Nikolai left the meeting and headed back to Lubyanka with his tail tucked between his legs. Grigori was there awaiting his return.
“How did it go?” he asked, following Nikolai into his office.
“I’ll be without a damn job if we don’t catch those sons-a-bitches. Is there anything to report from the guard?”
“Only that it’s been snowing unbelievably in portions of the country down there, and no vehicle has crossed any of the border checkpoints in the last twelve hours. The guard has been out trying to run patrols in some of the passable areas, but so far, they haven’t seen any sign of the Americans. I think they are hunkered down somewhere waiting for the weather to clear.”
“Yeah, what you’re telling me is that we don’t have a damn clue as to where they are, do we?”
“No, we don’t, but I’m pretty sure we would have caught them by now if it hadn’t started snowing.”
“And if your aunt had balls, she’d be your uncle,” stated Nikolai sarcastically as he pulled a lighter from his pocket. He lit the cigarette he had taken from a pack, inhaled, and then blew smoke into the room. “What’s the weather report look like down there; when is the storm projected to subside?”
“Sometime early Monday morning.”
“OK, keep me posted on the guards’ search activities. Oh, what about the assholes we had under surveillance yesterday?”
“We took care of them, and the CIA will be pissed. A couple of unexpected vehicle accidents. The police have detained two of them for reckless driving.”
“Good. Make sure we keep them locked up until the ambassador comes begging for their release.”
***
The commander of the 146th Foot Regiment took the order from Lubyanka literally, focusing most of his attention on areas around Pskov. However, he sent extra men to the Narva checkpoint with modified orders. They were to run foot patrols along the border on each side of the checkpoint every couple of hours, but they were not to extend their search more than a couple of kilometers in each direction. He saw no reason for his men to be out in a monster snowstorm for longer periods of time simply to look for a group of people wanted in connection with a kidnapping.
At Checkpoint Charlie, it had continued to snow throughout the day, with periodic lulls, followed by heavy bouts of snow falling with flakes the size of quarters. Earlier in the morning, before the first watch was sent out to face the cold, Mike had gathered the team for an update. He spoke of the BOLO that had been issued for Nina and of the call he had received from CONTROL during the night. They were all glad to hear that approval had been granted to bring Nina out with them and a few clapped, even Mauldin, who had been untied to move about the cabin under watchful eyes. The old scientist didn’t have a clue as to what was taking place, but he seemed to accept his surroundings and the people around him.
“It’s something she’s yet to decide on,” Mike told them.
Later over coffee, Mike and Rick, who was never far away, sat at a table with Nina.
“I don’t have all the details on your situation, Nina, and won’t have any more information until we get someplace where I can have a secure call with headquarters,” Mike told her. “Typically, in a case like yours, a person is granted political asylum and, at their discretion, legally given a different name. In a few cases, we’ve been known to relocate an asset to someplace in the heartland with a home and retirement stipend, all at Uncle Sam’s expense. I’m telling you this because it’s something that you must decide, not me or Rick or anyone else. You have to decide. You won’t be forced to go with us if you don’t want to go.”
Rick interjected, “To stay here would be a ridiculous course of action for you to consider. Remaining here to face prosecution and having the government learn that you were a spy for the CIA will not bode well for your safety.”
Nina didn’t immediately respond. “It’s a lot to consider,” she finally said.
“OK. You’ve got some time to think about it,” Mike stated. “Let’s change the subject for a minute. Do you know where the closest border guard command is located?”
“Yes. It’s the 146th Foot Regimental Barracks located at Kingisepp—a town we drove through to get here.”
“How far away?”
“About twenty or thirty kilometers from the checkpoint at Ivangorod where we’ll be heading.”
“Then they know this area well.”
“I would say so, yes.”
“But that doesn’t explain why the 6th Army was camped out here when we came in,” stated Rick.
“I know,” Mike replied, “but with the FSB knowing about us taking Mauldin and who we are, surely the border guard has been notified to look for us.”
