I do not own the Blacklist or any of its characters.
Chapter 2: With Your Eyes Open
A glass lay shattered at his feet. Photographs of what appeared to be family gatherings and celebrations laid scattered across the tiled floor and he made every attempt to avoid stepping on them. He'd even gone as far to pull a rookie field agent back as she nearly kicked the only fully intact picture frame. Perhaps they had come hunting monsters but they didn't have to behave like them.
Ressler bent to pick up the picture frame and once he'd pulled it free of the debris, ran his fingers across the glass. Two older men stood behind three women and four children. While it was not clear how exactly they fit together, there was no denying the appeared to be a family. The faces of the men were weathered but pleasant. The women were softer and focused on the children in their arms. What really caught his attention was the young girl at the end not looking at the camera. Whatever drew her attention away from the camera in that moment had left her smiling.
"We've got him, sir." The voice behind him pulled him out of his thoughts and he moved toward the back of the restaurant carrying the photo with him.
Sitting at the last table was a man who had seemed less imposing in his photos. Gavriil Volkov was more than just a man. He was a ghost that operated outside of the shadows. In appearance, he was a law abiding citizen who had immigrated from the Soviet Union in 1976. Garvriil Volkov paid taxes, raised a family, and supported his community. The restaurant he'd opened shortly after his arrival in the nation's capital was well maintained and loved by the people it served. For years, the CIA had been actively pursuing the alleged KGB agent but had never been able to cultivate any actual evidence. Until now. No longer a KGB agent, Volkov provided information to a network of unsavory individuals not unlike those Raymond Reddington had been known to associate with.
However interesting Volkov's extensive history may be, it was an event in more recent years that led Ressler to him. He had gotten the phone call early that morning regarding new information in the human trafficking case that had gone cold three years earlier. The case that had cost him his partner without any explanation.
"FBI? I must have finally bored your CIA brethren." His accent still thick despite having lived in the United States for more than three decades. Volkov seemed unfazed by the FBI presence or his being held. Calm even.
"I'm sure this isn't the first time you've been questioned, Mr. Volkov." Ressler set the picture frame on the table in front of him and sat down across from Volkov.
"Is that what we're doing here, agent..?"
"Ressler."
"Ah, Agent Ressler." Volkov smiled slowly. "I would offer you a drink but it seems your people were a little over eager when entering my business."
"Tell me about Winter Harbor." Ressler dodged the comment on the actions of the team that had initiated in the raid. He'd answer for the mess eventually. Volkov continued to watch him. His expression faltered ever so slightly. So quickly, in fact, that he almost missed it.
"Winter Harbor."
"We have reason to believe someone scheduled a shipment into Winter Harbor. Maine." Ressler continued to watch in hopes of seeing another tell but saw none. "And we believe that person was you."
"Is that so?" Volkov picked up the picture frame that Agent Ressler had carried in. He considered the photo for a moment before continuing. "Do you have family, Agent Ressler?"
"Let's skip the song and dance, we know you were involved. Phone calls were made from this location when you were alone. We have our 'CIA brethren' to thank for that information." Ressler knew getting any admission of involvement would be difficult at best. Volkov chuckled again.
"I'm sure you do."
"The point is that we have enough to detain you." Ressler waved two agents over from the front of the restaurant. He was sure Agent Cooper would be interested in being involved in his questioning.
"You are missing the point, Agent Ressler." Volkov stood. The agents that had been approaching pulled their weapons and Ressler stood quickly in response. He waved them off. Volkov was impressive but without a weapon, he wasn't an immediate threat. "If you've received intel implying my involvement in Winter Harbor, I will be coming with you willingly."
"Excuse me?"
"You feds are all the same." Volkov slid the picture frame across the table. "Never asking the right questions."
"And what questions should I be asking?"
"You should be asking me about Elizabeth Keen."
A/N: Thank you to those of you who gave feedback! From the moment I first started planning out this story, I've not been able to think about much else. It's been fun so far and I hope my muse continues to be kind.
A few notes on the chapter... I realize that I haven't shown much of Elizabeth and even less of Red. I promise there will be more of the two coming. Just setting the stage. Gavriil Volkov is entirely my creation and not a character on the show. That being said, I'm always super concerned with how authentic what I write comes off… so hopefully this doesn't come off as unrealistic.
Reviews are appreciated!