Black Harvest (The PROJECT) (18 page)

"Why send it to us?"

"Surely that's obvious. Who else could I send it to? The Pentagon? The FBI? Langley, perhaps?"

"And the Russians?"

"Vysotsky will not go to his boss. He will only do that if there is no other choice. These things can escalate out of control. Vysotsky is a patriot. He does not want a war with us that Russia can't win. There are people in the Kremlin who don't understand that concept. He can help. He will be invaluable if you have to enter Russia."

"No one's going to invite us into Russia."

"Stranger things have happened."

"What is Demeter?"

"A plan to destroy all food crops in Russia with a fast-acting virus."

"That's the conclusion we came to."

"Dansinger is an egomaniac and a fanatic. He wants Russia on its knees. He thinks he can control this virus once it is released. I think he's wrong. It is likely to spread throughout Asia. Half the world's food supply will be destroyed within a few months. Think what will happen, if he succeeds."

"How does Lodge come in?"

"He hates Russia as much as Dansinger. Among other things, he provides covert support. Wet work."

"Campbell and the others."

"Yes. He had them terminated. He has his own private unit of rogue agents operating outside the boundaries."

Nick made a mental note. Terminated.

"Dansinger is part of a very powerful organization. He has promised Lodge the White House four years from now and he can deliver it."

What Adam had just told him explained Lodge's motivation. The White House could be delivered.
Nick
didn't want to believe that, but somehow he did.

"What organization?"

"We'll talk about that on a different day."

The car rolled through the streets. Nick had no idea where he was. Sometimes they stopped, he assumed for lights or traffic. Sometimes they turned.

The electronic voice was unsettling. "Lodge has been observing everyone in the Project for some time. Did you know he had someone outside your cabin in California the last time you were there?"

Son of a bitch,
Nick thought. He kept silent.

"He had someone watching when you and
Doctor
Connor met with McCullough. I assume he sent those Georgian gangsters to Greece."

"You seem to know a lot about Lodge. Why haven't you stopped him?"

"We're doing what we can."

Nick noted the plural. We.

"Is the Pentagon part of this?"

"We think there is a rogue element in the military leadership. Dansinger is involved in a Pentagon bio-warfare program. He receives a great deal of money from them. His research facilities and laboratories are unmatched, except at CDC."

We, again.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Demeter is about to be implemented. That must not happen. The virus is stockpiled in Building Four at Dansinger's Texas research facility. It has to be destroyed and your group can do it."

"You want to use us. Why should we cooperate?"

"Because it is in the country's best interest to do so."

Nick said nothing.

"One thing you should know. The virus is airborne. You can't blow it up. Use thermite charges. Intense heat will finish it."

"What does the virus look like?"

"Demeter looks exactly like common pepper. Samples are kept in one of the refrigerators in the laboratory. The main supply is in a large freezer, packed in sealed boxes. All of that is in Building Four."

The car slowed.

"One more thing." The electronic voice crackled over the speaker. "He has effective security on site. Be careful."

The car stopped. The door opened. They were in front of the restaurant.

"How do I contact you?"

There was no response. Nick got out. The driver closed the door, went around the back, got in. The car drove away. The license plate was obscured.

He walked into the restaurant where Selena waited.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

April in Washington. The day was sunny and warm, in the high 60s. Ronnie had shifted to summer mode. He wore a bright blue Hawaiian shirt with surfboards all over it, green Dockers and a tan linen jacket that concealed his Glock. He'd gone for Oakley wraparounds and a hat that would have pleased Frank Sinatra. Winter, Ronnie dressed dull. The sun brought out another side of him.

Ronnie and Nick waited for Korov in front of the Marriott. He came out of the entrance and headed straight for them. They would have guessed what Korov did for a living even if they didn't already know.

"He's armed." Ronnie gestured. "Figures. Probably diplomatic pouch."

"He's got the look."

"Yeah he does."

Korov stopped in front of them. He was about the same height as Nick, about the same weight. He had the same tension in the way he moved. Something about the eyes said this man didn't miss much.

"So. You are Carter and Peete." He didn't offer to shake hands.

"Car's over there." They walked to Ronnie's black Hummer and got in. No one spoke on the drive to Virginia.

In the parking lot Korov eyed the anonymous gray office building that housed the Project. Noted the antennas clustered on the roof.

"You have added a few." Nick and Ronnie glanced at each other. Game on. They walked to the entrance.

"You'll have to leave your weapon at the door. You'll get it back when you leave."

"And yours?"

