Chapter XXIX

Bonn, Germany

PRITCHETT WALKED INTO the conference room and threw a copy of the Novosti on the table. He surveyed all the agents in attendance along with Al Bearden. Each one had been instrumental in not only identifying and eliminating the mole but also in saving Pritchett’s life.

“According to today’s edition of the Belgrade paper, I’d say this was a successful mission,” Pritchett said with a smile.

Maddux scooped up the Novosti and looked at the headline. “Care to translate that for us, Dex?”

“Four Dead in Shootout,” Dex read aloud.

“We need to say a prayer for Kensington, God rest his soul,” Pritchett said, making the sign of the cross. “He deserved a better fate. He was a devoted patriot and a good friend.”

“What happens to the Belgrade station now?” Dex asked. “With Kensington gone and Cordell telling who knows what to the KGB and SDB, who can pick up the pieces there without getting burned again?”

Bearden shifted in his chair. “For now, we’re going to channel everything back to our offices in London. All the agents on the ground will continue with their covers and will be contacted when we need them to be reactivated. We feel like it’s critical for us to lay low for a while there when it comes to local leadership. Meanwhile, those assigned to listening posts will continue as usual and report any intelligence learned from captured conversations.”

“Anything else we need to know about?” one of the agents asked.

“Based on Maddux’s and Dex’s report, it sounds like the KGB super assassin story is a myth,” Pritchett said. “Gentlemen, either of you care to elaborate?”

Dex nodded at Maddux.

“Cordell admitted that there were no KGB super assassins, though he did suggest that it wasn’t entirely made up,” Maddux said. “The truth is all of our agents who were captured or killed recently were done so as a direct result of the intel Cordell gave them. It’s not that the KGB agents possessed some incredible skills as much as they knew everything about our people.”

“So, we can expect KGB super assassins to surface in the future?” Pritchett asked.

Maddux shrugged. “Maybe, or maybe Cordell was just trying to say something to throw us off, a last-ditch effort to lash out at us. I don’t think we need to cower in fear at the possibility that there are some KGB agents with special training to track and kill our people, but I also don’t think we need to dismiss it outright.”

“We’re connecting with our contacts within the KGB to learn more,” Bearden said. “But for now, we just don’t know. Of course, the KGB is always trying to mitigate our ability to do our job, but to what extent this rumor is true remains a mystery. Rest assured I will pass along more information as it becomes available.”

“Any other questions for now?” Pritchett asked.

The room remained silent.

“In that case, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the role you played in retrieving me from the Konjic prison. I know Maddux and Dex—and even Rose—all took personal risks to get me out of there. And for your efforts, I am extremely grateful. To be honest, I think they were ready to get me out of there. Not many people want anything to do with a one-eyed man walking around with a hook. There’s no telling how long I would’ve been there—if they decided to let me live—had you not rescued me.”

“I can speak for all of us in saying that we’re glad you’re back,” Bearden said. “You run a great station here in Bonn, and I quickly found out just how loyal everyone here is to you.”

“The real challenge is keeping it that way,” Pritchett said with a chuckle. “But I’d take anyone in this room over anyone else in the agency.”

Bearden stood. “Well, it looks like my work here is done since. I’ve got a little paperwork to sign before I leave and return to London. But I’ll do so knowing this station is back in good hands.”

“Thank you, sir,” Pritchett said before turning his gaze to the rest of the attendees. “The rest of you can get back to work as well, except for you, Maddux. We need to talk.”

Pritchett watched the rest of the agents file out of the room until he was left alone with Maddux.

“I wanted to thank you privately for what you did,” Pritchett said. “It was stupid for you to call Rose and ask her to come help you, especially without telling her all the facts about your situation, but it worked out. Just don’t do it again.”

“Understood,” Maddux said.

“But that’s not all,” Pritchett said. “I have a special mission for you that I want you to run.”

“Is it dangerous? Because I’d like to request a small break from nearly getting killed.”

Pritchett smiled. “No, this one is simple. Just a recruiting mission.”

“What do I have to do?”

“Convince Gunnar Andersson to help the CIA.”

“I thought you said it was simple.”