Matthew Dunn - Sentinel

Vitali and Laith shifted position. Neither man spoke.

The sailor walked up to the station and stopped suddenly. He was right next to Laith. Reaching into his pocket, he withdrew his cell phone and listened to it. Will watched him, motionless. The target closed his phone and kept walking, passing the entrance and continuing down the street. Laith walked behind him; Vitali moved to the other side of the road to follow him. Will waited where he was for a few moments, then walked quickly across the road. He moved into another street before turning left onto a road that ran parallel to the route containing the target. Now that he was out of sight of the sailor, he broke into a jog, dodging pedestrians on the ice- and snow-covered sidewalk. As he ran, he passed a stationary vehicle. Inside it were Roger and Markov.

Vitali said, “He’s still walking, same pace.”

Will replied, “I must be ahead of you by now. Let me know if he deviates from the road.” He reached the end of the route, broke left, and continued forward until he was back on the same street as the target. He stopped. “I’m at the end of the road.”

Laith said, “We’re halfway along it.”

Will started walking away from the team behind him.

“Target’s increasing pace.” Vitali’s voice was quiet. “William, I can see you, and we’re getting closer to your location. Increase speed.”

Will did so.

“Target moves through crossroads, keeps going straight.” Vitali’s voice grew louder. “Korina, we’re following the target toward Moskvoretskaya Naberezhnaya, on the river. Where are you?”

Korina answered, “On that road, close to the place your route joins it.”

Will said quickly, “Go east before he spots you.” He kept walking fast until he reached the main road and the adjacent Moskva River. “Roger, Markov: I’m turning west on the road. Start driving toward my location.”

He walked faster for a while and then slowed to his previous pace. Soon the target would reach the road and Will would know if he was continuing to walk behind him or had instead turned left toward Korina’s location. A Russian voice, amplified by a loudspeaker, barked close to him. Will froze, then turned to face the noise. Two powerful river police boats and one military gunboat sped along the river, knocking aside large sheets of ice that were floating on the surface. The Russian man speaking through the amplifier kept repeating the same sentence. Will looked at the various civilian vessels on the mighty river and saw that they were slowing. He understood what was happening. They were being told to berth, that only military and police boats were now allowed to use the route.

“Target’s turned left, heading east.” Laith’s voice was tense.

Will silently cursed and increased pace again as he said, “Markov, Roger: get to me fast. I need picking up.”

Roger answered, “On our way.”

Will mentally pictured the road map of Moscow he had earlier studied. “Korina, he’s heading toward the bridge at Sadovnicheskiy Proyezd. Are you east of that place?”

“Yes. I’ve parked, although I’m not sure how long I can remain static.”

“Do what you can. If he doesn’t go south on the river crossing, he’ll be coming toward your location. Roger, Markov: I need you here now.”

“We can see you.” Markov’s deep voice was controlled. “Start running, we’re going to have to pick you up at speed as there’s nowhere to safely stop on this route.”

Will did so. Cars passed him, but none of them belonged to his team.

“We’re three hundred feet behind you… now two hundred… now one hundred… now fifty… passenger door’s open… we’re slowing…” Markov paused. “Look left now.”

Will glanced to his side, saw the car and its open door, sprinted faster to keep up with it, and dived headfirst into the rear of the vehicle. Markov grabbed his arm and pulled him in. Roger thrust his foot down on the accelerator, causing the car to skid on a patch of ice before getting a grip and pulling away fast.

Will slammed the door. “Take the next bridge, then double back on the other side of the river so that we’re heading east and paralleling the target.”

Roger drove fast, taking them right up to the eastern tip of Red Square before turning onto the crossing to take them south, over the river. Once they were over the waterway, Roger turned left.

Will looked across the river. “We’re heading back toward you from the other side of the river. Where are you?”

Laith answered, “Target’s slowing down, on his cell again, about a hundred and fifty feet from Sadovnicheskiy Proyezd.” Laith went silent. “Hold, something’s happening.” More silence. “His phone’s stowed away. He’s stopped. Now he’s looking left and right along the road.”

“He’s going to cross it and take the bridge.” Will placed a hand on Roger’s shoulder. “We must be at the other side of the bridge before he gets on it.”

Roger accelerated harder, swerving expertly between two cars to overtake them.

Vitali spoke. “Target’s spotted a gap in traffic. He’s running over the road. If we follow him we’ll expose ourselves, as this isn’t a place pedestrians would normally cross.”

“Stay on your side of the road.” Will’s mind raced. “Korina, can you turn around?”

“Impossible on this main road. But I can abandon the car and get closer on foot.”

“No, stay with the car. It’s vital we retain one mobile unit on the north side of the river.” Will spoke to everyone. “Okay, we’ll take up point as soon as the target reaches the south end of the bridge. Once we know where he’s headed, I’ll update you so that we can adjust formation.”

“He’s on the northern end of the bridge.” Laith’s voice was quiet. “He’s slowed to a fast walk. We’re stationary now. He’s a hundred and fifty feet away from us. Bridge has got medium traffic in both directions. He walks onward.”

Will could see the bridge. Urgently, he asked Roger, “Can you stop anywhere here?”

“Difficult, but I’ll put my hazard lights on and fake a breakdown. If cops or other officials arrive, I’ll deal with it.”

Will nodded. “Vitali, Laith: update please.”

“He’s slowing”-Vitali paused-“he’s stopped halfway along the bridge.”

“Stopped?”

“Stopped. Now he’s looking around.”

Will’s heart raced. “Is his cell back out?”

“No.”

Roger pulled the vehicle onto the road’s hard shoulder. Will jumped out of the car, thrust a hand into his pocket, and gripped his handgun. Roger and Markov also exited the vehicle. Will glanced in the direction of the bridge. “Everyone, the bridge is the likely meeting point. Repeat, bridge is meeting point.” He darted a look at Markov. “Come with me. Roger, stay with the vehicle.”

Roger looked angry. “I should be with you.”

Will shook his head impatiently. “The chances of Taras doing a mobile pickup of the target are now very high. If that happens, you’re the only man south of the river who can tail him and take him down. Everything depends upon you staying with your vehicle.”

Roger smiled; his anger evaporated.

Will and Markov moved alongside the road until they were close to the bridge.

Laith said, “He remains stationary. He tries to light a cigarette.”

“I’ve got another pedestrian on the bridge.” This came from Vitali.

Will and Markov instantly stopped.

“He’s heading from the south side… big guy…” Vitali went quiet. His next words sounded confused. “He looks out of place… not right for this weather. He’s not wearing a coat.”

Will snapped, “Vehicle?”

“None, aside from civilian motors going back and forth on the bridge.”