Iris Johansen - Silent Thunder

"So you rode on his coattails to become second officer on his sub."

"You might say that." He met her gaze. "But I prefer to think that I earned my place by hard work and at least moderate intelligence. You can go only so far relying on influence. Sergai would never have tolerated any of his officers who weren't top-notch."

"Even a relative?"

"Particularly a relative. When I was accepted on the Silent Thunder , I promised myself I'd learn more, be more valuable to Sergai than any of his other officers."

"And did you?"

He nodded. "Of course. I was a complete pain in the ass to Sergai and everyone else who knew any skill that I didn't. I was going to be the fastest-rising officer in the Russian Navy. I was going to make Sergai proud of me."

"But that didn't happen."

He was silent a moment. "No, that didn't happen."

"Why not? What did happen on the Silent Thunder ?"

He smiled faintly. "If I were Bradworth, I'd tell you it was classified."

"You're not Bradworth."

"So I'll tell you that I've no intention of confiding anything I don't find necessary to a woman who'd flay me alive if given the opportunity."

"Not until I'd wrung whatever use I could from you."

He chuckled. "I'm already feeling the squeeze. It's a little erotic."

"Bull."

"Not entirely." His smile faded. "But you didn't call me to find out my relationship with Sergai."

"You're wrong. You and Bradworth won't tell me anything else I need to know, so I have to try to judge your motives for tracking down Pavski. Revenge?"

He looked at her.

"Bradworth thinks you're pissed off because your career was deep-sixed."

"Maybe he's right. You'll have to decide for yourself. Did you call your Congressman Preston and ask him your questions?"

"Yes, he said he'd investigate you, but it would take time."

"Ah, the common answer of bureaucracy."

"He'll do his best. And I called a friend of mine in the Russian Navy and asked him to network with his friends and find out what he could."

"That might be more productive."

"But I can't wait for answers before I move. Who knows? Pavski might kill you, and I wouldn't have any leads at all."

"Unfortunate for you. Tragic for me."

"I don't care about you."

"That's obvious. Have you made a guess at why I want Pavski?"

"No." He'd seemed sincere when he talked about Vladzar, but he was an enigma to her. "It's too soon. I'll have to give myself a little time to probe."

"Heaven forbid." He paused. "Does that mean we're going to be best chums?"

"Bastard. How can I get Pavski?"

"By finding out what he wants and holding it out like a luscious carrot."

"He's got what he wants."

"Not everything. That navigational chart evidently wasn't complete. He needs more information, and he believes you have it."

"I don't."

"But he doesn't know that. And even if he couldn't get back on the sub to find any more plates, everyone who can read a magazine article is aware of that memory of yours. You might have seen something that could be forced out of you under pressure."

"I didn't see anything else." She frowned. "Could there be more charts on the Silent Thunder ?"

"It's possible."

"Then I want to go back on board. Bradworth won't let me." She stared him in the eye. "Make it happen."

"Bradworth's already searching the sub."

"Make it happen."

He smiled. "Why do you think I can?"

"He's scared of you."

"All the more reason for him to balk. He resents me. Unless you want me to get radical."

She didn't want to question what he meant by that last sentence. "You want to know if there's anything important on that sub too. I think you'd prefer to find it yourself rather than have Bradworth's men do it."

"Quite true. But I walk a fine line with the CIA. I try not to antagonize a valuable source completely."

"If you don't want to manipulate him yourself, then tell me how to do it."

He was silent, thinking. She could almost see the wheels turning behind that intent expression. Then he smiled and leaned forward in the chair. "First, let's make a few phone calls."

Her phone rang forty-five minutes later.

"What the hell are you doing?" Bradworth said, when she picked up. "I just got a call from Peterson at the museum, and he was insistent as the devil that you be let back on the Silent Thunder to continue your work."

"Good."

"I told him to forget it."

"He won't forget it. I told him I'd sue him for breach of contract and have the story of Conner's murder on the Silent Thunder plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the country. Museums don't like bad publicity."

"You're bluffing. You don't want any publicity that might hurt your sister-in-law."

"I backed down when you threatened me with that before. But Cathy and I are in sync with the fact that we may have to bite that particular bullet. We'll do what we have to do." He was cursing, and she interrupted, "And I hear that the CIA has to be careful of their image too. It takes so little to bring a CIA director before a congressional committee these days."

"Dammit, what do you think you're going to find? My people have been tearing the sub to pieces searching for answers."

"Then tell them to stop and let us have a shot."

He didn't speak for a moment. "Us?"

"Kirov is coming with me."

"The hell he is. I should have known he had his fine hand in this. No deal."

"He knows the sub. He might be able to help me."

"Help you get killed. I told you to stay-"

"He's coming with me. I'll be on the pier at eight tomorrow morning. I want my team's security clearances reactivated. Some may be with me tomorrow. Others may be back on board later in the week."

"Everyone's already left their offices for the day, and it will be difficult to get the necessary clearances."

"You're stalling. Cell phones are a wonderful thing, Bradworth. I'll be there at eight."

She waited.

It was a moment before he finally said, "I can't get papers for Kirov on this short notice. We can't risk them not being absolutely authentic. He's too valuable to us to run the risk of exposure."

"He's willing to run the risk."

"We've invested too much in him to-"

"He's coming with me. I'll furnish the ID for him. I promise you won't have a problem with it. Just pave the way."

"Aye, aye, Captain," he said sourly. He hung up.

"Pleasant," she muttered under her breath. She pocketed her phone and turned to Kirov. "We're in. You were almost the stumbling block. It seems you're too valuable to risk exposure."

"It's wonderful to be appreciated." He smiled. "You handled Bradworth very well, by the way. I was impressed."

For the first time she was aware of the magnetism young Sarks had mentioned. It shocked her that she would even notice, considering the tension between them. Yet that facet of Kirov was difficult to overlook when it was an integral part of his personality. She might not be able to overlook it, but she could certainly ignore it. She turned away. "Whatever. We should get on the road in the next hour."

"Why not now?"

"I have to call my sister-in-law, Cathy."

"And tell her everything?"

"I owe it to her."

"Do you owe her honesty at the price of her anxiety? Can she do anything but worry about you at this point?"

He was right. There was nothing worse than having to stay at home and fret about things you couldn't change. "You don't want her involved."

"No, the more people who know what we're doing, the greater the chance for problems. But I'll accept it if you insist."

She thought about it. Then she got out her phone and dialed Cathy's number. She was relieved when voice mail picked up.