by Howard Cohen
54
Oreshki – Novgorod, Russia
Friday June 26, 2019
When Nickolai recognized Sonkin, he knew why Dieter had gone to Sarov and now Oreshki. Sonkin was a vital scientist that the Americans would love to have. The reward was up to $50,000 American. It would grow higher. He should call Alexey. But Alexey would have him do the dirty work then throw him a token number of rubles. He needed time to think it over.
He watched the house. When they left, he followed at a safe distance, saw them board the bus then followed the bus to Novgorod. They got off the bus and took a taxi to the Sheraton.
Nikolai had a few choices. He could call Alexey, local police, or FSB. If he called the authorities, he would get the reward, but Alexey would expect him to turn it over to him. If he kept the award, Alexey would have him killed. Maybe there was another way. He parked the car, went to the lobby, took a seat where he could see the elevator, then waited.
55
Oreshki Russia
Saturday June 27, 2019
Early Saturday morning Bykov and several FSB men entered Misha’s house by kicking in the front door. Misha was pulled from his bed and tied to a kitchen chair.
“Let me begin by telling you that your cousin Fedor has confessed to helping a traitor escape. He told us that Sonkin arrived here dressed like a priest and a man named Dieter assisted him, a German working for the Americans. What I want to know is where did they go from here? Did they have a car? You will tell me everything you know, or it will not go well for you. Begin!”
Misha did not know where they went. He had left before they did and had no idea where they went. This man would not believe him. Misha braced himself for the beating that was coming.
“They did not have a car. I left for work after I picked up the priest at the bus station and brought him here. Then I went to work. Dieter never spoke of any plans. He did have a bundle with clothes for the priest to change into.”
“Describe the clothes.” Misha did. “I think you know more. Last chance to tell me without encouragement.”
“That’s all I know. It’s the truth.” Misha said, knowing it was futile. Bykov left the room as one of his men put on a pair of leather gloves.
56
Novgorod Russia
Saturday June 27, 2019
Jax stepped out of the elevator, quickly scanning the lobby for anything that might signal trouble. He was shocked to see Nickolai sitting in a leather armchair waving at him. I fucked up he said to himself. Nickolai approached him.
“Let’s get a cup of coffee.” Nicolai said “There’s a cafe down the hall. Jax had an expresso, Nickolai a regular coffee with a shot of espresso.
“You never went back to Moscow. I rarely make mistakes like that.” Jax said.
“I watched the house and followed the bus. For seventeen years I was a Moscow police detective One of their best. I closed more cases then anyone. Then I roughed up the son of one of Putin’s friends. Fired, no pension. All doors closed to me. Working for Alexey was my last resort. Alexey wanted me to stay longer to see what you were doing. I watched you explore the town on Wednesday. Thursday I was watching the house when the cousin arrived with the priest. After he left, I sneaked up to the house and looked through the window as the priest undressed. I recognized him immediately. “ Nickolai said, finishing his coffee then signaling the waitress for a refill.
“How much does Alexey want?”
“I didn’t tell Alexey.”
“’Want the reward all for yourself?”
“I don’t care about the reward. I want something else. Something only you can give me.”
“And what is that?” “I have no future in Russia. I’m tired of being Alexey’s dog. I can help you get your man out of Russia. What I want is for you to get me out and provide me with a little startup capital.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“They are closing down the country now that they know he’s defecting. Roadblocks, traffic stops, airport and rail security will be impossible to get through. They will assume that his appearance will be altered. There is a computer program for that. They’ll post the most likely changes side by side with his picture. The TV will carry it, and they will be looking for two men travelling together. We can help each other.”
Jax knew he was right. Could Nickolai be trusted that was the question? I could kill him now or later. “Still not enough, “Jax said.
“When I left the force, I never turned in my badge and credentials. They bugged me about it until I told them I was pissed and threw them in the Volga. Moscow police have jurisdiction anywhere in the country. If we get stopped, I will take care of it. I know it’s a matter of trust. It would be for me. I was a good, honest policeman by Russian standards. If I say I will help you, I will. “
“What about Alexey?”
“ I told him I would watch you for a few more days. When I don’t call him back, he will assume you killed me. Eventually he will send people to check on what happened to his car.”
Jax took Nickolai to meet Sonkin. “We need a car, “Jax said.
“I’ll buy one if you provide the cash.” Nickolai held out his hand. When Jax hesitated, he continued “ I have a valid license, identification papers and can buy a car without any suspicion. You, on the other hand, will have to bribe someone to forget the papers taking an unnecessary risk. The money please. “He took the money and left.
“Do you trust him?” Sonkin asked when Nickola left.
“He could have turned us in yesterday and collected the reward. I believe he wants to help us and himself to get out of the country.”
