Torrinson stood, picking up his cap from the coffee table. “I will, Mr. President. I will.” He gave a brief nod to the other three men, then left.
Valerie Castle was hurriedly jotting down a message. She stood as Torrinson closed the door. “Oh, admiral, I have a message here for you.” She tore a piece of pink paper from a small pad, then reached across the desk and handed it to him. Across the top were imprinted words “While You Were Out.”
“Thank you.” Torrinson read the message as he walked toward the exit door, then he spun around. “Miss Castle, is there a phone I can use?”
“Of course. Do you need a secure line?”
“No. I don’t believe so.”
“Then you can use the phone on the table near the sofa.”
Not even bothering to sit, Torrinson dialed his office number.
“Petty Offi… ”
“Zach. Tell me!”
“Sir, Captain Stevens just called. He… ”
“Did he indicate if he was going to call back?” Torrinson asked anxiously, but definitely relieved.
“Yes, sir, in a half hour.”
“Zach, I’m leaving here as soon as I relay the information to the President. Don’t let Captain Stevens off the line if I’m not there yet. Do you hear me?”
“Yes, sir! Of course, sir!” Connection broken.
Torrinson went back near the door to the Oval Office. “Miss, I really need to get back in there.”
She pressed the intercom button, and Carr answered, “Yes, Valerie?”
“Mr. President, Admiral Torrinson would like to speak with you. He’s waiting by your door.”
“By all means. Send him in.”
“Go right in, admiral.”
As Torrinson entered, Carr stepped away from his desk, immediately recognizing one relieved admiral. “You got a message, didn’t you?”
“Yes, sir. Captain Stevens called. He’s calling again in a half hour.”
Carr slapped the side of Torrinson’s arm. “Terrific news!”
“Mr. President, I know I don’t have to remind you, but we still don’t know about the POWs, whether or not they were aboard that helicopter.”
“I realize that, admiral, but at least we should be able to get answers from Captain Stevens. So, don’t just stand there! Off with you! And call me when you’re done. Tell my secretary to find me if I’m not in here!”
Nikolai Gorshevsky stood behind his desk, looking out across the square through a large plate glass window. He fidgeted with keys and change in his trouser pockets, as he reviewed his conversation with the American President. It disturbed him deeply.
The Americans not only knew of the accident, but somehow he was sure they knew of the POWs being onboard, even though they were not specifically mentioned.
Five Americans, presumed dead. Colonel Grigori Moshenko, presumed dead. How could this have happened? What worried him more was who leaked the information about the POWs? His one bargaining chip… no, five bargaining chips to free Boris Chernov from the CIA’s clutches, gone.
Exhaling a long sigh, he turned and rolled a large black leather chair from under the desk. He unbuttoned his dark brown suit jacket before sitting. His dark brooding eyes looked out from beneath gray eyebrows at the two men standing before him.
Dmitri Osokin, Minister of Internal Security and Mikhail Antolov, Director of the KGB, had arrived fifteen minutes earlier. They remained quiet, waiting for the premier to speak.
Gorshevsky pushed aside several sheets of official papers, then rested his elbows on the desk, intertwining his fingers. “Sit,” he said, eyeing both men.
As they settled on the wooden chairs, Gorshevsky didn’t waste any more time to begin the conversation. “Do either of you have any indication this was not an accident?”
The silver-haired Antolov answered first. “Not as of yet. We have soldiers combing the site for any kind of evidence that would denote otherwise. I have my men out there, also.
“According to the airport tower, the aircraft took off not long after I departed the airport. The pilot did not indicate any problem before or during flight.”
“Is it possible a device was placed anywhere on the helicopter while it was waiting for the prisoners?”
Antolov thought very briefly. “I do not think that was likely or possible. Colonel Moshenko would have noticed. I do not believe anyone would have tried with him being there, and surely not in front of a pilot and guards.
“I arrived not long after the prisoners were on the aircraft. I did not see any other vehicles in the area.”
“Then, do you know if this aircraft was inspected prior to arrival at Domodedovo?”
“That is the usual procedure,” Antolov answered simply.
“You did not answer my question.”
“Anytime KGB or Politburo members are to fly, the aircraft are inspected before flight.”
Gorshevsky still didn’t get a definitive answer. “I want a list of names of everyone who was near that aircraft — everyone.”
“I will see to it,”Antolov replied. “I do have a couple of things for us to think about, though.” He shuffled through papers, drawing one out, quickly reviewing times and names.
“And those are?” Gorshevsky replied, curious.
“We interviewed controllers in the airport tower. They reported the aircraft did not request clearance prior to takeoff.”
“And that could mean what?”
“A couple of things, sir. The pilot could have lost communication, but not likely, or the aircraft was taken over by unknown individuals.
“There are unconfirmed reports that men were seen near the aircraft prior to takeoff. These men were not wearing uniforms. If that is the case, sir, then we should find more bodies.”
Gorshevsky sat back, linking his fingers behind his head. “Yes. It is something to think about. Do you think these men are part of that underground group?”
“It is too soon to make that determination, sir. We have not yet received any messages or calls from anyone or any group stating demands.”
“You will follow up, of course.”
“That is already being done.”
“Mikhail, I know this is devastating to KGB, with Colonel Moshenko having been onboard,” Gorshevsky commented.
“Yes. Yes. He was a loyal and respected officer. A man I trusted for years.”
“Have you contacted his wife?”
Antolov shook his head. “No. I would like to wait until we have final confirmation of bodies, if there are any remains to identify.”
Gorshevsky nodded then set his dark eyes on Dmitri Osokin. “Have you started an investigation yet?”
Osokin’s brown eyes looked over the top of his wire-rimmed reading glasses, and he handed a sheet of paper across the desk to the premier. “These are the people I have assigned. I’ve also listed their assignments in the second column.”
Gorshevsky glanced at the list, then swung his chair around, trying to make sense of the incident. He slowly turned around, again facing the two men. “There were very few who knew about the Americans. I do not believe those people had any reason to cause the accident. But, men have turned before, men who never would have been suspected, and for reasons unknown. So, I will leave you two to find out who and why.”
Torrinson stood inside the elevator within inches of the doors, waiting impatiently for them to open. As it lurched to a stop, the doors barely parted when he shoved his hand between them, forcing them open. He immediately broke into a jog. As he rounded the corner, he saw Zach standing by the office door.