The Spy Wore Red (13 page)

Chapter 13

K
ovar was asleep when Nadja broke in to his suite and then slipped into his bedroom. She stood by the door and stared across the room at him, thinking it would be so easy to take one of the pillows off the bed and place it over his face. A little pressure and it would be all over.

Or would it?

Never think you’ve seen the worst. There’s always another far more sinister.

She had read that once, and she believed it was true. She walked past the bed and went to the mirror. There was a button on the right, hidden behind a picture of her. She was maybe ten in it, and she wore a pink ski outfit. She was holding her skis, and she was smiling. But then, she had had no reason not to smile.

It wasn’t until age fourteen that she’d begun to realize that Kovar’s obsession with her was unnatural. No, it wasn’t sexual or kinky in any way—it was simply all-consuming. He owned her mind, body and soul.

She pressed the button and the floor-length mirror became a door that she opened and walked through. Inside her eyes went straight to the swivel chair that sat in the middle of the room, then to the surrounding walls cluttered with pictures—and the shelves lined with trophies she’d won over the years.

Kovar referred to the room as the T-room—time-out to trophy count. It was where he sent her when he hadn’t been pleased with her performance on the slopes. Where he sent her when she needed to reflect on what was most important.

Had Alzbet been placed in that chair?

No, not yet, she thought. Not until Kovar had brainwashed her into thinking that skiing and pleasing him was, above all else, the most important goal in her life.

At the far end of the room was another door, and she opened it and stepped inside. This was where Kovar kept his secret files and his impressive stash of weapons.

Kovar had been a mole for the KGB for years. It’s how she’d come to work for them after the accident. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay away.”

She heard the words clearly and she turned to see no one there. She backtracked and found Kovar sitting in his wheelchair in the T-room.

“I came to ask you a question,” she said softly, but with the promise that she would have an answer.

“I know what you came for. You saw her, didn’t you.” The grin he offered was victorious. “You’ve seen my beautiful Bethy, haven’t you.”

My Bethy…

Nadja felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

“Whatever made you think you could hide her from me?”

He knew the truth. Nadja raised her chin. “Desperation, and the need to protect what is mine.”

“You are mine and therefore anything that you’ve made is mine. I wish I could have seen your face when you learned you were pregnant.”

She said nothing.

“I retraced your steps. Five years ago you were in Vienna. You were sent there to kill Raywolf. What a messy outcome. Blow your target’s brains out, then realize that you’re pregnant. Messy, indeed.”

Kovar thought Alzbet was the child of Raywolf Cain, one of the Russian mafia’s hit men. Nadja felt herself relax. Good, let him think that Alzbet’s father was dead. It was better that way. Safer.

Yes, she had canceled Raywolf in Vienna the night before she had met Bjorn. But the child was not Raywolf’s child. She knew that without a doubt, because she had killed that monster before he’d dropped his pants. He had been a vile beast. And the thought of letting him touch her had made her sick.

“It’s good he’s dead,” Kovar said, “or I would have seen to it myself. No sense borrowing trouble. Men in high places can be unpredictable when they learn they’ve fathered a child. Any man, for that matter.”

Again Nadja kept quiet.

“Your daughter…my great-granddaughter is perfect. I thank you for that. I never thought I would be able to say that, but she is wonderful. Above average in height just like you were at that age. Perfect for the slopes. She has your magnificent long legs and balance, but as you know, it takes more than that to be a winner. The bones are the secret ingredient. They can’t be too bulky, or too fragile. Bethy’s bones, like Mommy’s bones, are special.”

“How did you find out about her?”

“I went to see Ruger…unexpectedly. But fate…ah, fate, it can be a grand thing, don’t you think? Imagine my surprise when I saw her in his home. It was a gift I had never imagined. I must tell you it nearly brought me to tears.”

Kovar in tears would have been rich. Nadja said, “Ruger lives at Wilten and they—”

“He did live there, but he moved into his own place. A woman met me at the door. I believe her name was Sister, uh…what was it?”

“Catherine?”

“Yes, Catherine. She was the one who delivered my Bethy. She admitted that to me—under duress of course.”

