按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
presence。 〃I would never do that。 I told her I wouldn't。 You must believe me。〃
Words； as Croaker knew well； were cheap。 But there was something in Minck's eyes； a kind of pleading； that caught him。 He saw that somehow Minck； who through Alix's eyes he had e to see as a master spider spinning his unbreakable web from the absolute sanctity of the nation's capital； was enmeshed in a gray area just as he himself was。 Suddenly they were both lost； both confused as to which direction was up； who was good； who bad。 In that moment； their adversary position had somehow been dissipated。 For the first time since he had entered Angela Didion's plush apartment and found her naked body as cold as ice； Croaker began to see that there was more here than one model's murder。 Much more。 〃Then who did？〃 he said gruffly。
And Minck was forced to another inescapable conclusion。 To whom had he given over custody of Alix？ Who had he entrusted to keep her safe from all harm？ Tanya Vladimova； that's who。 The same Tanya who had been gone from the building…God only knew where…for the last forty hours or so。
He grabbed up a phone； asked for a trace on Tanya's movements during the last three and a half days。 He was immediately patched through to the ARRTS puter。 He repeated his question and waited impatiently for the answers。 When they came； he stared openly at Croaker。
〃Tanya；〃 he said slowly。
〃Who the hell's Tanya？〃 Croaker asked。
〃She's the woman who sanctioned both your deaths；〃 he improvised； telling a half truth。 Something had begun to spin inside Minck's mind。 One dark and tiny satellite that needed some space and time to grow。 The germ of an idea。 The beginning of a massive salvage job。 A kind of miracle； even； if such things actually could be said to exist。 Minck did not believe in God so therefore it followed that he could not believe in miracles。 Until this moment； perhaps。
In a more normal tone of voice； he said； 〃About Alix。 Is she all right？〃
〃She's confused； angry； frustrated； and maybe her life's been ruined by all this crap but； yeah； she's essentially okay。〃
Minck found some genuine solace in that。 If he had suspected for any amount of time that he was merely indulging himself by keeping Alix Logan alive； he now dismissed such thoughts entirely。 The relief that swept through him went deep indeed。
He took a breath； but before he could continue； Croaker said； 〃Don't think for a minute I'll tell you where she is； though。 If you make any move against me now； she'll go straight to the State's Attorney General with everything she knows。 I know you can't afford that。 You've gone to great lengths to prove it。〃
Minck paused for a moment as if weighing Croaker's words。 〃All right；〃 he said at last。 〃I'll propose a truce。。。 a kind of bargain； if you wish。〃
〃What kind of bargain？〃 Despite observing Minck's genuine feelings for Alix； Croaker was a long way from trusting this man。
〃What I propose is this。 I will not harm you or seek to find Alix's whereabouts； unless she wishes it； of course。 In return； you will sit down and listen to what I have to tell you and consider it carefully。〃
〃Then what？〃
Oh； good； Minck thought。 This man is clever in addition to being resourceful。 He has killed two of my agents and evaded termination from another…my most deadly； my most traitorous Tanya。 Perhaps he can do what none other I can call on could。 Perhaps； he thought； as he began to talk of Tanya Vladimova and her ultimate betrayal； of her manipulation of the 〃Spearfish〃 ops； which was Alix Logan's detention/protection； this man can destroy that which Protorov and I； jointly； created。
Inside； C。 Gordon Minck began to glow。 Like a man who has won back his life at the brink of death； he was suffused with an eerie kind of elation that made his fingertips tremble。
It was not difficult to sell Croaker on what he must do。 Minck had two powerful motivations which he offered the man sitting across from him and which Minck was quite certain he could not refuse。 If the situation were reversed； Minck was aware； he would have been hooked just as much as he perceived Croaker was being。
Revenge and patriotism。 These were the two reasons that Minck suspected Croaker would accept this bargain。 Tanya had personally tried to kill him and his charge； that was something Croaker could not tolerate。 He wanted her now； and Minck could not blame him at all。 They both wanted her； he explained。 It was merely that Croaker was in a position to get her while Minck was not。
Then there was the Russian angle。 No one liked that； least of all Minck himself。 Croaker was right behind him there。
〃You'll have full diplomatic immunity；〃 Minck concluded； 〃a new identity as far as Customs and Immigration are concerned。 You'll have full support over there if you need it。〃 He waited a beat。 〃And you'll be linking up with an old friend of yours； Nicholas Linnear。〃 He had saved what he suspected would be the best for last。 The clincher。
And Croaker bit。
But a half hour after the detective lieutenant had been provided with a new passport； birth certificate； business papers； et al； money in the form of American dollars； Japanese yen； and American Express traveler's checks； and delivered to Dulles International to make his flight to Tokyo； Minck abruptly broke down and； for the first time since his long incarceration in Lubyanka； wept bitter tears。 He thought of what had been done to him and what； in retaliation； he had been forced to do。
Meanwhile； the object of Minck's love and hate was at the moment debarking at Narita Airport outside smogbound Tokyo。 She had not had a pleasant flight。 Just after takeoff from Kennedy she had taken two sleeping pills and had fallen into a leaden slumber which had been dominated by visions from her childhood。 Protorov stalked her dreams like a sentry； on horseback and on foot； weaponed and booted； wherever she went he was there before her。
Tanya was back in grade school in Rechitsa； the closest town to the rural hamlet where her family lived。 Already there was friction at home。 Her older brother； Mikhail； did not approve of their father being a policeman。 As such her father was in touch with the KGB； whose black…raincoated agents appeared at the house from time to time to remind him to report all unpatriotic activity within his purview。
Within six months Mikhail would leave him； and within a year； at eighteen； would bee one of the more militant…and successful…dissidents working inside Russia。
But by that time the headmaster of the school in Rechitsa had journeyed by an old and dilapidated car out to Tanya's house to speak to her parents。 She had been offered a scholarship to a fine academy with facilities that； regretfully； the headmaster's school lacked。 She was an extremely bright girl； he said； and deserving of this chance。 But certain sacrifices had to be made。 This new academy was in the Urals； a good 750 kilometers away。
Tanya's mother had cried at the prospect。 After all； her son had already gone。 But Tanya's father was firm。 He was only a country constable； he said； and he wanted at least one of his children to have the benefits he had never had。
So it was settled； much to the relief of the