by Howard Cohen
“And how would that work?”
“It’s much too technical for me to explain to you. Suffice it to say that it is a game-changer. You know that once FSB realizes that I am gone, they will shut the country down. You had better have a good plan. If captured, FSB will abuse me, but torture you until you tell them everything they want to know. Then they will execute you.”
Jax handed Sonkin a phone. “That won’t happen. This cell will reach me anywhere, and it’s encrypted so no one can eavesdrop. Keep it well hidden. Anyone finds it you’re done. What is the best time to call you?”
“I go to bed around midnight. That’s the best time. Do you have a plan?” Sonkin asked, hopefully.
“I’ll call you when everything is ready. It will take some time to get everything set up. Be patient. Do everything as you usually do.”
To father Fedor he said, “How many priests and monks know about this room?
“In 2006, when the church opened the monastery, they sent me here to evaluate what was required to put into livable conditions. As part of my evaluations, I explored every inch of the buildings as well as the tunnels. I found this room and by accident the crevice with release spring for the latch. It was difficult to open the door as the track had rusted. Over several days I finally got it open and found the room. When the communists burned all the church’s papers, knowledge of the room was lost. I mapped all the tunnels but did not put in this room. The map says dead end. I did this in case there was another time that we were persecuted and needed a place to hide. The short answer is only us three know about the room.”
Jax smiled, patted father on the shoulder, “Good thinking father.”
They made their way back down the tunnel. Jax left first. His mind raced over the details of what Sonkin had told him. An American POW, in Russia for forty-five years, becomes the top man in their avionics program and decides he wants to go home. To top it off, he has a secret that will assure American dominance against the Russians. They are going to love this at Langley.
When he arrived at Katarina’s apartment, she was already there. She had taken the afternoon off.
“I remembered that Sergei had said you would probably be leaving tomorrow. I thought we could make the most of the time you would be here. “
“Let’s not waste time then,” he said, unbuttoning his shirt.
28
Research and Design Institute Sarov, Russia
April 2019
Three hours after Oleg started his search for the tests on the Sukhoi 27 he found them and downloaded the folder. It was during the third test flight that the pilot thought he noted a shutdown of the systems. It happened so fast that he was not sure it had happened at all. Oleg reviewed the graphs, analysis figures, and the digital readout from each system. Nothing was out of the ordinary. He ran the graphs through a program he had developed that expanded the chart into a time-lapse sequence. At the ten-minute mark of the test flight, there was a 0.005 of a second shut down of all systems. So fast that the pilot would get an impression something happened but not be sure it did. Then the systems returned to normal. The only system that was not involved was the engines. If they had shut down, they would have required a restart and the shutdown would have been obvious. He called Pavel.” Does Dr. Sonkin check the test results on every flight?”
“No, not every flight. Only if there is a problem.”
“On those flights that the pilots thought there had been a split-second problem that resolved before they could identify it, did he check all of those immediately after each flight?”
“Yes, why do you ask? Is there something wrong? If there is, you should speak with Dr. Sonkin.” Pavel answered.
“No, no. I have been here only a short time, and I want to be sure I know what procedures to follow.” Oleg quickly replied. He could see that Pavel was not entirely convinced. “I will discuss it with Dr. Sonkin when he returns later today.”
Tomorrow Oleg would start looking at all the results of MiG tests over the past seven years.
29
Sarov, Russia
April 2019
Jax arrived at the Pickle factory a few minutes early. Sergei was smoking a cigarette while supervising the loading of barrels loaded with pickled products.
“So how was your business? Good, I hope.”
“Very successful.” Jax answered. “Which barrel is mine?”
“On the return trip, they don’t check identification. You can’t get in without check, but if you’re in, the guards assume you are okay. Ride with me upfront.”
They cleared the checkpoint without incident. Sergei was quiet for a while. Jax marveled at the vast forest lands that spread out for hundreds of miles.
“How is Katarina?” Sergei asked. Jax had been waiting for him to say something.
“She’s fine. Said to say hello, “ Jax lied.
“I was tired of her, anyway. Next day I met Sasha at a bar. Big tits, nice ass, likes to fuck. We are together now. She is a waitress. So, all is well.”
“Glad to hear it.”
Jax slept most of the way back. When they arrived at the restaurant, Alexey was at his usual table. After some small talk, Jax told him where to find the rest of his money.
“I will need to go back sometime soon. Can I count on your assistance?” Jax asked, knowing that Alexey was going to increase the price.
“Of course. Next time it will cost double.”
“Alexey, you are robbing me. The more I use your services, the cheaper it should get. Like frequent flyers.” For the first time, he saw Alexey smile.
“For you, my friend eighty thousand euros.” They shook hands.
“I’ll be in touch.” Jax rose and left without looking back.
