Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(9)

"It could be almost anything, but bear in mind, the Russians have their hands on the drug-I'm sure you've figured that out already. Perhaps Baikov is trading that for whatever he wants."

"Where the hell did he get it?" Auggie snapped.

"Ask Corinne. She was far ahead of me on that." With that statement, he rose from his seat and stalked out of the kitchen.

"You know where the drug came from," Auggie accused, his eyes narrowing as he rapped his knuckles against the granite island.

"I have very good guesses," I said. "And I don't think they're wrong."

"We need a meeting," Auggie rose abruptly. "With Farrell and the President."

*

The meeting was scheduled in a week, and it wasn't just Dr. Farrell and the President who were involved. Eventually the Directors of the FBI, CIA and the Joint NSA-Homeland Security Department were included.

At least Leo was invited, too, even if Marcus fell into a snit because he wasn't. He had no idea what it was about, but wanted to be included anyway. He was a prime example of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing.

Meanwhile, Auggie had given permission for an evening trip to Seattle, so Rafe and I could have dinner out. James, of course, was going, as were Auggie, Leo and Laci. At the last minute, Maye, Nick and Jeff were added, then Marcus included himself. We had reservations at a nice restaurant downtown, in a private room with a view of the bay.

"I intend to make love when we get back," Ilya murmured against the nape of my neck before we left our suite.

"I missed you," I sighed and leaned against him.

"I have missed my cabbage in my arms, calling out my name," his lips wandered down my neck.

"Honey, you may have to stop or we won't get to dinner."

"You want me that badly?" I could hear the smile in his voice.

"I can't think of any woman who wouldn't want that. I'm first in line," I added.

"You are the only one I allow in line," he turned me in his arms before covering my mouth with his.

You say the best things, I sent to him.

I mean all of them, he returned.

*

Ilya

"You hear me?" I asked as we stepped off the electric vehicle and walked toward the back end of a large barn. That's where our tunnel ended and the farm property began. Another vehicle waited there for us, ready to transport us to Seattle.

"I do," Corinne said. "I heard you before I woke this time. That's what brought me back."

"Good enough. I assume you do not hear all my thoughts?"

"Only those you send in my direction."

"Good. Very good."

"You can keep your mystery," she looped her arm in mine. I watched her smile and couldn't help smiling in return.

*

Corinne

Mushroom ravioli was my choice for dinner. It was delicious. I just wished I'd gotten to eat as much as I wanted.

Instead, Baikov chose to make his presence known, and while it offered Rafe the gift of revenge, it effectively killed the one possible link I had with the enemy.

Sure-ask how I got us to Crimea. Auggie sure did afterward, and he was there, the rat.

It started, I'm sure, as an attempt to make Ukraine into the enemy. Somehow, Baikov arranged for Russian missiles to fall into the hands of those posing as Ukrainian rebels, who then arranged to fire those same missiles into Crimea.

I was only two bites into my meal when the images flashed across my brain. Baikov should have stayed at home, that day. I transported everybody at the table (including Laci) to an underground bunker southeast of Ivanivka. Computer consoles surrounded us and Russian troops disguised as Ukrainian civilians were seated at those consoles, preparing to launch missiles from a site just outside the Crimean border.

The resulting deaths and destruction would be catastrophic, and all of it blamed on Ukraine. That would cause immense problems down the road, from economic sanctions to an outright takeover by Russia, with nobody willing to stand in the way.

Baikov was there, barking out orders in Russian, which, surprising even to me, I understood. He was telling them to fire the missiles.

I'll never forget the next few minutes as long as I live.

Ilya shouted at the three men sitting at computer consoles to stand down. When they didn't, Auggie, Maye and Nick made sure of it. Baikov pulled a gun and fired at Ilya. It turned out to be the wrong thing to do.

Baikov had the strangest expression on his face as he died, Ilya's eyes boring into his while his neck snapped audibly in Ilya's hands.

Laci, who'd grabbed my arm, stared at the mayhem-and the dead Russian General-in alarm.

"It's okay, they were trying to blow up Crimea," I told her before rubbing her back. The other three were still alive, and I didn't think it was a good idea to kill them in front of Laci. Leo came to Laci and pulled her away while James helped restrain the prisoners.

"I'm assuming you can get them back with us?" Auggie lifted an autocratic eyebrow in my direction, daring me to argue.

"Where do you want to take them?" I asked, ignoring his anger.

"I'd like to take them to Matt Michaels. As soon as possible," he snapped.

It was my turn to raise an eyebrow. Matt Michaels wasn't the name the Director of the Joint NSA/Homeland Security Department was born with, but that was his secret, not mine. "If that's what you want," I agreed. "Are you ready now?"