S Ison - Russian Doomsday

“Good grief, don’t do that. That’s really cool, though. I wouldn’t have thought of it. I’m so new to this prepping game, really. Plus, new to the panic I feel when I think about POSEIDON.”

“I know, right? But I think we’ll learn more as we go. I should be there in a couple days. I’ll drive another hour or so, then stop for the night. I’ll let you know when I get close. Hope you have a better night and get some rest. And listen, I want to apologize again for bringing up your ex-husband. I’ve been kicking myself for it ever since.”

She laughed, and oh, how he loved her laugh.

“Look Pike, don’t worry. When I stopped traveling, I chose Maryville. I have to say, it’s the best thing that happened to me.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I fell in love with this place, especially Lake Mozingo. We’d stopped here a few times. It was such a quaint little place, you know and the people seemed friendly. Bobby passed through, but it just became less and less frequent. So, I divorced him and decided to stay on. I think it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Especially now, with all this business about POSEIDON.”

“Yeah. I guess it’s funny how life works out. I would have never in a million years have chosen Maryville, had never even heard of it until you told me where you lived. But I have to say, it looks like the perfect place, especially being smack in the middle of the country. Way the hell away from oceans.” Pike laughed.

“So, you see, things have worked out for the best for both of us. Never feel like you can’t bring up Bobby or anything else, okay?”

“Okay, thanks Margo. You’re the best. Get some rest. I’ll call you soon.” He grinned and hung up, pleased with himself. He was thrilled to be going to see her.

Though the reason was a horrible one, he couldn’t hate the thought of being near her again, no matter the cause. Down boy , he told himself. It was difficult to reign in the excitement. But she didn’t need the burden of his crush. He inhaled deeply and blew out. The farther he drove, the better he felt.

The tension and stress that he’d been holding onto since reading that damned article was starting to melt away with each mile he drove farther from the cost. Each day closer, each hour closer, he could feel his body relaxing. The fear waning. He wondered if all that fear would tear his body apart. He’d not known this kind of stress ever.

Now if I can only get my lust under control. He laughed at himself. You are such a romantic idiot .

Dina walked across the hall and down past Alexei Borin’s office. She’d been elusive, ensuring he’d see her, but only just as she was leaving or out of reach. Today, she would be caught. She smiled to herself as she walked down the hall. She was wearing high heels, but had broken one of the heels to hold until she was passing by him.

Enveloping her was a subtle, yet provocative, perfume. It had cost her a fortune, but she was paid well by the agency. The money was under her late mother’s name, and she was able to draw on it without suspicion. Her skirt was black with a slit that, when the material was pulled tight, would open up to reveal red lace panties. The blouse she wore was white silk and very soft to the touch. She smiled to herself. She knew she looked good.

She wanted to make sure that all Alexei Borin’s senses were provoked. She wanted him to feel her body as he helped her up. She wanted him to smell the soft, heady perfume she wore. She had to make this work. And she couldn’t get caught. Her job was only to seduce him and get into his bed. With the aim of gathering intel, of course. She was glad she didn’t have to kill him. She’d be the first on their list.

Let’s hope I don’t have to go that far . She was pretty sure they’d let her perish in a cell. If they were callous enough to use a child, they’d not think twice about leaving her to die. The Americans were a peculiar lot. She thought back to when she’d been recruited.

An impressionable sixteen-year-old, she’d met a handsome young man, an American. Gregg Green. She fell madly in love with him. Larger than life, blond and blue-eyed, he was very charming. He lived next door in her apartment block.

The first time she met him, they were down in the laundry room. He said he attended the university on an exchange program. She was thrilled to talk to him and practice her English. And help him practice his Russian.

After that first meeting, they spent quite a lot of time together, though he never stepped over the line. He was a gentleman, older than her by a few years. He kissed her on a few occasions, which always sent her heart fluttering, and brought her small gifts. Trinkets schoolgirls love. After nearly a year, he disappeared. She went to his apartment, but her knock brought no response. She returned every hour, but nothing. After three days, she knew something was terribly wrong. She was devastated.

At seventeen, she grieved as only a seventeen-year-old girl can do: drama and lots of tears. One night, some three months later, she heard someone in Gregg’s apartment and went over to investigate. There were two American men, looking through Gregg’s things.

“Who are you? Why’re you taking Gregg’s things? Get out! He might come back.” She started crying, was becoming hysterical. Then one of the men clasped his hand over her mouth, “Gregg’s dead,” he whispered. “Your secret police took him away.” She froze to the spot, and her legs nearly gave out.

The men sat her on the couch and told her that Gregg had been working for them. They were a research company. Dina knew better. They were spies. She’d watched movies and the news. The news was always boasting about catching spies. Their country was rife with them.

They told her that Gregg had mentioned her, that he’d told them he loved her and wanted to marry her. Her heart at first soared, and then plummeted, at the news. She wanted to die. Now, much older, she laughed at her teenage self. Such drama.

The men then offered to pay for her college tuition if she would later work for them to avenge Gregg’s murder. They demanded that she keep it secret.

She’d been so foolish, then, and said yes. Years later, she’d wondered at the callousness of those men, using a young girl’s love like that. She hadn’t known what she’d been committing herself to, but once she’d realized it, it was too late.

Ah well, the past’s the past and you can’t change it . She cleared her mind as she walked up the hall. She needed to focus on the task at hand.

She spotted Alexei up some distance from her, so she followed at a discrete distance. She got into position, and when she knew she was in his sights, she let her heel go and fell heavily to the ground. She landed hard, smacking her knee, and the painful cry she uttered was real. The papers she’d been carrying scattered across the waxed gray floor. Several of those nearby turned and gawked down at her, but none moved to help her up.

Then strong arms folded around her and helped her to sit up. Tears blurred her vision. They weren’t quite necessary, but the pain in her knee made them easier to produce. Through them, she saw it was Borin holding her. His eyes widened, and she knew she had him. She smiled internally.

“Are you all right, my dear? Are you hurt?” he said, his voice deep and concerned, his hazel eyes riveted to her.

“I don’t know. I hurt my knee, and I think my ankle.” She sniffed delicately.

His arms went beneath her and he lifted her easily. She took advantage of this intimate interaction and wrapped her slender arms around his shoulders. She continued to moan softly as he carried her down the corridor, resting her head on his broad shoulder, letting her long hair cascade over his arm.