rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第12章

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r　sister's　grave；　she　still　believed　that　he　could　have　done　something　to　save　her。
　Randi　brushed　away　that　last　thought　and　turned　to　Smith。
　〃It'll　take　a　little　while　to　set　up　the　meeting　with　Kirov。　Would　you　like　to　meet　for　a　drink　later？〃
　〃Very　much。〃
　They　settled　on　the　lounge　in　the　Sheraton；　after　Randi　had　closed　up　the　office。
　〃What　exactly　is　Bay　Digital？〃　Smith　asked。　〃And　what　do　you　do　here？〃
　〃You　mean　the　people　who　sent　you　didn't　mention　that？〃　Randi　smiled。　〃Jon；　I'm　shocked。　I　happen　to　be　the　Moscow　office　manager　of　a　very　successful　venture…capital　firm　looking　to　invest　in　promising　Russian'　high…tech　startups。〃
　〃Except　the　funding　doesn't　e　from　private　investors　or　hedge　funds；〃　Smith　said。
　〃Be　that　as　it　may；　anyone　with　money　can　open　all　doors　in　Russia。　I　have　contacts　that　range　from　the　Kremlin；　through　the　army；　and　even　into　the　Russian　mafia。〃
　〃I　always　said　you　had　friends　in　low　places。　And　is　there　such　a　thing　as　high…tech　in　this　country？〃
　〃Better　believe　it。　The　Russians　don't　have　our　equipment；　but　give　them　the　right　tools　and　they　shine。〃　She　touched　his　arm。　〃It　really　is　good　to　see　you　again；　Jon…　whatever　your　reasons　for　being　here。　Is　there　anything　you　need　right　now？〃
　Smith　pictured　Danko's　widow　and　child。　〃Tell　me　what　Russians　bring　when　they　call　on　a　woman　who's　just　lost　her　husband…　and　doesn't　know　it　yet。〃
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHT
　　
　At　7：36　A。M。　Houston　time；　Dr。　Adam　Treloar　boarded　a　British　Airways　flight　for　its　nonstop　run　over　the　Pole　to　London's　Heathrow　Airport。　Upon　arrival；　he　was　escorted　to　the　transit　lounge　where；　as　a　first…class　passenger；　he　availed　himself　of　the　services　of　a　masseuse。　After　a　quick　shower；　Treloar　picked　up　his　freshly　pressed　suit　from　a　valet　and　headed　for　gate　sixty…eight；　where　he　was　shown　into　the　forward　cabin　of　another　BA　flight；　this　one　to　Moscow。　Twenty…eight　hours　after　he　had　started　his　Journey；　Treloar　cleared　Russian　customs　and　immigration　without　incident。
　Treloar　adhered　strictly　to　the　itinerary　that　he　and　Reed　had　worked　out。　After　a　taxi　dropped　him　off　at　the　new　Hotel　Nikko　across　the　river　from　the　Kremlin；　Treloar　registered；　then　gave　the　porter　an　extravagant　tip　to　bring　the　bags　up　to　his　room。　Next；　he　exited　the　hotel　and　hailed　another　taxi。　which　took　him　to　the　cemetery　on　Mychalczuk　Prospekt。　The　old　woman　selling　flowers　by　the　entrance　was　astonished　to　receive　twenty　American　dollars　for　a　bouquet　of　wilted　daisies　and　sunflowers。　Treloar　proceeded　to　a　stretch　of　relatively　new　graves　laid　out　under　a　stand　of　birch　trees。　He　placed　the　flowers　at　the　foot　of　a　distinctive　Orthodox　cross　that　memorated　the　final　resting　place　of　his　mother；　Helen　Treloar；　nee　Helena　Sviatoslava　Bunin。
　FBI　background　investigators　had　duly　noted　that　Treloar's　mother　had　been　born　in　Russia　when　Treloar　had　applied　for　the　post　of　chief　medical　officer。　But　no　red　flags　went　up。　peting　for　medical　talent　against　the　private　sector；　NASA　was　only　too　happy　to　land　an　expert　like　Adam　Treloar；　who　came　to　the　agency　after　fifteen　years　with　Bauer…Zermatt　A。G。　No　one　asked　why　Treloar　had　given　up　his　seniority　at　such　a　prestigious　firm　or　why　he　had　accepted　a　20　percent　pay　cut。　Instead；　the　space　agency　had　handed　over　Treloar's　impeccable　credentials　and　glowing　references　and　told　the　Bureau　to　fast…track　the　background　check。
　With　the　end　of　the　Cold　War；　travel　to　Russia　had　bee　easier　than　ever。　Thousands　of　Americans　went　to　visit　relatives　whom；　in　many　cases；　they　had　seen　only　in　photographs。　Adam　Treloar　went　back；　too；　to　visit　his　mother　after　her　divorce　and　return　to　her　native　Moscow。　For　the　next　three　years；　he　flew　in　every　spring　to　spend　a　week　with　her。
