“We had—” Jack began, but Dussler cut him off.
“West filled me in on what happened to Ernie, God rest his soul. And Carrie gave me an update on Mr. Boykov’s tragic death, so we know the Russians are trying to play us. What I’d like to know is why.”
“We believe they’re trying to protect an espionage operation codenamed Bright Star. They want to know what we know about it. A Russian operative known as Veles, the man who’s really behind the murders of Ernest Fisher, Leonid Boykov and others, has already tried to interro
gate us.”
There was a knock at the door, and the CIA Head of Section, Erin Sebold, entered.
“You’ve brought us a tremendous gift, Mr. Morgan, Ms. Orlova,” she said. “The man we’d codenamed Bishop is downstairs, sir,” she told Dussler. “He’s agreeing terms with legal.” She pulled up a chair.
“That’s quite an achievement,” Dussler congratulated Dinara and Jack. “The Kremlin keeps all its top people on a tight leash. The question we have now is what we do with you both.”
“Ambassador Dussler,” Jack said. “Mr. Yenen—Bishop—told us the man running the Bright Star program is SVR Director Yevgeny Salko.”
“Salko?” Erin remarked. “He’s an old-school hardliner of the worst kind.”
“I’d like to see if we can access his files to discover the real name of the man codenamed Veles,” Jack said.
“We can also see if we can get intelligence on Bright Star,” Dinara added. “Find out who the deep-cover operatives are.”
“When you say ‘access’ …” Dussler left the remark hanging.
“We know Salko’s calling the shots. We know where he’s based. We access his computer and see what we can find,” Jack replied.
“Access an SVR director’s computer?” Erin scoffed. “Like it’s a terminal in a public library?”
“I think my team can do it,” Jack replied earnestly.
“I can get us inside,” Dinara added.
“My tech can get round his security,” Jack said.
“Mr. Morgan,” Dussler replied. “If you’re seriously planning to hack the computer of a director of the SVR, I’m afraid I have to officially advise you against such a reckless and criminal course of action.”
“And there’s no way the CIA could condone an operation like that,” Erin chimed in somberly. “Of course, if you’re successful, we’d appreciate a look at whatever you find,” she said with a smile.
“And speaking off the record,” Dussler remarked, “if you ignore my official advice and go ahead with the reckless and criminal action, I wish you every ounce of good old-fashioned American luck.”
“You realize what happens if you’re caught?” Erin asked.
Dinara looked at Jack, and the two of them shared a moment of understanding.
“We’re aware of the risks,” she said. “But we owe it to Leonid. He saved my life.” Her voice started to tremble, but she took a breath and fought for composure. “I couldn’t save his, so the least I can do is make sure his killer faces justice.”
CHAPTER 89
“HOW’S DINARA HOLDING up?” Justine asked.
“It’s hit her pretty hard,” I replied. “But she’s throwing herself into the case.”
“What about you?”
“I’m OK,” I told her. “How are things over there?”
“Your story has been picked up by US media,” Justine told me. “We’re starting to field calls from clients, and we lost our first account. The Wabash investigation out of LA.”
The Russians were putting tremendous pressure on the State Department to turn me over. They’d taken their disinformation to the media and I’d scanned countless articles on mainstream news websites that identified me as a murder suspect and possible terrorist working with the Ninety-nine. Thanks to the geopolitical implications of the story, and rumblings of a serious diplomatic incident, I was known as a wanted man around the world, and Private was suffering as a consequence.