The Ajax Protocol

CHAPTER 33

Alexei Vysotsky was in a foul mood. He was under heavy pressure from Red Square to find out what had happened in Novosibirsk. The Kremlin wanted a scapegoat. Alexei had no intention of playing that role.

His encrypted, private phone signaled a call. Vysotsky looked at the caller ID.

Harker. What now?

He pressed a button under his desk that blanketed the room with electronic interference. In Russia, some things never changed. Though his office was regularly swept for listening devices, Vysotsky assumed it was bugged by the FSB, Russia's internal security apparatus. Even someone in his high position of trust was not beyond suspicion. If FSB suspected he was collaborating with the Americans on his own initiative, his head would be on the block.

"Director Harker," Vysotsky said. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your call? Tell me that you have something interesting to share with me."

"Hello, Alexei. I can guarantee your interest but before I continue, I need your word that this conversation will remain between us for the present."

"I'm not sure I can do that, Director."

"Nonetheless, I must insist. I need to discuss a difficult subject that requires the greatest discretion. A mistake on your part or on mine could create serious problems between our countries. Even war."

Vysotsky's dark mood had vanished. All his senses were on alert. He respected Harker, even admired her. She would not make such a request without good reason. She had aroused his professional curiosity, knowing he would be unable to refuse.

Vysotsky was under no illusions about himself. No one achieved his position of power without sacrificing some of his humanity. He was a ruthless man, but he tried to balance that by being an honorable man, within his definition of honor. If he gave his word, he would keep it. It was clear Harker had learned that about him. His estimation of her went up another notch.

"Very well, Director. You have my word."

Elizabeth took a deep breath and plunged in. "I am certain that the events in Novosibirsk were a test run for the deployment of a new weapon."

"An American weapon?"

"Yes. Now you know why your discretion is required."

"We suspected this," Vysotsky said. He felt his blood pressure rising. A tight band seemed to be squeezing his head. With an effort, he controlled himself.

"You tell me it was an American weapon and ask me to keep quiet about it. That is too much, Director. Even from you."

"Hear me out, Alexei. It was not a sanctioned operation. I have discovered a conspiracy against our government. There is a plan to establish a police state here in America. Novosibirsk was a trial run in anticipation of using that weapon on our own people. You need to know about this. Our government is not behind the attack."

For the next 10 minutes, Elizabeth briefed Vysotsky on the raid in Alaska and on what had happened in London. She told him about the Ajax Protocol. When she was done, Vysotsky was silent.

Maybe I should go ahead and let that plot develop, he thought. Let the Americans destroy themselves.

"Still there, Alexei?"

"What are you going to do about it?" he said.

"Track down the conspirators and stop them," Elizabeth said. "I don't know who can be trusted. Someone got Vice President Edmonds to tell me to back off. I don't know if he's involved or not, but I've got no support from the White House until Rice recovers. Once I find out who talked to him, I'll have a better idea of who is behind it."

Vysotsky said, "Others are looking at what happened at Novosibirsk. They are certain to discover that your satellite sent that signal. Once that happens, there's nothing I can do unless I can show significant progress against the fascists who committed this crime."

"Understood. Alexei, I'm only asking for a little time. I understand that you need to protect yourself and that the interests of your country comes first. A militaristic take over in our country would be very bad news for everyone, especially Russia. It cannot be allowed to happen. We have a mutual interest in preventing it."

Vysotsky considered what she had just told him. She was right. Russia and the US did have an interest in common.

"Very well, Director. I'll keep this to myself as long as I can."

"I may need your assistance."

"What kind of assistance?"

"I was thinking of one of your special units," Elizabeth said. "It depends on what I find."

"Zaslon? You contemplate a joint operation?"

"I know it's unorthodox, but yes."

Vysotsky could hardly believe what he was hearing. Harker was director of one of America's most secretive intelligence agencies and she was asking him if he would be willing to deploy Russian special forces on American soil. He would mull over the implications later.

"If you have need of assistance…" Vysotsky said.

"Thank you. When this is over, perhaps you and I can meet again, like we did in Denmark."

"You are not worried that you will be considered a traitor?"

"No more than you."

Vysotsky laughed. "If I did not know better, Director, I would think you were proposing an assignation."

"Purely an exchange of views, Alexei. In the interests of international cooperation."

After he had hung up, Vysotsky thought about the conversation. Had she been flirting with him, at the end? In his mind's eye he conjured up a picture of Harker, her petite form and milk white skin.

She's a lovely woman, he thought. Attractive. I wonder what will happen if we meet again?

Vysotsky dismissed the thought and considered what he had learned. He didn't doubt that Harker's information was correct. She would never have called him if she was not certain of what she had learned. If the American plotters succeeded, it would almost certainly mean war. Harker wanted help. The act of sending a Zaslon unit into the United States could be construed as an act of war. If he did it without authorization from higher up, he would either end up against a wall or making ice cubes in Siberia.

Vysotsky lived for these moments when the great game took on urgency. Sometimes he missed the old days, when he'd been a field operative in the KGB. Now he had power, but with the power came the need to deal with the endless bureaucratic nonsense of the Kremlin bureaucracy. Elizabeth Harker was like a breath of fresh air.

Not for the first time, Vysotsky regretted that she was American.