Necessary Retribution (44 page)

“Yeah, they've really been good for each other. So far Maria says they'll fully recover, which is miracle if you think about it.”

“Speaking of miracles, how is Tim doing?”

“It didn't take long for him to get things under control. Pat was right. The man probably is a genius. The only problem we have left is hiring dock workers.”

“Can't you hire disabled cops and soldiers?”

“Not for that kind of work. There's a lot of heavy lifting and other physical work.”

“Oh, yeah, I see what you mean.”

“Well, I set Burke and Rocky to work on the problem. They'll get it solved.”

Karen snuggled closer. “I love you, Robin.”

“I love you, honey.”

They became quiet listening to the fire crackle against the stormy night and enjoying the closeness of each other.

Robin and Bill Grassley sat on the deck of Robin's boat at the Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. The conversation was a rambling one with Robin wondering why Bill had come to visit.

“Bill, do you want to tell me why you're really here?”

“Two things. First I've waited patiently for you to come clean about the Russian battle plans.”

“What about them?”

“I know what you told Admiral Ellison, but I also know you. I don't believe for a minute you didn't look at those plans.”

“I never said I didn't.”

“True, but you never said you did.”

“I don't think it matters anyway.”

“Why? Those plans could mean the difference between victory or defeat if war broke out.”

“I doubt it. I think the Russians would've changed the plans just to be safe.”

“You don't know that for sure.”

Robin looked at Bill. “What would you do?”

“Change the plans, of course.”

“Thanks for making my point.”

Minutes of silence passed between the two men. “Okay, Bill, let's say hypothetically, I had the plans memorized or I even took notes. I still believe in the balance of power, but if it looked like the Russians were going to launch a war, I'd give them to you…hypothetically speaking.”

“Of course…hypothetically.” Bill smiled at Robin.

“What's the second reason?”

Bill looked at his watch and then at the marina entrance. “Ah, I think the second reason is just now coming into the marina.”

Robin looked over and saw a Nordhaven trawler coasting in. He watched, a little confused, until it hit him…Picushkin's yacht! A large man came out of the bridge and saluted. Robin recognized Alex and jumped up.

“Well, I'll be damned.”

The yacht headed for one of the empty berths where a fishing boat used to moor. Robin hurried over to the slip in time to catch a line from Alex.

Alex's deep voice boomed. “Good afternoon, my brother!”

“It's very good to see you, brother!”

Ahmed came running to the bow. “Robin!”

“Hello, Ahmed.” Ahmed's brother came out behind Ahmed and waved. Robin waved back. When the boat docked and the engines turned off, First Sergeant Setchinko came out of the bridge. Robin and Bill boarded the yacht at midship.

Robin and Alex hugged each other and then Ahmed embraced Robin tightly. He rubbed Ahmed's head.

“How are you doing, my young friend?”

Ahmed's face beamed. “I'm doing very well and even better now we are here with you.”

“That's good to hear.” Robin reached over and shook the brother's hand. Setchinko walked up warmly and greeted him.

Bill Grassley spoke up. “Let's go into the salon and talk.”

When everyone was seated, Bill spoke. “Rob, as you know the Soviet Union is collapsing. The country is broke. Many government employees aren't getting paid…no retired government employees are getting paid.”

Robin looked at the First Sergeant. “Does that include you?”

“Da.”

Bill continued. “Yosef contacted me and asked me if I could get First Sergeant Setchinko and the boys into America. The boys have gone through hell and now First Sergeant Setchinko has no way to support them. I thought you might have a position for the First Sergeant.”

“Are the immigration issues resolved?”

“Yes, like we've done before.”

Robin stood up. “First Sergeant, will you please come with me?”

Bill gave Robin a questioning look.

“Job interview.”

Bill shrugged his shoulders.

Robin and Setchinko walked out onto the deck and leaned over the rail. “Sergeant, I never learned your name.”