“Why do you think they know who we are?” Rick asked.
“If that security camera was connected to a recorder, they have facial images of us—images to run against the thousands they have in their database. They know who we are, Rick, and by now, they know why we went after Mauldin. A massive manhunt is probably under way, being slowed down only by this weather—which we can be thankful for.”
Mauldin was sitting by the fireplace and had started mumbling again. At Mike’s direction, Nina had been spending time with him after the morning update in an effort to get him accustomed to her as his attendant. Also, Mauldin needed to be capable of walking to the border and his body free from the effects of the drug. Overdosing him wasn’t going to help, that’s why Mike wanted to keep him awake and ambulatory. Getting some exercise by being free to move about the cabin under watchful eyes was deemed a good idea. Nina got up from the table and walked over to him, leaving the two men to themselves. Mike looked at Rick.
“As I said this morning, this front is supposed to abate late tonight or early tomorrow morning. We’re due at Bravo at eight tomorrow night. So we’ll need to leave here with plenty of time to get there. You got any thoughts on when we should leave and the route we need to take to get there?”
“Haven’t given it any thought yet, but thanks to you, we brought cold weather clothing to keep from getting pneumonia. The thermal snowsuits are a blessing for those of us having to stand watch outside, but two of us won’t have any cold weather protection when we get ready to leave. It’s going to be a problem keeping her and him warm without adequate clothing.”
“That’s a good point,” Mike said.
Mike got up unexpectedly and left the table to speak to one of the SEALs. He returned a minute later. Rick noticed Charlie as he walked out the door.
“What was that all about?” he asked.
“Sent him out to get a blanket from the truck. With his sewing skills, I’m hoping he can turn a quilt into a cold weather suit for one of them. I brought an extra suit, thinking that if it snowed, we’d need one for Mauldin,” Mike stated.
“Always thinking ahead, aren’t you, Mike? Good move. You know, I was thinking about our situation. Our tracks coming into the cabin have been covered by snow, but that won’t be the case tomorrow when we leave if your forecast holds true, which means we can’t just walk down the lane and out to the main road the way we came in. Give me a second. I’ve got an idea.” Rick got up and went into another room. He returned a minute later.
“Got a map of the area,” Rick said, unfolding it. He placed the map on the table. It displayed the surrounding area, extending twenty miles in any direction from the center of Narva. “Look here,” he said. “There appears to be a logging trail that runs along the reservoir from this point of water up to Ivangorod where the border control is located. We probably crossed it while making our way around the checkpoint when we came in. From the looks of the two distances, taking that route might be longer, but a safer route to cover our tracks.”
Mike studied the map. “I agree,” he said, “but it will definitely take more time. Getting from the cabin to an intersecting point on that route will require a three- or four-mile hike through the forest. Even so, I like it. Let’s plan on it, and we’ll probably need every bit of
twelve hours to get to Bravo.”
Later in the afternoon, the men were glad when Mike called off the need for an outside security watch and of Nina’s announcement that she would be going with them. With a deck of cards they’d found in a cabinet, Frank and Ron played a game, while Charlie continued to work making a quilted snowsuit for Mauldin. At Rick’s suggestion, they had agreed that Nina would be given the extra suit brought by Mike.
With nothing but time to kill, Mike would occasionally step outside for a smoke and would come back in later with another thought for Rick. He looked at the lorry and walked back inside. They collaborated throughout the evening until Mauldin was placed in bed and given a final injection.
They were all standing around Sunday morning preparing to leave and listening to Rick’s out briefing, even Mauldin, dressed in the snowsuit made by Charlie.
