Commitment (39 page)

“It was in my father’s office along with a list of codenames. I just assumed it corresponded to locations that had some significance for The Collaborative…safe houses, something. Pip and I have been researching the coordinates for months looking for some common thread; nothing. We were looking at the wrong language,” Alex surmised.

“It’s so subtle. How did you even figure out these were code?” Eleana asked.

Alex shrugged and began scribbling numbers frantically onto a piece of paper. “Language is language. Numbers aren’t that different from letters, actually. You just have to see the sequences. When you pulled up that first file, there were too many numbers that repeated for it to be coordinates. It’s like music. Like a rhythm,” Alex explained.

“Eleana,” Krause interrupted. “Download as much as you can of that. Somehow, I don’t think it’s complete.”

“It’s not,” Alex offered. “My best guess is the database is broken up. Maybe the senior members can access it through different points, or maybe each only has access to a portion as a safeguard.”

“Do you think Sphinx is in here?” Eleana asked.

Alex looked at Krause and shook her head. “I don’t know,” she admitted. She handed Eleana the paper she had just filled with the numerals she had committed to memory. “Keep working these. See what you get. Those were all on my father’s list,” Alex said. Eleana continued working as hurriedly as her need for detail and caution allowed.

“Alex,” Krause began. “If your father had a portion and Viktor has a portion…”

“I know. It stands to reason both Edmond and the admiral do as well. You thinking what I am?” Alex asked.

“We make a stop to see Edmond,” Krause answered. Alex agreed.

“What the hell was that?” Alex asked as a banging noise filtered in from somewhere outside the door.

“I don’t know,” Krause replied as he made his way to the door. “Stay here.”

“Where are you going?” Elena asked.

“Just stay here. I’ll be right back,” he said.

“Is he insane?” Eleana asked Alex.

Alex chuckled. “Probably. How’s it coming?”

“I’m going as quickly as I can. I doubt anyone has accessed this much all at once. I don’t want to send up any red flags,” Eleana explained.

Krause snuck back into the office and closed the door gently. “Wrap it up, Eleana. We have company,” he said as he moved behind the desk to look over her shoulder.

“Just a couple more minutes,” the young agent pleaded, desperately increasing her pace.

“Now, Eleana,” Krause ordered. “Kargen and Ivanov are down the hall.”

“Shit,” Alex grumbled.

“What the…” Eleana stared at the screen in front of her for a moment and then looked over her should to Krause. Krause turned his attention to the computer screen in an effort to see what had startled Eleana. He closed his eyes for a split second and shook his head in frustration. “Jonathan?” Eleana asked.

Alex stood by the door listening intently to everything surrounding her. “Voices, moving closer….you’d better move it,” Alex instructed.

“Jonathan?” Eleana whispered.

“Not now,” he snapped at her. “Wrap it up. Alex, you take Eleana and get out of here.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Alex questioned her partner.

“You heard me,” Krause said as he moved around the desk. “Now! You get Eleana out of here. Ian will be waiting at the south gate to take you to the safe house in Cherepovets. I’ll meet you there,” Krause assured his friends. He started to open the door slowly when Alex pushed it shut with force.

“Are you out of your mind?” Alex scolded her partner. “We came in here together. We leave together. Jesus Christ. I’m not leaving you in here.”

“Jonathan, she’s right,” Eleana urged him.

Krause looked at Eleana. His eyes conveyed his warning. He lifted his sights back to Alex at the door. “No, you’re not right this time, Alex. Dimitri and Viktor will not be shocked to see me sitting in this office. They expect nothing less of me. You two on the other hand….No one can know Eleana is alive,” he reminded Alex. “Alex….”

Alex pinched the bridge of her nose with some force and exhaled a breath of frustration. “They probably already do know,” she reminded him.

“Maybe. We don’t have time to debate this,” he said as he cracked the door open again. “Eleana, you take the lead. Go, before they make their way here,” he instructed her. “Alex will be right behind you…three paces.” Eleana reluctantly acquiesced and made her way past him.

