Phoenix Rising: (38 page)

“I haven't been using Russian much, lately,” Bryan said. “If you don't mind, I'm going to read this aloud, and you tell me if I have it correct.”

“All right,” Mironov agreed.

Bryan cleared his throat, then began to read aloud. “Army Officer Commits Suicide. Colonel Vladimir Shaporin, commanding officer of the Tenth Battalion of the Tamanskya Division, was found dead in his quarters this morning, the victim of a suicide. Although Shaporin left no note, it is believed that he was remorseful over his belief that he had lost some nuclear warheads that were in his charge—that belief stemming from an antiquated method of record keeping. It is well known that Colonel Shaporin did not trust the computer accounting system, as he had complained of it to his superiors.

“The sad irony is, Colonel Shaporin did not lose the warheads. They are safely accounted for, and had Shaporin shown a bit more patience, he could have easily been shown that his worry was for naught.”

Bryan looked up at Mironov. “Did I get it right?”

“Yes.”

“Aleks, I get the idea that you wouldn't be bringing this article to me unless you believed that these five warheads really are missing.”

Mironov nodded. “Vladimir Shaporin was my nephew. I don't have the slightest doubt but that he was murdered. And he was murdered because he knew that the warheads were missing.”

“What happened to them?”

“I think they were sold on the black market.”

“To who? Someone in the Middle East?”

Mironov shook his head. “To an American.”

“Good heavens, you mean the states that have broken away? They bought them?”

“No. To
an
American. One man, representing only himself.”

“Who is it? What's his name?”

“I've told you as much as I know. But I have contacted someone in Russia who can help. He wants to meet with Chris Carmack.”

“Chris Carmack? Why would he want to meet with Carmack? I'm not even sure he is still alive. And if he is alive, I have no idea where to find him.”