“I know. Remember when I asked you about fate and karma?”

“Of course. It was just a minute ago. I don’t think I’ve taken a blow to my head, at least not one that’s damaged my short-term memory.”

“Good. Here’s the kicker, Zack. I had no idea that you lived here. Had I known, I never would’ve sanctioned this. In fact, I would’ve ordered him to do something else, find some other way. That monster told Gregory that he’d vetted the residents and that there were no ‘unknown variables,’” Belyakov said, and scoffed. “But that’s exactly what you are, an unknown variable, one who spared my life, and one who saved all your friends and neighbors. As I stand here before you, Zack, I swear on my children’s lives, I believe you were meant to be here. I believe all of us were meant to be here as some sort of cosmic reckoning. One which, I’m sad to say, has nearly come to its conclusion.”

Zack felt as if his world, his stable, suburban environment, had been violently wrenched apart, pieces and lives permanently destroyed. What had started as a typical Friday night had turned into an international spy game played out on a suburban battlefield. The irony that he’d been an unwilling participant who’d guided the events of the night weighed down on him. He’d done what he’d thought was right at every step of the violent game, but he wondered if he’d caused more harm than good. He wasn’t one for guilt or self-reflection, yet he couldn’t help but speculate as to what he would’ve done had he known what Belyakov’s plan had been from the beginning. He might’ve just turned over the laptop and walked away. But you couldn’t have known, and you’ll what-if yourself into damnation and madness if you go there.

“So that’s it? You just take Griffin, the laptop, and disappear? You know, in the spirit of this new glasnost between us, once you leave, I’m telling my government you were here. You know that, right?”

The smile on Belyakov’s face was broad and genuine. “Of course, I do. I would expect nothing less from you. But fear not, my American friend, your government won’t find me. In fact, I’m willing to bet they won’t even try, because they won’t want to, not with what I know about them. They would never compromise themselves that way. You and I both know that to be true about both of our governments.”