Broken Together (21 page)

She
nodded before lifting the handset on her desk. “Ms. Stone is here to see you,
sir.”

“Do
you mind if I join you?” Jase asked. “I’d like to hear what he thinks of this
plan.”

“The
Senator doesn’t know you, you’re kind of intimidating, and I’m worried that
could impact his willingness to get involved.” This was the very same argument
I’d presented to Maxim and Konstantin. I felt my odds of winning the Senator
over were better if I approached him alone.

He
handed me the sushi.

Jamie
opened the Senator’s door. “Good luck,” she whispered for my ears only.

I
took a deep breath before approaching his desk. Senator Rockefeller was one of
the kindest but also one of the most intimidating men I knew. His position on
the Senate Finance Committee; the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs,
and Global Competitiveness; and the Select Committee on Intelligence rendered
him the single most influential congressman I could possibly recruit. This
rider would die without his support.

Senator
Rockefeller towered over his desk. “Kristine. What a pleasant surprise.” He clasped
my hand in his. “Let’s sit over here.” He motioned toward a group of chairs nestled
beneath a large ink wash painting. The painting depicted a whimsical Japanese
landscape.

“Thank
you so much for squeezing me in. I’ve missed eating at Yamato, so I stopped for
sushi on my way over. Would you like to eat while we visit or should I put this
in the refrigerator?” He had a small refrigerator in his office.

“We
should eat the sushi while it’s fresh.” He strode toward the refrigerator. “What
would you like to drink?”

I
pulled the soup and sushi containers from the bag. “Sprite, please.”

Senator
Rockefeller set two Sprites on top of the coffee table before settling into the
chair next to me. “I reviewed the issue brief you e-mailed to Jamie yesterday. Would
you mind explaining your interest in Ukraine?”

I
eased back into my seat. “I spent some time in Ukraine last June, teaching conflict
resolution at the Tavrida National Vernadsky University for Seeds for Peace. I
witnessed Russia’s meddling in Ukraine’s governance while I was there. I met
with Prime Minister Azarov. I know how much he and the Ukrainian people want to
end Putin’s stranglehold on them. The Odessa-Brody pipeline will enable them to
do so, but they need help funding the extension up to Plock, especially now
that Yanukovych has absconded with billions in public funds.”

He
sipped a spoonful of miso soup. “When you say you witnessed this meddling…”

Tears
threatened to fall. I blinked them back forcefully. “The SVR kidnapped me and a
colleague the day after Prime Minister Azarov offered me a job with their
ministry of foreign affairs. The SVR accused us of being spies. They injected
us with truth serum and tried to force a false confession by subjecting us to
electric-shock torture. They refused to release us until Prime Minister Azarov
and President Yanukovych agreed to extend the lease allowing the Russian naval
fleet to remain in Sevastopol. They were renegotiating the terms of that treaty
the day we were seized. We had to pay ten million dollars to secure our release
even though they signed the treaty.”

Senator
Rockefeller set his soup aside. “I’m sorry, Kristine. I didn’t know.”

I
nodded stiffly. “With the ousting of President Yanukovych and the upcoming elections,
we have a unique opportunity to improve human rights and human security in
Ukraine. Maxim Markov, the man nominated by The People’s Front, is the same man
who negotiated my release from the SVR. His entire family was killed by the
KGB. He wants to end these human rights violations, end Russia’s meddling in
their governance, improve democracy, strengthen civil liberties, lift his
people out of poverty, join NATO, and strengthen ties with the EU. This
pipeline will help him achieve those goals, but Ukraine is not the only country
that would benefit from this economic aid package.”

“This
pipeline would help reduce the EU’s reliance on Russian oil,” the Senator
observed.

“Precisely,”
I agreed. “If we can secure this alternative fuel source for the EU, we can
reduce their dependence on Russian fuel. This would limit Putin’s ability to
manipulate them in international politics.”

He
stirred wasabi into his soy sauce. “While this economic aid package clearly benefits
the EU and the United States, you’re going to have a difficult time securing funds
from Congress in this economic environment. I think you’d fare better with the
IMF, the European Investment Bank, or the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.”

“There’s
another potential benefit to the United States, which I didn’t mentioned in the
briefing,” I confessed.

He
arched a single eyebrow while savoring the sushi.

“Mr.
Markov has expressed an interest in allowing the United States to position the
missile defense shield we had planned for Poland in Ukraine. He’s meeting with
Secretary Gates this afternoon.”

The
Senator nearly choked on his food. “Mr. Markov is meeting with Secretary
Gates?”

I
slathered wasabi across the top of my sushi. “Kadyn arranged the meeting after
Maxim requested his assistance in securing their eastern border.”

“He’s
worried Putin will bomb the pipeline,” he noted astutely. “Do you think Mr.
Markov can win the election?”

“He’s
been working with Prime Minister Azarov for years. He’s highly respected. The
media treats him like a celebrity. He’s got the support of The People’s Front,
a pro-Western, anti-Russian, pro-democracy movement. These are the same people
who forced Yanukovych out of office. So, yes. I think he can win this election,
especially if he secures funding for the pipeline.”

“Seven
hundred eighty million dollars’ worth of economic aid wouldn’t be all that
unreasonable for a country willing to house our missile defense system,”
Senator Rockefeller mused. He pushed his lanky frame from the chair and strode
toward his desk. “What time did you say that meeting was?”

I
tried not to smile. “They’re meeting at the Mayflower Hotel at three o’clock.”

He
lifted the handset on his phone. “Jamie, clear my schedule for this afternoon,
secure a driver for two-thirty, and get Secretary Gates on the phone.” He
returned the handset before folding himself in the chair next to me. “I want to
know everything you know about Maxim Markov.”

