Suddenly, there were three sharp raps at the door. "Captain Stevens! Captain Stevens!"
Grant and Adler jerked their heads around, then Adler immediately went to the door and opened it. Lieutenant Franklin, OOD, looked back and forth between Grant and Alder. "Beg pardon, sirs, but we just received word that the Soviet Embassy in Berlin was bombed!"
Grant and Adler shot looks at one another before Grant questioned, "Bombed?!"
"Yes, sir! Still no report on casualties."
Grant returned to his conversation with Mullins. "Scott! Did you hear that?! The Soviet Embassy was bombed!"
"Holy shit!"
Petty Officer Simms came rushing into the room. "Sirs, two other locations — bombed, sirs!"
"Hold on, Scott! Petty Officer! Where'd those bombings happen?!"
"An East German command center for border guards, and the Soviet's Rifle Brigade, sir!"
Grant's eyes narrowed as he looked at Adler. "That sonofabitch Reznikov."
"My thought, too. I'd better go tell the guys."
"Try not … "
"I'll be sure she can't hear me, but I'll tell them all about the Prowler." Adler took off, breaking into a run.
Grant directed his eyes to Franklin. "Keep me posted, Lieutenant." Franklin and Simms took their cue, and left.
"Jesus, Scott!"
"Word's beginning to come across the wires! And I heard what you said. You really think it was Reznikov?"
"Sounds like he's pissed at everyone. This may change everything on getting Dotsenko out."
"I'll call … Uh-oh. Grant, hold on. There's a call coming in that probably has something to do with this shit."
While he waited, Grant began thinking about meeting Dotsenko at the U.S. Embassy. But that was as far as he got, when he heard, "Grant, you're to go to the embassy! You'll be contacted when this shit calms down!"
Grant rubbed a hand over his head. "What if it doesn't, Scott? What if this is just the beginning of Reznikov's higher plan?"
"Look, don't even go there for now."
"Yeah. You're right, I guess. We'll wait for the Prowler, and I've gotta talk to the chopper pilot. I want him to wait until Pankova's on her way."
"Contact me from the embassy. Stay safe, buddy."
The lockbuzzedagain, and Adler came rushing back just as Grant hung up. Seeing Grant's worried expression, he leaned closer. "What the hell else is wrong?"
"We're to go to the embassy until we get further orders." Grant reached for the phone again. "While we're here, I'd better call Nichols."
The operator put him through to Sam Nichols' office. "Mr. Nichols, it's Grant Stevens."
"I guess you've heard, Captain."
"Yes, sir, we have. Is the embassy secured?"
"It is. Luckily, it's been relatively quiet."
"Glad to hear that. Listen, the main reason I'm calling is to update you. The Team's been requested to help maintain security there."
"I guess you mean for Mr. Dotsenko."
"The entire compound, sir. We still don't have orders concerning him. We'll just have to wait it out for now."
"Your presence will be welcome, Captain!"
Grant checked the time, but he decided not to mention Pankova to Nichols. "We'll be leaving here soon, flying back to Schonefeld."
"I'll advise the guards. Oh, I almost forgot. Someone called and left you a message."
"Who?"
"He only gave a first name — 'Nick.'"
Grant's eyebrow arched. "Excuse me?!"
"He said 'Nick.' Do you know him?"
"Yeah, I do. It's just a … surprise, that's all. What was the message?"
"He left pretty specific instructions, but basically, he wants to meet you near the Brandenburg Gate tonight."
"Okay. Thanks."
"I'll be expecting you soon."
Grant hung up, then leaned back against the desk, remaining quiet, rubbing his hand across his chin. He decided against telling Nichols to keep the message "close to the vest." It could raise questions, and maybe that would lead to an intel check on the name "Nick."
Adler waited for an explanation, until his curiosity got the best of him. "What's the surprise? Are you gonna tell me?"
"What? Oh. Nick called the embassy."
Adler's eyes went wide. "Nick?! OurNick?!"
"Yeah. He wants to meet near the Brandenburg Gate tonight."
"Jesus! What the hell are those odds, I mean, him and us being here?"
"The bigger questions are how'd he know to call the embassy, and why?" Grant started toward the door. "We're wasting time. Let's go."
As they jogged toward the Gulfstream, Adler couldn't hold back a laugh. "Do I give you my money now?!"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Remember after the last op? I said the next time the two of you met up, I'd pay big bucks for tickets!"
"I take cash."
While Grant and Adler sat with Pankova in the Gulfstream, the Team stood watch around the plane. Stalley and Diaz had binoculars, waiting for the Prowler.
Stalley walked up the steps, then leaned toward the open doorway. "Boss, Prowler's on its final approach."
"Okay, Doc." Grant and Adler both stood, as Grant smiled at Pankova. "We'll be right back, ma'am."
They joined the rest of the Team at the front of the Gulfstream, watching the plane touch down on Runway 08.
"Joe, I'm gonna go release the chopper." He took off jogging across the concrete pad toward the Sea Knight.
The crew was standing in the cargo bay. Grant shook each of their hands. "Can't thank you enough, guys. You made the mission a success, and saved our butts!"
"Our pleasure, sir," Lieutenant Anderson responded.
Grant snapped them a crisp salute. "Safe trip back to base!"
The high-pitched whine of the Prowler's two turbo-jet engines signaled it's arrival at MILOPS. It pulled closer to the Gulfstream, following signals from the marshaller. Pilot and co-pilot would remain on board, readying for takeoff.
Grant and Adler hustled up the Gulfstream's steps. "Well," Grant said, "your special ride is here." Pankova exhibited a nervous smile. He tried to reassure her. "The Navy's fly boys are just about the best of the best, ma'am. They'll take great care to see you safely back to the States."
Petty Officer Jim Blackman (corpsman) stood at the bottom of the steps. "Sir?"
"Come aboard, Petty Officer," Adler motioned.
Blackman had a green flight suit folded over his arm, a pair of boots, with heavy socks stuffed inside. Pankova was standing near the forward bulkhead.
Grant made the introduction. "Petty Officer, this is your passenger."
"Ma'am," Blackman smiled, with a nod of his head. He held the flight suit and boots toward her. "We'd like you to put these on over your clothes. Everything's gonna be a little big, I'm afraid, but they should help keep you warm. There are gloves in the pockets." She took the clothes then went aft to the restroom.
Once she was behind the door, Blackman softly said, "Looks like she's had a pretty rough time, sir."
"You could say that," Grant replied. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Stalley. "Listen, why don't you go talk with Doc. He'll bring you up to speed on injuries that he treated. I think she only had one or two aspirins."
"Very well, sir." As Blackman started down the steps, he turned to Grant. "She'll be fine, sir."
Pankova walked through the cabin, with the flight suit's sleeves and pant legs rolled up.
"Are you ready?" Grant smiled down at her.
"Yes." But then she had to ask, "And Alexei?"
"As soon as we leave here, we'll be meeting with him, ma'am. But there still isn't a timeframe for his leaving. That's all I can tell you."
She extended her hand to both Grant and Adler, then Grant motioned for her to go ahead. The rest of A.T. stood on both sides of the stairs, giving her a nod as she went past.
Once she walked off the last step, she turned. "Thank you all."