Private Beijing

Chapter 97

“My brother died six months ago in disgrace,” Alekseyev told me. “Not even your intelligence agencies know, because I wanted to hide his shame. Shame that you caused.” Giving way to anger, he jumped to his feet. “You brought about his ruin. I hold you solely responsible.”

“Then why not face me like a man?” I asked. I noticed he was keeping his distance on the other side of the room. He likely thought me dangerous. Rightly so. “If you hold me solely responsible, why involve all these innocents?”

“Innocents!” he almost spat. “There are no innocents in this world. You ruined so many lives here. Not just my brother’s. Don’t blame me for involving others. They are suffering because of your actions. They are dying because of you.”

“If you let my friend go, I won’t kill your men,” I said.

He challenged, “And will my life be spared into the bargain?”

“No,” I replied coolly.

“You seem to be under the misapprehension that you hold the power here. I propose a different deal. Put down your weapon and surrender, and I won’t kill your friend.”

The knifeman underlined Alekseyev’s threat by pressing the point of his blade into West’s neck.

“You know I’m not bluffing. Put down the gun.”

“Don’t do it!” West said. “Shoot them.”

I weighed my options. Shoot the knifeman and the guy with the gun drills a hole in West. Shoot the gunman and the knifeman goes to work.

I did the only thing I could.

I lowered myself to the ground and put down my rifle.