Blackmail

53 MOSCOW

Darkness had enveloped the Russian capital by the time three black sedans pulled up to Hotel National, not far from the Kremlin. Christine O’Connor and Dawn Cabral, weary from the long flight from Washington, D.C., stepped from the center car while Diplomatic Security Service agents emerged from the other two vehicles. Christine was looking forward to a good night’s sleep; the Russian morning would come soon enough, followed by the first day of the continental security summit. Without much prodding, Russia had arranged a reception the first evening, where the summit participants could socialize while discussing less contentious topics. It was there that their translator, Elena Krayev, would attempt to snare Boris Chernov.

While the bellhops collected their luggage, Christine and Dawn entered the hotel lobby, where they were met by Barry Graham, an aide to the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation. After introductions, he handed the two women their door cards, informing them their rooms were on the tenth floor. As Christine and Dawn prepared to call it a night, Graham informed them that their translator for the summit was on her way over and would arrive shortly.

It wasn’t long before Elena Krayev entered the hotel lobby, wearing a form-fitting skirt and tailored blouse accentuating her figure, draping a garment bag over a shoulder while pulling a carry-on suitcase behind her. Elena was even more stunning in person than on paper. Heads turned, both male and female, following her as she walked through the lobby.

Elena spotted Christine and Dawn and headed their way. Upon reaching the Americans, she greeted them with a firm, confident handshake. She was given a hotel room on the same floor as Dawn and Christine, purportedly in case the negotiations went later than expected, so she wouldn’t have to endure the long trek to her home on the outskirts of the city. In reality, she’d been given a hotel room nearby with the hope she could entice Chernov to her place instead of his tomorrow night. In case things didn’t go as planned and she needed assistance, a CIA extraction team was only a few doors down the hall. If they went to Chernov’s place, an emergency extraction would be much more complicated.

The three women headed to the tenth floor, where they gathered in Christine’s room. Elena explained the one detail of her assignment pertinent to the other two women. One of them would introduce her to Chernov, and she would take it from there.

After Elena left, Christine prepared for bed, donning a silk nightgown before slipping under the sheets. Although she was tired from the long trip, her body told her it was only midafternoon due to the jet lag. She tossed and turned for a while, her thoughts shifting frequently to Elena’s assignment to assassinate Chernov, before she eventually drifted off to sleep.

The morning arrived quicker than Christine had hoped. After a shower and a cup of strong coffee, brought to her by one of the Diplomatic Security Service agents, she was ready to begin the day. Elena was waiting in the hallway, wearing a business suit and leaning against the wall, a black attaché case in one hand. Christine knocked on Dawn’s door and she answered, and they headed to the lobby.

After their car pulled to a halt in front of the Kremlin Senate, they were greeted by an aide to Foreign Minister Lavrov, who escorted them to a conference room on the third floor, one Christine knew well. The first two rounds of follow-on nuclear arms reduction talks had been held here. The thirty-seat conference table was already half-full, and Christine spotted the three seats reserved for them, with placards on the table in front of each chair.

Foreign Minister Lavrov approached Christine and her two companions. “Miss O’Connor,” he said, “it is a pleasure to see you again. I’m glad you were able to join us.”

“It’s good to see you again as well, Minister Lavrov.” Turning to Dawn and Elena, she introduced America’s secretary of state and their interpreter.

Russia’s foreign minister engaged them in conversation, containing nothing of substance, until the meeting was called to order. Before Christine headed to her seat, she searched the conference room for Defense Minister Chernov. He was nowhere to be found.

She turned to Lavrov. “Will Defense Minister Chernov attend the summit?”

“He is disposed otherwise,” Lavrov replied.

Christine’s stomach knotted. Their plan hinged on Elena meeting Chernov.

“But he plans to join us tonight at the reception.”

The tension eased from Christine’s body. Their plan was still on track.

The summit progressed slowly at first, then picked up speed once the participants settled on the objective for the meeting. Without full NATO participation, no agreement could be reached. However, it was decided that the summit would develop a framework for formal negotiations, and that plan suited both sides. The Russians were pleased because things were progressing toward a peaceful and favorable solution, and the United States and its NATO allies were satisfied since the plan stalled substantive discussions; the United States had no intention of negotiating away part of Lithuania or the eastern one-third of Ukraine. Although the participants were prepared to work through the weekend, it soon became clear that a suitable framework would be developed by the end of the day.