by Howard Cohen
74
Forest near Latvian border
Midmorning July 1, 2019
It was a sunny, slightly chilly day. Thomas weaved in and out of the trees looking back to make sure Sonkin was following. Out of to the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He dropped to a knee and held up his right hand to signal Sonkin to do the same. First one then two more militia came into view. They were walking single file five feet apart. Their weapons were pointed at the ground as they chatted about where they would go on a pass that night. They were heading directly for Thomas. If the lead man looked up, he couldn’t help but see Thomas. If they were the point for a larger group this was big trouble. He slid his silenced pistol out of his backpack, took aim and waited until the man was fifteen feet away. The man was looking over his shoulder talking to his friend when Thomas shot him and quickly shot the other two. Jax and Nickolai rushed up to killing zone.
“No choice. They were heading right for me. If they are the point we are going to be in a world of shit in a few minutes.” Thomas said while searching the bodies. “No radio. Probably not point men. Militias in these remote areas are poorly equipped and trained. They’ll be expected back sometime today. When they don’t return nothing will be done for a while. We have some leeway.”
They left the bodies as is and moved as fast as they could towards the border. Helicopters were off in the distance but were not moving in their direction.
“Any time now we are going to run into a lot of guys with guns. We are a half-mile from the border. Let’s stop here and wait until nightfall.”
75
Military Headquarters Russian – Latvian border
Monday evening July 1, 2019
“You called Moscow.” Baranov snapped. “And had the balls to tell them you had doubts about my troops finding them. Did you request more Special Forces?”
“Yes, I did. An entire company will be dropped along the border. They found a logging boss dead in his office and his men and truck gone. Part of the Special Forces are being dropped there to follow the logging roads. Your men will continue to search the town and surrounding area. State security is taking over this pursuit.”
Baranov stormed out of the tent. Bykov smiled. If Sonkin escaped Baranov would get the blame if they caught him, he, Bykov would get the credit.
76
Latvian border
Monday night July 1, 2019
Before they saw the border, they saw the lights. Thomas who had made the trip before had warned them about the lights. There were guard towers every three hundred feet. “How did you get through on your recon trip,” Nickolai asked Thomas. “I didn’t. This is where I turned back.”
“Great. So, what’s the plan to get through here? Will the mercenaries help?”
“Yes. They are private contractors who I hired when you contracted with me. They are dressed in generic fatigues, carry AK’s and have no identification. But if they are captured and tortured, they will tell all and the shit will hit the international fan. They will not enter Russian territory.”
Jax looked at the troops in the towers, patrolling the fence and decided they were militia. They were less likely to want to die. The men on the other side would cut the fence. Jax’s group would have to run across a hundred and fifty feet of open space under searchlights.
“Thomas, I want you to tell your men to cut two holes in the fence. One opposite to where we are and another just on the other side of the watchtower to the left. Have them do that now we don’t have much time. Here’s the rest of the plan.”
Everyone moved into their position. At exactly 9 PM Jax and Nickolai who had been standing in the tree line just opposite the watchtowers on either side of where the fence holes were cut, opened fire on the searchlights knocking them out. Then they ran for the opening. Militia troops fired into the tree line and when they saw two men running toward the fence, they fired at them. Jax zig zagged, Nickolai not in as good shape ran directly for the opening. While the troops were firing at Jax and Nickolai Thomas and Sonkin ran directly for the second hole. The militia in the tower were firing in the opposite direction. They made it through with no problem. Jax sprayed a group of militias who were near the opening as he ran. Some fell, others fired wildly, and the rest ran. He ducked through the opening. He turned to look back. Nickolai lay face down. The back of his head was gone. Men in camouflage face painted green and black hustled Jax along until they met with Thomas and Sonkin.
One of the men came running back to the group. “Russian special ops coming out of the forest towards the breach in the fence.”
“How many?” the man who appeared to be the leader asked.
“Like flies on shit, we have to move fast. I ‘ve set the claymore traps but it won’t stop them if they cross over. Just piss em off.”
“Ok. Let’s move, gents.”
While they were talking Jax grabbed Sonkin by the arm and dragged him off to the side, “Follow me.” he whispered as he moved into the darkness of the forest in the opposite direction from where the mercenaries were moving. There was a loud explosion followed by some screams of agony and a volley of automatic weapons fire. Jax pulled Sonkin’s arm and ran as fast as he could drag Sonkin along.
Thomas looked around, not seeing Jax or Sonkin he called to them. When he received no answer, he ran to the mercenary leader. “I have two missing we have to search for them.”
“We stop now we’re dead. Our only chance is to outrun them and lose them in the dark. you want to search go ahead I’m getting out of here.” With that he sprinted ahead to catch up with his men. Thomas thought about it for a second, cursed Jax, and ran after the leader.