“Pip….” Alex started.

“Alex, you know I’m right. At the very least, it will buy you both some time, maybe even keep the goon squad from harassing you in the computer lab. We can’t risk losing what we just found. Go. If I’m not there by morning…”

Alex grabbed hold of Krause’s arm. He watched her eyes narrow to pin holes as she spoke. “You will be there tonight. No other option. Do you understand me?” Alex demanded.

Krause’s lips curled slightly. “I’ll see you tonight,” he promised.

Alex shook her head and grasped her friend’s hand. “Make sure that you do,” she said as she headed out the door.

Alex grabbed Eleana’s arm and pulled her back into a small hallway. “Shh…I know that voice,” Alex said.

“What?” Eleana asked.

“Listen,” Alex directed the younger agent to listen to the sounds coming from the room they needed to enter. “Here that?” she asked. “That man talking?”

“Who is it?” Eleana asked.

“NSA and no good. He will know us the minute we walk through that door.” Alex said.

“So, what do we do?” Eleana asked. “Go back the way we came?”

“Too risky. Are you sure there is no other place you can access what we need for that keycard?” Alex questioned Eleana.

“Positive,” Eleana responded.

“All right. Then we need to get hold of someone who already has one,” Alex determined.

“That might not be so easy,” Eleana said.

“No. You are the one that no one will expect to be here. Krause is right about that,” Alex said.

“What are you thinking?” Eleana asked apprehensively.

Alex offered the younger agent a cockeyed grin. Marcus Anderson was on the other side of that door. Alex wondered if that meant Claire Brackett might be nearby as well. She was certain that by now, more than a handful of people were made aware of Jonathan Krause’s presence at the facility; by extension hers would not come as a shock to anyone. Eleana held the information that represented the tip of an iceberg; an iceberg Alex and Krause needed to find a way to melt. Krause had been right about one thing; getting Eleana safely out of ASA was the main priority now. Alex thought that facing Marcus
might just give them the best chance of success. If she could disarm Marcus Anderson, they might be able to use his credentials to make their escape. If not, Alex hoped to gain enough time for Eleana to accomplish that task.

“The agent in that room,” Alex began, “his name is Marcus Anderson. He’s been working with Claire Brackett for the better part of the last year.” Alex saw the blood drain from Eleana’s face. “Do you know him?” Alex asked the younger agent.

“No. No, but I do know Claire,” Eleana said. Alex detected the note of sadness in Eleana’s inflection as she spoke of Claire Brackett and tipped her head in question. Eleana forced a solemn smile. “We grew up together,” she told Alex. “We were best friends for many years.”

The notion that Claire Brackett was even capable of friendship surprised Alex. She could see the genuine emotion that crossed Eleana’s expression at the mere mention of Claire Brackett’s name. “Eleana, I don’t think she’s here. Even if she is, you won’t be coming face to face with her.” Alex looked down the hallway at the numerous doors lining it. “How well do you remember those schematics?” Alex asked.

“Perfectly,” Eleana answered.

“Good. Which of these doors leads somewhere benign; a supply closet, something like that?” Alex inquired.

Eleana scanned the hallway. “There; the third door on the right,” she said.

“Will your keycard open that lock?” Alex wondered.

“It should.”

“All right. Here’s the plan. You swipe that card in this door,” Alex pointed to their original destination a few paces away. “As soon as you hear that chime you make for that door on the right. Understood?” Alex directed.

“What about you?” Eleana asked skeptically.

“Last time I saw Claire she wanted to dance,” Alex smirked. “I think I’ll see if her partner’s moves leave anything to be discovered.”

“You’re going to confront Agent Anderson?” Eleana looked at Alex skeptically. “Why don’t we just wait?”

