Grant leaned toward the console, as he caught a glimpse of a six-story building. "Christ! And every light's on. Busy little bastards, aren't they?"
"And always 24/7/365," Kalinin added.
"Okay, Joe, get us outta here, but take it easy."
Adler maintained a slow speed. "According to the sign, it's eight kilometers (5 miles) to Karlshorst."
Grant continued looking at the complex through the rear window. "Maybe it's a bad idea to visit the brigade complex, I mean, being so close to the Stasi."
"We should be okay," Kalinin said with reassurance. "My badge will help eliminate any curious questions. And with you speaking Russian, and Joe, German, how could we fail?!"
Adler made a right onto Am Tierpark, just as heavy rain started pelting the windshield. "What the hell?!" He set the wipers on high. "Gonna be tough inspecting the property in this shit!"
Grant leaned toward the windshield. "Joe, turn left into that small park. Looks like there're parking spaces away from this road. We'll wait it out. We need to discuss the intel, anyway."
Adler backed into a space, then shut off the engine and lights. Propping an arm on the backrest, his eyes went from Kalinin to Grant.
Grant dug out a piece of paper from his pocket. "Take a look at this, Nick. If anything, it's at least a good beginning to the puzzle." As Kalinin perused the paper, Grant added, "That's how Reznikov and his men got to be a 'team.'"
"Jesus, Grant! They were in the same prison together?! Why the fuck wasn't any of this in our records?!" Grant just waited, knowing Kalinin would figure it out.
The Russian flopped back, suddenly answering his own question. "Somebody 'wiped' our records!"
"That was our conclusion," Grant commented. "When we figure out why, it should lead us to who, or vice versa."
Kalinin held up the paper. "And maybe I'll figure out how the hell you managed to get this!"
Grant smiled briefly. "I'd be more surprised if you didn't."
Kalinin studied the paper again, as another thought came to mind. "If those records were tampered with, how much do you want to bet those three now have different IDs?"
Grant and Adler both agreed, then Grant asked, "What about pictures, Nick? Have they been distributed, especially to the checkpoints?"
"We managed to salvage those, and yes, I saw to it they were posted."
A blinding flash of lightning lit up the entire parking lot, followed three seconds later by an earsplitting crack of thunder. Tree branches swirled in the wind.
"Front's coming through," Adler commented, leaning closer to the steering wheel, trying to see overhead. "Don't expect it'll last long."
"So, what do you think, Nick, I mean about that info?" Grant asked.
Kalinin sat forward. "You know, I haven't been with KGB all that long. And now I've suddenly got the responsibility of finding and accusing someone in Moscow of backing those crimes."
"You sure whoever it is, is in Moscow?"
"There's gotta be at least one accomplice here, but, yeah … Moscow."
"Look, Nick, what you've gotta remember is whoever did this, put himself above the law and with little regard for human life, no matter how high up the chain he is. Joe and I've been through this more than we care to remember. And I'll be honest with you, there was more than one occasion when innocents died from decisions we made, and there was more than once when we couldn't prove our case. But you've got a good shot at nailing the sonofabitch, and we're here to help in every way we can."
Kalinin leaned back and linked his fingers behind his head. "I appreciate that. But what about Reznikov and his men? If and when we find them, who'll take control — you or me?"
"Did you get specific orders?"
"They're to be returned to Moscow."
"Hmm. Well, the only orders we got were to find them. You know, Nick, there's a very simple way to resolve the issue."
The Russian's face broke into a grin. "Glad you said that, 'cause that's exactly what I was thinking."
"Nick, when's the last time anyone intercepted anything from Reznikov?" Adler asked.
Kalinin started mentally reviewing intel. "You know, Joe, I don't think we ever did, so that means communication was done by messages or dead drops."
"Yeah," Grant said, "but that may have been during the earlier attacks. If we assume Reznikov has been on a revenge rampage, then no form of communication was necessary. He was on his own — right?"
"Probably," Kalinin nodded in agreement. "But where the hell does that get us?"
Grant linked his fingers together and laid his hands on top of his head. "Don't know. But maybe we're going about this the wrong way. Maybe we need to focus on who tipped off Reznikov's men." He turned in the seat. "Who would've known?"
"The Premier, of course, Director Antolov, FCD Borskaya, General Komarov and the men with him at Glienicke Bridge. Oh, and Minister Sokoloff."
"What about the OIC at the East German prison?"
Kalinin shook his head. "He was informed only hours before the exchange." Kalinin stared at Grant, knowing something was going on in his brain. "What are you thinking?"
"Listen, I was waiting for more intel from my source. Maybe we need to forgo the G2 at the rifle brigade, and head back."
"Sure. No problem. Can you give me a hint?"
"C'mon, Joe. Head out." As Adler started the engine, Grant said to Kalinin, "You might have more luck than me on this, so you need to check records on those men who were at the exchange."
Kalinin was obviously surprised. "Seriously?!"
"Serious as a heart attack, Nick. I may be stretching it here, but they're the only ones who stand out right now. Agree?"
"Yeah. I think you may be right. One of them is still in hospital."
"You need to check on him, too."
The quick-moving storm showed signs of letting up. Winds calmed, rain turned to drizzle, daylight showed on the horizon, as Adler drove toward the Monbijou Bridge.
As they were approaching the bridge, Kalinin pointed toward his car. Adler pulled the BMW behind it, but kept the engine running.
"No calls," Kalinin commented as he lifted his satchel with the radio. "Guess everything's quiet."
Grant turned in the seat. "We'll be at the embassy, Nick, making some inquiries. If you find out anything, call that number I gave you. Any suggestions how I can reach you?"
"Think I'll check in with Oleg, then I'll start doing research on those four." He glanced at his watch. "Give me at least an hour to … " He paused, "Maybe I'd better call you when I'm through. Hate to arouse suspicion."
"Very well. We'll wait for your call." Grant extended his hand. "Take care, my friend."
Even before Kalinin was in the Volga, Adler drove away, heading for West Berlin and the embassy.
Chapter 13
The same storm that hit near Karlshorst, blew through Lanke. Dripping water from two small leaks in the aged country home's roof, splashed against beams before pooling on wooden floor planks. Outside, leaves, twigs, other debris covered the wood door of the underground storage room.
Leaning against the doorframe, with the door wide open, Ivan Reznikov waited for his men to return from the village. Their instructions were to purchase a few supplies, but he was really after news, anything that could tell him about the attacks, the damage and deaths inflicted. He was curious whether or not the three of them had been identified. Even if they had been, it mattered little. Plans for the next attack had been completed. The following day they'd head for Sperenberg.
Located in the forests 35 miles south of Berlin, Sperenberg was originally developed for the Prussian Army. At the start of World War II, it was the first site where Werner von Braun tested his rockets, before the research was moved to Peenemünde. In May 1945, the site was overrun by the Red Army, then mostly abandoned. But in the 1950s, the Soviet Army began looking for a military airfield suitable for use by heavy transport planes. They rebuilt Sperenberg, and in 1974, the concrete runway was extended to 8,200' with the creation of an additional parallel grass runway for emergencies. The "new" airfield supported heavy transports, attack helicopters for defensive purposes, out-stationed and transiting bombers. Sperenberg became a key location for Soviet forces in East Germany. Its airfield radio call sign was "Souvenir."