“Where is Sister Catherine now?”

“She had an accident. Clumsy women don’t live long.”

“You killed her?”

“In a matter of speaking, I suppose you can lay the blame at my feet. I didn’t actually pull the trigger, but I did give the order.”

“I hate you.”

“Yes, I know. And I love…to hate you. Since that day in Zurich when you ripped out my heart and shredded my soul.”

“It was an accident. How many times do I have to say it was an error that pulled me off course?”

“You do not make errors. Errors cause accidents, and accidents are not acceptable. You knew that. You knew what I expected. What I wanted. What we needed that day to win.” He drew in a breath, calmed his voice. “Getting back to Ruger. He really does have grit. I always saw him as weak, but he told the perfect lie that day about Bethy. He said someone had left the little girl abandoned on his doorstep, and he was temporarily caring for her.

“Still, a priest lying,” Kovar tisked, “such a terrible sin. I didn’t confront him that day. Instead I went home and began making plans. I researched those months after you’d been in Vienna. You went missing, remember? It was about four months later. You told Polax that some anarchy group had captured you and held you prisoner.

“It was a perfect lie. It bought you time while your belly swelled, isn’t that right? Ruger took care of you during that time. Made arrangements for you to stay at the convent, Stift Nonnberg. And once the child was born you left her with him and went back to work. After escaping the anarchy group that had captured you, of course.”

“Does anyone at the KGB know I have a child?”

“I thought it best to keep it our secret. Ours and Ruger’s, of course. I couldn’t very well kill him, my own grandson, though I did entertain the idea.”

“Where is he? Where is my brother?”

“His decision to aid you and lie to me has been costly. But he is alive, and I imagine in prayer daily for his abominable sin.”

“Where?”

“In Italy. And he will remain there. Do not cross me on that, Nadja. Do not think you can attempt to rescue him. I assure you he is alive, and that should be good enough.”

She looked at his swollen ankles. At how weak he appeared.

“Don’t let my appearance fool you. My mind is sound, and my power is still superior to yours. One phone call and your beautiful leg will become a lifeless club once more. I can do it and I will.”

It was always there, the threat that he would take away what he’d given her—a life of his choosing in another prison with him as the jailer.

His eyes drifted over her from head to toe. She was dressed in a black sweater dress that molded and hugged her hips and brought attention to her long legs.

“They are beautiful, you know. Your legs are to die for, as I believe the American expression goes.”

“Alzbet is mine. I won’t let you have her.”

“She was never yours. And how are you going to stop me? Kill me? You could, you know. But then what about Ruger? He could be lost forever. You know how it works. I never leave anything to chance. I own you, and you will do as I say from now until forever. Even after I die there will be no escape. I’ve left instructions behind, and I have no doubt they will be carried out—you are of value to the cause.”

“Why can’t you forgive me and give me back my life?”

“Because I don’t want to. Because it still hurts, what you destroyed. What you threw away. Tell me, how is the chip doing these days? Any worries or concerns I should relay to Velich? He asks about you often. I think he’s in love with you. Of course you were his first real experiment success. Human, that is.”

“The chip is doing fine.”

“Very good, and the current mission you’re on? Is it progressing? Have you located Holic yet?”

“You know I haven’t.”

“True, I do know that. However, because he is of no interest to the KGB, I haven’t kept up on the details. Enlighten me. Did you come here to see if Mady could tell you where he is? Is that what brought you here? I’m not fool enough to think you missed me.”

“Do you know if Holic is here?”

“Why would he be here? This is a busy place.”

“Busy enough to be overlooked.”

“I suppose so, but I think not. Nonetheless, I haven’t seen him.”

That meant nothing. Kovar was in a wheelchair most of the time. His outings were limited.

“Tell me. Will you kill your sister’s husband when you find him? Will you be able to do it?”

“You know I have no trouble following orders.”

“That’s been true so far, but can you break Mady’s heart? She loves him still, even though he isn’t worth loving. And Prisca, can you take her father from her?”

“Holic is a monster,” Nadja said, reminded of how many innocent people had been killed by her brother-in-law. Women, as well as men—even children—had died at his hands.

