Goldman’s eyes opened wide as she listened in amazement. Durov? A Russian admiral was involved in this thing somehow. Could this all be tied to the international incident over the missing Russian submarines? Goldman had put all that aside as she concentrated on the OptiMarx problem. As big an international incident as it was, it couldn’t have impacted her investigation. It had never occurred to her that they might some way be entangled. Now, from what she was hearing, it was all part of the same plot!

A different voice, one she had not yet heard, spoke.

“It had better happen soon, before the old bastard’s heart gives out.”

Nicholas chuckled in response. “No matter. We will still make money either way, Josef. Anyway, it is time for you and me to go deal with that Smythe guy. Mikhail, you will stay here and take proper care of our guest.”

Goldman heard the rough scraping of chairs on a hardwood floor and, quickly afterward, the slamming of a door. She hurried from the spot where she had been kneeling in the closet and looked out the front window. She was just in time to see the big Ford blast away down the driveway.

Her head was spinning wildly as she fell back onto the bed.

*   *   *

Admiral Durov stood beside his black Zil, parked at the head of the pier, and watched the scurry of activity down by the black hull of a submarine. The huge expanse of the covered dock was bathed in the dim golden glow of the overhead lights. He pulled his heavy bridge coat more tightly as a bitter-cold wind blew in from the open seaward end of the building.

Vasiliy Zhurkov noticed.

“Are you cold, Admiral?”

“Just the breeze. It brings a chill.”

The old man did not look well. The constant tension and effort of the last few months had carved deep lines on his ghostly-pale face. Zhurkov worried his mentor would work himself into a grave before he could ever see his bold plan to fruition.

“Is everything ready for President Smitrov?” Durov asked his aide.

“Yes, Admiral. The memorial ceremony is all planned. The families and all the local dignitaries will be at the chapel, as will select members of the international news media. The president has approved the agenda.”

Durov smiled, but the strain of the effort to do so was obvious. “That is good. And after the ceremony?”

“Your special security team will take Smitrov prisoner.”