“January is coming soon,” the second one said.
“Too soon. There is too much to do. If we kill Robinson and need to find another source for weapons, there may not be time. Lvov will not be pleased.”
Lvov?
Sarah caught her breath.
Good thing there was no way they could hear her over the screaming buzz of the turboprop engines just feet away from their heads on the wing.
Vladimir Lvov was the President of Russia.
They didn’t meanthatLvov, right?
Surely they weren’t plotting to overthrow Vladimir Lvov. He was known to be anastyguy who sent political rivals to prison where they “died unexpectedly,” and he invaded other countries to be in the Russian history books as expanding their conquered territory to the old Soviet Union borders.
The other guy said, “That was very bad time, when Babanin fell out of the window. It is bad to lose a commander. I did not like the new rules afterward.”
“None of us did. Africa is too hot this time of year.”
“Too hot any time of year. Lvov should ship us the weapons. Finding an American source is a pain in the ass.”
But if the mercenary wanted Vladimir Lvov to ship him the weapons, then the coup couldn’t be to overthrowhim.
“Lvov cannot be seen to have a hand in this, which is why Koch Group and White Russians are handling the logistics. Lvov only wants to install a meat puppet government, not start World War Three.”
So Lvovcontrolledthe mercenaries, so they couldn’t be against him.
“A mob takeover didn’t work last time,” the other mercenary said.
“White Russian Bratva was not involved last time, just amateurs. Dr. Bell is a professional.”
“Bah, just a woman.”
Sarah didn’t like that Russian guy talking about her aunt like that.
The Nemesis said, “Dr. Bell is formidable. After a bloodbath between them and the Philly Mob, she broke up Chekhovskaya bratva and installed her man as head of Genovese crime family. Dr. Bell has computer hacker who will hack US government communications.”
Wait, the US government? What the heck!
The other guy said, “Italian mafia criminals won’t help us. They’re Italian. They don’t even let someone whose ancestors aren’t from theircityin Italy into their organization, let alone become Vor. That’s why bratvas are outcompeting them.”
“The Italian mafia will beourpeople in the crowd. We will need only fifty or so of the useful-idiot fat Americans as camouflage for our professionals. This time, we’ll take itall.”
“And then?” the other guy asked.
“And then Lvov will tell us to assassinate Dr. Bell. Can’t have someone so disloyal to one’s superiors in charge. Sets bad precedent. She will be taken down, then one of Lvov’sloyalstaff installed as head of her operation.”
“White Russians will never follow an outsider. You saw them. Her nephew is her second, and he has installed his school friends as his lieutenants.”
“School friends?Bah.What are school friends?” the other guy spat.
“Supposedly, Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton, and the battle for democracy in United States will be won or lost in the dormitories of Le Rosey boarding school. Thus, we make sure we can control all four of them, or we kill them.”
“They will not follow an outsider.”
“The nephew, Logan Bell, met Vladimir Lvov many times when he visited friends’ dachas for school breaks, I have heard say. Lvov likes him. Lvov feels comfortable with him as head of White Russian bratva,” Nemesis mused.
“Always these connections. All that matters in this world is billionaires giving jobs to their friends.”