“No time. Guaranteed the word is out that Krause is here. They’ll be more vigilant. The sooner we move, the better. You wait no more than five minutes. One way or another I will get Anderson out of your way. Five minutes you make your way back here. If you don’t see or hear me…then you follow the plan and get to Ian. Krause and I will catch up with you,” Alex told Eleana.

“What if you can’t get him out of there? Alex, we don’t even know how many people are in there right now, and you are unarmed,” Eleana cautioned.

“I know. We also have no idea how long he will be in there if we don’t act. The longer we are out here, the more exposed we become. This is the best chance,” Alex said confidently. “Trust me.” Eleana nodded her agreement. “All right. Let’s get ready to dance.”

“Jonathan, what the hell are you doing in my office?” Viktor Ivanov demanded. Jonathan Krause had taken up residence in a large leather chair that sat behind Viktor Ivanov’s desk. He reclined casually in it, resting his feet upon the desktop.

“Always a pleasure, Viktor,” Krause drawled.

“Edmond send you?” Ivanov guessed.

Krause stretched with his hands behind his head and sighed. “No. I just missed your company,” he winked at the Russian.

“
Konchai svoi igri! Chto ti khochesh Jonathan
(Enough with your games! What do you want, Jonathan)?” Ivanov demanded sharply.

“Oh, calm down,” Krause said evenly. “Why so cranky?” Krause chuckled. “You didn’t expect a visit after your latest short-sighted stunt?”

“If you are referring to the attack on your embassy; that was hardly my doing,” Ivanov asserted.

“Of course not. Terrorists then? Isn’t it always,” Krause belittled Ivanov’s claim with mock sincerity.

“What do you want, Jonathan?” Ivanov repeated his earlier question

“Curious, Viktor. It is very curious how an attack would just happen to occur on the day Strickland’s team is due to arrive. I wonder how those terrorists managed that; quite well equipped for an anti-Markov group. Markov must be concerned….to think such a group could possess missiles of any kind….”

Ivanov moved to the front of the desk and hovered over it. “You’ve been too busy to have heard the news,” Ivanov said sweetly. “Not that surprising, my friend. After all, it was one of your experts selling the weapons to the terrorists.”

Krause nodded. He had expected a ridiculous fabrication. “
Our
experts?” Krause chuckled. “Who exactly might that be? You can’t mean Claire and Marcus Anderson. Are you part of that equation? How about my father? Was he?” Krause hardened his gaze and pushed out the chair he was sitting in.

“Your father has been dead for years,” Ivanov responded.

“No. He hasn’t; has he?” Krause moved within inches of Ivanov’s face.

Ivanov responded with a laugh. “So is that what this is about? Personal issues? You have something you want to ask me, Jonathan? Ask me.”

Jonathan Krause stared at the older man in front of him. He did have a question. It seemed that this plan might work to everyone’s benefit. “Who is my father?” Krause asked directly.

“Are you certain you want that answer?” Ivanov asked. “I suspect you already know. You want confirmation? Who told you; William or Edmond?” he asked the younger man.

“Just answer the question,” Krause said.

“How is your sister these days, Jonathan?” Ivanov asked. “I guess she hasn’t been enlightened….I’d have expected to see you both….”

“Leave Alex out of this,” Krause threatened.

Ivanov paced to his desk and took his rightful seat. “Protective. So you have your answer. Does it even matter?” Ivanov asked. Krause did not respond. “Yes, well,” Ivanov continued, “What do you really want to know? You want to know who your father was; is that right? Not his name. Why don’t you ask Edmond?” Ivanov chuckled. “You think I will give you a more accurate picture of the man. That’s ironic, wouldn’t you say?” Krause just listened silently. “Who was Nicolaus Toles? Damned if I know. Damned if any of us do. Where would he have fallen in all of this? Is that your question?” Ivanov asked. The Russian watched as Jonathan Krause’s normally impassive expression gave just the faintest indication of distress. “He would fall as he always did, on whatever side suited him best,” Ivanov explained.