“Lock it behind us and I’ll see you tomorrow,” Nik announced, acting like nothing out of the ordinary was going on. She nodded and immediately threw the deadbolt. She’d seen Nik program the hotel phone number into his phone the second Dmitri went into the bathroom. He’d also texted from Galina’s phone a photo of Nik’s computer screen with the words ‘getting it this week for you’ to Adrian Dima, her boss. Nik would call the hotel, not her cell phone, when he was on the way.
Galina got her bag out of the hotel armoire that was in her room, double-checked the safe to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything inside, and gathered up her toiletries – just in case. She put everything by the hotel door and lay down in her bed, staring out of the large window at St. Petersburg.
The setting sun glowed orange and cast a shadow on the onion domes belonging to the Church of the Resurrection, making them look black against the brilliant sky. It seemed so long ago she was on a park bench, where she’d first met Nik. Shutting her eyes, she focused on Nik, thinking of his smile, the way he held her hands or kissed her…as she finally fell asleep.
Galina heard the shrill ring near her head and stared at the old phone in confusion. It took her a moment before she comprehended what was going on. What time was it? Yanking up the receiver, she glanced at her cell phone to see that it was barely 2AM.
“Galina?” she heard Nik’s voice in the receiver. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll pick you up downstairs on the side entrance. I’ve got the cameras on a loop but I don’t want the front desk people to be able to identify you. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay,” she replied and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Quickly brushing her teeth with the small disposable toothbrush that had been left in her room by housekeeping, she threw it in the trash bin and silently opened her hotel room door. The hotel was eerily silent at this hour and she kept expecting to see someone come around the corner at any moment. Getting to the stairwell, she opened the door and quickly ran down the steps.
She’d seen enough horror movies to know that nothing good hung out in stairwells and didn’t intend to be here long. She exited the building into the night and saw headlights pulling nearby. A large Volkswagen bus pulled up and Nik grinned at her.
“You ready for this?”
“Will this thing run long enough for us to get away?”
“This machine is a beauty. It will run for a while and the owner just put a new motor in it two months ago. Plus, the seats lay down in the back so we can sleep in the van instead of getting a hotel room.”
“Beauty is a bit of a stretch,” she hedged, opening the sliding door and putting her bags in the back. Climbing into the passenger front seat, she buckled up and glanced at Nik.
“Nervous?” he asked.
“Petrified,” she admitted. “I’ve never been more anxious in my life.”
“We’ll be okay- I promise. I would do anything to keep you safe.”
“What will your mother say? Your family?”
“She knows,” he confessed thickly. “I went to fill up the tank and swung by her house for a moment to say goodbye. She said for me to call when I could and take care of myself. That was hard to say goodbye.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.” Nik put the van into gear and drove down the nearly deserted roads quickly heading out of town. “If you want to sleep, you can. Just lean back the seat so you can stay buckled.”
“I don’t think I could sleep just yet. I’m wide awake,” she confessed staring out of the window, her mind a turbulent mess of feelings and emotions. She was fleeing a country, hiding from her own country and praying that things would turn out alright. If they found them, what would happen? As the city lights faded behind them, Galina watched as Nik turned off his cell phone with finality and put it in the empty ashtray.
The look on his face was unfathomable. With as many doubts as she had, she was positive that he must be struggling as well. He was becoming a fugitive and refugee from his homeland. Galina dug out her own phone and powered it down, setting it in the ashtray with his.
“I’m glad you are here.”
“Me too,” she admitted.
“Are you worried?”
“Not yet. I turned off the street cameras in town so they can’t get our license plates or vehicle information. When we get to a stopping point, I can do it again but I need to be careful. If they realize the ‘blind’ areas are us then it’s like putting a pinpoint on the map. That is why I thought the van might be good for us; we can pull into a park and rest without being watched.” The hum of the engine created a white noise that was almost comforting as they drove on in silence now.
“What do you want to see first in Poland or America?”
“In Poland, I want to see a small, safe apartment with you,” he teased. “America seems so far away in the distant future, you know? I can’t even imagine what it could be like. Tell me about your home and what you like to do.”
“We’ll get you there someday, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” he said softly.
“My home is wonderful. I live with my family because I’ve never gotten an apartment of my own or needed one.”
“What about when you bring a date over or need some personal time together?”
“I never did,” she admitted.
“Never?” he asked in surprise. “You are so beautiful, do men in America not want to kiss you when you are alone?”
“I’m sure they do that, but I just never dated much at all or brought a boy home.”
“Would you bring me home?”
“Yes,” she answered shyly, feeling her cheeks turn red and thankful for the darkness. “I’d like you to meet my family.”
“I’d like that too.”
At sunrise, they had to stop and get fuel. Galina went into the gas station only after Nik shut off the camera behind the register. That gave them a moment to fill up, use the restroom and get snacks for the road. Galina paid cash for everything and offered to drive for a while so Nik could sleep. He declined and said they’d stop later in the day once they crossed the border into Latvia. She could see it on his face, even if he wouldn’t admit it aloud.
