“I carry what clients like you need.”
“And you got these resources through private channels?”
“Through channels that prioritize client security over red tape.”
Another dodge wrapped in consultant speak. Pavel deflects questions about his background exceptionally well, but his evasions just make me more suspicious about what he’s up to.
“Fine. Do your recon and get back to me with actionable intel.”
“Copy. What about your wife during the operation?”
“What about her?”
“She should know about the surveillance threat and follow security protocols until we get countermeasures in place.”
I think about Katya’s recent behavior. The way she’s been avoiding eye contact and having weird one-sided conversations when she thinks I’m not listening. Something changed after we got back from the estate. I just wish I knew what.
“I’ll handle my wife’s security.”
“Of course. But if she doesn’t know the threat level, she might accidentally compromise?—”
“She won’t compromise anything.”
Pavel nods but doesn’t look satisfied. “I’ll start recon at twenty-two hundred and maintain comms throughout.”
“Timeline for results?”
“Preliminary assessment by morning, detailed analysis within forty-eight hours.”
“And implementing the countermeasures?”
“Depends on what I find out about their capabilities. Could be days or weeks.”
After Pavel leaves to prep for his nighttime spy games, I sit in my office staring at the encrypted radio he gave me. The thing looks military-issue despite his claims about private sources. Either Pavel has incredible connections in the defense world, or he’s accessing equipment through official channels he doesn’t want to discuss.
My phone buzzes with a text from Alexei.
Kuznetsov family wants to meet. They’re nervous about government heat.
I type back:Next week. We’ve got bigger problems.
Need backup?
Not yet. Will keep you posted.
I pocket the phone and check the time. Katya’s been holed up in the bedroom for three hours, and I haven’t heard any movement. When I knocked earlier, she said she was napping, but her voice sounded wide awake.
Something’s wrong with my wife.
If Katya remembers who she is, if she knows why she was in my organization and what I’ve done since the explosion, then everything becomes a threat.
But that’s not possible. If Katya remembered who she is, she would be in here, ripping me to shreds.
Wouldn’t she?
27
Katya