“Then killing has gotten easier? I remember the first time you pulled the trigger and splattered brains everywhere. I believe you were sick for a week.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about your heart attack?”

“I didn’t want to give you false hope. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. Besides I wanted to spend some uninterrupted time getting to know my Bethy.” Each time he said “my Bethy” he sneered. “Tell me about your partner, this Onyxx agent. Odell, right?”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“That means there is a lot to tell.”

“He’s a rat fighter. What more is there to say?”

“Yes, I know of Onyxx and the men they employ. Tough men. Survivors beyond the grave.”

Nadja turned to leave, then stopped and looked back. “Before I go, there’s one thing I need from you. Get rid of Gerda.”

“No.”

“Do it.”

“She has been in my employment forever. She is loyal.”

“She is a witch. She used to strike me with that leather strap on her belt. Did you know? Do you know she’s doing the same thing to Alzbet?”

His eyes narrowed, revealing that he didn’t.

“I don’t want her near my daughter another minute. Get rid of her. Do it today, or tomorrow you’ll find her dead in one of the linen closets.”

Merrick hung up the phone after talking to Jacy. He was getting stronger and his speech was better—a little slow, but he was beginning to sound like himself again. He eased off the hospital bed, stood on weak legs.

There was a storm about to hit Austria, and it wasn’t weather related. He’d just received a vital piece of information. Information that needed his full attention. But he couldn’t return to Onyxx yet. He wasn’t strong enough to leave the hospital. Not for at least another week.

He dialed headquarters, delivered Jacy’s information to a trusted colleague, then hung up and dialed Polax on his private line.

When Quest’s commander picked up, Adolf said, “This is Merrick. I’ve just learned that Holic Reznik’s wife is Nadja Stefn’s sister. Did you know?”

For a moment Polax said nothing, then, “That’s impossible.”

“My source is reliable. And there’s something else, too. Q’s a double agent.”

Silence.

“Polax, did you hear me?”

“Are you sure.”

“Yes.”

“Then we need to talk.”

“Yes, we do, but not over that phone.”

“I agree.”

“I can’t leave D.C. right now. You’ll have to come to me,” Merrick said. “I’ll give you the address.”

“I’ll clear my calendar for the next seventy-two hours and be on the next flight.”

Ten hours later, Merrick watched Lev Polax pull off his hat as he entered his hospital room at seven o’clock in the morning. “You must have hopped the first plane out of Prague to get here so quickly.”

“I didn’t like what I heard. I don’t believe that Nadja’s sister is Holic’s wife.” He shook his head. “And a double agent? How can that be?”

Merrick climbed out of the chair next to his hospital bed. He wore black pants and a black sweater. It had taken a lot to convince Paul to let him dress in street clothes, but he’d won the battle. He no longer looked like he was hovering at death’s door, but he didn’t look like he was going to win a race to the bathroom, either. He’d had major surgery after all, and the evidence was visible from the size of the bandage that covered his head.

“My source says you and Kovar Stefn were school chums. Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“And is that how Nadja came to work at Quest?”

“Yes. I was presented with an opportunity. Kovar is quite wealthy. He was interested in investing some of it in my inventions.”

“And in turn you made it possible for Nadja to join Quest?”

“That’s correct. It was a bit unorthodox, but I knew him, and I trusted him. To this day I have trusted him and he’s given me no cause to regret what I did. I simply saw no harm in—”

“Allowing a double agent into your midst.”

“I wouldn’t have had I known. I believe in Quest and our work there. If you think I would deliberately sabotage—”

“I don’t.”

“This other agency. Who does Q serve other than Quest?”

“We’re not sure yet. She didn’t offer that information, but we have it straight from her that she is a double agent.”

Polax groaned, then walked to the hospital window on the third floor and looked out. “This is going to ruin me. Unless we can turn it around in some positive way I—”

“I’ve been thinking about that. There might be a way.” Merrick started pacing slowly around the room; he needed to get his strength back and get out of there. But that wasn’t going to happen if they kept feeding him watered-down soup and pureed fruit.