Chasing the Night - Iris Johansen [107]
“Locate the study or office in the house for us.”
“It’s on the first floor. Second room on the left as you enter the house.”
“Helder, you’re an asshole, but you know your stuff.”
“Are you finished with me?”
“Probably. I’ll call you if we need anything else.”
Helder hung up.
“You heard.” Joe turned to Venable, who was typing at top speed on the computer. “What have you got?”
“Give me a minute,” Venable said. “I’m printing out a diagram of the house and assessing the security-system information.”
“Between you and Helder, the private sector doesn’t stand a chance of staying private, does it?” Joe said. “Big Brother is definitely watching.”
“You should be grateful we are,” Venable said. “Because there are a hell of a lot of countries in the world who have their own Big Brother watching us. And they’re definitely not doing it to protect us.” He printed out the diagram, rattled orders to the four agents in the room, and whirled toward the door. “Let’s get going.”
They had almost reached the town of Navaltov when Joe’s phone rang.
Catherine came on the line. “Did NSA get you the trace?”
“Yes, we’ve got a location at a house north of Moscow. We’re on our way. We don’t believe Rakovac is still on the premises. Where the hell have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“I know. I had you on vibrate. I didn’t want Rakovac’s men to report that I was talking to someone on the phone right after I hung up with him. I had to wait until I got rid of them first. Rakovac had given orders that I be picked up and delivered to him.”
“And are you safe now?”
“Maybe. I saw three of his men in the crowd. I put down two of them, but I lost the third man.” She paused. “I’m on my way to meet with Rakovac. He’s going to take me to my son.”
“Where are you going to meet him? We’ll arrange a tail.”
“No, you won’t. You won’t do a damn thing. Do you think Rakovac won’t be expecting a double cross? Don’t tell me that he wouldn’t know because Venable will be pulling out some sophisticated razzle-dazzle. I know every trick the CIA has in its arsenal. Rakovac will be on the alert for any high-tech or plain old-fashioned gumshoe method available that would give me the slightest edge or break. If he sees any sign of any of that happening, he could make a call, and my son would be dead. I won’t blow this, Joe.”
He was silent a moment. “You’d rather take your shot at him alone?”
“I always knew that was how it was going to play out.”
“Well, I didn’t,” Joe said roughly. “And I don’t like it. I’m not going to let it happen.”
“If things don’t go your way, you’re going to change the entire scenario? Not this time, Joe. I did what you all wanted and gave you your chance to stop that hideous disaster from taking place. It’s up to you to go do it. But stay away from me. I’m going after my son.”
He muttered a curse. “Catherine, this isn’t smart. It isn’t even—”
“I’m hanging up, Joe. I probably won’t be able to call you again.” She paused. “Kelsov. Check on Kelsov. He was supposed to go back to the farm, but I saw his car still parked at the market. I hope to hell he didn’t go after me.”
“We’ll send an agent to check out the car. Don’t hang up, we need to—”
She had hung up.
Joe muttered a curse as he jammed his phone in his pocket.
“She’s going after her son, and we’re not invited?” Venable said. “Good luck to her.”
“Is that all you can say?” Joe said. “She doesn’t have a chance alone.”
“Catherine always has a chance,” Venable said. “When I recruited her in Hong Kong, she’d already been taught practically every deadly art under the sun by an old friend, Hu Chang. She’s learned a hell of a lot more since then. She’s been preparing for this for nine years. She might have been writhing on the hot coals Rakovac threw down for her, but she wouldn’t ignore the possibility that she might end up in this situation. She might be able to pull it off.”
“How?”
“It’s not something she would confide in me. Unfortunately,