Deep Sleep (Devin Gray #1)(103)

“If we’re looking for more angles of attack, I think we should approach MINERVA—whether I’m still employed or not,” said Devin. “Given Jolene Rudd’s connection to the DEVTEK honey-trap ploy, I think it’s fair to assume that MINERVA has not been compromised. Not by anyone involved in the planning or execution of MINERVA’s operation.”

“What would be in it for MINERVA?” asked Rich. “Aside from doing their patriotic duty to the United States.”

Devin couldn’t tell if Rich was being sarcastic.

“I see two ways to draw them in. The first would be to give them the opportunity to best serve their client. MINERVA is all about client satisfaction. With our information, they could inform DEVTEK that the risks to the company extend well beyond industrial espionage—to possible product sabotage and ruin. I could see them setting up another sting and integrating us into that operation. The other approach is to pay them as a client to boost our surveillance and counterespionage capability,” said Devin.

“Or offer them the DEVTEK information as payment for their services,” said Marnie.

“Right. Or both,” said Devin. “Karl. You mentioned some kind of financial backing behind this team? Would it be enough to pay them on top of handing them the DEVTEK lead?”

“That’s another angle altogether,” said Rich.

“One we can’t rule out,” said Berg.

“First we have to vet the hell out of MINERVA,” said Rich. “I’m not even clear how we’d go about that. My guess is that their employee roster is a well-kept secret.”

“That’s why I think paying them makes more sense, if that’s feasible. As clients, we could insist on a custom vetting process. Maybe even dangle the DEVTEK information over their heads. Make the information contingent on vetting,” said Devin.

“That’s going to put you in an uncomfortable position,” said Rich. “Going this route will most likely terminate your employment with them.”

“What choice do I have?” asked Devin. “It’s a long shot, but like Rich said, the more angles we explore, the better.”

“Hard to argue with that,” said Berg, shrugging. “I just wish we had something up our sleeves that wasn’t such a long shot.”

“One of them has to work,” said Rich.

“Not necessarily,” said Berg. “But it is what it is.”

“How long will it take to hear back from your contacts?” asked Devin.

“The bigger question is, How long will it take them to make a difference?” said Berg.

“That’s assuming they agree to help,” said Rich.

“Fair point. This will put them in awkward positions at best. Dangerous at worst,” said Berg. “It could take a few weeks. Until things start shaping up, we’ll need to lie low. A small group of us should head back to Helen’s apartment in Baltimore and keep digging through the files. We’re bound to find an opportunity we missed on the first few passes through the information. We barely scratched the surface, to be honest.”

“I’ll scatter the rest of the team nearby,” said Rich. “We can move fast if we find anything in the files, or one of your contacts comes through.”

“We’ll need to invest in some basic disguises,” said Berg. “Nothing dramatic, but enough to throw off facial-recognition software. There’s no telling what the Russians can access through their sleeper network. The DC area has a lot of public-facing cameras.”

“Noted,” said Rich. “We’ll put together some basics before we set off for Baltimore.”

“When will we take off?” said Devin.

“After I get a good night’s sleep,” said Berg. “We’ll head straight to your mother’s apartment and wait for one or more of our long shots to pay off.”

Marnie raised her beer. “To long shots.”

“To not getting shot,” said Rich.

“Cheers to both,” said Berg, raising his can. “Though if I had to choose between the two, I’m going with not getting shot.”

Was it possible to have it both ways if they took the fight against the Russians to the next level? Devin clinked all their cans, a heavy sense of dread hanging over the toast. He couldn’t shake the distinct feeling that they wouldn’t all be alive for the next one.





CHAPTER 58


Yuri Pichugin took General Kuznetzov’s call on a secure line in the state-of-the-art, surveillance-proof room deep inside his Lake Ladoga mansion complex. Modeled after the sensitive compartmented information facility concept used by major world intelligence agencies, Pichugin had consulted with the world’s top information security consultants to ensure it met or exceeded industry standards.

In truth, it was more for show than anything else. A luxuriously appointed, soundproofed, and electromagnetically sealed space that he mostly used to impress new clients and reassure long-standing allies. He could arrange to have the secure phone line run to either of his offices inside the mansion, and not risk acoustic or digital eavesdropping.

“It’s late,” said Pichugin. “More bad news, I assume?”

“More of the same, unfortunately,” said the general. “I have the final casualty count. We lost twenty-six of the parents and fifteen of the children. Plus eight of the ten GRU sleepers brought in for the cabin side of the ambush. Farrington’s sharpshooters took a hefty toll.”