"I work here. I get a pass."

Korov shrugged. He took the Drotik from his holster and handed it to the security guard.

"That what you used in Bulgaria?" Ronnie studied the odd pistol.

"It is."

"Maybe you could show it to us later."

"Of course. Now that we are working together."

They got in the elevator. Half way up, Nick pushed the stop button.

"Before we go in. Neither one of us is happy about this."

Korov nodded.

"This is my team. You take orders from me. Understood?"

"Of course. We are both professionals. I read your file, Carter. We have much in common."

Nick wasn't surprised there was a file about him somewhere in Moscow.

"We need to make this work. I'm going to try. How about you?"

For the first time Korov smiled. "Honesty is good. Yes. I will try."

"Good enough." Nick pushed the button again. The elevator rose.

Selena, Stephanie and Lamont waited with Elizabeth in Harker's office. No one got up as Korov came in.

"Major Korov. I am Director Harker. Please sit down." She indicated a chair. She didn't introduce the others. Nick and Ronnie sat down on the couch.

"Getting crowded in here," Lamont said. Harker gave him a warning look.

"What are your instructions, Major? We'd all like to know."

"My orders are to cooperate with you in every way. I am to place myself under your command for the duration of this assignment. General Vysotsky showed me the video of your CIA Director."

"Then you understand our concern."

"I do. We have a mutual goal."

"How do you feel about being here? Working with us?"

"I'll be blunt. I have mixed feelings." Korov's English was excellent. "I never expected to work with Americans. I was raised to see your country as the enemy. As you were regarding the Motherland."

She opened a folder on her desk. Turned it so Korov could see. His picture was prominent. The folder contained a full history. Family, education, military service. The date he'd been recruited to Spetsnaz. His assignment to the non-existent Zaslon. Commendations for heroism under fire. Evaluations from superior officers.

If Korov was surprised, he gave no sign.

Harker closed the folder. "Your record speaks for itself. You have the skills. My question to you is if you can give us your total commitment."

"I've been ordered to do so."

"That's not what I asked."

"I will do my best."

Harker waited for the others.

"We spoke in the elevator," Nick said. "I'm willing to put him in the loop."

"Likewise." That was Ronnie.

"Selena?"

"Yes." She watched Korov. A flicker of surprise on his face.

"Lamont?"

He shrugged. "Okay."

Stephanie nodded.

"All right. That's settled."

Korov knew what had happened. He just hadn't expected it.

"If one of you had said no, would I now be on my way back to Moscow?"

"You would."

"This will be interesting."

Nick couldn't resist. "You can count on it."

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

"Tell them about Adam, Nick."

"Who's Adam?" Lamont asked.

He briefed them, leaving out the part about the Pentagon. It was up to Harker to tell Korov or not. Nick had given her the full story earlier.

"You have no idea who Adam is?" Harker said.

"No. Whoever he is, he's got power, he's got money and he's playing his cards very close. The voice was disguised. I think Adam is a man. Just something in the way he spoke. I could have refused to get in the car. Nothing would have happened."

"You sensed no threat?"

"No."

"Do you think he was giving you accurate information about Demeter?"

"Yes."

Korov said, "I will have to pass this to Vysotsky."

"You can call him now, if you like."

"Here? Right now?"

"Yes. I told Yakov I'd let Vysotsky know immediately if we learned what Demeter was."

Korov nodded. "You continue to surprise me. You have the number?"

She picked up her phone, dialed. A short pause while the signal relayed across the world. In Moscow, Vysotsky picked up.

"Da."

"General, this is Director Harker. Major Korov would like to speak with you."

Elizabeth smiled inside. She didn't think Vysotsky would have expected that. She handed the phone to Korov.

"I will speak in Russian."

"Feel free."

Korov began talking. Selena listened. She spoke Russian. If Korov knew it, he didn't care. He paused, listened. He said "Da" several times. Even Nick knew that meant yes. Korov gave the phone back to Harker.

"He wants to speak with you."

Harker put the call on speaker. She'd decided full transparency might build trust. She wanted Korov to see she played it straight.

"Director Harker. We meet, so to speak. What do you intend to do?" Vysotsky's English was accented but quite good.

"Now that we know what and where it is, we are going to destroy Demeter."

"Time is running out." The speaker hissed in the background. "When do you plan this operation?"

"Two nights from now. I need to get the logistics together and the team on site."

"What about Lodge?"

"Our primary concern is Demeter. After we take care of that, then Lodge."

"Major Korov will be part of the strike unit?"