“My name is Nikolaj Setchinko, but I am called Nikky.”

“Please to meet you, Nikky. How do you feel about this?”

“I really have just been going along with the tide. I have no money and there is no work in Russia, especially for a used up soldier. I have to take care of my boys.”

“You're well aware of what our company does. How does that sit with you?”

Nikky shrugged. “You impressed me when you helped Russia stop Picushkin. You did not worry about ideology, you just wanted to stop a greedy madman.” Nikky turned to Robin. “We are not much different, you and I. Yes, I was a soldier for my homeland for many years and I was a good soldier. But I never hurt innocent people, no matter where they lived or what country they came from. As Spetsnaz I was ruthless with our enemies…but only enemies, not innocents.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Alex says you are brothers and he would give his life for you. There is no higher recommendation of your character. Yes, I trust you.”

“Okay, you're hired.”

“What will you have me do?”

“Well, besides covert ops, what do you want to do?”

“You mean I can still do soldier work?”

“Nikky, in our organization, there is no such thing as a used up soldier.”

Setchinko broke out in a grin.

“But we don't do ops all of the time, what do you want to do during our down times?”

“Well, I like your new boat. The boys and I can take care of it.”

“What boat? You mean this one?”

“Yes, it is a gift from the Russian government to you.”

“We'd better talk to Bill and Alex.”

The men went back into the salon. “Okay, what's up with the boat?” Robin asked.

Alex stood up and put his hands on Robin's shoulders. “It's yours, if you want it, Robin. A gift to you from our country for saving so many Russian lives.”

“I don't need any gift, Alex. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if we hadn't stopped the idiot from detonating that bomb.” Robin looked over at Nikky who had an expectant look on this face. “I will accept it as a symbol of what our two countries can do when we work together.”

Alex grinned broadly. “That is a fitting sentiment, my brother.”

Robin turned to Nikky. “Captain, you may take control of your ship and assign your crew as you see fit.”

Nikky took Robin in a bear hug. “Thank you, Robin.”

“My pleasure. Now, I smell meat and potato pie.”

Alex laughed. “Our cook has prepared your favorite Russian food. I thought it would remind us of our first dinner.”

“Ah, yes. That was an interesting dinner.”

Alex laughed again. “A favorite memory of mine!”

“What are we drinking?”

Alex walked to the bar and produced a bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey. “I thought we would drink American this time.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Dinner was served and enjoyed by all except Robin detected some reservation on the part of Bacla. He wondered if the young man still believed in jihad. After the dinner, Robin walked out onto the rear deck. Bacla followed him out.

“May I speak to you, sir?” Bacla asked in broken English.

Robin replied in Arabic. “Call me Robin or Rob, Bacla. You don't need to be so formal. What's on your mind?”

“Thank you for rescuing my brother.”

“You don't have to thank me. Ahmed is a good boy, I'm glad we got him away from all the violence. What about you? Do you still believe in jihad?”

Bacla seemed taken aback by Robin's blunt question. He looked down. “I am ashamed I considered those men my friends and mentors. They had no reason to murder my mother; sheonly tried to protect us, like any mother.”

“It seemed to me you wanted to know the code to arm the bomb in the warehouse.”

“I did. I wanted to arm the bomb there and kill everyone for what they did to my family. I was so angry, it was the only thing I could think of doing.”

Robin considered the boy for a moment. “Bacla, you're going to be living in the United States now. You'll find out that there's more opportunity to do whatever you want than in any other country. It's not a perfect place by any means, but you can make your life whatever you want it to be. You're also lucky to have Nikolaj as a father now. He has much he can teach you about the world.”

“He is already our Poppa. We love him.”

“And I'm sure he loves you. I can also introduce you to young people like my son and daughter. They can help you get acclimated to American ways.”

“Ahmed and I need to learn to speak better English.”

“We'll get you into classes right away, although I can tell your Poppa has already started teaching you.”

“Yes, I can read it well, but I can't speak it very well.”

