Chapter Seven
A week later Victor was on the phone to Mike Douglas.
“Victor, old boy. How are you? When are you coming down for some burgers? What can I do for you?”
“What do you hear from the old man?”
Douglas was quiet for some moments and then he said in a small voice, “He’s not back from Russia.”
“Get those rot gut burgers ready. I’ll be right down. We have to talk.”
“I’ll be here.”
“When was the last time you heard from him?”
“I received a call two weeks ago from Moscow.”
“This is awful stuff. You don’t catch members of the medical profession eating this. Don’t you have any ketchup?”
“Why are you getting excited? It’s just a matter of poor communications. He’ll show up.”
“Haven’t you been reading the papers lately? The country is in chaos; few foreigners are safe. Why did Sean let him go without backup?
“I don’t know, Vic. But after all he’s Vice-President.”
The doctor thought for a minute. “Where’s the little fellow?”
“He’s on a case. Why do you ask?”
“Do me a favor. Pull him off if you can. Have him get his affairs in order, especially his passport. Do the same with Lyn. I’ll get in touch with Karp.”
“What are you thinking about? Is the old man in danger?”
“I hope not but let’s be prepared. I’m having that feeling in back of my neck again. Let me know about those two as soon as possible. Check with Sean. I want to know Andy’s itinerary, his companions, and a list of sites he visited or will visit. Mike, I wanted it yesterday, understand? And, Mike, ask Sean for the Gulfstream.”
“Will do, Vic. You didn’t tell me about the rats?”
Victor laughed. “They were typical, ordinary rats like you see in this city. We’ll open a bottle of scotch and talk about it soon. Regards to Myrna. Mike, be ready. I don’t like this, not at all, not at all. I hope I’m wrong.”
“So do I. How much time are we talking about?”
“Three days, no more!”
“Karp, how would you like to visit the Rodina?[5]“
“Why do you ask? I am very happy here.”
As the Ex-Russian Sergeant said that he looked at Anna who was listening to the conversation. She smiled at his wink.
“Andy Douglas has been on a visit to Russia checking on Mansfield properties. He hasn’t reported in for two weeks. I’m getting nervous about it.”
Karp became watchful. “Do you suspect something?”
“You know about conditions there. It isn’t a very good place for Americans just now.”
“I’m getting a group of my countrymen together in a business venture. It would be difficult to leave.
Anna spoke up. “I wish you wouldn’t ask him to go along. It could be dangerous.”
“I understand your fears, sis. But I need him as an interpreter.”
“Who else are you taking along?”
“Little Augie, if I can get him. I’ll know soon.”
Both Karp and Anna remained quiet as both stared out at the river. Antonia stayed silent. She knew the outcome.
Anna said, “If Karp goes along, so am I.”
Antonia added her say. “What about me and my schooling?”
Karp clinched the deal by saying, “I have a ton of relatives in St. Petersburg who’ll keep watch over Anna and the little one.”
Victor gave in. “Be prepared to move within three days. The books come too, Antonia dear. Hell, Karp, you might as well take your mother along. I’ve been sand-bagged and blackmailed. Lawrence will have to work miracles to obtain visas for all of us. Let me break the good news to him.”
The call from Mike Douglas came in at nine P.M…
“Sorry to disturb you, Vic, but I got Sean to talk about it. How about 1:00 P.M. at the 21 Club tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there. Goodnight and thanks.”
Angelo led Victor to the special room where Mike and Sean were waiting for him.
Sean spoke first. “Why are you worried about Andy?”
“I may be shouting at the moon. On the other hand, it might be wise to be ready for the ultimate eventuality.”
“And that is?” asked Mike.
“A possible kidnapping, a possible blackmail scheme against Mansfield and, indirectly, the government.”
“Who might do that?”
“There are any number of crazies out there who are peddling dangerous stuff to all our friends: Iraq, Iran, North Korea, China. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, it gave many nations their freedom. Unfortunately, those same countries contained missile test sites because the Russians spaced them out in remote areas both for test purposes and dispersion. Let’s not forget that in 1991 a Russian engineer approached Greenpeace with an offer to sell it a nuclear warhead.”
“What does that have to do with Andy?”
“Andy is inspecting bomb elimination sites. He could have stumbled into a plot to sell those bombs and the missiles laying around in those unstable Central Asian nations looking to make a buck or two.”
Sean remained silent. Then he asked Victor, “How do you propose to start your search?”
“Do you have a list of the sites Andy was to inspect?”
“The travel office is working on that. I expect to have news this afternoon. I’ll send the stuff over.”
“Did Andy call in from each place?”
“No. He would inspect a few sites, then call in to report.”
“Do you know where he started?”
“He started in Ukraine and then worked Northward. The last call came in from Moscow, as Mike has probably told you.”
“What did he say?”
“He was on his way to a plutonium processing plant somewhere east of Moscow.”
“What about the plane?”
“We can have it ready in three days. You can leave JFK. What’s the flight plan?”
“My first stop will be St. Petersburg. I can’t plan any further. Can Lawrence get us the visas?”
“Yes, he can. Vic, do you think it is safe to take you know whom?”
“Karp will drop them off with family members. It was the only way I could have gotten him to go along.
Mike, what about Augie and Lyn?”
“They’ll both be ready.”
Sean remarked, “Vic, what will you do if you need firepower and backup?”
Victor replied, “Perhaps you can contact Jeremy Sloan at State. Maybe he can pull some strings with the Russian government for an army unit.”
Sean remarked, “Will do. If there are no more pressing questions, I suggest we eat. Victor, promise me one thing. If we hear from Andy in a positive way after you leave, you’ll turn around.”
“It’s a deal. I’m hungry.”
At 10:00 P.M. Friday, Victor and his team were ready. Sean had not yet received word from Andy Douglas, nor had the State department been told anything by the Russian government. All that Victor knew was that a unit of Russian Commandos would be ready if needed in Moscow. Sean handed Victor a thick file. The doctor renewed acquaintances with the pilot, Tom Jenkins, the co-pilot, Sam Watson and the engineer, Sid Mayfield. He chuckled as he observed Augie carrying his cold weather gear.
“You seem to be shaking and trembling. You’re not afraid, are you?”
“I am always with you around. But why am I always volunteering?”
“You’re a thrill-addict like I am. Cheer up. This may be only a pleasure trip to Russia.”
“Not with you on board, not with you. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“I certainly am.”
The only smiling people were the doctor’s daughter, Antonia, and Karp’s mother. This ride was just another way of avoiding regular school for the girl. No amount of schooling could ever equal this, she thought. The elderly woman would see relatives for the first time in years.
The Gulfstream lifted off at 10:15 and set a course for London. The chase was on!
Victor made sure his daughter and the other passengers were comfortable for the night; then he relaxed in a window seat and opened the file.
[5]Russian for mother country
