“They're capable of anything. But it doesn't fit. They knew a team was on its way, but had no idea who they were or where they were staying. They were passing themselves off as a television production crew and were due to leave for Siberia within hours when they were killed.”

“Do the police have any leads?” Margrave asked.

“One. The charter pilot who was hired to transport the team said he talked to someone who may have been the last one to see them. In fact, he took their place on a charter flight to Siberia. He was an older man, probably in his seventies.”

“Your original contact on Karla Janos, the one who killed two security men, wasn't he an older man as well?”

“Yes,” Gant said. “My guess is that they are one and the same.”

“Who is this guy? We go looking for Karla Janos and we turn up a killer old enough to collect Social Security.”

“When my men broke into his house, they found letters written to Janos on his computer and replies from the woman. He referred to himself as 'Uncle Karl.' ”

Margrave frowned. “The dossier we compiled on the Kovacs family never said anything about any uncle.”

“I wouldn't worry too much about him. When I let the Russians know that the team wasn't coming for Ms. Janos, they asked what they should do with her. I told them to kill her, and the old man, if they should come across him, as I expect they will.”

Margrave nodded. “You've been busy.”

“I don't like loose ends, like Kurt Austin, the NUMA man. I think he should be taken out.”

“I thought we were going to watch and wait on Austin to see if he developed into a threat.”

“When Austin first came into the picture, I looked into his background. He's a marine engineer and salvage expert with NUMA who has been involved in some high-profile missions. He saw the apparatus on Barrett's boat. He's in a position to cause us a great deal of trouble.”

“It has the potential for trouble, but it's nothing we can't deal with.”

“Are you saying that Austin could torpedo our project?”

“Not if he's dead. As Joseph Stalin said, '... no man, no problem.' Doyle was making plans to take care of Austin. Unfortunately, Mr. Austin left his house suddenly for an unknown destination.”

“So what do we do?”

“We keep Austin's house under constant surveillance. When he comes back we solve our problem. In the meantime, I'd suggest that you do everything you can to expedite the technical end of the project.”

“Then I'd better get going,” Margrave said.

Gant walked his guest to his car. They shook hands and agreed to stay in touch. He was on his way back into his house when the groom came up to him.

“How is the new horse?” Gant said.

“He's lame, sir.”