Vladivostok Hotel, Vladivostok
Cameras on the top floor were functional but something must have been wrong because the images they were capturing were grainy, soft focused and in black and white. To its electronic eye, the people trooping out of their hotel rooms and down into the stairwell were mere indistinguishable gray blobs.
Down in the lobby, the night clerk dutifully placed a stack of passports on the front desk. His gaze returned to the face of the young man who had nicely requested the passports. Dazed and unaware of it, the clerk did not notice Felicia, Nestor and Vincent using an unmarked aerosol can to spray the lens of all the cameras they could find in the lobby area.
"Thank you very much," said Andrew scooping all the passports into his backpack. "Now, go back to your office and stay there for the next hour. Everything is fine. Nothing to worry about."
Beside Andrew, Dianara repeated the phrase in Russian to make sure the clerk had fully understood. After the clerk disappeared, Dianara nodded at Vincent who stood by the emergency stairwell. He opened the doors and let out a long, shrill whistle. The pounding of rushing feet echoed in the stairwell.
In minutes the entire party was on its way to the airport in an orderly if rapidly moving convoy.
In the passenger seat with Anna driving and listening in, Robert spoke into his phone. "Giles, how's the airport?"
"Clear of traffic. Go straight to the airfield via the back entrance. It is suggested that you disguise your looks as much as you can," said Giles. "Whatever Ivan told them seems to be working. He said that you owe him one, a really big favor."
"He's learning how to play the game," said Robert. "Our official flight plan is set for Tokyo. Does Andre have enough time to get us new passports there?"
"Yes. His instructions are to NOT get off Dimitri's plane. Wait for Andre's people to come aboard. Use your new identities to go through customs," said Giles. "The controller will direct you to a landing spot away from the usual terminals. From there, how do you want bookings?"
"The more confused we can make the situation to anyone tracking us the better," said Robert. "Alex and Dimitri will be taking off for Budapest as soon as we're off. Longing for home and I can't say I blame them. Jackie will go with them and make her way from there to Paris. Those already on fake passports - Andrew, Edgar and Holly - will go off separately and make their own way to the ranch. I'll leave that to Andrew's ingenuity. Book Mac and Dia for Macao. Have Nyssa and Nestor city hop - Manila, Kuala Lumpur then home base. Book them for a few days at each spot. Try for resorts if you can, hmm."
"Vacation on the company? Nice," asked Giles.
"They've earned it," said Anna. "Book Felicia and Maxie for the quickest route home. Any word from Frisco?"
"Negative on Frisco. Should we be expecting him?" asked Giles.
"Possibly. Something is happening on that front," said Robert. "Updates from Paris? How is Therese doing?"
"Physically fine and emotionally stable. She seems to be quite happy to walk in the fresh air. Andre wants her moved here before Jackie's expose on the Foundation airs in two days to coincide with our packets to our intelligence friends," said Giles. "But Andre doesn't want to chance an air trip in her unpredictable condition."
"What does he suggest?" asked Robert.
"Salim is making arrangements for a hand-picked crew to take Therese, Raine and Shane home by sea," said Giles. "The usual zig zag route. He wants to bring Figaro along as well."
"Andrew will like that," said Anna.
"Is Salim coming back with them?" asked Robert.
Giles hesitated to answer. "He wants to talk to the both of you first. As soon as Therese is at sea, he's heading for the ranch."
"Something's on his mind," said Robert.
"He's worried, not that he said so, but I could hear it in his voice when I mentioned Andrew's latest, um, personal issue," said Giles.
Anna looked at Robert. "You think he knows something?"
"If anyone does, it would be him," said Robert. "Book a private charter for Robin, Anna, Vincent and myself straight on to the ranch. The sooner we get out of here the better. If possible, see if Andre can arrange for doubles to fly home in our place."
"Hoping to catch something?" asked Giles.
"Not exactly. I want as much attention as possible diverted," said Robert. HIs eyes moved to the side mirror to Range Rover behind the sedan where Mac, Dia, Robin and Vincent were. "It's best if the world is looking in another direction while Robin settles in."
"Send doubles for Robin and Vincent somewhere they could be somewhat shielded," said Anna. "Delaying any confirmation of their identities."
"Parador would be perfect. I'll call Kate personally."
"Understood. Anything else?" asked Giles.
