“I don’t know,” JD said. “Do you have a preference?”
“Not necessarily,” Viktor said. “I encourage you to take them with you when you leave and spend an hour or two deciding at your leisure. As I said, you can then let Alexei know, and we’ll go from there.”
“Okay, fine,” JD said.
Viktor leaned forward once again and sent this larger bundle of papers sliding over in JD’s direction. JD reached out and pulled it over to himself, glancing at the one on top. It was a lecture about discipline, and he inwardly groaned. He couldn’t imagine he would find it interesting and doubted if any of the other Diehard Patriots would, yet what did he know?
“Okay,” Alexei said. “Very good work, everyone. Excellent job! Now it’s time for some fun. How about that swim we talked about, JD? We have a first-rate diving board. Are you a diver by any chance?”
“No, never,” JD admitted. “I’m not much of a swimmer to be honest. Lake water always seems so damn cold to me.”
“Not a problem,” Alexei said, suddenly feeling nervous. He glanced briefly at Viktor and could easily guess what the commander was thinking about all the Diehard Patriots before Alexei returned his attention back to JD. “The water here at our lake is really warm,” he said encouragingly, “especially along the surface where we swim. And today couldn’t be a better day for swimming. As you could tell when you were outside, the weather is perfect. It must be almost thirty degrees—I mean, eighty-five degrees.” He laughed at himself as he slid off his barstool for using Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. “Can I offer you another beer?”
“No, this was plenty,” JD said, waving off Alexei’s offer as he got to his feet. Building his courage, he looked across the island at the others and asked: “Will any of you be joining us for a swim? How about you, Commander?”
Viktor’s response was to glance immediately over at Alexei while raising his eyebrows questioningly. Alexei subtly but rapidly nodded several times, hoping that Viktor would get the hint to agree to the swim idea as Alexei was convinced that if Viktor did, JD would drop any and all hesitancy. The problem was that if JD were to turn down swimming, there’d be a crisis as they wouldn’t be able to allow JD’s swimsuit off the premises. Using the swimsuit for the Novichok rather than underwear had been a last-minute decision by Alexei when he put JD’s trunks in the changing room.
“Yes, I believe I will come for a swim,” Viktor said, taking the cue from Alexei despite not understanding why. “But I have something I must do first. You and Alexei head out, and I’ll meet you down at the dock.”
“Terrific,” JD said sincerely. The prospect of shared leisure time gave him a reassuring sense of acceptance by these legitimate militiamen.
“Terrific!” Alexei repeated, much relieved. He had no idea what he would have done had JD refused to take a swim. “Follow me! The changing rooms are down a level.” Waving over his shoulder, he led JD first out into the main hallway and then behind the grand staircase where there was an open stair down to the basement level. After passing through the monstrous game room with its Ping-Pong, pool, and billiards tables and then down a short hallway, Alexei directed JD into the men’s changing room.
“This house is something else,” JD said as he entered and glanced around at the profusion of polished mahogany lockers. To his right at the rear of the room was an alcove with a washer and dryer and an open cabinet full of beach towels. At the far end of the room was a glazed door with five stone steps visible outside leading up to the lawn level. Running down the center of the room was a bench with JD’s bathing suit meticulously laid out approximately midway. As JD came abreast of it, he noticed that even the drawstrings were nestled together, causing him to silently marvel. His possessions had never been treated with such respect and attention.
“Choose a locker and get changed,” Alexei directed. “I’ve got to get my bathing suit out of the dryer.”
JD made quick work of his clothes and pulled on his bathing suit, cinching up the drawstrings. He then arranged his clothes in one of the lockers. He was aware of Alexei doing the same. When JD was finished, he glanced over at Alexei who was nearly ready.
“Do you think the commander is still planning on swimming?” JD asked. For him it was going to make a big difference if the man changed his mind and didn’t show up.
“He said he was,” Alexei said as he put his things in a locker and closed the door. “But his not being here means nothing. He doesn’tuse the changing room. He prefers to keep his bathing suit in his bathroom.” Alexei shrugged as if it was something he didn’t understand.
“I hope he joins us,” JD said simply.
“Are you ready?” Alexei questioned to change the subject.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” JD said.
Alexei waved before guiding the way to the door leading outside. JD followed a few steps but then paused. Alexei opened the door and stepped to the side for JD to precede him. That was when he noticed that JD had stopped. Not only had he stopped but he had a peculiar expression on his face as if he was baffled about something, something serious.
“What’s up?” Alexei asked.
“I feel strange, very strange all over,” JD managed with some effort, bringing his right hand up to his mouth and pressing the palm side of his fingers tightly against his lips. “And my mouth is watering suddenly, like a lot, and the room has gone dim. What happened? Is there something weird with the lights?”
“The lights haven’t changed,” Alexei said. He quickly reclosed the outer door and stepped back to face JD. That was when he saw the first spasms starting on JD’s thighs and abdomen and then spreading rapidly up into his chest and upper arms and even into his cheeks, distorting his face.
In the next instant the man began to profusely sweat and his pupils had shrunk down to become mere black dots. And then most distressing of all, JD began to scream in agony, clutching at the base of his throat before reaching out with both hands and grabbing Alexei’s upper arm in a death grip.
Chapter 23
Friday, July 25, 2:55p.m.
Bennet Estate
Hamilton County, New York
“It was terrible,” Alexei said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I had no idea that Novichok had that kind of effect on a person. I just assumed they passed out, and that was it. But, oh no, it was more like torture.” He shuddered yet again as the image of JD’s death struggles replayed in his mind.
