Private Moscow (Private 15)

“Make up your minds,” Leonid slurred as he staggered into the corridor. “Your room or hers.”

I took my hands away, and Dinara backed up.

“I’m going to ignore that because we owe you our lives,” she said.

“Too right,” he replied, passing between us.

“Shouldn’t you be on a stakeout?” I asked.

“I have my underlings watching Utkin,” he replied. “A chief doesn’t work the night shift. Goodnight to you both,” he said.

He stepped inside his room and shut his door, and Dinara and I stood there eying each other for a moment. I realized I was caught up in the emotions of what had happened and my professional judgment was in danger of being swept away on a tide of vodka.

“I’d better …” I said, taking a step back.

“Me too,” Dinara agreed.

She crossed the corridor.

“Goodnight,” she said, and she went into her room and quickly shut the door.

I did likewise, and collapsed on my bed, laces tied, clothes on. Within moments, I was deep asleep.

CHAPTER 60

MY PHONE WOKE me from a dreamless sleep at 9:15 the next morning. My eyes were raw and my head pounded. My arms ached from having been suspended in a stress position, and I winced as I answered the call.

“Jack?” Justine said.

“Yeah,” I croaked. “What time is it there?”

“Quarter past two in the morning. We’re working round the clock,” she replied.

I rubbed my face and sat up.

“What’s been happening over there?” Justine asked. “I couldn’t get hold of anyone.”

I should have told her about my abduction by Veles, but I didn’t want her to worry.

“We’re following up some leads,” I replied blandly. “We caught a name: Veles. Probably Spetsnaz or Russian intelligence. Can you ask Mo to run an alias search? See what it flags up.”

“Will do,” she said. “I’ve sent Dinara everything we could get on Ernie Fisher, Robert Carlyle, Karl Parker and Elizabeth Connor. Personnel records, school transcripts, service histories.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you with her?” Justine asked.

It was a loaded question, and after the events of the previous night, I just couldn’t face it head on.

“Not right now, no,” I replied. “Anything else?”

There was a pause.

“No,” she replied at last.

“Stay in touch,” I said, before hanging up.

Twenty minutes later, I’d showered and got dressed, and, feeling a little more human, left my room and knocked on Dinara’s door. There was no answer, so I tried Leonid’s, but his room was also silent.