30
London
April 2019
A cold rain whipped through the streets. Jax promised himself he would take a vacation to a warm climate when this case was over. The Pelican Club was located a block from the British museum. It was in a restored Victorian house that once was the residence of Prime Minister Disraeli. The first floor was a dark wood-paneled sitting room. Members could smoke, have brandy or tea, read the daily paper away from any outside disturbances. A small restaurant occupied the second floor. Paul was sipping a martini at a rear table when he arrived. A waiter appeared with a single malt scotch neat in a heavy glass tumbler.
“You’re looking none the worse for your trip, Jax.
“I slept on the plane. We could have talked by secure phone.” Jax sipped the scotch.
“I love London. Come here any chance I get. See a few shows, dine with old friends where I get off the record intelligence. Not the garbage MI6 feeds us.”
“Is it okay to talk here?”
“We don’t bug British clubs although since we own the building, we could. The staff is all vetted. No one will be seated close enough to hear a word we say. Much better place to talk than the embassy, and much better food. Tell me all Jax.” he signaled the waiter and they ordered. Paul had the halibut, Jax the filet.
Jax went over the happenings of the last few days leaving out Katarina. Paul stopped him when he got to the part about Sonkin being POW Robert Miller. He dialed a number on his cell, “Wanda, Sloan here. I need you to email me everything you have on an MIA - POW named
Robert Miller, USAF, went missing over Hanoi in 1972. ASAP. Thanks. Continue.”
Jax finished with Sonkin’s comments on a secret that could provide dominance for the US over the Russians. “He wants to be welcomed back. No fanfare, no trials for treason or desertion. Says he’ll do for us what Von Braun did for our rocket program after World War Two.” Jax said, cutting a piece of steak. “This meat is outstanding. Melts in your mouth.”
“How are you going to get him out of Sarov? Even more, important how will you get him out of the country? He’s right when he say
s they will shut down the country looking for him an hour after he goes missing.”
“I’m working on it.”
“You want dessert?” Jax shook his head no.
“Let me know what you need when you’ve worked out your plan. Are you going back to New York or staying here?”
“Staying at my apartment in Chelsea. I should double my fee now that I’ve had a chance to evaluate the situation. Have you looked at the first set of expenses I sent you?”
“Briefly. Just don’t buy any more jets. Can you trust Alexey?
“He’s a greedy man. Nearly doubled his fee for my next trip. I don’t trust him, but until I find another way in and out, I’ll have to depend on him.”
“You think this Sonkin can deliver what he says?”
“Even if he’s exaggerating about the secret he still knows more about Russian avionics, designs and missiles then anyone in the world. That should be enough.” Jax finished his second scotch. “Time for bed.”
“I have to have plausible deniability, so from here on I’ll make sure you get what you need, but I don’t want to know what the plan is or when you are going to execute it. It pains me to say it, Jax, because I like you, but if you get caught, we’ll deny it’s us and we won’t come after you.” “Relax Paul. They won’t take me.”
31
Sarov,Russia
May 2019
Sonkin strolled back to the Institute. He did not regret his decision to defect. If it had not been for Anna, he would have tried to leave years ago.
When he arrived at his office, paperwork covered his desk. He delegated as much as he could, but as director of the research division, there was some paperwork he could not avoid. There was a knock on the door. “Come.” Pavel entered. Sonkin had recruited Pavel when he took over the Institute. “How’s the family? “
“Good. The boys’ team is playing in the finals this weekend.” Pavel had twin boys who were, at age ten, future soccer stars.
“What can I do for you, my friend? Sit.” Pavel sat across from Sonkin.
“It’s Oleg. He has been asking about the MIG 35 test, the four-second system shutdown. He quizzed me about your procedures following flights where there was a questionable problem. I asked around, and it seems he has been checking results on MIG and Sukhoi tests over the past few years. I was concerned as he seemed to be checking up on you.”
“He has only been here a year. Perhaps he is just looking at how we do things so he can follow procedure. I appreciate your concern. I’m sure it’s innocent.”
Pavel took out a pad and wrote: “I am concerned he was sent by the FSB to check on us.”
“Wish the boys good luck for me and send my regards to Marta,” Sonkin said, tearing up the note into little pieces. Pavel left.
Sonkin stood, stretched, walked to the window to look out at the well-manicured grounds. Oleg was not an FSB spy. He was a very brilliant scientist and his most likely successor. If he was looking at the test results, it was because he suspected it was not an anomaly. Oleg would look at other test flights using software that would show him shutdowns on several different tests. He would suspect the truth, but he would never prove it. It had taken me years to develop the Trojan horse virus and write it into all the avionics software. It has a backdoor that can initiate the sequence that’s shuts down any or all systems in an aircraft or missile.
Anna would ask me what I am working on in my home office every night. I would say “math problems.” But it was the virus. Written in a code dispersed throughout the different systems linked by lines of normal code that are undetectable because it has never been done before.
Oleg will review the tests, find six instances of a 0.005-second shutdowns and no cause. He will try to solve the problem, fail, then come to me.
I had to test it out for longer than 0.005 seconds. I chose the MiG 35 test flight. It worked perfectly.
32
Sarov, Russia
May 2019
Jax called Sonkin,” Vitaly, how are you doing?”
