Black Harvest

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

Alexei Vysotsky listened to Korov's report.

"You are certain the virus was destroyed?"

"Yes. For the moment, Demeter is halted."

"For the moment."

"The laboratory and stockpiles are gone. But there must be other laboratories. I think we've bought time, not an end to the threat."

"What are the Americans doing?"

"We meet today to discuss the next steps. I believe they are genuine in their desire to smash this."

"Lodge?"

"That is one of the subjects of this meeting."

"They have accepted you?"

"They have. They are fearless, a very accomplished group. I wish I'd had them with me in Chechnya."

"High praise from you, Arkady."

"They earned it."

"Nonetheless, they are Americans. Do not forget that. Trust only goes so far."

"Of course, sir."

"Continue to observe and report."

Korov put away his phone. Vysotsky's comment annoyed him. He hadn't been in that compound. Carter and the others had earned his respect. More than that, they'd earned a measure of trust. Vysotsky would never understand that.

Different countries, different uniforms, same dedication. The same code. The code crossed all boundaries when men fought together.

His feelings confused him. He poured a cup of coffee and walked to the window. He'd always thought of America as the enemy. That hadn't changed. What confused him was his acceptance into this group, however temporary or expedient it might be. Korov knew the reverse would not be true. He couldn't even conceive of such a thing. It was bizarre. Even more bizarre, the Project wasn't a military unit like Zaslon. It was an intelligence group. Not exactly spies, in the traditional way. More like the sharp point of a rapier wielded to end threats before they'd fully begun.

He didn't understand Harker's actions. It wasn't the way things operated in his world. He slept in a hotel with free access to come and go, instead of a barracks somewhere under close surveillance. No one questioned him about carrying a weapon. He belonged to one of Russia's most secretive and effective units, yet he was allowed freedom in the heart of the American empire. It simply didn't compute.

Outside the hotel window the air was gray with smog, hazy, the sky overcast.

He thought about the woman, Connor. She was part of the combat team. Women were not assigned to operations like this in Russia. He didn't think they were here, either. She had done as well as the men. It surprised him. It hadn't escaped him that she and Carter were sleeping together. You could always tell. She was very attractive. In another time and place…he put that distracting thought aside.

Korov thought Carter as good a small force leader as he had ever seen. He'd accomplished the mission with cool efficiency against unfavorable odds.

In spite of himself, Korov found himself liking the Americans. They'd made him part of the team. The real test would come when he learned what they planned for their Director of Central Intelligence. In Russia, such a powerful man would be protected, invulnerable.

Arkady stared out the window at streams of cars crawling along a distant highway. He had no illusions about the political labyrinths inside the Kremlin. In Russia, it would be difficult to convince the leadership to make someone like Lodge disappear. More likely the accuser would be the one to disappear. What would Harker do?

That was another thing that confused him. A black ops intelligence unit run by a woman. He had to hand it to her, she didn't dance around what had to be done. She didn't seem concerned about possible repercussions from the attack.

All in all, this had turned into the most interesting assignment he'd ever had.