BooksBarbecue
Back The Asset
Chapters (86)
  1. Foreword
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. Afterword

“I know, sir. The operation in Langley is shot, but I’m not shut down completely.”

“What do you mean, not shut down completely?”

“The Russians think they killed all of my assets.”

“But they didn’t?”

“They only got three of them, sir.”

“Three?”

“And the fourth, the one they missed, is Lance Spector.”

“Spector’s back?”

“And the Russians think they killed him.”

“Spector’s in play?”

“He’s in play, sir. And he’s in Russia.”

59

As Lance and the two doctors drove further south, the streets got quieter and quieter. There was very little traffic, and any they did see was military.

“Is it always like this?” Lance said.

He was in the driver’s seat, Sofia next to him, and Olga in the back.

“No,” Sofia said. “This is different. They brought in the army after the outbreak.”

“We might be pulled over,” Lance said. “If we’re stopped, you two show your credentials and tell them you’ve been summoned to the institute.”

“What about you?” Sofia said.

“I’m your driver,” Lance said.

“Will they buy that?”

“Who knows?” Lance said, squinting to see up ahead.

They were approaching the front gates and it was clear the compound was under heavy lockdown. Three Tigr infantry carriers blocked the entrance, their Pecheneg machine guns pointed out at the street. Overhead, a helicopter provided additional support.

Lance didn’t slow down as they approached the gate.

“Turn,” Sofia said. “Turn here.”

He kept going straight, below the speed limit, all the way to the main street in front of the compound, before turning left.

“It would have looked suspicious to take those alleys,” he said.

They were driving along the eastern perimeter of the compound and Lance examined the rusty chain-link fence as they passed it. It was about twelve feet high, and there was a second, taller fence behind it. The area between the two fences was about twenty feet wide, overgrown with brush, and not well lit.

“What’s this building here on the left?” Lance said, slowing down.

“I don’t know,” Sofia said. “I think it’s an office.”

They pulled into the parking lot behind the building and Lance stopped the car. He looked out at the building. It was dark. It seemed empty.

“You two stay here,” he said. “I’m going to take a better look.”

“What if someone comes?” Sofia said.

“No one’s going to come.”

“What if they do?” Olga said.

Lance sighed. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the CZ 75 pistol.

“Don’t use it if you don’t have to.”

“We’re not idiots,” Olga said.

Lance attached the silencer to the gun and handed it to Olga. “Don’t use it, Olga,” he said again.