• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 338 0

Russian agent was. Viktor would always leave his information under a rock which he would chip in a distinctive fashion. While he was out one night, supposedly standing watch, Viktor was brought down by ten men, then taken into the mountains. There, his Achilles tendons were severed and his wrists were slashed. Viktor bled to death before he could crawl to help. His last message to her was painted on a tree trunk with his own blood. It was a small heart with his wife's initials inside. Odette's cell phone beeped softly. She picked it up from the kitchen counter and turned her back toward her guest. The woman spoke softly so she would not wake him.

"Yes?"

"We believe we've found the Harpooner." That got Odette's attention.

"Where?"

"At a hotel not far from you," Orlov said.

"We're trying to pinpoint his room now." Odette moved quietly toward the bed. She was required to check her service revolver when she left police headquarters every night. But she kept a spare weapon in the nightstand. It was always loaded. A woman living alone had to be careful. A spy at home or abroad had to be even more careful.

"What's the mission?" Odette asked. Termination," Orlov said.

"We can't take a chance that he'll get away."

"Understood," Odette said calmly. The woman believed in the work she was doing, protecting the interests of her country. Killing did not bother her when doing it would save lives. The man she had terminated just a few hours before meant little more to her than someone she might have passed in the street.

"Once we've narrowed down the guests who might be the Harpooner, you're going to have to make the final call," Orlov said.

"The rest depends on what he does, how he acts. What you see in his eyes. He's probably going to have showered but still look tired."

"He's been a busy bastard," Odette said.

"I can read that in a man."

"The chances are he won't open the door to the hotel staff," Orlov went on.

"And if you pretend to be a housekeeper or security officer, that will only put him on guard."

"I agree," she said.

"I'll find a way to get in and take him by surprise."

"I spoke to our profiler," Orlov said.

"If you do get to him, he'll probably be cool and even pleasant and will appear to cooperate. He might attempt to bribe you or get you to be overconfident. Try to get your guard down so he can attack. Don't even listen. Make your assessment and do your job. I wouldn't be surprised if he also has several traps at the ready. A gas canister in an air duct, an explosive device, or maybe just a magnesium flash to blind you.

He might have rigged it to a light switch or a remote control in his heel, something he can activate when he ties his shoe. We just don't know enough about him to say for certain how he secures a room."

"It's all right," Odette assured him.

"I'll make the ID and neutralize him."

"I wish I could tell you to go in with a squad of police," Orlov said apologetically.

"But that isn't advisable.

A shout, rerouted traffic, anything out of the ordinary can alert him.

Or the Harpooner may sense their presence. If he does, he may get away before you can even get to him. I'm sure he has carefully planned his escape routes. Or he may try to take hostages."

"I understand," Odette said.

"All right. Where is the Harpooner registered?"

"Before I tell you that, how is your guest?" Orlov asked.

"He's sleeping," Odette replied. She looked down at the man on the bed.

He was lying on his back, his arms at his side. His breathing was slow and heavy.

"Whatever he's suffering from was probably artificially induced," she said.

"Possibly by injection."

"How is his fever?"

"Down a bit, I think," she said.

"He'll be okay."

"Good," Orlov said.

"Wake him."

"Sir?" The order took her completely by surprise.

"I want you to wake him," Orlov told her.

"You're bringing him with you."

"But that's not possible!" Odette protested.

"I don't even know if the American can stand."

"He'll stand," Orlov said.

"He has to."

"Sir, this is not going to help me-"

"I'm not going to have you face the Harpooner without