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Stepanov's driver was beginning to worry. Usually the general came down promptly at seven, where Gennady would be waiting in front of the building. From there they would go to the Ministry. It was now ten minutes past the hour, and Stepanov had not yet appeared. The general was never late. Perhaps he was ill.
Gennady turned off the engine and entered the lobby. He went over to the security guard.
"You didn't see General Stepanov go out, did you?"
"No. He hasn't left the building, I'm sure of that."
"He's not down yet. It's not like him. I'm going up to see if he's all right."
"No problem. I'll keep an eye on the car."
"Thanks."
Gennady took the elevator to Stepanov's floor and walked down the hall to his door. He knocked. There was no response. He knocked again, harder.
"General? Are you there, sir?"
Would Stepanov be angry if he tried the door? Gennady turned the handle and was surprised when the door opened.
"General?" he called again.
God, the stink was terrible in here. Maybe he was in the bathroom. That could explain it. He started down the hall. That was when he saw the body through the open study door.
*****
Two hours later, Colonel Ivanov stood at attention before the desk of his superior, wondering what new indignity was about to be heaped upon him.
General Peshkov looked at him with disapproval.
"You will be pleased to hear that I am canceling your transfer to Novosibirsk."
"Sir. Thank you, sir."
"Don't thank me yet, Colonel. Do you know why you are so fortunate?"
"No, General."
"It appears your suspicions regarding Colonel Volkova were correct. Last night she murdered General Stepanov."
I was right!
"Murdered, sir?"
"She killed him, Ivanov. There's no doubt she did it. She's gone, of course. You and Petrov are familiar with her and her background. You are ordered to find her and bring her in. You will have all the resources you need. General Stepanov's apartment has been sealed until you have a chance to examine the crime scene."
"May I make a suggestion, sir? We should alert the border militia. She may try to leave the country."
"Do I look like an idiot? That has already been done, Colonel. Any other suggestions?"
Ivanov knew the answer to that.
"No, General."
"Good. Dismissed."
Ivanov turned to leave.
"Ivanov. Do not fail to apprehend her or Novosibirsk will be the least of your worries."
"Yes, sir."
Outside Peshkov's office, Ivanov took a deep breath. Now Volkova would get what she deserved. He would make sure of that. He would bring her in, and if the goods were a little damaged when he delivered them, well, he didn't think anyone would mind.
He took out his phone and called Major Petrov.
"You can stop packing, Major. We have a new assignment."
"Yes, sir. What has happened?"
"Colonel Volkova killed General Stepanov. It seems our model of patriotic dedication is a traitor after all."
"She killed Stepanov?"
"You're not hard of hearing, are you, Major? Peshkov has given me whatever I need to catch her. That includes you. Where are you now?"
"In my office. I was clearing out my desk."
"Good. I'll meet you there in a few minutes."
"Yes, sir."
Five minutes later, Ivanov walked into Petrov's office. He felt reborn. Half an hour before, he'd been about to leave for a dead-end job in the Arctic. Now he had a chance to turn everything around. He didn't doubt he'd catch Volkova. Success would bring the resurrection of his career. Perhaps even promotion. All in all, it was turning into a good day.
Petrov stood as Ivanov came into the room.
"At ease, Major. Sit. Let's think about what our traitor might be doing."
"Yes, sir." Petrov sat. Ivanov remained on his feet, pacing back and forth.
"I don't think she will stay in Moscow, sir."
"No, she can't hide here, not for long. Thanks to the public campaign, everyone knows what she looks like. She'll run. The question is where?"
"She'll have a dacha out in the country."
"We can check that easily enough. It will be in the registry. It could be under her father's name. Make that your first priority."
Petrov made a note on a piece of paper.
"She'll try to leave the country, escape to the west. Peshkov has already alerted border security. It's the only way she can be safe."
"That won't be easy, sir. How would she travel?"
"Check departures from the airports, train stations and bus stations. It's still early in the day. If we're lucky, this can be over quickly."
