“As I said, we’ve lost contact.”
“What the fuck?” Razor paced from one side of his office to the other. The Gunner standing in front of him looked like the man he’d known more than half his life, but he sure as hell didn’t sound like him.
“Wait a minute. Seattle? I thought they were in San Francisco. Gunner, what aren’t you saying?”
This conversation and the one he’d just had with Ava—if anyone could call it a conversation—were so far out of left field, he wondered if this was just a long, strange-ass dream.
“I should’ve acted sooner.”
“What does that mean?”
“I received intelligence I didn’t believe was credible.”
“Goddammit, Gunner. Quit making me ask questions.”
“There’s chatter about Petrov. We aren’t the only ones who want to bring him down.”
“Who else?”
“The Armenians.”
That made sense. Petrov was Azerbaijani, and there was no greater enemy to his people. Tensions had escalated in the early part of this century when it was reported that a prominent Azerbaijan politician met with a municipal delegation from Bavaria, Germany, and stated that their goal was complete elimination of Armenians is the same way the Nazis had eliminated the Jews. Naturally, the German delegation had called for the immediate removal of the politician from their meeting; however, the message communicated couldn’t have been more clear.
“You think the Armenians may have taken the three women?”
Gunner nodded. “The source, it appears, is more credible than I initially believed.”
“Who’s the source?”
“Raketa Ivashov.”
“I understand why you questioned her report. What is her involvement?”
“What is her stated involvement?”
Razor nodded.
“She owed us one.”
Gunner had saved the life of one of United Russia’s most lethal agents a few months back, on one of K19’s most complicated missions—the same one during which Gunner had been forced to take down Lena when she’d threatened to kill Doc.
“Does she know their intent?”
“She believes they intended to snatch Ava, but got the wrong twin.”
Fuck. “Does she know where the Armenians are taking them?”
“Yes, she says she does. That’s why Striker is headed to Seattle.”
“Where is she now, Gunner?”
“Also on her way to Washington.”
“Working with?”
“She’s a free agent, and yeah, she wants to work with us.”
Razor took a seat, and processed through everything Gunner had just told him.