“OK,” Rick said. “Ron, you will have the lead, followed by Nina who will be leading Dimitry. I will follow them, then Mike, then Charlie, and then Frank, who will bring up the rear. Mauldin’s hands will need to be tied with a lead rope that Nina can use to guide him along. After Ron leaves, each of us will endeavor to walk the path he makes. It’s still snowing, so hopefully our trail will be covered after we leave. It’s going to be slow walking, and it will take time—how much, I don’t know—to get to the logging trail. From there, it should be an easier trek toward Ivangorod. Once there, we’ll need to make another deviation to get around the guarded checkpoint. We’ll take breaks en route based on our rate of progress. Any questions?”
Mike mentioned the need to wipe down the lorry.
“Frank, Charlie, hop to it. We move out in fifteen minutes.”
The snow was knee deep as Ron led the way, and it was dreadfully slow for the first mile, but the depth of the snow improved somewhat as they walked through areas with an overhead canopy. Frank found a deer trail and began to follow it. Eventually, they made it to the edge of the reservoir, dead tired, even after having taken several breaks to rest Nina and Mauldin. They rested again for more than an hour and snacked on jerky links.
“Everyone drink plenty of water,” Rick told them. He turned to Ron. “Move out.” We’ll wait thirty minutes and then follow your trail. That should put plenty of distance between us, and we’ll be a safe distance back if you should happen to spot a patrol.”
“Which should give me time to get back with a warning,” interjected Ron.
“Right on. Get going.”
***
The eight-man squad sent to the Ivangorod border crossing on Saturday was glad to be back resting inside the warmth of their barracks. They had patrolled all day with nothing but sore feet to show for their efforts. Still, the commander sent them back out again early Sunday morning. The weather was a little better and they had resumed their patrols. By ten o’clock it had quit snowing, but it remained overcast and cold. They had split up again, taking turns, two men at a time, searching areas to the north and south of the border control station. The southern team, the last one to go out for the day, followed the logging trail and found an old fishing hut about two kilometers from the station. They planned to rest there for a spell before deciding to go another kilometer or return to the station.
As the afternoon wore on, the Americans, with their two prize packages, continued to make progress trekking toward the border. Ron came back to the group and later Frank was sent out as the advance. They saw no evidence of a patrol until Frank, from a hidden location in the woods, spotted two guards entering an old fishing shack situated close to the water. He keyed his radio. Rick heard the sound in his tethered ear piece.
“ALPHA Five, need you at my local. Follow my steps.”
“Roger that, on my way.” Rick halted the group. “Find a seat to rest, Nina. Be back when I can, Mike.”
Rick caught up with Frank and knelt down beside him.
“I saw two guards going into that hut,” Rick stated. “I don’t know if they are just taking a break and plan to continue this way afterward, but I saw one looking in our direction before going in.”
“It’s two thirty with another two-and-a-half to three hours of daylight left,” stated Rick. “We can’t be sitting around in the cold waiting to find out what they’re going to do. I’ve got an idea,” he said and then keyed his mic.
“You copy, Charlie Six?”
“Roger that,” Mike replied.
“Send Whisky Eight this way with your needle kit.”
“Copy that.” Mike removed his rucksack, took out the syringe kit, and gave it to Ron. With the ruck off, he unzipped his snowsuit to look at his side. He saw a fresh blood spot, not much, but enough for him to know that he had pulled a stitch or two loose. Charlie watched and saw him zip back up.
Ron left, and they didn’t hear anything for more than an hour, until a transmission from Rick advised them to move forward to their location. When they got within eyesight, Rick met them with an update.
“Two border guards are now asleep in a fishing hut up around that the bend, Mike. We surprised them, and I used the syringe to put them out for a spell. It’s three thirty, we have plenty of time, I think, to make it across the border. Do you want to take a break or move on?”
To everyone’s surprise, Mauldin hadn’t turned out to be a problem. He had taken a liking to Nina, much the same way Rick had. Mike looked at Nina.
“You OK to go a bit farther before we take another break?”