He was nervous.
They both wanted to put as much distance between them and Russia as possible. That was part of the reason she offered to drive. They could take turns.
“If you sleep, then I could drive and we could trade off later in order to make sure we don’t have to stop any more than necessary.”
“I know and thank you for that but I have to admit that the idea of stopping for a moment is appealing. We are in Latvia now. We’ll have a stop point at Lithuania, then once more at the border of Poland. You paid cash inside?”
“Yes”
“Good, don’t use your credit cards or ATM cards until we get settled and we have a chance to protect your location. Everything is traceable and the more we are off the grid, the better off we are.”
“How did you shake Dmitri so you were able to leave?”
“He’s a hard sleeper unless there is a noise. I was extremely quiet when I stepped out. He is probably furious by now that I gave him the slip and I feel bad for him because it will reflect badly on his job. He’s a pretty good guy.”
“He seems to be.”
Galina was silent for a while, listening to the radio on the car and glad to hear nothing about their escape. They were nobody to most people, yet to the government they were everything. Nik was their prized Billionaire computer hacker and they would not give him up, especially to an American spy.
“Are you having regrets?” Nik asked her, staring ahead at the road. Galina had kicked off her shoes in the van and gotten comfortable, tucking one foot under her leg in the seat.
“No regrets, just nervous. So much has changed in my life lately and I feel like I’m dreaming, you know? Like any moment someone could pinch me and I would wake up to find that
every bit of happiness I’ve had lately was all just an amazing dream”
“You’re happy?” He asked, pulling over into the rest area.
“I’m very happy. I feel like my life has taken an important turn, one I never expected, and it’s exhilarating. Nik, you’re an incredible person,” she breathed softly, almost reverently. Nik pulled into a parking spot almost in a hurry, put the van in park and unbuckled almost frantically.
“Are you okay?”
“Perfect,” he announced just a second before he kissed her. His fingers laced in her hair on either side of her face as his lips locked with hers. His lips were infinitely tender, worshiping her in the only way he could. At the sheer emotion in his kiss, Galina felt herself reaching for him but the buckle prevented her from moving towards him bodily.
Instead, she found herself cupping the back of his neck to hold him close. As their kiss broke, she knew her heart was hammering against her chest and she was breathing deeply. Nik looked about the same. She cradled his head against her chest.
“I think you are the incredible one, my precious Galina,” he whispered. She heard him take a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “I don’t think I would have ever been strong enough to do this on my own and you have given me a reason to want my life, any life, once again. I can’t thank you enough for saying hello to me on that park bench that day.”
“That was a life changing moment, wasn’t it?” she agreed.
“It set my world on another axis,” he admitted, holding her, his arms wrapped around her waist there in the van.
“Do you want to stop for the day? It’s early,” she asked as a gentle reminder of their escape.
“No, just needed to hold you for a moment and taste those sweet lips,” he said with a smile, looking at her. “Promise me you’ll let me hold you again later? We’ll stop for the night outside of the town Kaunas in Lithuania.”
“Absolutely.”
12
Later that afternoon, they stopped again for fuel and Galina was so thankful to get out and stretch her legs. Everything in her was cramping and she simply wanted to walk around for a bit to get the blood moving in her limbs. She knew Nik had to be exhausted since he’d driven since 2 AM and was pretty sure he hadn’t slept at all waiting to leave.
It was now close to 7 PM and the sun was setting in the horizon due to their location in the northern hemisphere. It would be dark really soon and she was certain that her eyes would close of their own accord. The thought of Nik’s doing that while trying to drive was unsettling.
“How about we stop soon?” she suggested firmly. Nik nodded wearily and rubbed his eyes. “Do you want me to drive for a bit?”
“There is a small rest stop up ahead in two miles. I was going to top off the tank again but instead I think we’ll just call it a day. Tomorrow we’ll be in Poland.”
“I was thinking about that,” she began.
“Me too,” he stopped and looked at her. Galina smiled. “You first.”
“I was thinking that if you’ve modified my passport than we should be able to get a flight, shouldn’t we?”
“I was thinking the same thing,” he admitted. “We could board a plane in Poland and buy round trip tickets but only use them one way. We wouldn’t want to buy one-way tickets as to raise any alarm.”
“But if it didn’t work…?” she breathed.
“Then we are still in Poland and have to go thru the deportation fiasco and hopefully that would take long enough to give us time to come up with plan B.” Galina nodded in agreement as the small Volkswagen bus pulled into the parking lot. Nik backed in gracefully, putting the bus strategically between two large trucks that had parked for the night. They wouldn’t be seen unless you drove through slowly.
“Lock everything and crack your window slightly,” he instructed before he climbed into the back of the bus. He lay down the middle bench seat and the back bench to create two makeshift beds, revealing a comforter and pillows that had been pitched haphazardly in the very back.
“Here you go,” he said politely and took the back bench, climbing onto it and laying down. Galina unbuckled and climbed onto her bench, listening to Nik breathe softly.
