Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Harvath's eyes flicked to Nicholas's Caucasian Ovcharkas. The dogs were incredibly intuitive. When it came to reading people, especially people intent on doing their owner harm, Argos and Draco were unparalleled. If there was going to be any kind of trouble, they would pick up on it first.

But while keenly alert and practically glued to the little man's sides, the dogs didn't seem unduly concerned. Harvath took that as a good sign.

"I didn't know you two knew each other," Harvath said.

"I could say the same to you," Grechko responded.

"Leonid used to be one of my best customers," Nicholas stated. "Absolute VIP status."

The Russian grinned. "Though not always willingly. In fact, I can't count the amount of our highly classified intelligence that you stole, which we were forced to buy back."

The little man smiled in return. "Like I said, you were one of my best customers."

"Then, one day, you vanished. We all assumed," Grechko continued, before stopping himself. "No, we all hoped that you were dead."

"As you can see, I'm alive and well."

"And working for the Americans."

"Working with, " Nicholas clarified, giving his dogs a command. In unison, Argos and Draco both laid down at his feet.

"It would appear we're both on the same side now."

"Let's see how long it lasts."

"You don't trust me?" Grechko asked.

"Trust has to be earned."

"Do your American colleagues trust you? Are they aware of your past?"

"Yes, on both counts," Harvath stated. "He has been an incredible asset."

"Interesting," Grechko remarked.

Eager to get to work, Harvath gestured toward the interior of the villa. "Shall we head in?"

While Haney showed Grechko to his room, Harvath and S?lvi stopped to say hello to Nicholas and the dogs.

After Nicholas and S?lvi had hugged, the dogs had been petted, and Harvath had shaken hands with his friend, Harvath asked, "How are Nina and the baby?"

"Nina is great and the baby is perfect," the little man responded. "We just got the rest of the genetic testing back. Healthy as a horse."

"That's wonderful news," said S?lvi.

"Congratulations," said Harvath. "I told you everything was going to be okay."

"Yes, you did," the little man replied. "Multiple times."

As someone with primordial dwarfism, one of Nicholas's greatest fears had been that he would pass down the malady and that his baby would be forced to endure the same fate. Harvath, while not an expert in genetics, had read enough to know that unless Nina was predisposed, the baby was going to be fine. He had done the best he could to keep his friend focused on the odds being in the baby's favor. It was a relief to now know that everything was okay.

"We'll have to celebrate tonight," Harvath stated. "Do we have any champagne in the house?"

"We're not getting the champagne out yet," a voice from deeper inside the villa said.

Harvath looked past Nicholas to see ex–Delta Force operative, and the team's de facto medic, Tyler Staelin entering from the veranda.

"Why not?" Harvath asked, as he greeted his teammate.

"Nicholas didn't tell you?"

"Tell us what? We just got here."

"The operation has to be carried out tonight."

"What part of it?"

" All of it," said Staelin.

"You've got to be kidding me," Harvath replied as he turned to look at Nicholas. "He's joking, right?"

The little man shook his head. "We've intercepted some of Tsybulsky's communications. He's packing up and heading back to Russia."

"Good. Without him around, our job with Inessa will be that much easier."

"She's going with him."

"What the hell are they headed back for?"

Nicholas shrugged. "It's something to do with Peshkov and his place on the Black Sea."

"Who trades the South of France for the Black Sea?"

"When the president of Russia summons you? Arkady Tsybulsky does."

"How much time do we have?" Harvath asked.

"Tsybulsky's jet is scheduled to leave tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning?"

"Yup."

"Fuck."

"Not the first word that came to my mind," the little man replied, "but it aptly sums things up."

Harvath shook his head. He needed days, not hours, to properly put together and pull something like this off. If there was one thing he was certain of, it was that tight timelines jacked the danger factor through the roof.

If this were a hostage situation, which it wasn't, a race against the clock would be baked in. Instead it was this bizarre three-legged race. Grechko had to get close enough to Inessa to make his pitch, then—if she agreed—she had to be extracted, after which Harvath had to make Tsybulsky believe that she was dead so that he didn't expend his vast fortune and close relationship with the Kremlin searching for her.

Impossible wasn't a word Harvath allowed himself to entertain. At this moment, however, it sure seemed to be the only word that applied.

"Listen," Nicholas continued, sensing Harvath's trepidation. "Palmer and Ashby will be back in about a half hour. We should know more then. Why don't you get cleaned up. There's fresh clothes in your room. Tyler can show you and S?lvi the way. We'll do a team meeting in forty-five minutes and go through our options. Sound good?"

None of it sounded good to Harvath. Nevertheless, he nodded. Then he and S?lvi followed Tyler upstairs. Already his brain was spinning, trying to come up with solutions.