Black Harvest (The PROJECT) (10 page)

Alexei had informants inside Zviad's organization. Gelashvili had learned a man had joined the woman, Connor, in Greece. He was convinced it was the same man who had killed Bagrat. Zviad had vowed to skin him alive. He would, if he found him.

Alexei knew Connor's partner was Nicholas Carter, Director of Special Operations for the Project. He knew something about all of the personnel at the Project. He assumed they knew about him. When you reached his level in the world of covert intelligence, many things about you were known. Vysotsky's job as head of Department S meant there were detailed files about him somewhere in Washington. Certainly in the Project.

Intelligence agencies the world over still followed a few unwritten rules. Members of one agency didn't attack their opposite numbers, unless there was a direct and immediate reason to do so. It was a kind of gentlemen's agreement between people who were anything but gentlemen. It provided some security. It wouldn't do to have the various agencies at war with one another, not openly. Deaths brought retaliation. No one wanted a repeat of the bad old days of the cold war.

On the other hand, there was no rule about protecting the competition if someone else went after them. That wasn't his business, unless it was to his advantage. At the moment, Alexei saw no advantage in letting Carter know Gelashvili was stalking him and his partner. Carter was experienced. He would have considered that possibility. It was his lookout.

The two Americans had gone on to Bulgaria and been joined by a third member of their team. They'd registered at a hotel in Sofia. They were making no effort to hide their identity. Alexei found that unusual, even refreshing. It made sense, in an odd way. Carter was well known. Connor was certainly known to Gelashvili. So why hide who they were? He wondered if they were trying to draw Gelashvili into the open. Bulgaria wasn't that far from Moscow. It wasn't like trying to get Zviad to a Western city. It was what he would do in their position. Get him somewhere and talk with him. Forcefully.

Gelashvili might seek his revenge in person. Alexei wanted Korov to be on hand if that happened. He'd ordered Arkady to follow the Americans into Bulgaria. They were the perfect bait to draw Gelashvili away from his Moscow fortress. They could do the work and he could reap the advantages. It was time to eliminate Gelashvili. He would die on foreign soil and no one would suspect Alexei's hand behind events. The more he thought about it, the more he liked it.

If the Americans died as well, it wasn't personal.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

They'd rented a car at the hotel, a Peugeot. They parked in front of the museum.

"More domes." Ronnie gestured at the roof.

The old public baths had a high, arched doorway and paned windows under a large dome. Two more domes at the ends balanced the central mass. The exterior featured horizontal bands of white and brown and accents of yellow under a red roof.

The museum was closed.

"Where to now?" Nick said.

"The National History Museum. It was next on my list."

They'd rented a GPS along with the car. It guided them through the confusion of Sofia traffic and indecipherable street names until they found the National Museum. 

The building was modern in a 70s way, low and clean, a study in simplicity. The central foyer was cool and light. The floor was of polished gray stone. A wide flight of stone steps led up to the second and third floors. Exhibition galleries branched off on the sides. Selena consulted a guide printed in English and Bulgarian. The Greek antiquities were on the second floor.

The room with the Greek and Roman exhibits was to the left. White platforms of varying height supported glass cases for the displays. The floor was tiled with more broad squares of polished stone, under a ceiling with repeating squares of dark wood.

The room was quiet and cool. They were the only visitors. Selena walked among the cases looking for anything relating to Erinys or Demeter. The exhibits were arranged chronologically. She moved through the centuries and stopped in front of a case about three feet tall, set at waist height.

"Here's something."

The case contained statues and pottery.

"That's Erinys." She pointed at a damaged statue of a woman in a flowing robe wearing a braided wreath. The sculptor had given her strong, unforgiving features. The corners of her mouth were pulled down. She was looking at something and wasn't happy about it.

Selena read the card below the figure.

"This wasn't found in Sofia. The card says it was dug up in Bankya at a temple dedicated to Demeter."

Nick studied the statue. "Could fit the inscription. Where's Bankya?"

"I don't know."

In the car they consulted the GPS.

"It's about ten kilometers from here." Nick looked at his watch. "Getting late. Let's save it for tomorrow."

They headed back to the Hilton.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Zviad lay naked on his back, Bedisa on top of his huge belly. Both were slick with sweat. Zviad had his eyes open. He was thinking. Usually after one of their sexual bouts he would fall into a short sleep. Not sleep, really. More like a ten minute escape from reality. A ten minute escape for her.

Not today. Bedisa waited. She knew better than to say anything. Her body rose and fell with Zviad's breathing.

"Iosif called."

She waited.

"The Americans went to Bulgaria, to Sofia. Iosif has gone after them."

"Why Bulgaria?"

"Who knows?" He pushed Bedisa roughly onto the bed and stood.

He pulled on one of the red satin robes he favored. She watched in relief as the robe covered his massive buttocks. It was getting harder to pretend. Zviad's body disgusted her. He smelled. His skin had a greasy quality to it that made her feel dirty. His large penis was about his only redeeming physical quality as far as she was concerned. Iosif wasn't as well endowed, but he could be manipulated in ways impossible with Zviad. If all went well, she wouldn't have to put up with Zviad much longer.