“Nik?” she whispered in the darkness.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re in the wrong spot,” she told him, feeling her stomach flip-flop with anxiety. “You said you were going to hold me and I think now is a perfect time.”
“Galina,” he groaned. “I would like nothing more but I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Just hold me and make me feel safe,” she asked, patting the back of the bench next to her that was laid back nearly flat. “It’s been a long day for both of us.”
Nik scooted over and lay on his side, curled around her. His arm cradled her ever so gently as he kissed her cheek. It only took a moment for his breath to even out as he succumbed to the sleep he desperately needed. She listened for several moments and felt the warmth of his arm around her waist, as well as his chest against her back.
Right now, in this moment, she knew that being with Nik was so right, and the way he treated her was more than she could have ever wanted or expected out of someone. He was perfect and she truly felt like he was her other half. “I love you,” Galina whispered aloud into the darkness and drifted off into sleep.
Nik awoke the next morning as the semi-truck near their bus started up its engine. He’d slept soundly holding Galina in his arms last night. He’d been surprised at her request and so relieved. He found himself craving her touch; even just holding hands made him feel like he could conquer the world.
When her sweet voice had admitted that her life had made a turn for the better and innocently told him he was incredible to her, he’d been overwhelmed with emotion that he’d struggled to keep inside. He’d pulled over and kissed her immediately. That kiss would do two things, keep him silent and release the outpouring of emotion he felt at that very moment.
He loved her.
Galina’s name suited her to a ‘T’. She was strong, resilient and so very precious to him- an incredible element that looked unassuming but was simply brilliant to the right person: him. When she smiled at him, it was like the sun had come out from behind a cloud. He thanked God every night for that entrancing little wave she gave him outside of the church. She’d caught his eye, but obviously he’d caught hers as well – and that smile. Her brilliant smile that made her eyes light up like he was the only man in the world to her, that smile was everything to him.
He lay there holding her as she slept. At some point, she’d turned around towards him and was lying there in a C-shape facing him. He studied her features, memorizing them, fearful of what would come. She was so beautiful and trusting – he was so jaded and a realist.
Nothing had gone right in his life, or so it seemed, other than meeting her. That day was a blessing like no other and he knew it. Nothing else mattered but keeping her safe and taking care of her. When he’d had her phone, he texted a few photos of her to his phone silently – knowing that if something happened he would savor the memory of her smile. He’d also known that this plan of his while risky could truly work…for one of them.
The thought of having a future with the woman he loved more than life itself was worth the risk to his own – but her life, her safety was too great a price to pay. He knew if push came to shove, he would give up everything to make sure she got home. He’d scrambled their phones and computers, but somehow -someway- they’d gotten through one simple message.
Come back and she’ll live.
Nik knew in that moment that loving Galina, he’d have to set her free – enable her to go home and live a life she deserved. He would treasure these precious moments, but the keen loss he’d felt receiving their message on his phone had been hard to hide from her. If they would take her from him – two could play that game. He’d return but they’d never have his program or money.
He lay there, memorizing her features and
savoring the feeling of her soft breath mingling with his. Nik knew in his heart he would never have this moment with her again. This was as close to intimacy as their souls would get once the government secreted him away. He’d escaped once; they were sure to lock him up this time and he would never have his freedom again.
Prying himself carefully from her arms, he pulled out his laptop and tethered onto a nearby Wi-Fi hotspot, smiling at the creative name the person had given themselves. “My Wi-Fi, not yours” seemed like the perfect access point and a challenge to Nik. It took him moments to break into the system and link up. He’d been working on encryptions to clear any tags or trackers from their ID’s so they could travel but found himself focusing more and more on Galina.
They would be waiting for them before the van got to the border and Nik knew it. Now was the time to set up his rules and put his plan into action. Nik took Galina’s phone, linked it to his computer and re-routed all incoming deposits to her bank account. If he couldn’t have her in his life, he would certainly provide for the woman he loved. He turned off her notifications on her phone so she wouldn’t know right away something was up. Her safety wasn’t up for discussion and he wanted to remember her smile, not her tears or anger.
Hacking in, he sent an email to Adrian Dima – Galina’s boss, informing him of the upcoming problem and request for her safe delivery into the United States. He went on to explain that once he had assured her safety, he would reveal how much access he’d had in the CIA databases. Nik knew he made it sound criminal and devious, but he had to make sure they took the bait.
Galina had to be safe at all costs.
The next point of contact was the Russian Intelligence Agency in order to negotiate his terms of surrender. He knew what they wanted and how to get them to agree- even if he was lying. He purchased a one-way first-class ticket for Galina to Dulles International Airport. There was no way they’d ever have access to his programming, yet he told them he would turn it over once the threat to Galina was gone and she touched down safely in America. The last thing he did before they would get on the road, Nik turned on the tracking on Galina’s phone as well as his own. If they’d been traced once and someone had broken through his encryption…might as well make this fiasco go down with his knowledge of what was coming. Sure enough, his watch gave a soft ping alerting him that he’d been spotted.
Spying on the Billionaire Page 10