The Last POW

by Howard Cohen

  “You think this will work? That the guards won’t be able to tell? What if I have to speak? Our voices are different,” Sonkin said. Fedor knew he was correct. They sounded nothing alike. Sonkins spoke with at a higher pitch.

  “You will pretend to have a cold. Sniffling, some sneezing, a cough. Talk through your handkerchief. That will work. The guards have never asked me for papers. If they do, say you are sick, running behind and forgot them. Give a few coughs then say you will miss holding mass if you have to go back and get them. They will let you through, but they will not ask.”

  “When you do not return what will happen?”

  “Probably no one will notice, or they will assume someone forgot to check my name off. If they come here, they will find me with my papers in order. It will be fine.” Fedor said with more confidence, than he felt.

  “A game of chess?” Sonkin said.

  “At least let me get past the tenth move.” They both laughed.

  45

  Moscow

  Wednesday June 24, 2019

  On Wednesday morning, Jax had breakfast at the hotel, caught a taxi, and was at the Odessa by 6 AM. Nikolai was smoking a cigarette. It was evident from the body language that he was not happy with having to make an eight-hour drive. He tossed his cigarette butt at Jax’s feet,

  “Let’s get going. If we’re to be there at five.” Nikolai said. “Do you want to put that suitcase in the trunk?” Jax handed it to him, then got into the back seat. They stopped once for gas, food and bathroom. There was little traffic allowing them to make good time. The village of Oreshki

  had a population of two hundred people, most of whom worked in Sarov.

  They drove to Father Fedor’s cousin’s house. Misha Sobol was forty-six. He was short, no more than five feet six with thinning black hair with patches of gray, deep-set brown eyes, a bulbous nose and thin lip which revealed crooked teeth when he smiled.

  “Welcome. Father will be back from Mass in fifteen minutes. Come in, have a drink.” It was a large house with three bedrooms and two baths. “I sleep upstairs you two can have the bedrooms in the back. The bathroom is across the hall from the bedrooms. They sat in the kitchen, drinking vodka when Father arrived. Jax handed Father the package he had brought. “Do you think he can pull it off?”

  “If he remains calm,” Fedor said, and added, “If the beard doesn’t fall off.” They all laughed.

  “Won’t you have a problem when you’re not checked back in?”

  “I will be alright. If I don’t leave now, I will miss my bus, and we will have a problem. Good luck Dieter, if that’s your real name.” They shook hands. Fedor just made the last bus for Sarov.

  Nikolai came up to him,” What’s with you and the priest? You came all this way to give him a package?” Jax didn’t answer. He went back into the house, sat at the table with Misha and asked if there was a good local restaurant. “Yes, Mother’s restaurant. She makes a wonderful stew, stuffed cabbage to die for and a honey cake you will love.”

  After dinner, Nikolai decided to drive back that night. Jax went to bed early. Misha drove a truck for a metal fabrication plant in Sarov and left before Jax awoke. He spent Wednesday walking through Oreshki. He ate lunch in a small restaurant near a lake that seemed popular with locals. When Misha finished work, they returned to Mother’s. “I have not eaten out these many times since my wife left me five years ago. And you are paying, so it is even better. Fedor told me everything. He could not ask me to help you without being honest with me. He is a good man who I am afraid will pay the price for helping you. “

  “You know if the FSB investigates Fedor, they will eventually get to you. Why did you agree to help us?”

  “Fedor is more like a brother than a cousin. If he asks me to help you, it must be important to him, so it’s important to me.”

  “Thank you. If we all get out of this alive, I will see to it that you are well taken care of.”

  46

  St. Seraphim Monastery Sarov, Russia

  Thursday June 25, 2019

  At 6 AM Thursday Father Fedor came to the room. “How are you feeling? “he asked Sonkin.

  “Nervous. I didn’t sleep much.”

  “You will do fine. Remember what we talked about.”

  Fedor unwrapped the package he carried and laid out the cassock, shoes, glasses and beard.

  “Get dressed. I will put on the beard last.”

  “I practiced coughing and sneezing all night,” Sonkin said as he changed into the cassock. There was an inner layer which had a high collar, was double-breasted and flared out to a skirt. The outer garment was voluminous and went to the ankles. Finally, the skufia the soft pointed hat.

  “Sit on the chair, and I will put the beard on. It’s professionally made from human hair and is exactly like mine in color and length.” Fedor took a small bottle with a brush and painted the glue on Sonkins face as Jax had instructed. After a few minutes, he put the beard on. A pair of spectacles made of plain glass completed the disguise. Fedor held up a small mirror he had brought. “We could be twins.” Sonkin said. “This might work after all. “

  “When you go upstairs, do not stop for anything. If someone calls your name, keep going. There will be a taxi waiting outside. Do what I told you, and you’ll be okay. I am going to have to stay here until after the last bus from Oreshki comes at 6 PM tonight. Good luck.”

  Fifteen minutes later, Sonkin left the room, making his way to the church.

  47

  FSB Headquarters Sarov, Russia

  Thursday June 25, 2019

  “Come,” Bykov growled. He was on edge about his move to Moscow.