　Two　years　ago；　Treloar　had　informed　his　superiors　at　NASA　that　his　mother　had　terminal　cancer。　They　miserated　and　told　him　he　could　have　as　much　personal　leave　as　he　needed。　The　dutiful　son　increased　his　visits　to　three　a　year。　Then；　last　fall；　when　Helena　Bunin　at　last　succumbed；　he　went　back　for　an　entire　month；　ostensibly　to　settle　her　affairs。
　Treloar　was　certain　that　the　FBI　was　keeping　track　of　his　visits　to　Moscow。　But　he　also　knew　that；　like　any　bureaucracy；　it　was　content　as　long　as　it　recognized　a　pattern；　and　that　pattern　did　not　change。　Over　the　years；　Treloar　had　created　just　such　a　pattern；　altering　it　only　when　he　had　a　foolproof　reason　to　do　so。　Since　this　was　the　six…month　anniversary　of　his　mother's　death；　it　would　have　seemed　out　of　place　if　he　hadn't　gone　to　visit　her　grave。
　During　the　taxi　ride　back　to　his　hotel；　Treloar　reviewed　what　he　had　done。　The　cabdriver　from　the　airport；　the　porter　at　the　hotel；　the　old　woman　at　the　cemetery；　the　other　cabdrivers…　all　would　remember　him　because　of　the　generous　tips。　If　anyone　came　checking；　the　pattern　of　his　visit　was　clear。　Now　it　would　seem　natural　to　rest　for　a　few　days　in　Moscow　before　heading　back。　Except　that　the　NASA　physician　had　more　on　his　agenda　than　sightseeing。
　Treloar　retired　to　his　room　and　slept　for　several　hours。　By　the　time　he　awoke；　darkness　had　descended　over　the　city。　He　showered；　shaved；　put　on　a　fresh　suit；　and；　bundled　up　in　a　warm　overcoat；　went　out　into　the　night。
　The　thoughts　came　unbidden　as　he　walked。　As　much　as　they　rankled　him；　he　could　never　make　them　go　away。　So　he　surrendered；　allowing　them　to　wash　over　him；　breathing　shallowly　until　they　were　spent。
　Adam　Treloar　believed　himself　to　be　marked　as　Cain　had　been　marked。　He　was　cursed　by　terrible　desires　that　he　could　neither　control　nor　escape　from。　They　were　the　reason　why　he　had　bargained　away　his　career　at　Bauer…Zermatt。
　In　another　lifetime；　Treloar　had　been　the　star　of　Bauer…Zermatt's　virology　division；　preening　in　the　respect　of　his　peers　and　the　adulation　of　his　subordinates…　one　subordinate　in　particular；　a　sloe…eyed　fawn　so　beautiful　that　Treloar　had　found　the　temptation　irresistible。　But　the　fawn　had　turned　out　to　be　a　goat；　tethered　to　one　of　Bauer…Zermatt's　petitors。　The　goat　was　meant　to　snare　the　unwary　suitor；　promise　him；　and　force　him　to　bend　to　the　petitor's　will。
　Treloar　had　never　seen　the　trap；　he'd　only　had　eyes　for　the　fawn。　But　he　saw　plenty；　later；　when　men　arrived　at　his　apartment　and　played　sex　tapes　in　which　he　had　a　starring　role。　They　offered　a　cold　choice：　exposure　or　cooperation。　Because　of　the　proprietary　nature　of　Bauer…Zermatt's　research；　every　employee　had　to　sign　a　strictly　worded　contract　whose　provisions　included　a　morals　clause。　Treloar's　tormenters　made　a　point　of　reminding　him　about　that　as　they　replayed　the　video。　They　drove　him　to　face　the　fact　that　his　options　were　few：　hand　over　information　about　the　pany's　research；　or　face　exposure。　Of　course；　exposure　would　not　be　the　end　of　it。　Public　branding　as　a　deviant　would　follow。　Then；　after　all　the　publicity；　the　civil…　and　probably　criminal…　charges；　it　would　be　futile　for　him　to　try　to　find　another　job　anywhere　in　the　medical　research　munity。
　Treloar　was　given　forty…eight　hours　to　consider　his　choices。　He　wasted　the　first　twenty…four　doing　just　that。　Then；　as　he　looked　into　a　future　that　held　nothing　but　ruins；　he　realized　that　his　blackmailers　had　overreached：　they　had　placed　him　in　a　position　where　he　had　nothing　to　lose　by　fighting　back。