Part 5
End Game
77
Latvian border
Monday night July 1, 2019
Sonkin could not go any further. He collapsed to his knees wheezing, trying to catch his breath and vomiting. In the distance, they could hear exchanges of automatic weapons fire. Jax offered Sonkin his canteen. Sonkin took a deep drink, then a second.
“Why did you leave the men?” he said between deep breaths.
“The Russians are going to get them. Capture or kill. Not right away. Those guys are good, and they will elude them and put up a good fight, but in the end, they are going to lose. While that’s happening, we are escaping. So, get off your ass and start moving. Once they get them, they’ll realize you’re not with them and they will come looking,” Jax said, helping Sonkin to his feet. They moved as fast as they could taking breaks only when Sonkin faltered. It had been an hour since they last heard gunfire. Jax looked at his watch again. They had been on the run for three hours. Sonkin was exhausted. He needed a longer rest. Jax assumed that Thomas informed someone that Sonkin was in the wind before he was taken or killed.
“Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll wake you in an hour. We have a good lead on any pursuit.” Sonkin looked relieved. He was asleep within minutes. Jax had no map just a compass. They had been heading west with the hope of reaching a town or farm. At least the Russians couldn’t send helicopters into Latvia.
78
Latvia Monday
Night July 1, 2019
The mercenaries kept moving. Booby traps they had set slowed the Russians for several minutes, but they were pursuing in large numbers.
“I’m going to drop back hold them for a while, “ a grizzled mercenary said as he turned and trotted back the way they had come.
The rest kept running. An explosion that sounded like a grenade was followed by automatic weapons fire. “Sounds like AK-47s.”
“He’ll lead them off in another direction,” someone else added. Now the firing was more intense with several weapons firing at the same time. Then silence. Mac had bought them some time. They kept on running.
79
Military Headquarters Russian – Latvian border
Monday nig
ht July 1, 2019
“Sir they have crossed into Latvia. The special ops commander wants to follow.”
“Tell him he is authorized to continue hot pursuit of the enemy. I want them dead or alive. Have him inform me when he knows what direction they are heading,” Bykov said.
Fifteen minutes later the special ops commander told him they were heading north toward Cibla or Ludza. Bykov told him that he would send a second team to try and cut them off. They would fly to a spot on the border north of the fugitives and try and head them off in order to catch them between the teams and crush them.
Bykov ordered several undercover state security men to drive across the border to both villages just in case Sonkin made it there. They were to kill him on sight if capture was not possible.
80
Latvian countryside
Tuesday morning July 2. 2019
Sonkin was seventy-two and was at his physical limit. “Just leave me here. Put a bullet in me and save yourself. I’m not worth it. You have all the information you need.”
Jax didn’t answer. He grabbed Sonkin’s arm pulling him to an upright position. They slowly continued on their way. The forest gave way to low rolling hills for a few miles before the forest began again. After thirty minutes, they took another break. Sonkin drank the last of their water. When they crested the next hill, Jax was excited. He pointed. “There’s a road.” They made their way down the hill to a paved two-lane. Forest lined the other side of the road.
Jax decided Sonkin needed a more extended rest and they moved into the woods. Jax settled on a spot where he could see traffic coming in either direction.
Again, Sonkin fell asleep almost immediately. A few trucks passed north both with Latvian plates. An hour after they stopped two older black Mercedes passed heading north. License plates were Russian federation.
81
Latvian countryside
Tuesday morning July 2, 2019
Thomas and the mercenaries were making good progress. It had been a while since the Russian special ops had been close enough to fire at them. Sweat ran down his face and soaked his clothes. He was exhausted. They were strung out in single file with Thomas next to last. Suddenly a cacophony of automatic weapons fire broke the silence. Three of the mercenaries fell in the opening salvo. Thomas hit the ground looking from side to side. He began crawling away from the direction of the firing. Shots were now coming from behind them. He crawled faster. The dry grass was just high enough to hide him. There was a shout from behind him. He rolled over bringing his AK up as a Russian special ops soldier fired. Thomas fired back. Two more appeared firing as well. Thomas died in a field somewhere in the Latvian countryside. The soldiers collected all the bodies for identification then called headquarters.
82
Moscow
Tuesday July 2. 2019
With the information that Sonkin and his companion were not among the dead, Bykov began to worry for the first time. They had separated from the group. No telling where they were. He ordered the soldiers out of Latvia and sent plainclothes security to the two most likely towns the fugitives could be headed for. There were over a quarter of a million Russians living in Latvia. Almost half of Latvia’s two major cities were Russian, and towns close to the border had larger Russian majorities. The local police would cooperate. Bykov was beginning to regret state security taking over the search.
83
Latvian countryside
Tuesday July 2. 2019
Jax kept Sonkin in the tree line while he sat at the edge of the road watching for a ride going north. He would prefer a ride where they could not be seen. It was a well-travelled road.
