ODESSA, UKRAINE
Victor Petrov, the Ukrainian Agricultural Minister, swirled around defensively with the sound of the warehouse door creaking open and closed, and then there were two sets of footsteps approaching.
Petrov was a huge man and was sweating profusely, even though the room was cold and damp. He had become a bit paranoid following all the deaths. He had called the meeting with the Israeli more to allay his concerns than for any other necessity.
The warehouse on the harbor was a dark and dingy place. Even in the afternoon. Petrov suspected rats lurked in the shadows.
Around the corner came Omri Sherut and his bodyguard, the enormous man who had bothered Petrov at each meeting. The three of them stood in near darkness with shadows across their faces. With one nod from Sherut, his bodyguard moved a few steps back, and only his silhouette was visible.
“What’s so important, Victor?” Sherut said, somewhat put off by being summoned so soon to his departure. He was packed and ready to go to the airport when he got the call.
A chill came over Petrov as he stared at the Israeli. He knew he would never be able to trust the man implicitly, but business of this nature required some risk. The benefits far outweighed the prospect of danger. “I’m worried about our deal. The American come by my office today.”
Sherut looked surprised. “Jake Adams?”
“Yes. Yes. He said that Bio-Tech was still willing to work a deal in the Ukraine. I don’t understand. I thought you said there would be no problem?”
Now Sherut’s expression turned to a rare true smile. “Adams was bluffing. He has no power to do anything. He was merely working security for the company.”
Petrov tried to breathe easier. “That’s what I thought.”
●
Crouching back behind a large wall of crates, Quinn Armstrong listened carefully to the two men. From his vantage point he couldn’t make out the faces of the men any more, since they had slipped out of the light somewhat. He had been watching Petrov, followed him to the warehouse, and was certain that Jake Adams had been right about the man. Somehow Petrov was involved with the death of the two American businessmen. How that related to Tvchenko’s death, and Petra’s, still remained a mystery.
●
In a moment there was a flash of movement near the corner of the room, back in the darkest recesses of the warehouse.
“I was wondering if you would show,” Sherut said, looking off into what seemed like nowhere.
“We still have some unfinished business,” the man said. “I didn’t want you leaving without remembering that.”
Petrov became more uneasy with this man here. “Is it true that Adams was bluffing?”
The man shuffled his feet against the dirty cement floor. “Adams is a good liar. Listen to what Sherut tells you.”
So they were unified in this, Petrov thought. They had both confirmed this individually to him, but he had not been sure. Until now.
The man lit a cigarette and drew in a deep breath, bringing an orange glow to his face.
Sherut laughed. “Is Adams gone yet?”
Letting out a puff of smoke, the man said, “He will be. He’s on his way to Kurdistan.”
“He thinks he’s so smart,” Sherut said. “I guess time will tell for sure. I assume he had no problem rushing to the aide of his friend. How noble. He should get a medal of some sort.”
The man in the shadows seemed to shuffle nervously. “He thinks he’s doing the right thing. It’s a pity, really. Some people have this strange sense of duty, without regard for their own safety. It’s ludicrous. I think he’s a bit touched in the head, myself. But you can’t misjudge his dedication, however misguided.”
“I won’t underestimate the man,” Sherut said. “I know what he’s capable of. But this time his luck has run out. He’s in the middle of something far bigger than even he can get himself out of. I’m quite certain of that.” Sherut laughed boisterously.
●
Quinn waited for a half hour after the four men had departed before he budged a muscle. He was in shock. He hadn’t actually seen the man through the darkness, but he didn’t need to. The voice had been enough. Now he wasn’t sure how to react. Jake Adams was in trouble and he was the only one who could tell him that. Had Jake already left for Turkey?