"Just one more thing. Get some rest," said Robert. "Monica is going to give me grief about hampering your recovery."
"A full eight hours of sleep and I'll be fine. Sean's been, um, concerned about things. Can I patch him into Robin now? Ease his mind a bit," Giles deactivated the connection.
"Oh, god, yes! Where has my head been?" asked Anna. "Send the call through Vincent."
"Will do. Giles out."
"I'm going to have to grovel when I get home, Robert," said Anna.
"Sean's nose is out of joint at the moment but he'll get over it," said Robert.
"There was something in this last argument, Robert. A … a sense of bitterness," said Anna. "Sean and I have had rows before but this last felt different. I'm missing something somewhere."
"We're both in the doghouse with him," said Robert. "Let's have a cool down period. We'll talk to him when we get home. I'll prepare myself for groveling."
"Speaking of home, how far can we trust Ivan?" asked Anna.
"He's pulled through so far," said Robert.
"And the favor? What could it be?"
"It's probably going to be a doozy given how things seem to be unravelling within the upper echelons of the DVX," said Robert. "Connie's going to have a headache on her hands. I predict a lot of asylum and defection requests in the next few months. An internal civil war isn't out of the question there."
"Three heads. Three possible factions."
"But none of them are strong enough to dominate or have the numbers on their side," said Robert. "It will be a while before anything tangible happens but it's inevitable. According to Vincent's sources, DVX agents, the older and wiser ones, are deserting ship and going into hiding as we speak."
"We're supposed to be neutral, remember?"
"Too late for that," said Robert. "Far too late."
Robert's phone rang. It was Giles. "Robert, Anna, get a move on. SIMON's picked up Vladivostok police reports of a mass homicide at a tourist hotel. Sending the data your way now."
"We found blood on the boat," said Anna. "A connection? How unlucky can we get?"
Robert murmured agreement as he perused the data scrolling on his screen.
"Damn. We can't take the boots with us. I don't want to push our luck," said Anna. "Giles, has the DVX been contacted?"
"Not yet. It's still being treated as a local crime," said Giles. "Well, local as in Russian mafia hit."
"We're almost at the airport. If our luck can hold for another thirty minutes or so, then we're free and clear."
"Six American males. Multiple bullet wounds from military grade armaments. Bodies in different parts of the suite. No drugs founds but lots of weapons. All at the same hotel where we deposited our new friends," said Robert.
"Could it be Sinclair's end cleaning up his mess?" asked Giles.
"Anything's possible but that one seems unlikely," said Robert. "With the Foundation gone, what else could he do?"
"We only know Sinclair's connection to Elena. What if he has other resources we know nothing about?" asked Anna. "Let's not assume he got off that boat unwillingly."
"Point taken. I have a funny feeling about this."
"Funny ha ha or funny strange?" asked Anna.
"Funny ominous."
"Great. Just great."
Sean and Tiffany's faces appeared on Vincent's phone display. He handed the phone to Robin who sat beside him.
"Hey, sweetheart! Long time no see!" greeted Sean with a huge smile.
"Oh, gosh, it's really you! You look so good," said Robin.
"You look even better," said Sean.
"All this time you've been … I just can't believe it," said Tiffany.
"I'm missed you. All of you," said Robin.
"Are you really all right?" asked Sean. "No side effects, memory loss or other conditions?"
"I'm fine, Uncle Sean. I'm Alex-Marick-certified healthy," replied Robin. "I can't wait to see everyone. Annabelle must be a teenager by now."
"Thirteen and going to her first dance," said Tiffany excitedly. "When are you getting home?"
Robin looked to the side at Vincent. "I think our travel plans are fluid right now." She turned the phone towards him.
"Sean, we're evacuating," said Vincent.
"Not voluntarily I take it," said Sean.
"Not our choice and on an express schedule," said Vincent.
"Going deep into the brush?" asked Sean.
"No ripples on the surface for a while," said Vincent.
"Got it," said Sean. He looked at Tiffany. "I'll translate later."
"Okay, I'll hold off on the party until we see you," said Tiffany. "Things are always so complicated with you guys."
"How is Robin going to be explained?" asked Sean. "Andrew have something else in his bag of tricks?"
"I … I don't know if I want to go home yet," said Robin.
"What? But you have to. This is your home, your friends and-" began Tiffany.