She felt her abdomen where the baby was forming. It would show, soon. Zviad didn't know she was pregnant. Bedisa was sure the child was Iosif's. If Zviad suspected it wasn't his, he would kill her. Before he killed her he would cut her open and rip the child out of her womb. Zviad would know it wasn't his, once the baby was born. He was too clever not to know. It was the reason she had decided to speed up her plans.

"There's talk in town."

"What talk?"

She chose her words carefully. "You know I go to the salons. One of the women I know is married to a man who works for Rokovsky."

Rokovsky was Zviad's principle rival, boss of the Russian gangs in Moscow. 

"Fuck Rokovsky. Rokovsky's mother sleeps with diseased beggars who drink slops from the brothels. What talk? Women are always talking."

"She enjoys trying to needle me. She doesn't know I allow it because I learn things useful to you." Zviad was growing impatient. She hurried. This was the dangerous part.

"The Russian thinks you are becoming weak. Bagrat's death has not been avenged. Rokovsky thinks you are afraid to do what has to be done."

Zviad's face grew dark with blood.

"Rokovsky thinks when a man's family is attacked it is a matter of honor. A man who cannot avenge his brother's death is not a man. She was saying you are not honorable. Or a man."

Zviad turned and drove his fist into the wall, smashing through the plaster. "This is what I will do to Rokovsky."

He hit the wall again and turned toward her. For a moment she was afraid. If he hit her like that it would kill her.

"What did you say to her?"

Bedisa smiled.

"I told her I knew that her husband likes men more than women. I wondered what would happen if Rokovsky found out about it. I was very polite. She turned several shades of color, mostly white. I don't think she will be saying these things about you again."

Zviad laughed. "Is it true? About her husband?"

"Yes. I'd heard rumors but I wasn't sure. The way she reacted tells me it's true."

"Good, Bedisa. I own this man now. I will use him."

"There is still the talk, Zviad. Others are wondering. You must move quickly to avenge Bagrat. What will you do?"

Zviad admired himself in a full length mirror.

"I think I will go to Bulgaria. I will make an example of this man. And his woman. An example that will be remembered. Then Rokovsky will understand who he offends. No one will speak of honor then."

Bedisa nodded. It was just what she wanted to hear.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

It was mid-morning the next day. Selena pulled up Bankya on her computer.

"Bankya is an exclusive suburb of Sofia. Lots of ruins, artifacts, mostly pottery and bronze. It has a hotel, hot springs, the old presidential palace. A big tourist draw because of the springs. It's a famous spa and resort. And it has a museum."

"Probably a lot of domes, too," said Ronnie.

Nick had been cleaning his .45. He reassembled it, put it back in the holster and stood. He had a headache.

"Let's get out there and get this over with."

They went down to the lobby, exited the hotel and got in the Peugeot. Arkady Korov watched them leave. He got in his rental and pulled out a safe distance behind. Just another battered gray Renault, one of many. They'd never see him. He followed them out of town. Signs pointed the way to Bankya.

Why Bankya, Arkady wondered. Maybe they were going for the waters.

Earlier he'd spoken with Alexei Ivanovich.

"Gelashvili believes the Americans killed his brother. He's gone after them. He should have arrived in Sofia by now. Sooner or later he will be where they are. Your primary mission is his elimination. The Americans may accomplish that for you."

"Understood."

"Arkady. In this instance, the Americans are a means to an end. Observe them and learn what you can. Do not see them as your enemy."

Korov had said nothing. Orders were orders.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Sofia and Mount Vitosha were prominent in the view from the outskirts of Bankya as they drove in. The found the only museum.

"Maybe they'll have a dinosaur." Ronnie sounded hopeful.

There were no dinosaurs. In the museum they learned that the temple of Demeter was buried under a church outside the town. They left the museum and stood in the sunshine.

"What now?"

"Lunch, Ronnie. Then we'll check out the church."

They found a cafe. A dozen tables were set behind a low wooden fence and gate. Trees branched overhead. It was a pleasant spot.

"It's nice out." Selena took a deep breath of fresh spring air. "We can sit outside."

They ordered a spicy beef stew, bread and coffee. A large salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, roasted peppers and an unfamiliar cheese. The food was good.

Korov watched them from a bench under a tree. His car was parked nearby. He held a local paper in front of him and pretended to read. He wore workman's clothes and a cloth cap. From time to time the Americans scanned the area. Their eyes lingered on him for a moment and passed on. Arkady knew it was automatic. They hadn't made him. The woman seemed absorbed in her food.

Then he saw one of Gelashvili's men. He was talking on his cell phone.

Five minutes later two cars drove by. Zviad Gelashvili was in the second one. The man with the phone got into the first car. Korov counted five men plus Gelashvili. In the cafe, the Americans had finished their meal. They stood up to leave. They got in their car and drove off. Gelashvili and his men followed.

Korov stood and folded his paper. The others were still in sight. He got in the car, started it up and pulled out after them.

What was the American expression?

Showtime.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE