Russell Blake - Jet

He waved the comment away.

“Grigenko is the common element. I never told you about his brother because there was no need to know, and it wouldn’t have changed anything. But if he’s escalated and is now operating hit squads…if he knew you were on the team, he might have also discovered that you killed his twin. In that case, it would make this about blood, not just money. And it would also explain why he went the extra distance to exterminate us. Because it’s personal. You pulled the trigger…and I planned the op.”

“What did you find on the network?”

“I installed a program that logs everyone that accesses certain areas. It’s transparent — it does the logging invisibly and is impossible to detect. Let’s just say that I’m surprised by some of the areas that one of the deputy directors has been poking around in. Looking at the dates, he accessed the files a couple of weeks ago. A week and a half later, the team is dead, and I’ve been attacked. It’s not open and shut — there are probably a dozen reasons he could contrive to explain why he was accessing those dossiers. On the surface, it could be innocent. But I don’t think so. The timing…”

“You’re saying that there isn’t enough to build a case against him.”

“Not with just this. It would take a lot more. He’s been with the Mossad longer than I’ve been alive. These people always have wheels within wheels. The director would need to authorize a massive surveillance effort, and in the end, it wouldn’t show anything, especially if he was only passing information to Grigenko for the money. Unlike a double agent, there would be no pattern. For all we know, this could be a one-shot deal.”

“But the money would leave a trail, wouldn’t it?”

“Not likely. Remember, we’re talking about someone who has been living and breathing tradecraft his entire life. No way would there be anything to follow.”

They sat awhile, considering David’s theory.

Jet rose, an expression on her face he knew too well.

“I want to take him down.”

“Who? The deputy director?”

“No. Grigenko.”

David shook his head. “You’ll never be able to get to him. He’s too insulated.”

“Everyone can be gotten to.”

“Not this guy.”

“I’ll find a way. We will find a way.”

He knew that look, and knew better than to try to argue it.

“He’s one of the richest men in Russia,” David reminded her.

“Rich men bleed, too.”

“It would be suicide.”

“David. Please. This is just a logistical problem. It can, and will, be done — by me. The only question is whether I have to do it alone, or whether you’ll help.” Her face took on a determined expression. “I want to bring the pain to him. We need to figure out what he’s doing, what triggered this. It has to be something to do with Belize, otherwise there would be no rush to execute the team. So let’s put our energy toward trying to figure out what he’s up to. We may be able to use it against him, draw him out. In any case, if he’s the problem, then he’s got to go or we’ll never be safe. A man like that, with unlimited power and money…it’s either him or us. Don’t you see that?”

“It’s just so…he really is untouchable.”

“Not anymore.”

At dusk the next day, Rani stopped by again and gave David a full examination, murmuring to himself as he did so. Eventually he pulled off his stethoscope and placed it into his bag before turning to Jet.

“What’s the prognosis?” she asked.

“He’s healing remarkably quickly. I’d say it’s about time to get his lazy ass out of bed and walking.”

“I’m right here, you know. I can hear both of you. I’m three feet away,” David commented.

“Is there anything he needs to be careful about?”

“He’ll have to take it easy. No running, no lifting anything heavy. But he should be able to handle moderate activity. Everything looks good — no doubt because of the skill of his physician,” Rani said with a grin. “I’ll need to pull the stitches in the next few days, but as long as it’s nothing strenuous he should be up for it.”

“Hello. Am I invisible? Can you hear me out there?” David waved his arms over his head.

Rani turned to him. “Well, my friend, you made it. Try to avoid getting shot in the stomach any more. It’s really cramped my social schedule this week.”

David got serious. “Thanks for everything, Rani. I wouldn’t have survived if you hadn’t taken me in and done this. I know that. I owe you bigger than I can ever say.”

Rani smiled. “Nothing says thank you like pizza. Double cheese, extra sauce. Just as a hint. There’s a good place around the corner from my office. In case you’re wondering, I usually take lunch around one. Tomorrow, maybe a little earlier…”

“Speaking of which, can I eat solid food?” David asked.

“Sure, but stick to fruits and vegetables for another day or so just to give the healing a little more time. I wouldn’t recommend a big filet or a bag of nuts quite yet,” Rani said.

He turned to Jet.

“When will we see you again?” she asked.

“In a couple of days, to pull the stitches. Other than that, there’s no reason for me to intrude on your vacation together.” Rani gave them a knowing look — Jet felt herself blushing.

After Rani had said his goodbyes, she locked the door behind him and moved to the sofa in the living room. David walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of milk, and then joined her.

“So where do you want to go tonight? Dancing?” he asked.

“I was thinking of maybe a nice slow half-hour walk around the neighborhood to get you back on your sea legs.”

“Not as exciting as hitting the discos, but I’ve learned never to argue with a woman.”

“Who has your gun.” She picked it up and peered down the sights at the window. “I think the first order of business tomorrow should be to get ourselves something with more stopping power than this. Don’t get me wrong, I like Glocks, but it’s only one pistol between two people, and I don’t like to share.”

David thought about it.

“I know a guy in Jerusalem. He’s not Mossad. A freelancer. I’ve used him to procure weapons when I needed a deniable source. He specializes in Russian and Israeli military stuff. I’ll give him a call. He has no idea who I am, although I’m sure he suspects I’m not running a candy store. I’ll see what he can get us.”

“That would be a start. And I’ve been thinking about our options. I have an idea. Several ideas, actually. But they’re going to be very risky, and will require luck and money,” Jet said.

David nodded. “I’ve got a few thoughts myself. As to the money, I have just shy of a half million euros in a blind account I use for operational budgets. I can transfer that to another bank, and it will disappear — not that anyone would ever be able to trace it in the first place. That’s the whole point of an off-the-books team. Invisibility.”

“Can you do it online?”

“Absolutely.”

She gestured to the laptop on the dining room table.

“All right. Give me a few minutes, and then I’ll get dressed, and we can go for an evening constitutional.”

Jet went to the bathroom, and on her way back heard laughter from the bedroom.

“What’s so funny?” she asked as she approached from down the hall.

“We should add shopping to our list of things to do tomorrow. Or maybe this evening, if we can find a store around here. I’m afraid Rani’s not quite the same size as me.” David was holding up a shirt that was twice as big as he was.

“That’s the fashion these days. Just wear your baseball hat sideways.”