　By　virtue　of　his　seniority　at　Bauer…Zermatt；　Treloar　was　able　to　secure　a　meeting　with　Dr。　Karl　Bauer　himself。　In　the　elegant　surroundings　of　Bauer's　Zurich　office；　he　laid　out　his　trespasses　and　the　way　in　which　he　was　being　blackmailed。　He　offered　to　make　amends　any　way　he　could。
　To　Treloar's　surprise；　Bauer　seemed　nonplussed　at　the　turn　of　events　that　had　befallen　his　wayward　employee。　He　listened　without　ment；　then　instructed　Treloar　to　e　back　the　next　morning。
　To　this　day；　Treloar　had　no　idea　what　had　transpired　behind　the　scenes。　The　following　morning；　when　he　appeared　before　Bauer；　he　was　told　that　he　would　never　hear　from　the　blackmailers　again。　Evidence　of　his　peccadilloes　was　no　longer　in　the　public　domain。　There　would　be　no　repercussions…　ever。
　But　there　would　be　repense。　Bauer　informed　Treloar　that　in　return　for　saving　his　future　in　the　medical　research　munity；　Treloar　would　soon　leave　the　pany。　An　employment　offer　would　arrive　from　NASA；　he　would　accept　it。　His　colleagues　would　be　told　that　he　was　seizing　the　chance　to　do　the　kind　of　research　he　could　never　be　involved　in　if　he　stayed　at　Bauer…Zermatt。　Once　he　arrived　at　NASA；　he　would　place　himself　at　the　disposal　of　Dr。　Dylan　Reed。　Reed　would　be　his　guide　and　mentor；　and　Treloar　would　obey　him　without　question。
　Treloar　recalled　the　cold；　precise　way　in　which　Bauer　had　handed　down　his　edict。　He　remembered　the　flash　of　anger；　then　the　amusement　in　Bauer's　eyes　when　Treloar　had　timorously　asked　what　kind　of　research　he　would　be　doing　at　NASA。
　〃Your　work　will　be　of　secondary　concern；〃　Bauer　had　told　him。　〃It　is　your　connection　to　your　mother；　to　Russia；　that　interests　me。　You　will　be　seeing　her　on　a　regular　basis；　I　think。〃
　Treloar　shouldered　his　way　against　the　wind　as　he　turned　away　from　the　bright　lights　of　Gorky　Square　and　into　the　dark　streets　that　led　into　the　Sadovaya　District。　The　bars　became　seedier；　the　homeless　and　the　drunks　more　aggressive。　But　this　was　not　Treloar's　first　visit　to　Sadovaya；　and　he　was　not　afraid。
　Half　a　block　away；　he　saw　the　familiar　flashing　neon　sign：　KROKODIL。　A　moment　later；　he　rapped　on　the　heavy　door　and　waited　for　the　Judas　hole　to　open。　A　pair　of　black；　suspicious　eyes　examined　him；　then　the　bolt　was　released　and　the　door　opened。　On　his　way　in；　Treloar　gave　the　giant　Mongolian　bouncer　a　twenty…dollar　bill　for　the　cover　charge。
　Shrugging　off　his　coat；　Treloar　felt　the　last　of　his　thoughts　dissolve　beneath　the　hot　lights　and　the　screaming　music。　Faces　turned　his　way；　eyes　impressed　by　his　Western　suit。　Gyrating　bodies　bumped　him；　more　by　design　than　by　accident。　The　manager；　a　thin；　ferretlike　creature；　hurried　over　to　greet　his　foreign　customer。　Within　seconds；　Treloar　had　a　glass　of　vodka　in　his　hand　and　was　being　escorted　along　the　edge　of　the　dance　floor　to　a　private　area　of　velvet…covered　couches　and　soft　ottomans。
　He　sighed　as　he　relaxed　among　the　cushions。　The　warmth　of　the　liquor　made　his　fingertips　tingle。
　〃Shall　I　fetch　you　a　sample？〃　the　ferret　whispered。
　Treloar　nodded　happily。　To　pass　the　time；　he　closed　his　eyes　and　let　the　music　roar　through　him。　He　stirred　when　something　soft　grazed　his　cheek。
　Standing　in　front　of　him　were　two　blond…haired　boys；　their　eyes　a　perfect　blue；　their　plexions　flawless。　They　could　not　have　been　more　than　ten　years　old。
　〃Twins？〃
　The　ferret　nodded。　〃And　better；　virgins。〃
　Treloar　groaned。
　〃But　they　are　very　expensive；〃　the　ferret　warned　him。
　〃Never　mind　that；〃　Treloar　said　hoarsely。　〃Bring　us　some　zakuski。　And　soft　drinks　for　my　angels。〃
　He　patted　the　cushions　on　either　side　of　him。　〃e　to　me；　my　angels。　Give　me　a　taste　of　heaven。。。。〃
　
　Six　kilometers　from　the　Krokodil　are　the　three　high…rises　known　collectively　as　Dzerzhinsky　Square。　Until　the　early　1990s；　it　had　been　the　headquarters　of　the　munist　KGB；　after　democratization；　the　plex　was　taken　over　by　the　newly　formed　Russian　Federal　Security　Service。
　Major…gen