The Sniper and the Wolf

56

“I understand that,” Pope said patiently, speaking with his opposite number in the Moscow bureau of the GRU, Bureau Chief Galkin. “But we’re watching them on satellite in real time, and they’re in serious trouble. You’re telling me your people don’t have a visual on them?”

“I am not authorized to answer that question one way or another,” Galkin said. “What I can say is that we have received no request for assistance.”

Pope had one eye on his laptop and saw Gil and Dragunov slowly emerging from their hide. He had already known that Russian spy satellites for that part of the world were tasked over Ukraine, where the fighting had intensified over recent months.

“Do you have any assets available to provide them support?” he asked.

“There is a helicopter available for emergency evacuation,” the Russian answered. “But so far we have received no such request.”

Pope was also aware that much of Russia’s military assets, too, had been sent to Ukraine, and that it had recently lost a pair of Hind helicopters during a mission to kill Dokka Umarov. He was beginning to doubt their willingness to risk another helo pulling Gil and Dragunov out of the fire.

“Have you attempted to contact them?”

Galkin hesitated. Then he said, “Not recently.”

“I see,” Pope said, putting it together. “You’re no longer in contact with them, are you? You’ve lost contact with them altogether.”

Galkin let out a sigh. “If they’re as heavily engaged as you say, Mr. Pope, it’s no surprise we haven’t heard from them.”

Pope felt his pulse quicken, piqued by the inanity of the remark. “I would say the exact opposite was true, Mr. Galkin. I don’t know Ivan Dragunov, but I know Gil Shannon, and I’ve been watching this battle very closely. Believe me, if our man could request support, he would do exactly that. It’s obvious from the way they’re moving that both men are wounded.”

“I understand your distress,” Galkin said, “but how can we possibly organize an evacuation if we are unable to communicate with them?”

“You could insert another team.”

“Out of the question,” Galkin said. “We just lost one of our best Spetsnaz teams in that region two days ago, and judging from what you’ve apparently seen tonight, this mission is completely compromised. To send another team in there now would be suicide.”

After another couple minutes of chasing Galkin around the bush, Pope ended the call knowing little more than he had before picking up the phone.

He looked at the computer, watching Gil and Dragunov stalking through the Caucasus, and then turned to agent Mariana Mederos, who had just arrived from Mexico. “You look tired.”

“It’s late,” she replied irritably, secretly intrigued by what was taking place on the computer screen. “Why wasn’t I told that Crosswhite was in Mexico to do your wet work?”

Pope couldn’t help chuckling at her choice of words. “What did you think he was there for?”

“My security.”

“He was there for both,” Pope said. “Crosswhite is what we call a pipe hitter.”

“I know what a pipe hitter is,” she said pugnaciously. “What I don’t know is why I was there. Crosswhite could have conducted the interview just as easily as me — even easier. You didn’t have to make me a party to murder.”

Pope gazed at her. Mederos was pretty, and her anger only increased the severity of her beauty. “You were there because I needed Castañeda’s full cooperation — and he has a thing for you.”

She didn’t immediately respond to that, wondering how Pope had known.

“I’m an asset manager, Mariana. That’s all the director of the CIA is, an asset manager. You’re an asset, Crosswhite’s an asset… and Castañeda’s an asset. It’s my job to utilize the agency’s assets however I can.”

“What if there’s an inquiry?” she snapped. “What if I’m called to testify?”

“There won’t be any of that.”

“What if there is? What if I’m offered some kind of immunity?”

Pope shrugged. “Then I suppose you’ll have to follow your conscience.”

She stared at him, disliking him for putting her in a compromising position. “I want you to know that I don’t trust you anymore. I did before, but now I don’t.”

He smiled at her. “Good for you,” Pope said gently. “You’ve clung to that innocence long enough. Now I need you to go to Havana. Crosswhite is already there.”

Her eyes widened. “I was just in Mexico City. Why couldn’t you send me direct?”

“Because you needed to get that business about Hagen off your chest,” Pope said. “And I need you to have a clear head when you get to Havana. The CIA has assets in Cuba, but every one of them has been compromised, and Crosswhite is entirely on his own there.”

“He’s there for more wet work, I assume?”

Pope grinned. “He’s not down there collecting for the Red Cross.”

She frowned. “How many targets?”

“Peterson and Walton.” Pope handed her a yellow envelope. “For your travel expenses.”

She tucked the envelope under her arm, her anger beginning to abate. “I thought Walton ran off to the Arab Emirates.”

“He did, and he sold them a rather comprehensive dossier on our operations in Eastern Europe. Lives will be lost because of what he’s done. Now he’s en route to Havana, where Peterson and the rest of their rogue faction think they’re beyond my reach.”

“This is beginning to sound personal to me.”

Pope glanced around his hospital room. “I didn’t put myself in here.”

“So Crosswhite’s carrying out your personal vendetta… and you’re using me to help him do it.”

“Crosswhite is hunting a pair of traitors who have gotten innocent people killed, and who will continue to get innocent people killed until they’re stopped. The fact that I’ll take personal satisfaction in their misfortune is a bonus. You’re going to Havana only as backup. Unless something goes wrong, there won’t be reason for you to even leave your hotel, so sit by the pool and enjoy yourself. Get a massage. There’s a lot of money in that envelope, and I’m not asking for any receipts.”

“Feels a lot like a bribe.”

Pope suddenly became very serious. “You’ll think bribe, Mariana, if something goes wrong and Crosswhite needs you to get directly involved. Now, stop your pouting. You’re a valuable operative, and it’s time to act like one. The world gets more dangerous every day, and a strong stomach is required.”