The Romanov Ransom (Fargo Adventures 9)

“That’s the thing. If we go barreling in there to rescue her, it’s likely to blow a few covers and endanger both German and U.S. operatives. So the Russian lives aren’t the only ones that’ll be at stake. They’re under orders to ignore all but the prime mission. Tatiana isn’t part of that.”

“And what’s this ‘prime mission’?” Sam asked.

“I can tell you this. It’s not just Rolfe Wernher. It’s also this Wolf Guard. There’s a whole hierarchy from this group who will gladly step in and take over his business. We’d like to take them out, too. But if these covers are blown, that’s not going to happen.”

“We can’t just leave her there. As Remi said, she saved our lives on more than one occasion.”

“I get it. I’d feel the same way. But if you weigh the lives of all the operatives in place versus the one . . . My hands are tied.”

“Is there anything you can tell us?”

“Depends,” Rube said. “Is there any way to stop you from going after her?”

“Not a chance.” He glanced at Remi and saw her give a nod of approval.

“It might be a bit, but I’ll get back to you.”

They were checked into their Berlin hotel by the time Rube called back. “Here’s what I have so far. The address to his villa and the code to his alarm. There’s a door leading from the garage that tunnels down beneath the garden, then up to the house. More than likely, that’s how he’ll get her in without being seen. Follow it to the left. Third floor.”

“We know for sure he took her there?”

“My contact says he definitely brought someone in not too long ago. And I also found out the reason for the midnight exchange tomorrow. He’s hosting a party for dignitaries earlier tomorrow evening at his villa. So I doubt anything’s going to happen before then. Do me a favor, though. Wait for your Russian FSB friends to go in after her.”

“We will. Calling them as soon as I hang up.”

—

SAM DUCKED DOWN behind a parked car, then motioned Remi over. “There it is,” he said when she was at his side.

“It’s going to be hard to get to without being seen.”

He pulled his binoculars from his pack for a better look. The long narrow street allowed parking on the left side for the private residences, but no parking along the right, keeping the street and sidewalk in front of Rolfe’s villa clear. One advantage was that it was surrounded by a low stone wall topped with wrought iron railing, giving him a clear view in. The disadvantage was that it also gave a clear view of anyone walking along the sidewalk just outside the fence. Armed security guards stood near the wrought iron gate that opened to a circular drive at the front of the stately mansion. Even if they could get in through the main gate, there were guards roaming within, and the few trees on the vast expanse of lawn wouldn’t allow any cover.

Unfortunately, there was no access over the back wall, which was topped with shards of glass to keep out intruders. On their first drive past, Sam hadn’t seen any way they could get into the back without being noticed. The front wasn’t looking much better. The only possibility he could see was the service entrance farther down the street, where a boxwood hedge ran the length of a drive around to the back of the house. He handed the binoculars to Remi. “I think that’s our only chance to get in.”

“You’re not seriously thinking of going in now . . . are you?”

“No time like the present,” he said.

“What about Felix and Nika? They’re expecting us back.”

In fact, the two were sitting in a hotel room in downtown Berlin waiting for Sam and Remi to return with their preliminary findings on what they’d seen on the drive-by of the villa. “My feeling? Better to ask forgiveness than permission. If there is someone on the inside working against Tatiana, they’re going to be expecting us after midnight, since that’s the time we’ve planned. No one’s expecting us to come in right after dusk.”

“For very good reason,” she said, handing the binoculars back to him. “There’s no way we’re getting to that service entrance without being seen. Even the woman pushing that baby carriage is getting the once-over.”

He took another look, seeing the woman and carriage passing the main gate. The guards watched her for a few moments as she stopped to adjust something inside the carriage. When she moved on, their attention shifted back to their surroundings. “I have an idea,” he said.

—

BY THE TIME Sam and Remi returned to the street, the golden sunset was fading into the shadows of twilight, bringing with it a gentle wind that stirred and rattled the dry leaves in the gutter. The only other sound was the soft squeak of the blue baby carriage that Sam pushed as Remi walked alongside him, her arm linked through his. She leaned down to adjust the downy white blanket over Sam’s backpack. “Sleeping like an angel,” she said.

“If it starts crying, it’s because we paid way too much for this thing. Two hundred euros? It looks well used to me.”

“Imagine how much it would’ve been new,” she said. “It’s a top-of-the-line perambulator.”

“That’s what they call these things?” He lifted his hands from the handle momentarily.

She laughed. “You realize that if you push this like you’re allergic to the thing, no one’s going to believe we’re new parents.”