Robin bit her lip. "I have a lot of thinking to do. I'll visit for sure but I don't know about staying permanently. Robin Scorpio is dead. Maybe it's a good idea that she stays that way. She had her life and I have mine. They haven't been the same for years and they don't have to be now."
"You can't be serious," said Sean. "What do Anna and Robert have to say about this?"
"It's not their decision, is it?" asked Robin.
"We're in the airport. Thank god," said Mac. "Time to get off. I'm amazed no one stopped us. No cops around after midnight?"
"Ivan has connections. I told you," said Dianara from the passenger seat.
"How is he covering this up?" asked Mac. "He's going to get in trouble for helping us."
"Mac, my cousin Ivan only plays the fun-loving playboy on the surface," said Vincent. "He's his father's son. He will be all right."
"Who's his father?" asked Mac.
"Constantin Korolev, minor member of the Politburo, and what else, Vincent?" asked Dianara.
Vincent leaned into the front compartment and replying in a low voice. "One of the three heads of the DVX."
"You've gotta be kidding me!" exclaimed Mac. "Does Robbie know? Damn!"
"Sean, Tif, we have to get on the plane soon," sighed Robin. "I am not going to miss this place at all."
"All right, sweetheart, you take all the time you need," said Tiffany.
Sean added, "Wherever you are, we'll come to you. Count on that."
Metro Court Hotel, Port Charles, NY
Arnold Vandenberg's cell phone rang. It was a special contact number used only in emergencies.
"Vandenberg here," said Arn. "Who is this?"
"This is Ambassador Philip Coughlin at the Vladivostok embassy. I was given this number to contact," said Coughlin. "Do you wish to verify my identity?"
"Unnecessary," Arn was instantly awake. "Yes, Ambassador, what can I do for you?"
"I afraid it's bad news. I am assuming you are in the more covert arms of our government?"
"Yes, sir."
"My office was contacted by city police to aid in a case a few hours ago. Your … team was assaulted and murdered tonight at their hotel. My deputy got there in time to speak with one of them before he died. He was given this number for notification."
"All of them are dead?"
"I'm sorry to say, yes, all of them."
Arn cleared his throat. He clicked on the bedside lamp. "How … what happened?"
"Mr. Vandenberg, I'm pressed for time and decisions. I can give you a full report later. For now, what do you want me to do with your team? The authorities on both our sides are waiting for answers."
"Of course, yes, I see," said Arn. "Ambassador, we are a small branch of the WSB and-"
"That could be a problem when, not if, your opposite number starts sniffing around here. That's all I need. Was there an operation in play here? Why was my office not informed?"
"No, no operation, sir," said Arn. "It was a reconnoissance job. Strictly above board."
"Then why is there evidence of less than open operations going on? There was too much gear left lying around - surveillance, offensive, defensive. The attack itself was distinctively paramilitary. Don't play me for a fool, son," said Coughlin. "I'm career foreign service. I've been around you spook types before. When you screw up, the cleanup is always messy and no answers given are ever straightforward or the truth."
"Yes, sir."
"I've been on vacation the last few days and I have some catching up to do here at the consulate. But instinct tells me that this is one thing I want no part of," said Coughlin. "Here's what I'm going to do. I shall tell the authorities that our operatives were tracking an international drug lord, identity not to be provided, and, unfortunately, said drug lord had friends who welcomed them into the city. Does that reasoning cover your operation?"
"Not neatly but sufficient. Thank you, sir," said Arn.
"Very well. I shall have the bodies taken immediately to Washington and-"
"No, sir, divert to London," said Arn. "We'll take it from there. I will take care of informing my superiors."
"All right. No reports to the WSB and I assume this conversation never happened?"
"Anything you could do to minimize this event at your end would be vastly appreciated," Arn managed to say.
"Hmm, you're a smooth one."
"I try, sir."
"No reports and no log. However, I will keep a personal note of this conversation. By all accounts, it seemed to have been a surprise attack. They didn't stand a chance," said Coughlin. "Please extend my personal condolences to their families, Mr. Vandenberg."
"Absolutely, sir."
The ambassador ended the call. Arn sat on his bed absorbing the news. Then he sprang to his feet and headed for his laptop. Damage control and cleanup first then he would find out what happened and who was responsible. The Gems took care of their own and they took to heart the policy of a life for a life. He would not rest until the people responsible had paid.