  “Sir” sub-inspector Yegor Krenski said, “There’s a woman here says she saw Sonkin at the church two days ago.”

  “Bring her in here.”

  Fima Gusev was a seventy years old widow who owned a small coffee shop. She was short, with gray hair that flowed to her waist.

  “Please, sit down Mrs. Gusev. Tell me what you saw. Leave out no detail.”

  “Every morning before I open my coffee shop, I go to the church to pray for the soul of my son. It was early, maybe 5 AM. A man came in the church by the side exit and walked to the front of the church. He looked like the man in the photos and on TV. Then I did not see him again. It is dim in the church in the mornings. Only a few lights are on. After Mass, I spoke with Father Fedor. I told him what I had seen. He said to me if I was sure it was the man, I should tell you, if not, to go home and think about it. I did, and I’m pretty sure it was him.”

  “So, he went towards the back of the church. What is back there?”

  “There are shrines for two different saints.”

  “Any doors that he could go out?”

  “ No. There are the shrines, Father’s office, a library used by the monks, and the stairway to the tunnels.”

  “Could he have left after mass while you were talking to the priest?”

  “Yes, that is possible.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Gusev. We’ll be in touch if we have new questions.”

  After she left, Bykov called the church. The monk who answered the phone told him that father was holding Mass in Oreshki today and would not be back until later in the evening. “Tell him I want to speak with him tomorrow morning.” So far, every sighting had been a false lead.

  Part 4

  Escape

  June 2019

  48

  St. Seraphim Monastery Sarov, Russia

  Thursday June 25,2019

  Fedor saw the fear in Sonkin’s eyes as he stood at the door.

  “Follow the instructions I gave you. Be confident. You are a priest- act like one.”

  Sonkin left the room, bent low in the tunnel, climbed the stairs and walked out the door of the church. The taxi was waiting.

  Morning, Father.”
>
  “Morning, my son. How is the family?”

  “Fine. We are expecting a baby anytime now. I hope you’ll baptize the baby.”

  “ When the baby is born, come by the church, and we’ll set a date.”

  “Thank you, father. I hope you feel better.”

  When they arrived at the exit, Sonkin walked to the gate. Three soldiers with AK 47s huddled together smoking. He approached the guards.

  “Morning, Father.” One said. Sonkin coughed, then sneezed into his handkerchief.

  “Morning, my son,” Sonkin said between coughs. He walked to the gate.

  “Father, wait. I need to see your papers.”

  Sonkin turned, sweat ran down his back. He did not move. The soldier approached him. Sonkin went into a prolonged coughing spasm. Then he went through his pockets, twice. “I am sorry, but it seems I have left them in my office, I haven’t been feeling well, and I was in a hurry to catch the bus.”

  “Sorry, Father but orders are no one leaves without showing papers. You’ll have to go back and get them,” he said, just as the bus arrived.

  “Slava,” an older guard with stripes on his sleeve said. “It’s the priest, celebrates Mass in Oreshki every Tuesday and Thursday. If he misses the bus, there will be no ten o’clock Mass.”

  For a moment, Sonkin thought the younger soldier would protest further. Sonkin faked a coughing spasm. “You should be home in bed, father.” the soldier said.” Proceed.”

  “Thank you, my son, for your kindness,” Sonkin said, making the sign of the cross, blessing the young man. He slowly walked to the bus and took Fedor’s usual seat.

  49

  Oreshki Russia

  Thursday June 25, 2019

  Nikolai drove away from Oreshki. He pulled over to the side of the road, checked to see if he had cell phone service then called Alexey.

  “Did you find out what he’s doing in Oreshki? “

  “He doesn’t talk to me. We met the priest from Sarov at his cousin’s house. He gave him a package. Dieter is staying at the cousins.”

  “I want you to go back. You were once a policeman, find out what he’s doing. Anyone who will pay that kind of money to deliver a package has something else going on.”

  Nikolai had been a Moscow police detective for seventeen years. He had an excellent record until one night he severely beat a suspect that was resisting arrest. Unfortunately for Nikolai, he was the son of a Putin friend. He was let go by the Police Department and employment opportunities denied to him. Eventually, he found his way to Alexey.

  Nikolai found a hostel to spend the night in a nearby town. In the morning he returned to Oreshki. He spent Wednesday observing Dieter.Then returned to his hostel at night. Nickolai reported the day’s activities to Alexey who ordered him to stay another day. On Thursday morning after a quick breakfast, he was back in Oreshki. Misha left the house at 830. At nine he returned with the priest.

  50

  Oreshki Russia

  Thursday June 25, 2019

  On the bus, Sonkin took Fedor’s usual seat. No one spoke to him. During the twenty-minute trip, he thought of his wife, Anna, how she would be happy that he was finally trying to go home. Everything he was, anything good in him, he owed to her.

  Misha met him at the bus. “You look like Fedor, could be his twin. Dieter is waiting for you.” Dieter was waiting outside for them. He and Sonkin embraced. “Come inside, let’s get you out of those clothes.”

  Misha said as he was getting into his truck,” I am off to work. May g-d grant you a safe trip.” He drove away without looking back. Inside the house, Sonkin took off the Cossack, skufia and opened the package of clothes Jax had brought with him. “Where to from here?” Sonkin asked as he dressed.