My
heart plummeted. This was the part of our conversation I’d been dreading most. “Maxim
Markov saved my life. He also saved Kadyn’s life. He loathes Putin and
everything he stands for. He values democracy. He is fiercely protective and
loyal to the citizens of Ukraine, but…” I swallowed nervously, “he used to work
for the Russian mafia.”

Senator
Rockefeller’s disappointment was nearly palpable. “I was afraid you were going
to say that.”

“He
severed ties with the Russian mafia when he was asked to run for president,” I added
hopefully.

“And
that was?” he inquired with a sigh.

I
cringed. “Five days ago.”

He
shook his head. “Five days? How do we know he’s truly severed ties? Kristine,
what you’re asking is political suicide. I cannot support a former mafioso in
his bid for the Ukrainian presidency. I’d be forced out of office.”

“I’m
not asking you to fund Maxim’s campaign, and the money isn’t going to the
Russian mafia. This economic aid package would go directly to the Ukrainian
government,” I argued softly.

“Surely,
Mr. Markov will take credit for securing this aid. He is weaving this into his
campaign?”

“Yes,”
I admitted grudgingly.

“I’m
sorry, Kristine. As much as I’d like to decrease the EU’s reliance on Russian
fuel, I cannot sponsor an economic aid package that arguably benefits the
Russian mafia.”

I
forced an even tone. “What about the defense shield?”

He
ate another piece of sushi. “Secretary Gates won’t pass up this opportunity,
but he will insist on working with the interim government, or he’ll wait until
the new president is elected to install the missile defense system.”

My
eyes widened when the solution whacked me upside the head. “What if Maxim was
working for the interim government?”

Senator
Rockefeller looked surprised. “Is he… working for the government?”

I
shot to my feet. “Senator, will you excuse me? I need to make a quick phone
call.”

He
stood politely. “Of course.”

My
heart raced. I hurried from the room.

Jase
rose from his chair. “Are we leaving?”

I
looked at Jamie. “Is the conference room free?”

She
glanced at her computer screen. “Yes. It’s available until one o’clock.”

“I
just need five minutes to make a phone call,” I promised.

Jase
followed me down the hall. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

“Yes.
No. I don’t know.” I ducked inside the conference room. “Just… give me a
minute. Okay?”

He
followed me into the room. “Okay.”

I
scrolled through my list of contacts until I found Maxim’s name. My foot tapped
anxiously while I waited for his phone to ring.

Jase
pulled the door closed, folded his arms across his chest, and studied me
intently.

“How
was your meeting?” Maxim answered.

I
began pacing. “Is Mykola Azarov still serving as the Prime Minister of
Ukraine?”

“Yes,”
Maxim replied. The word was drawn out as if he were hesitant to say more.

My
feet slowed, briefly. “Does the Prime Minister support you in this bid for the
presidency?”

“Yes.
I am the only candidate Prime Minister Azarov is publically supporting,” Maxim boasted.
“Why?”

“Is
Leonid Kozhara still serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs?” I couldn’t
believe I was plotting to get the man who’d previously offered me a job canned.

“Yes,”
he admitted hesitantly. “Why do you ask?”

I
tried to ignore the frustration in his voice. “Is Mr. Kozhara supporting you in
this bid for the presidency?”

“Yes,”
Maxim gritted. “Why do you ask all of these questions?”

“Are
you and Mr. Kozhara on good terms?” I continued.

“
Kotyonok
,”
Maxim warned. “I would not have encouraged you to work for him if we were not
on good terms.”

I
took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay. Can Prime Minister Azarov appoint
you the Minister of Foreign Affairs while you are running for president?”

“No.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is nominated by the President, not the Prime Minister,”
Maxim corrected, “and that nomination must be approved by the Ukrainian
Parliament.”

“Would
the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament be willing to nominate you, since he’s
acting as president, and would the Ukrainian Parliament approve this
nomination?” I quickly amended.

“Kristine,
why do you ask these questions?” Maxim demanded.

“Because
Senator Rockefeller will not support an aid package that can be perceived as
benefitting the Russian mafia. He’s far more likely to support an aid package solicited
by the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs. And, Maxim? I think you’re going
to run into the same problem with Secretary Gates this afternoon. He’s clearly
interested in positioning that defense shield in Ukraine, or he wouldn’t have
agreed to the meeting. But he isn’t going to negotiate a deal with the Russian
mafia. He’ll insist on dealing with the interim government, or he’ll wait until
the new president is elected.”

Silence
ensued.

“Maxim?”

“I’m
here,” he answered gruffly.

“You
have to be working for the Ukrainian government in some formal capacity in
order to negotiate these deals. Can you make that happen?”

“Is
your meeting with Senator Rockefeller over?” he countered.

“No.
I stepped out of the meeting so I could call you. It’s beyond rude for me to walk
out of a meeting like this, but I… I just wanted to warn you. Senator
Rockefeller plans to attend the meeting with Secretary Gates. I think they’d
both like to work with you, but you need to proceed in some formal capacity.”

“I’ll
call you back.”

I
gaped at the phone. Maxim had ended the call.

“What
happened?” Jase asked.

“He’s
calling me back.” My voice turned shrill. “Why is he calling me back?”

Jase
shrugged. “Maybe he had another call.”

I
stood frozen with indecision. “What time is it in Ukraine?”

He
glanced at his phone. “It’s twelve-thirty. They’re seven hours ahead of us, so it’s
seven-thirty in the evening in Kyiv.”

I
frowned. “Their government offices are closed. There’s no way he can get this
problem resolved now.”

Jase
stepped aside when I started toward the door. “Where are you going?”