"What if she has a car?"
"Something else for you to check."
Petrov made another note.
"Let's assume she's trying to get out of the country," Ivanov said. "Where would she go?"
"The obvious choice is Finland."
"As you said, the obvious choice. Where else?"
"Belarus? She wouldn't need a passport there."
"That's possible. However, she could easily be captured there. The same applies to Ukraine. We control the border and a good portion of the area beyond. Security is tight. She cannot escape that way."
"That leaves Finland by way of Saint Petersburg, or Estonia," Petrov said. "Or she could make for Lithuania and get to Poland from there. Or she could try to have somebody take her across the Gulf to Finland."
"All very difficult," Ivanov said. "My guess is she'll take the easiest route and try to get through Saint Petersburg to Finland."
"Something occurs to me, sir. We've been talking as if she's traveling alone. What if someone is helping her?"
"Another traitor? If someone is helping her, it will make our job more difficult."
"We don't know why she killed General Stepanov."
"Go on."
"Stepanov had a habit of taking classified material home with him. You'll recall that I reported it. It's against regulations, but no one wanted to challenge the First Deputy Minister."
"If she is a spy and he caught her looking at classified material that would explain why she killed him."
"It seems logical to me, sir."
"Maybe it was an argument that got out of hand. Watching the videos, it was obvious she didn't enjoy Stepanov's sexual attentions. Maybe he wanted her to do something she didn't like."
"She was conspiring with the dissident, Sokolov," Petrov said. "I am convinced she's a spy. Sir, shouldn't we inspect the crime scene? We might find something to confirm it."
"Peshkov had the apartment sealed. We'll go take a look. Before we do that, issue the orders to cover what we talked about a few moments ago."
"Yes, sir."
From GRU headquarters to Stepanov's apartment took forty minutes. Ivanov and Petrov got off the elevator on Stepanov's floor. The militia man guarding the crime scene took one look at their uniforms and came to attention.
"Has anyone entered the apartment?" Ivanov said.
"No, Colonel."
"Has the general's body been moved?"
"No, sir. Everything has been left as it was."
"Good. Continue to keep everyone out."
"Sir."
They entered the apartment. Petrov held his finger under his nose.
"What a stink!"
They walked down the hall to the study. Ivanov took in the scene. Stepanov on the floor, the top of his skull caved in. The bloodstained desk lamp lying next to him. The chair lying on the floor, with Stepanov's uniform jacket crumpled underneath. The gun belt and empty holster. The crusted blood spread out around the body.
"Why was he in this room?" Petrov said.
"He's wearing a bathrobe. Something got him out of bed and brought him in here."
Ivanov stepped around the mess on the floor. He stooped and picked up the polished belt with Stepanov's empty holster. He looked around the room.
"I don't see his pistol. She must have taken it with her."
"What was she doing in here?"
"His computer is on. Perhaps she was looking at it?"
Petrov touched the space bar. The screen lit, requesting a password.
"Do you have Level 7 clearance, sir?"
"Working for our organization has certain advantages, Petrov."
Ivanov entered a string of characters on the keyboard and the screen cleared.
"Lots of files," Ivanov said. "Let's see..."
He opened a folder marked URAL. It was an feasibility study for improving the missile defense system for Western Russia. There was nothing particularly secret about it. Ivanov had seen an article in Red Star about it not long ago.
"What's that one, sir? The one marked MEDUZA?"
Ivanov opened the folder. The two men began reading.
"Shit," Petrov said. "This might be a good time to visit my mother in the country."
"Major Petrov. You did not see this. You understand?"
"Yes, sir. Seen what, sir?"
"Unplug the computer. We'll take it with us."
"Do you think this is why she killed him?"
"Yes. If General Stepanov caught her looking at this, he would have had her arrested."
"She's a traitor," Petrov said. "She should be shot."
"Don't worry," Ivanov said. "She will be. After we question her."