Nickolai drove Alexey’s town car to the airport and parked it in the long-term lot. He then took a taxi to the center of the city. He walked a few blocks and took another cab to a used car lot he had chosen from a city directory. After a lengthy bargaining session and test drive, he purchased a three-year-old black Lada sedan. Nickolai made one other stop at a store to buy three cell phones. For the first time in a long while, Nickolai felt like a policeman. He picked Jax and Sonkin up at the hotel, passed out the phones. “In case we get separated.” Jax was getting to like this man. “Where to?” Nickolai asked.
57
Oreshki - Novgorod Russia
Saturday June 27, 2019
Cousin Misha knew nothing. He was taken to Sarov, placed in a basement cell not far from the priest and would suffer the same fate.
Oreshki police reported no stolen cars in the last week. The bus station was the only way out of town unless they walked or hitched a ride. The ticket seller who was on duty that day said it was a slow day for travelers. Twenty people bought tickets, all for Novgorod.
“Were any men traveling together?”
“There were two pairs of men who bought tickets together.”
Bykov alerted the FSB chief in Novgorod to the possibility that Sonkin and another man were heading to his city. Bykov, as the senior investigator on the case, could give orders to the local head of FSB. He advised that a squad be sent to the bus station to question everyone who may have seen the men and question the driver. Bykov called for a helicopter. He could not afford losing three hours driving to Novgorod. Thirty minutes later, he was in the air.
When he arrived at the FSB headquarters, Damia Utkinm, Head of Station greeted him. He was young, tall, blond, lean with penetrating blue eyes and crooked teeth that distracted from an otherwise handsome face.
They had intercepted the bus on its way to the next stop and brought the driver back to headquarters. Questioning everyone at the bus station did not produce any leads. Tapes from the bus station’s two cameras had been confiscated and were ready to be viewed.
The driver, a middle-aged, overweight and terrified man sat quietly on the metal chair in the interrogation room. He had worked for the bus company for twenty-two years. Bykov entered
the room, taking the chair across the table from him. He opened his computer, watched it come alive then spoke to the driver.” No need to be worried Ivan. You are not in trouble. I just want to ask you some questions about the people on your bus from Oreshki to Novgorod. Most of the passengers were travelling alone, except for two pairs of men. Can you remember any of these men?”
Relieved that he was not the focus of the investigation, he calmed down. He had been worried because he periodically transported items from Novgorod to smaller stops along the way that would not stand examination.
“Before we leave a stop, I always tell the passengers the company rules about standing in the aisle when the bus is moving. Then I watch in my mirror now and then to see that they stay in their seats. One pair sat in the back even though there were closer seats. I recognized the two that sat in the front. They lived in Oreshki and work in Novgorod. It depended on which shift they were working as to whether they took my bus or not. The ones in back I had not seen before.”
“What did the ones in the back look like?”
“They were dressed like workmen. I don’t remember what they wore except for the hats. One of them was older, and his hat had did not fit well. When he adjusted it, I could see he had a shaved head. The other was younger thirties or early forties. Tall, over six feet, dirty blond hair with an athletic build. He wore sunglasses so I could not tell what color his eyes were. They got off in Novgorod, used the rear exit door. That’s all I can remember.”
“ Now I want you to look at these videos and tell me if you see the two men.” Bykov started the surveillance videos and turned the computer toward Ivan. Thirty seconds in he said “Stop, that’s them”
Bykov looked at the video. They were hiding their faces from the camera they could see by turning their heads to the left but that was directly into a camera placed purposely to catch those hiding their faces from the camera. A holdover from the days when Novgorod was a closed city.
“This is very helpful Ivan. If you remember anything else call this number.” Bykov handed him his card.
The FSB technicians took the frame from the video that best showed their faces and distributed it to all units, TV stations, airports, train and bus stations. All roads out of Novgorod were blocked. To cover all the possible avenues of escape militia and military units assisted police.
To Damia, he said “ I don’t believe he will use public transportation again. They did it because they had to get to Novgorod. Now they will need a car. Steal it or buy it. Mostly likely steal it.”
“I will have local police check on all cars reported stolen in the last twenty-four hours. If they buy a car, it will be from some small used car lot where for a few extra rubles there will be no need for license or papers. I’ll have those checked. I have already sent units to hotels and hostels.” Damia said.
“Tell them to call in all officers, get this done today. This is a national security issue. No one goes home; this is a twenty-four-hour shift.”
58
Highway to Moscow
Saturday – Sunday June 27 - 28
It was late afternoon. The sun would set soon. Jax knew that the FSB would question Father Fedor and the good man would take a lot of punishment, but in the end, he would tell them everything. Misha would be next. Then the FSB would be on its way to Novgorod.
“We have at most a three-to-four hour lead on the FSB. Nickolai, you drive.”
Jax set google maps for Moscow, showed it to Nickolai who gave him a questioning look for a few seconds, shrugged his shoulders and headed for the M7 highway to the capital. Traffic was light for the first three hours but slowed as they reached the outskirts of Moscow. Nickolai kept to the speed limit.