  “First, we have to work on your appearance. Your picture is everywhere, and it still runs on TV before every show. There is a reward of forty million rubles for information that leads to your capture. Don’t put on the shirt yet. We are going to shave your head. We’ll do it in the sink in the kitchen it’s wider and deeper than the one in the toilet.”

  Nikolai watched through a side window. Now he knew why Dieter had gone to Sarov and why he was in Oreshki.

  51

  St. Seraphim Monastery Sarov, Russia

  Friday June 26, 2019

  Bykov arrived after Mass on Friday morning. Fyodor was waiting for him in his office. “Can I get you some tea inspector?”

  “No, thank you.”

  “You won’t mind if I have some, “Fyodor said walking over to an electric pot. He poured hot water into a cup with a teabag, added some sugar then returned to his seat behind the desk. “What can I do for you inspector?”

  “One of your parishioners, a Fima Gusev, said she saw the man that has been missing for the past month in your church five days ago. She said she mentioned it to you.”

  “I remember our talk very clearly.”

  “You should have told her to report her findings that night. Even if she wasn’t sure.”

  “I disagree. If Fima reported it, the man would have been picked up and questioned by your FSB. It would not have been pleasant. I told her to think about it. If she was sure to go immediately to you.”

  “You don’t like the FSB? “

  “I think you have a job to do. I just don’t like your methods.”

  “Did you see a man that night?”

  “At the time Fima saw that man I was still in my bed.”

  “She said he walked to the back of the church and she did not see him again. Where could he go?”

  “There are two shrines behind the altar. He could have gone to pray, light a candle and then left after Fima came to talk to me. There is a staircase on the left side of the altar that goes to the tunnels. He would have had to come back up the stairs as there is no other way out of the tunnels.”

  “Is there a place to hide in the tunnels?”

  “No. there are no rooms, and all side tunnels end in dead ends.”

  “My men are searching the tunnels as we speak. Now that we have all the pleasantries out of the way, I have more serious questions to ask you.” Bykov stood and walked to the electric pot, pressed the button to heat the water. He waited until it reached proper temperature then added instant coffee from a jar. Fedor waited patiently.

  Bykov said, “On Thursday you left without showing your papers and you were not signed back in. The night guard does not remember you returning. Yet the next morning you are here holding mass.”

  “I had a twenty-four-hour virus. I was rushed and forgot my papers. When I returned, I walked in the way I usually do. The guards were talking among themselves. I was not feeling well and wanted to get back to the rectory as fast as possible. I hope I did not make a lot of trouble for the guards.”

  “Excellent story father, Fedor. I’m not a religious man, so I have no more respect for the clergy than any other person. A priest, like other men, is capable of lying. I would like you to come down to the office tomorrow and take a lie detector test,”Bykov said, sipping his coffee.

  “I am a priest. What I told you is the truth, accept it or not, but I will not take a lie detector test.”

  Bykov stood, walked to the door, turned, “I could force you to take it. You know that.” Then he left.

  When Bykov left the church, he was sure the priest was lying. If that’s the case, then Sonkin went dressed as the priest and is in the wind. He would have to question the priest under less amicable conditions. There would be problems with the church, but Moscow wants results, and this may be the only way. Bykov made a call. Two hours later Father Fedor was in a basement cell in the FSB headquarters building.

  For several hours Fedor underwent intensive questioning before admitting his part in Sonkin’s disappearance, his escape from Sarov and the help of his cousin Misha.

  52

 
Oreshki – Novgorod, Russia

  Friday June 26, 2019

  After they shaved Sonkin’s head and removed the false beard he dressed in a tan work shirt, faded blue denim pants, old brown leather work boots, and black cotton jacket. He continued to wear the glasses. Jax thought he would be hard to recognize. They cleaned the sink making sure they left no clues. He put everything they needed into backpacks then walked to the bus station. They purchased tickets to Novgorod. They had valid United States passports that Jax had brought with him. Jax had taken a photo of Sonkin and had it photoshopped to match his present look.

  Sonkin looked at it for a long time. Jax asked,” How does it feel to be Robert Miller again?”

  It’s been so long since I heard someone say my real name.”

  If stopped, and recognized, Sonkin would be arrested no matter what documents he carried. Jax would be tortured for information then killed. Novgorod was a city north of Sarov. It would be a good place to lose anyone who might follow. Novgorod was a closed city until the early 1990s. Now it had 1.2 million people. It had one airport and one railway station, both sure to be closely watched. Jax told him that they would stay in Novgorod for a few days while he arranged the next step.

  53

  FSB Headquarters Sarov, Russia

  Friday June 26, 2019

  As soon as his interrogation of Fedor ended, Bykov called Moscow. There was no doubt now that Sonkin was defecting. His accomplice was a German named Dieter probably working for the Americans. Moscow directed that the priest remain in isolation for the time being. Eventually, he would have to be eliminated. The FSB director informed the prime minister. Immediately security at every possible exit point in every city was placed on maximum alert. Sonkin’s photo was on every TV newscast.