rludlum-shelby.thecassandracompact-第16章
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Randi looked at the framed photo on her desk of her and Sophia in Santa Barbara before the horror。 Although over a year had passed； Randi had not been able to forgive herself for not having been there when her sister had needed her most。 While Sophia lay dying in that hospital bed； Randi had been thousands of miles away； working deep undercover in Iraq； helping the resistance to Saddam Hussein's regime。 She had not learned how or why Sophia had been murdered until weeks later； when Jon Smith had materialized in Baghdad like some dark djinn。
Amid the rubble of her grief； Randi had managed to find unbroken vessels she could cling to。 But her feelings for Smith remained ambivalent。 She was grateful that he had been with Sophia in her last moments； that she had not died alone。 Yet as she became more and more entangled in the web that was Hades she couldn't help but wonder if Smith could somehow have prevented her sister's murder。 There too； the issue had been maddenly unclear。 She knew that Smith had loved Sophia deeply and would never have knowingly put her in harm's way。 Yet； when she stood at her sister's grave； she still believed that he could have done something to save her。
Randi brushed away that last thought and turned to Smith。
〃It'll take a little while to set up the meeting with Kirov。 Would you like to meet for a drink later？〃
〃Very much。〃
They settled on the lounge in the Sheraton； after Randi had closed up the office。
〃What exactly is Bay Digital？〃 Smith asked。 〃And what do you do here？〃
〃You mean the people who sent you didn't mention that？〃 Randi smiled。 〃Jon； I'm shocked。 I happen to be the Moscow office manager of a very successful venture…capital firm looking to invest in promising Russian' high…tech startups。〃
〃Except the funding doesn't e from private investors or hedge funds；〃 Smith said。
〃Be that as it may； anyone with money can open all doors in Russia。 I have contacts that range from the Kremlin； through the army； and even into the Russian mafia。〃
〃I always said you had friends in low places。 And is there such a thing as high…tech in this country？〃
〃Better believe it。 The Russians don't have our equipment； but give them the right tools and they shine。〃 She touched his arm。 〃It really is good to see you again； Jon… whatever your reasons for being here。 Is there anything you need right now？〃
Smith pictured Danko's widow and child。 〃Tell me what Russians bring when they call on a woman who's just lost her husband… and doesn't know it yet。〃
CHAPTER EIGHT
At 7：36 A。M。 Houston time； Dr。 Adam Treloar boarded a British Airways flight for its nonstop run over the Pole to London's Heathrow Airport。 Upon arrival； he was escorted to the transit lounge where； as a first…class passenger； he availed himself of the services of a masseuse。 After a quick shower； Treloar picked up his freshly pressed suit from a valet and headed for gate sixty…eight； where he was shown into the forward cabin of another BA flight； this one to Moscow。 Twenty…eight hours after he had started his Journey； Treloar cleared Russian customs and immigration without incident。
Treloar adhered strictly to the itinerary that he and Reed had worked out。 After a taxi dropped him off at the new Hotel Nikko across the river from the Kremlin； Treloar registered； then gave the porter an extravagant tip to bring the bags up to his room。 Next； he exited the hotel and hailed another taxi。 which took him to the cemetery on Mychalczuk Prospekt。 The old woman selling flowers by the entrance was astonished to receive twenty American dollars for a bouquet of wilted daisies and sunflowers。 Treloar proceeded to a stretch of relatively new graves laid out under a stand of birch trees。 He placed the flowers at the foot of a distinctive Orthodox cross that memorated the final resting place of his mother； Helen Treloar； nee Helena Sviatoslava Bunin。
FBI background investigators had duly noted that Treloar's mother had been born in Russia when Treloar had applied for the post of chief medical officer。 But no red flags went up。 peting for medical talent against the private sector； NASA was only too happy to land an expert like Adam Treloar； who came to the agency after fifteen years with Bauer…Zermatt A。G。 No one asked why Treloar had given up his seniority at such a prestigious firm or why he had accepted a 20 percent pay cut。 Instead； the space agency had handed over Treloar's impeccable credentials and glowing references and told the Bureau to fast…track the background check。
With the end of the Cold War； travel to Russia had bee easier than ever。 Thousands of Americans went to visit relatives whom； in many cases； they had seen only in photographs。 Adam Treloar went back； too； to visit his mother after her divorce and return to her native Moscow。 For the next three years； he flew in every spring to spend a week with her。
Two years ago； Treloar had informed his superiors at NASA that his mother had terminal cancer。 They miserated and told him he could have as much personal leave as he needed。 The dutiful son increased his visits to three a year。 Then； last fall； when Helena Bunin at last succumbed； he went back for an entire month； ostensibly to settle her affairs。
Treloar was certain that the FBI was keeping track of his visits to Moscow。 But he also knew that； like any bureaucracy； it was content as long as it recognized a pattern； and that pattern did not change。 Over the years； Treloar had created just such a pattern； altering it only when he had a foolproof reason to do so。 Since this was the six…month anniversary of his mother's death； it would have seemed out of place if he hadn't gone to visit her grave。
During the taxi ride back to his hotel； Treloar reviewed what he had done。 The cabdriver from the airport； the porter at the hotel； the old woman at the cemetery； the other cabdrivers… all would remember him because of the generous tips。 If anyone came checking； the pattern of his visit was clear。 Now it would seem natural to rest for a few days in Moscow before heading back。 Except that the NASA physician had more on his agenda than sightseeing。
Treloar retired to his room and slept for several hours。 By the time he awoke； darkness had descended over the city。 He showered； shaved； put on a fresh suit； and； bundled up in a warm overcoat； went out into the night。
The thoughts came unbidden as he walked。 As much as they rankled him； he could never make them go away。 So he surrendered； allowing them to wash over him； breathing shallowly until they were spent。
Adam Treloar believed himself to be marked as Cain had been marked。 He was cursed by terrible desires that he could neither control nor escape from。 They were the reason why he had bargained away his career at Bauer…Zermatt。
In another lifetime； Treloar had been the star of Bauer…Zermatt's virology division； preening in the respect of his peers and the adulation of his subordinates… one subordinate in particular； a sloe…eyed fawn so beautiful that Treloar had found the temptation irresistible。 But the fawn had turned out to be a goat； tethered to one of Bauer…Zermatt's petitors。 The goat was meant to snare the unwary suitor； promise him； and force him to bend to the petitor's will。
Treloar had never seen the trap； he'd only had eyes for the fawn。 But he saw plenty； later； when men arrived at his apartment and played sex tapes in which he had a starring role。 They offered a cold choice： exposure or cooperation。 Because of the proprietary nature of Bauer…Zermatt's research； every employee had to sign a strictly worded contract whose provisions included a morals clause。 Treloar's tormenters made a point of reminding him about that as they replayed the video。 They drove him to face the fact that his options were few： hand over information about the pany's research； or face exposure。 Of course； exposure would not be the end of it。 Public branding as a deviant would follow。 Then； after all the publicity； the civil… and probably criminal… charges； it would be futile for him to try to find another job anywhere in the medical research munity。
Treloar was given forty…eight hours to consider his choices。 He wasted the first twenty…four doing jus
