Chapter Thirty-eight
Trafalgar Café
London, England
Justin tried to make sense of the situation. On one hand, Karolin had intelligence about the attack planned while the president was travelling to London from the airport. On the other hand, MI6 had learned the attack was going to take place only after the president reached the hotel. Can they both be right, and two different attacks are in the works? Is one of them the correct one? Which one?
He sighed and sipped the coffee he had ordered. He glanced at the phone. A couple of minutes and Markov should be here. When he looked out the window, a box-shaped black Mercedes-Benz SUV screeched to a halt just outside the café.
Justin smiled. She likes to make an entrance.
Markov stepped out from the back door. She cast a wide glance around, then her eyes met Justin’s. She nodded at him, and he waved back. Markov gestured toward someone inside the SUV, then headed toward the café’s entrance. She fastened the bottom button of her brown leather jacket but not fast enough. Justin’s attentive eyes noticed the handle of a pistol poking out of her waistband holster.
Markov was a couple of steps away from the door of the café, when a blond man came around the SUV’s driver’s side. He was broad-shouldered and tall and was wearing a shiny gray pinstriped suit. He did not seem to mind that the pistol in his shoulder holster was visible. Diplomatic security. Justin nodded to himself. They like to show off.
When Markov entered the café, Justin stood up and met her. She leaned in for a quick kiss on the cheeks, before sitting across the table. “You know Yuri, right?” She gestured toward the blond man still walking toward them.
“No, never had the pleasure.”
“Yuri works for the embassy.”
Justin smiled and offered Yuri his hand. “Good to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Yuri said in the typical Russian accent Justin was expecting.
“Something to drink?” Justin said.
“I’ll have a large cappuccino,” Markov said.
“I’ll get more coffee,” Justin said. “Yuri?”
“I’ll have coffee too.”
Justin said, “Good, I’ll bring them.”
“I’ll get them. You stay,” Yuri said in a strong voice and tipped his head toward the table.
Justin shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
Markov waited until Yuri was beyond earshot, then said, “He’s a bit uptight, but a great operative.”
“Doesn’t like you or me?”
“He doesn’t like anyone. Well, except his boss, the Defense and Military Attaché.”
“And Yuri doesn’t mind waving his gun around?”
Markov shrugged. “What can I say? Diplomatic immunity.”
Justin nodded. “Yes, well, that’s not going to protect him when bullets start flying.”
Markov sat closer to Justin. “Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, my dear Justin,” she whispered in a teasing voice.
He thought about talking to Markov about her sweet talk, but he did not feel it was the right time or place. Moreover, Yuri was heading back with their drinks. So Justin waited until Yuri took his seat, then said, “So, we’ve collected intel about the attack, but we have two contradictory versions.” He went on to tell them the differing accounts of CIS and MI6.
“Who do you think is right?” Markov asked.
“I’m not sure. It makes more sense for the attack to take place en route. Easier, fewer complications, and can be executed with only two, three people.”
“There’s no way someone inside the Kremlin has leaked intel,” Yuri said with a headshake.
“Everything’s possible, Yuri,” Markov said. “We’ll check again.”
“Can you get the president’s team to change the route?” Justin asked. “Especially at the last moment.”
Markov shrugged. “That might be difficult. First, the president doesn’t want to come across as a coward.”
“Even when his life might be in serious danger?”
“His life is always in serious danger,” Yuri said.
“This isn’t like a crazy guy phoning in a threat,” Justin said.
“Still, Yuri is right. The president does not want to appear weak under no circumstance. Plus, changing the route at the last moment might be problematic in terms of logistics. And it may not do much good, if the assassin is following the convoy, or if his plan isn’t static.”
Justin nodded. Markov was right. If Lim and Ying were plotting to use a car bomb, the route the convoy travelled was immaterial.
Markov said, “But we’ll request extra security, especially from the locals. In this way, we can always say it’s the Brits who are being extra careful or perhaps paranoid.”
Yuri grinned. “Yes, we can push for that.”
“Carrie and I would want to help with that security detail. You can say the Canadians are paranoid too.”
Markov nodded. “We’ll make that happen. I’d love to work alongside you again, like the last time in Moskva.” Her voice again took on that tempting tone that had started to make Justin uneasy.
“What about the MI6 claim?” Yuri said after taking a sip of coffee.
“What about it?” Markov asked.
“Shouldn’t we have someone work with them?”
Markov shrugged and brushed back her long brown hair. “It’s very unlikely the elimination team will wait until the president gets to the hotel. There are numerous problems with choosing that venue for the attack.” She put her left hand up and started to count using her fingers. “First, they will not know which entrance the convoy will use—”
“They could have both of them covered,” Yuri said.
Markov frowned, but did not scold Yuri for the interruption. “Next, there is a lot more security in the area, and it’s easier to search the surrounding buildings than along the highway.”
“Right, but any one of the thousands of people around the hotel could be the killers,” Yuri said.
“Sure, and that’s why we’ll have a team working there, sweeping the area and keeping a watchful eye,” Markov said. “And you’ll work with that team.”
Yuri began to shake his head, but Markov waved a dismissive hand. “It’s decided, and your boss has already approved it.”
“He hasn’t told me.”
“Well, now you know about it. You can go ahead and make plans. Talk to MI6, do what you need to do.”
Yuri nodded, but a deep frown was stamped on his face. “I will take care of everything.”
“Good.” Markov nodded, then tipped her head toward the door. “I wouldn’t waste any time.”
Yuri shook his head. “This is important for me—”
“No, Justin and I have this covered. You won’t be with the convoy, so this isn’t relevant for your op.”
Yuri thought about his answer for a long moment. It seemed he was going to object, but Markov’s stern face made it clear there was no room for discussion. So he sighed and stepped off the stool. “See you later, Markov. Justin.”
“Take care, man,” Justin said.
Markov said nothing while Yuri shuffled toward the door.
“Why are you so rough on him?” Justin said.
Markov shrugged. “What? Rough? We’re Russians; this is sweet talk.”
“Yes, about sweet talk. I was thinking—”
The phone ringing interrupted his words. Justin glanced at the screen. It was Carrie. “Sorry, I have to take this.”
Markov nodded and sipped her cappuccino.
“Yes, Carrie.”
“Justin, we have a problem.”