Moscow has two ring roads an outer, Third Ring road, and the inner Garden ring road. “Take the Third Ring road. Turn on the M9 when it comes up,” Jax instructed. They had stopped once for a bathroom break and some fast food they ate while driving. When they left the ring for M9 it was sunset, and they decided to stop for dinner while they were still in the Moscow area and could find a restaurant. They pulled into a gas station. Nickolai went in to pay for the gas and enquire about a place to eat. Jax and Sonkin used the restroom around the side of the store. When they left the station, Jax was driving.” Pullover.” Nickolai said. Jax did as instructed. “What’s the problem?”
“The TV in the store had your pictures. It appears like you were trying to look away from a camera and ended up looking right at one. Not great photos, bit grainy, but a careful look at you would do it.”
“Fucking bus station. If they are in Novgorod, they’ll have roadblocks up all over the country. You were right about buying the car. They will suspect we stole one or paid off someone to do it without papers. We’ll stop someplace that offers take out and head for Latvia. It’s twelve hours to the border.”
“What do we do if we run into a roadblock?” Sonkin asked. It was the first time he had spoken all day.
“Now that they have your pictures I ‘m afraid you’re going to have to squeeze into the trunk. I’ll flash my badge, and they’ll let me pass without searching the car. A few miles down the road I’ll let you out. “
Highway M9 runs directly from Moscow to the Latvian border. There are several small towns along the route. No police patrolled, and they could go as fast as traffic would allow. It was a dark road without any lights along the way. Even the small towns shut off their lights after ten. Most of the traffic was trucks. Only ten more hours and they would be at the border.
59
Novgorod Russia
Sunday Evening June 28,2019
Bykov was worried. All investigations had resulted in no new leads. They located the hotel they had stayed at, but it provided no information about where they had gone. Sonkin had at least a three-to-five hour head start. Moscow let Bykov know its unhappiness.
He went into Damia’s office where there was a map of Russia on the wall. Where would they go? South was Kazakhstan and Georgia, east was Ukraine, to the north was Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Kazakhstan and Georgia were out. Too far away. Ukraine would be a good choice except for the fact that the western part of Ukraine was under Russian mercenary control. It had to be one of the Baltic countries.
Bykov called Moscow and spoke to director Kotov.
“I need your help to block some highways and close the borders to Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. We need to do it now, or we will lose our chance to stop Sonkin. Block highways M9.M11, and M95 at every town along the way, and no one crosses the border unless they have papers, no exceptions.”
“Bykov, you were supposed to be here a week ago! I want you in Moscow within the next three days, or I’ll give this assignment to someone else. Now, are you sure this is where they are heading?”
“Yes, sir, positive,” Bykov said, with more conviction then he felt.
His career and probably his life would be over if he were wrong. He had made an educated guess.
He would fly to Moscow. If a break in the case occurred, he wanted to be close by.
60
Highway M- 9 to Latvia
Sunday evening June 28, 2019
As they approached the town of Rzhev Nickolai saw traffic ahead, mostly trucks stopped. He pulled over. “Okay gentleman you’re in for a short time of close contact.” They squeezed into the small trunk.
Nickolai pulled up behind the last truck. He decided that boldness would avoid a search. He pulled out, drove down the shoulder of the road until a policeman waved a gun at him. Nickolai stopped, rolled down the window and held his badge out for the two policemen that approached him.
They checked his badge “What’s a Moscow cop doing out here?”
“Same as you except I’m heading for the border. I didn’t want to waste time waiting behind a line of trucks. I’m on a tight schedule open the barrier and let me pass.” Once passed, he found a wide sho
ulder to pull over. “I hope we don’t have to do this too often. “Jax chuckled as he helped Sonkin out of the trunk.
“’What happens if you have to open the trunk?” Sonkin asked.
“I’ll pop the trunk, you two roll out as quick as you can. “Nickolai answered as they got back in the car. “If you can’t get out Dieter will handle it. “Nickolai added. Jax got into the passenger seat without a word. Sonkin stretched out on the rear seat.
No one spoke as they drove on. Traffic was very light. They needed to stop for gas, food and bathroom. Jax checked google maps. The next city on M9 was Kunya about two hours away. Hopefully, there would be a gas station before the next roadblock.
As they approached Kunya they could see lights on either side of the highway. At a quarter-mile, they could see a barrier, two guards and two lights run on a generator. The men were in uniform and carried AK-47s. Nickolai switched off the headlights, pulled over to the side of the road. Then popped the truck. Sonkin woke, groggy and confused.
“Into the trunk, quickly. The guards probably saw our headlights. “Nickolai said as he drove toward the barrier. There was a military vehicle parked on the side of the road with Territorial Militia insignia. He stopped and waited as the two soldiers advanced to the car. One on either side. Nicolai lowered the window holding out his badge. “I’m Moscow Police on my way to the Latvian border. Please raise the barrier, and I’m in a hurry.”
One soldier looked at his badge the other shined a flashlight into the car. “You will step out of the car walk to the back of your car and open the trunk.” the taller of the two soldiers said, pointing with his AK-47.