Thanks to those who are sticking with this story your patience is appreciated. The delay was due to my ripping up my first attempt at this chapter.

Harry

Thanks for sparing me the 'Dear Harry' or 'My Friend' Top marks for stark honesty. At best Ilya we've been reluctant allies bonded together via a series of lies and personal disasters.

You probably are wondering why I sent Alexis to you. Be assured I had good reasons and did not do so lightly.

Well yes I'd rather assumed that London in January would not be Alexis' preferred vacation choice.

I've sent him to you for his own safety.

What the fuck! He murders an ex MI5 operative who was an adviser to the Home Secretary, okay she's not dead but I'm assuming you don't know that. We both, along with my entire senior team had to spin, bribe and lie about what actually happened and you think this is the safest destination for your son! Ilya have you finally lost it?

You are probably wondering if I, in your English phrase, 'have lost it.'

Too bloody right. So if you realise that Ilya you probably haven't.

Since turning a blind eye to our collaboration in removing Russia First our President has become increasingly suspicious regarding plots and of those who seem to have connexions with the West and other democratic countries.

So it's news to you that Putin is a paranoid bastard? Most of us sussed that years ago.

Detentions are increasing and I was advised from a trustworthy source that given my business dealings, especially with the UK and as Elena's husband I am at risk likewise Alexis as Elena's son. In my judgement it is probable that Alexis would be detained first as a means of persuading me to use my businesses as a cover for covert activities.

Apologies Ilya you retain the instincts that made you such a problem for Jim and myself in the Cold War days.

I have sent Alexis by such a convoluted route as several planes within Eastern Europe have recently crashed due to engine trouble.

Or to put it bluntly it's easier to trace air passengers and then organise a fatal crash. Tough luck on the other passengers though. Mother Russia might care for her children but Father Russia doesn't give a shit.

It is my intention once I know that Alexis has arrived in London to travel over myself and slowly transfer more of my business interests into the UK/EU. If you are reading this I hope to arrive within a week.

I'm not even going to ask how you'll know Alexis arrived on my doorstep tonight but you're correct in assuming that another Russian oligarch will be welcomed by HM Government. Still you're probably less corrupt than some we have in our sights.

If I don't make it out from Russia there is something else you must know Harry. After all the lies Elena told us I finally had Alexis DNA tested. She lied in the bunker but she did not lie to you in Berlin, Alexis is your son.

Hell, damnation did you have to tell me this Ilya? Yes I suppose you did. Oh God

Please believe that I will never regard Alexis as anything other than my son. Unless either of us tell him or he chooses to be tested himself no one apart from ourselves will ever know.

With a DNA test floating around! It's bound to leak out.

The test itself was submitted under false names and the lab, which was in Germany not Russia, has suffered a slight case of arson which seems to have caused an IT outage. The back up system unfortunately was then subject to hackers taking advantage of the chaos.

I hope you are correct Ilya. And for once in my life I'll be really pleased to see you. I really would prefer not to have to take full responsibility for another son, Graham is trial enough and Catherine's adventurings are probably responsible for my hair loss. I can't even imagine how you must feel though, other than wishing you could strangle the bitch all over again. And given that Alexis is probably remains mentally fragile I would agree it's best to keep his paternity a secret between ourselves.

As a precaution I have made financial arrangements to ensure that should an accident befall me Alexis will have funds to support him.

Not leaving anything to chance are you Ilya. You really must be rattled by the internal politics of Moscow.

Harry stay alert. I have heard rumours that a new form of weapon is being trialled with a whisper that you were to be targeted due to your foiling a longstanding espionage operation a few years ago. Does Renaissance mean anything to you?

It does indeed Ilya and thank you. With the emergence of that bastard Bernard we now know who is responsible for turning Ruth into a zombie and possibly why. I only wish I could have killed him myself very very slowly. Those who helped him can look forward to a protracted and painful death when we catch them. God what sort of mind tries to turn a human being into a walking zombie, one that the world will be well rid if I have my way. I favour the Gods of vengeance rather than those charity. I can just about excuse Alexis for his part in reducing Ruth to this state since it was me he intended to kill.

Good luck Harry and I hope we will met again.

Amazingly so do I, so safe journey Ilya. Now I'd best try for some sleep as tomorrow is going to be a day of difficult conversations.

Many thanks for reading. The story moves on slowly