“I am fine. Have you devised a plan?”
“Yes. At least part one. You’re going to spend some time in the hidden room. Leave your apartment on the weekend. Make sure you don’t schedule any meetings for that Monday. Bring what you need to the monastery a little at a time. Clothes, books, toiletries, anything you need for a prolonged stay. You are not to carry a suitcase when you go to the monastery. Leave your computer and phone. Copy anything you need on thumb drives. Make sure the passwords to your devices are strong. Do not leave gaps in your closets showing clothes you took. I’m sure that you have had people visit your home. They’ll ask someone to look at your apartment to see if something is missing. Don’t take any photos that you have had on display.” He went on.
“Have Father Fedor start stocking food, bottled water, and anything else you will need for a month in the hidden room. When he’s finished, you will go to the room and stay there until I tell you we are ready to leave. The phone will not work down there. Every three days or in case of a problem, go up to the monastery at night and call. Questions?”
Sonkin said nothing for a few minutes. “It’s hard to leave so many memories. Little things around the house that remind me of Anna. But I will do as you suggest.”
“Once they realize you’re gone they will start a search of Sarov, they will block every exit from the city, set roadblocks within a hundred miles and every airport, train station, bus terminals in the country will have your photo. A man of your importance will generate a manhunt they have not had since the days of Stalin. By two weeks it will be less intense, by a month it will be only border crossings and airports. If necessary, we will increase your stay to two months. Then I will get you out. Can you do it?”
“Yes, I will do whatever is necessary, so will father Fedor.”
“Call me the day you leave. Good luck. “Jax hung up.
33
Sarov, Russia
May 17, 2019
Jax was in a Hotel in Belgrade Serbia when he received a call from Sonkin.
“I’m leaving for the monastery. Not to worry, I have followed your instructions to the letter. “ Sonkin said.
“Good. Call me in a week. If I don’t answer, leave a message.” Jax disconnected.
Sonkin made his way to the monastery by a circuitous route in order not to be picked up on the numerous CCTV cameras. He entered the monastery through a rear entrance that did not have a CCTV camera.
It was Saturday and mass was sparsely attended. After confession, he followed Father Fedor to the hidden room. Sonkin felt fortunate that he was not claustrophobic. It was hard to imagine what it must have been like when there were thirty monks packed in here.
“I will check on you tomorrow,” Fedor said, making the sign of the cross before he left.
Sonkin sat on the cot. “Anna, I wish you were here. You wanted us to defect. I was afraid if caught, they would do something terrible to you. Then you got sick...” He said to the empty room.
34
Sarov, Russia
Monday May 18, 2019
Monday, after lunch, Pavel came to Sonkin’s office with test results on a new air to air missile. He knocked on the door.
“He’s not there Pavel.” Irisha Sonkin’s secretary said. “Hasn’t been in today.”
“What reason did he give? Is he sick?”
“He hasn’t called. I called him three times, but it went to voicemail.”
“Maybe he’s at the medical clinic?”
“He has not been there, I checked.”
“ It’s not like Sonkin not to call. I’m going to speak with Oleg”
Oleg called security and asked them to go to Sonkin’s house. A short time later they called, “We knocked. When there was no answer, we used our pass key to enter. The house was empty. His computer and telephone were on
his desk. His clothes were in the closet, and the refrigerator is well-stocked with food. No notes or indications of violence. Perhaps he just went out for a walk and forgot his phone. I’ll have the video room check the camera playbacks to see if he left the Institute. If he is still at the Institute, we will find him
Security reported that at 9:30 AM Sonkin left the institute grounds. It was now 2:30PM. Oleg thanked them. If Sonkin did not return by morning, he would call the FSB office.
35
Sarov, Russia
Tuesday May 19, 2019
Sonkin did not come home that night, nor did he come into the office the next morning. Oleg reported his absence to the FSB office at 8 AM. Within fifteen minutes he received a call from Yuri Bykov head of the FSB in Sarov.
Bykov was brisk,” With whom am I speaking.”
“Oleg Dostoevsky, assistant director of the Institute.”
“How long has Dr.Sonkin been missing?”
“We don’t know exactly. Sonkin did not come into the office on Monday morning. He did not return home last night or come into the office this morning. That is when I called.”
“Seal his office. Have security close off the street he lives on. No one is to enter the house. I will be at your office in twenty minutes. Have all personnel that work with Dr. Sonkin available for questioning. Get a printout of all their names. Have a conference room ready for me” Bykov disconnected.
Oleg called a staff meeting and informed everyone what Bykov had requested. He made sure there was water, coffee, tea and chilled vodka. Oleg was sure something had happened to Sonkin. He always arrived at the office early, stayed late and according to Pavel had no social life since his wife died.
Yuri Bykov entered the Institute at the head of an entourage. He was tall, six four or five, slightly stooped, with short-cropped blond hair, large ears, deep-set blue eyes, small nose and thin lips. A scar ran from the bridge of his nose, across his left cheek to his jaw.