact before and that was many. Taking a bite of salad, she almost choked. Not believing her eyes, there was Eyal coming toward her. Her heart skipped a beat, it was Eyal and all she wanted to do was run to him, to be held in his arms and kiss. She was about to stand, 'Oh my god no, he is wearing a Catholic collar. My Eyal is a priest.'
"Thank you for not making a public display." Eyal taking the chair across the table from her. "I'm Father Paolo Benedetto."
"I'm to call you Father?" She leaning forward and whispering.
"That would be appropriate." Eyal indicating to the waiter with a hand gesture at the salad Annie was eating, "I shall have the same."
"I am full of questions, should we talk here?"
"No Sister not here."
Annie eyes grew bigger, she trying so hard to keep it under control; he just called her sister as in Catholic nun Sister. More questions to ask and she was sure he was taking great delight in teasing her. Dragging it out by waiting for him to eat and being in no rush.
"Weather is rather chilly this time of year." Eyal making small talk and Annie's thoughts being elsewhere. Watching him eat she couldn't help but think how handsome he look in clerical clothing, black suit and shirt with a snow-white collar. He winked at her, a winked no one else would notice and she just melted. Oh how she longed to be in his arms again, to feel his warm body next to hers, his way of making her feel like a queen or goddess. That white-collar would have go, put out of sight even if he wasn't really a man of the cloth.
Finished with his salad, "Shall we go, I have a car."
"Where are we going?"
"To my hotel of course."