Holy shit. I don’t want to ruin this unique piece of capitalism and swear to do whatever is necessary to keep thissecret hidden.
“Thank you.” My words get stuck in my throat. Without brave men like him, I would be lost.
He shrugs. “Is no big deal.”
As he speaks, a group of Belarusian troopers approaches, and the leader calls out. “Prypynak.”
I have limited knowledge of the language. Nevertheless, they clearly want us to stop. Reaching behind my back, I finger the pistol shoved in my pants’ waistband. We could overtake the small force, but it would blow our groove, and possibly cause us to abort the mission.
“Saynyet. I talk.” Dominykas walks right up to the lead soldier, shakes his hand jovially, and then hands him a stack of bills.
Chapter 20
“Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” ~German Proverb
Gwen
Honey-buns, you are so fucked.My shoulder angel’s negativity makes me wish, just this once, I could shut her down.
The soft breeze that caresses the sun-speckled vegetation should be inviting. Instead, I shake as I stand with the other passengers on the weathered airstrip. In the shade of a thick canopy of maple trees we watch the captain taxi Ledbetter’s Lear jet under a camouflaged hanger.
After four-legged robots pull green plastic netting over the runway's length, we turn toward an engine’s whine. Anticipating our ride’s arrival, the five thugs, Ledbetter, and the pilot grab their bags. Finally, an airport limo exits the Grimms Brothers’ woods.
As I am about to hop in the back, my abductor clamps onto my upper arm. “Should you try to run, the local authorities will catch you. They will have no qualms about raping you before they hand you over to the Russians.”
No wonder the FBI hasn’t been able to arrest my new employer. He’s in Putin’s back pocket.
If he thinks his bullying can scare me, he is in for a massive surprise. Reaching deep, I pull out my project manager's no-nonsense voice. “I came here of my own free will. Before I begin my research, I need to verify my husband received your video.”
He drags his focus away from his phone screen and shows me a newspaper headline.Charges Dropped. Wulf Released.
Relief whooshes out my lungs, and as I climb into the vehicle, I pat myself on the back. The only thing left to do is capture the arms dealer and escape.
Piece of cake.
Five minutes later, we exit the thick forest and stop at an enormous iron gate surrounded by a six-foot stone, barb-wire-topped fence. For a moment, I fear my liberators will be unable to scale the heights. The obvious solution would be for me to open the entryway, but how?
As I ponder this dilemma, the driver winds between well-manicured trees and a maze of lush gardens where exotic birds squawk. At a hilltop, we pass an eighteenth-century immense mansion complete with carriage house.
Behind these cheerful edifices lies a windowless, one-story cement building, reminiscent of a bomb shelter. Cameras on poles point at the rusty, double-hinged door.
Exiting the limo, Ledbetter walks me to a security panel to the right of the entrance. “Put your eye to the glass center.”
Nose squished on the cold, musty wall, I focus on an inner red light. After it flashes, electronics beep.
Smiling, my reptilian captor types into the numbered keypad. When done, solenoids click, the massive metal opens, and in front of me stands a grim-faced gray-haired woman wearing a colorful babushka and a black knit dress.
“I'll leave you to it.” When the terrorist turns on his heels, I almost run after him.
Surely, he isn’t going to abandon me here. Where is my team? My laptop? The specifications? The last person’s project plan?
The Russian grandmother utters three words in a foreign language while I begin to panic.
As I drop my jaw to say I don’t understand, an artificial voice translates from a speaker overhead. “Follow me.”
Reciting the periodic table under my breath, I traipse over the dull brown linoleum tiles, lit by harsh fluorescent lights. Every ten feet or so, I pass an office door where zombie-faced people stare at their screens.
“This is your lab.” The gloomy scarf lady shuffles away after the AI device speaks her words.