“There’s a truck coming. Get ready, “ Jax said. An old truck pulling a flatbed trailer with an old car came slowly down the road. They stepped out into the road waving their hands. The truck slowed to a stop. An old man lowered his window.
“Where are you heading?”
“How far are you going?”
“Ludzo”
“Can we ride with you?” Jax asked.
“Sure. Not much room in the cab. There’s room in the old car I’m pulling. “
Jax and Sonkin climbed into the front seat of the car.
“Anytime we pass people get your head down and keep it down until I tell you to sit up.”
84
Ludza Latvia
Tuesday midday July 2, 2019
Ludza is thirty miles from the Russian border. Its population is over ten thousand with 37% being ethnic Russians. It lies on highway E22, the main Moscow-to-Riga highway. Traffic became heavier as they approached Ludzo. When they passed the one-mile sign traffic slowed to a crawl, then stopped. Jax left the car and walked up to one of the other drivers.
“What’s the holdup?”
“A spot check. One of the guys I know going south says it’s Russians with the local police checking for some criminals.”
Jax walked back to the car, climbed in. “We have a problem. They are checking for us down the line. I’ll go talk to the driver. You get out, walk to the forest like you’re going to take a leak, then move into the forest.”
Jax got into the cab. The old man looked at him suspiciously.
“I want to thank you for the lift. Down the road, there are people asking questions. I would like you to say you never saw us.” The driver had taken his identification papers out in preparation for the stop. Jax picked them up and read them, put them back down. “If you do that for me, I will see you are rewarded. If not ....” He left, slowly walked to the forest and disappeared amongst the trees.
Sonkin was waiting out of sight of the road. They headed towards the town. “If we’re lucky we’ll reach town before our truck gets to the checkpoint.”
It was easy going as the forest was only twenty yards deep before it opened into a cleared area. They reached the edge of town in twenty minutes. Jax needed a phone. His Sat phone battery had just died. After walking three blocks they came to the street with a few stores. One sold old clothes. They entered the store. “Look for a change of clothes. I’ll see about the phone.”
A middle-aged woman with dark curly hair and bright blue eyes came over.
“Can I help you sir?” she said in Latvian.
“Mrs., do you have a phone? Jax answered in Latvian. “I will pay you for its use. “Jax offered her twenty euros. She took it beckoning him to follow. The phone was in the back office. She left him there and went to help Sonkin pick out some new clothes.
Jax called John Scales CIA station chief in Moscow. “John, I need some help and I need it quickly. “ He gave him the short version as well as the coordinates of the field they had crossed coming out of the forest. He hung up the phone and found Sonkin. “In two hours a helicopter will pick us up in that clearing we passed through. We need to find a place to stay out of sight.”
“While you were on the phone, I saw that black Mercedes crisscrossing the streets,” Sonkin said.
“The old man told them about us when he got to the checkpoint. Find anything you liked? Sonkin shook his head. “Then let’s go.”
They left the shop and strolled down the street. At the next corner, there was a small cafe. Jax choose seats where they were not visible from the street. The waitress came to their table, smiled at Jax, and took their orders.
85
Ludza Latvia
Tuesday midday July 2, 2019
Inspector Zabitowski was informed as soon as the truck driver told the checkpoint guards about his two passengers. “ They are on foot and they had a twenty-minute head start. Start the search within a half-mile radius. They went into the forest and probably came out in the area that was cleared for the industrial park that never got built. Start there.” It took only an hour for the police canvassing the area to speak with the woman in the clothing store who described them in detail.
J
ax walked to the front of the restaurant to pay the bill and noticed two men across the street going from shop to shop. Jax asked the waitress,” Who is in the kitchen?”
“My father and brother.”
Jax showed her the gun. “In a few minutes men are going to come in here and ask you if you have seen us. I want you to tell them the truth. Describe us in detail and tell them that we left and went east in a hurry.
“We will be in the kitchen with your father and brother. Do you understand?”
She nodded. They went through a swinging door with a circular glass window into the kitchen. A middle-aged man was chopping vegetables while the man in his twenties kneaded bread. They stopped what they were doing when they saw the gun. Jax put his finger to his lips and signaled them to continue doing what they were doing. He hoped the men that came to the cafe were Russian. It would create a major incident if he killed Latvian policemen. It would be another forty-five minutes until the helicopter arrived. He looked through the window. She was setting tables. Two men in dark ill-fitting suits looked through the window then entered.
“Table for two?” She asked them.
“ No, we are looking for two men.” he showed her a picture. “Have you seen them?”
“Yes, they had lunch here a little while ago. They left in a hurry heading east.”
“Thank you.” and they left standing outside talking on their radio. Jax had to decide whether to wait the forty-five minutes in the restaurant or make some other arrangement. Since he had no way of knowing exactly when the helicopter would arrive, he decided to be there early.
He asked the older man if he had a car.
“Yes, an old one, not worth stealing.”
