“I thought you’d like it,” said Kaparov. “A word of warning, my friend. If this sleeper network is as extensive as you’ve suggested and has any connection to Khrushchev’s Ghost, or any Cold War–era hard-liner faction, it will be positioned to inflict maximum damage on the United States. Meaning—it represents the ultimate under-the-table leverage. Whoever controls it will not go gently into the night. Be very careful with this one.”

“That’s the plan,” said Berg.

“And if Pichugin’s pulling the strings,” said Kaparov, “keep a close eye on Ukraine. Rumor has it that nearly three-quarters of the separatist ground forces massed near the Donbass region are mercenaries. Battalion-size units in some cases. This represents a significant increase over last year. Something is brewing over there.”

“Sounds like the Wegner Group?”

“Nobody will confirm it,” said Kaparov. “But who else could it be? The Wegner Group has been Pichugin’s private army for close to a decade.”

“More like Putin’s private army,” said Berg.

“Once again, nobody will confirm either connection. At least nobody that wants to live to a ripe old age,” said Kaparov.

“Thank you for helping out with this, Alexei. As always, watch your back,” said Berg. “And I owe you again. For the record, all-inclusive is the way to go when you’re drinking from nine in the morning into the late hours of the night on a Caribbean vacation. And it’s not like you’re drinking the high-end stuff anyway.”

“Ha! I just don’t want you to think my services come cheap!”

“I’m well aware they don’t,” said Berg.

“I’ll call as soon as I know something,” said Kaparov. “Or be on the next flight out of Moscow, headed to the Caribbean, if I somehow kick the same hornet’s nest here.”

He ended the call convinced that Karl Berg would be the end of him and determined to soak every ruble possible out of him when they finally met up. If he survived the latest mess Karl had stepped in.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To start, a big thank-you to my family for supporting this book during the pandemic. Deep Sleep is the second manuscript I produced in “lockdown,” and I’m not going to lie: it took every bit of focus I could muster. Everyone here at home played a significant role in keeping me on my deadline.

To Kosia, my better half, for locking me in the office when necessary and banning me from social media when my attention strayed. More importantly, for taking the conspiracy I created for this story to the next level. The wider geopolitical scope and deeper penetration of the conspiracy were a direct result of a series of brainstorming sessions conducted months before I put words on the pages.