“It'll come to you, don't worry.”

“Well, thank you for everything…Robin.”

“You're welcome, Bacla.”

Bacla left and Alex came out. Robin noticed Bill talking to Nikky and some of the boat crew Alex brought with him.

“Thank you for the wonderful dinner, brother. I also need to pay you back for the dinner in Vladivostok.”

Alex grinned. “I believe Picushkin's twenty-five million dollars is more than adequate repayment.”

“Before you leave, I want to give you money for the doctor who treated Mark. Can you get it to him?”

“I'll take care of it.”

“What did you do with Picushkin?”

“After interrogation, he was to be executed by a firing squad for treason, but the Chairman intervened and Picushkin is in a Siberian prison.”

“Did you get any good intelligence from him?”

“Yes, for us and for your country.”

“Why did the Chairman intervene?”

Alex shrugged.

“You need to watch him, Alex.”

“That problem is very much above my level.”

“Nevermind. I have a question for you. Why did Yosef call Bill and not me?”

Alex gave Robin a whimsical look. “Why Robin, we did not know you were American.”

“Ahh, touché, Alex.”

“Now, I have a question for you.”

“Yes, I took pictures of the battle plans.”

“Ah, you knew Ahmed would tell us.”

“Of course he would, he's a good boy.” Robin's eyes met Alex's. “I didn't give anyone the photos. I still have them and they are safe and I won't give them to anyone, unless Russia initiates a nuclear conflict.”

“We would never initiate a nuclear war.”

“It doesn't matter, Alex, you know and I know you've already changed the plans.”

“I can't say.”

“I didn't expect you to and quite frankly, I don't want to know.”

“So, as you say, the balance of power is intact.”

“As far as that goes. Your greatest national security threat is your economy.”

“Do you think the U.S. will do something?”

“Of course, the U.S. will offer help.”

“They will not attack?”

“I can't see that happening. Most people in the government didn't see the collapse of your economy coming and I can't see our military contemplating a ground war in Russia. Hopefully, they learned from Germany's folly in the Second World War. No, America will offer help, not war.”

“Russia will never take help.”

“Why not? You took it during the Great Patriotic War.”

“It's different now. Our countries have been enemies in the Cold War for too long.”

“How about you? Do you want to go back? I'm sure Bill can arrange for you to stay.”

“It's different for me. My country needs me and I'm still getting paid a little. My men count on me to take care of them. I use Picushkin's money.”

Robin smiled. “That's what I thought you'd say…especially the last part.”

Bill came out to the deck. “Rob, we need to go. We have some things to take care of before I head back to Washington.”

When Robin and Bill were back at Robin's boat, Bill laid out some plans.

“I arranged for the Bremerton Navy Yard to make alterations to your new boat. I think your team can use a seagoing platform.”

Robin thought about this for a moment. “I don't know. I don't feel comfortable getting into a tactical situation on a boat with a top speed of twelve knots.”

“The yard says they'll increase the speed of the boat considerably. They will also build in weapons and military grade sensors.”

“Have them also sweep the entire boat for hidden transmitters.”

“I thought you trusted Alex.”

“Oh, I do, but he wasn't on the boat all the time the Russians had it.”

“Good point.”

“Am I going to have input in the refit?”

“Yeah, I'll put you in contact with the commanding officer at the yard.”

“Thanks.”

“I need a ride to the airport. A chopper will be coming for me soon.”

“Okee dokee.”

E
PILOGUE

JAMES CHAPPLE GUIDED HIS SMALL FISHING BOAT
to his favorite spot on Lake Eaton as the sun was just starting to glow behind the eastern forest. The water looked like glass and the mild chill in the air was invigorating, rather than uncomfortable. Chapple spotted the cove where he always caught good sized bass. As he nosed in to the isolated eddy, he was slightly concerned his boat seemed to drag a little bit. He made a mental note to check the bottom when he got back.