She nodded in the affirmative and they headed out, leaving the two border guards who were out cold after being injected with the serum the CIA had provided. It was late afternoon when they reached a small clearing where they planned to cross the border into Estonia. They stopped to rest. Mauldin needed a break and the stitches the team medic had sown into Mike Shocklee’s side had busted loose and needed to be repaired. The rear guard radioed that he was just a few hundred yards back with no one in apparent pursuit—meaning the medic had time to treat Shocklee before they had to move on.
It had finally stopped snowing and the air was fresh and clear as the team rested. The medic had just finished treating Shocklee’s wound when suddenly the noise of shots rang out and bullets soared over their heads. They looked around and saw two Russians in white snowsuits advancing on them from different angles. With orders to drop their weapons, they complied, just as the approaching SEAL, the rear guard made his presence known. After hearing the sound of a weapons being fired, he hustled to close in on the team. He had taken a kneeling position behind a small bush to scan the area and saw them standing with their hands up in the air. A man, a border guard, was pointing a rifle at them. He had a clear shot and without giving much thought to the possibility of other Russians being nearby, fired his muzzle-silenced rifle. The border guard fell to the ground. Nina looked at him as blood oozed from his chest slowly changing the color of the snow from a bright white to an ugly red.
Thinking that the area was clear, the rear guard prepared to stand when he spotted the second Russian who was moving in on the group. The man was close to Dr. Mauldin’s position and had his rifle pointed at him. The Russian looked around, dartingly, for evidence of a shooter after seeing his comrade fall to the ground. It would be too risky of a shot and endanger Dr. Mauldin, if the rear guard attempted to take the Russian out without moving to another position. Luckily, he didn’t have to worry about getting a better angle to fire his weapon. The Russian took his eyes off the captured Americans for a few seconds, just long enough for one of the other SEALs to pick up a rifle. The impact of the bullet hitting the Russian’s chest sent him falling backward causing his finger to squeeze the trigger. Bullets spewed from his rifle soaring into the air. They were extremely fortunate that no one was hit. They gathered to assess the situation and then headed out, leaving the bodies of the two Russian border guards to be found by their comrades later on..
The team circumvented the checkpoint and crossed into Estonia. They arrived at their destination an hour before Liam was due to pick them up. When he d
id arrive, he stopped his vehicle on the side of the road. He was in a much larger van. He got out and started whistling “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Liam had been instructed by his handler, at Mike’s request, to learn and whistle parts of the song as a signal to let the team know that it was safe for them to come out and that Liam was clean and not under duress. Minutes later, after hearing his whistling, Mike gave the order, and they stepped out of the woods.
***
Nina was impressed with the precision of the operation. She hadn’t been told how they were going to get back to the United States. During the boat ride out to the submarine, she asked Mike a question.
“Is there anything you didn’t think of?”
“Yes,” he said, “what to do about you.”
***
The submarine trip back to Den Helder was uneventful and provided time for a doctor to attend to Mike’s gunshot wound. Charlie had done a great job, and the only thing that Mike needed was time off his feet to rest. When they arrived at Den Helder, the team was met by a CIA liaison officer and a US Navy lieutenant. Before disembarking, the team said their good-byes. The SEALs all hugged Nina, with Rick giving her a piece of paper that contained his telephone number.
“Call me,” he said, “after you get settled in.” He turned to the CIA operative. “It’s been an interesting assignment. I’m glad we were chosen to support you on the operation.” He extended his hand to Mike. “Perhaps we’ll get the chance to work together again in the future.”
“Yes, perhaps so. Take care, Rick.”
The liaison officer drove Mike, Nina, and Mauldin to a nearby airport where they and three CIA security officers boarded an awaiting jet. Several hours later, they landed at Dulles Airport. Mike, Nina, and one of the security officers deplaned. During the trip across the ocean, Nina was advised that she would be taken to a safe house to be debriefed where decisions would be made regarding her new status as an American citizen. She hugged Mike and walked away never looking back, but thinking of his warning not to make that call to Rick. The security officer put her into a car and Mike watched as they drove away.
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