The Last POW

by Howard Cohen

  “Where is it parked?”

  “Behind the cafe.”

  Jax pushed the door to the cafe open and called the girl into the kitchen. “ I’m going to take your car and your daughter.” he said to the older man,” she will come to no harm if you do not call the police. In one hour, she will return to you unharmed. Do you understand?”

  The father looked at Jax, pointed the knife he was chopping vegetables with at him,” I know who you are. We get Russian television here. Your pictures were on for days. If you harm one hair on her head, I will find you both and kill you.”

  “Nothing will happen to her. Keys please.”

  The old man put down the knife, fumbled in his pocket for his keys. He walked over to Jax handed him the keys. “Remember what I said.” Jax took the keys.

  “What’s your name,” he asked the girl.

  “Katiya,” She said, her eyes watery.

  “Let’s get going. You’ll drive.”

  A bell rang indicating that someone had come into the restaurant. Jax looked through the window. It was the two men who had been there before. “Katiya, go see what they want.”

  She went through the door. “Can I help you gentleman?”

  “We would like something to eat.”

  “Please take any table.” They took a table by the door. She gave them menus, poured some water and asked if they wanted something else to drink. They were satisfied with the water. She walked to the small podium at the front of the restaurant. It was a slow day. The lunch crowd had not arrived yet.

  Katiya was nervous. Those men in the kitchen needed to leave. Would they take her father or brother? She did not respond the first time one of the men called to her. The second time she returned to the table. “Can I take your order,” she asked wiping her eyes.

  “Is there something wrong?” one asked her.

  “No. Just thinking of a sick friend,” she answered quickly. He looked back at the menu. They ordered. “It will be just a little while,” and she hurried to the kitchen.

  The men conversed looking several times towards the kitchen. One got up and walked towards the kitchen door. Jax took a quick look and signaled Sonkin to stand out of sight by the side of the door while he stood on the opposite side. When he reached the door, the man looked through the window. Katiya was standing with her back to him and two men were working on preparing food. One looked up saw him looking in, and quickly looked down at his food.

  The man pushed the kitchen door open, stepped into the kitchen only to be hit on the back of the head by Jax. As he crumpled to the floor Jax was through the door pointing his gun at the other man who had just started to stand. “Into the kitchen,” Jax ordered. The man said nothing but obeyed. Once in the kitchen he tied him to a chair Sonkin had brought in.

  Katiya, her father and brother were lined up against the sink. Jax asked the man when he was supposed to check-in.

  “Fuck you. You are dead men.”

  Jax reached into his backpack, took out his silencer and screwed it on the Glock. “I’ll ask you again when are you supposed to check in?”

  “Fuck you.”

  Jax shot the man lying on the floor in the head. Katiya smothered a scream. Then he asked the man the question again. He got the same answer. Jax shot him in the knee. “Same question.”

  “Every hour. Thirty minutes from now.” he whimpered.

  “How many are you?”

  “Eight, and ten local Russian policemen. They are worthless. Not really interested in finding you.” He groaned. Jax shot him in the chest. Katiya began to cry. Her father asked Jax if they were next. “Not unless you do something stupid. We keep to the plan. Katiya let’s go.”

  Her father wrapped his arms around her, looked at Jax and said,” She’s not going with you. I will go. They will say nothing while I’m gone. Shoot me if you want, shoot my boy but you are not taking her.”

  Jax nodded. “Okay, let’s go. Hang a closed sign on the door. Stay in the kitchen out of sight. “ Jax looked at his watch. Ten minutes.

  “Why did you have to kill them? “ Katiya sobbed.

  “Because these men are Russian state security. The moment we left he would demand you release him. If you refused because we held your father hostage, he wouldn’t care. When your father returned, and you let him loose he would blame you for our escape and you’d all be dead. Ten minutes after we leave, call the police and report this. Let’s go we’re running out of time.” They left through a rear door. An old black four-door Ladda was in the driveway.

  “You drive,” Jax told the old man.

  “My name is Ivan. Where to?”

  “Go to the large cleared area just at the edge of town.”

  “They were going to build an industrial area there a few years ago. Never happened. It’s why we opened the cafe. With all the new workers we expected to do well. Now we scrape by.”

  When they reached the area Jax had Ivan drive past once and go around the block and park on a side street facing the field. Jax changed places with Ivan. “When the helicopter arrives get out of the car and go back to your restaurant. “ Jax pulled out a bundle of euros from his backpack and handed them to Ivan. “For your troubles. Tell the people who interrogate you the truth. Don’t mention the money.”

  Ivan looked at the bundle of hundred euro notes, “Thank you.”

  A helicopter came into view. Ivan got out of the car. Jax waited until the helicopter was almost on the ground then sped down the side street, across the intersection, on to the field and stopped just out of rotor range. They were out of the car and into the helicopter in less than thirty seconds. Within minutes they were headed to Riga.

  86

  Moscow

  Tuesday midday July 2, 2019

  When Bykov received the news that they had eluded the roadblock going into Ludza he was furious. He was also worried about what failure would mean for him in the Putin era. Bykov assumed that they were heading to Riga. How they would get there didn’t matter. They would go to the American embassy.

  Bykov called the state security chief at the Russian embassy in Riga. He told him that two high-value targets were headed his way, probably heading for the American embassy. Pictures were emailed with instructions to capture or kill both. Bykov would call him when he knew more about the timetable for their arrival.

  “Do you have the assets to do this?”

  “I have several good men. How quiet does this have to be?”

  “We do not want them to get to the embassy. If they do, we don’t want them to leave Latvia. If it can be done without an international incident, great; if not so be it. I would start planning now.”

  Forty-five minutes later he called Riga back. “They just took off on a commercial helicopter owned by a company called Riga Fly Anywhere. They could be there in an hour.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Rustem Portnov said. It seems the big boys in Moscow have let their prize fugitives getaway, he thought. This could be very good for me. Riga Fly he learned in the thirty seconds it took him to google the company, was at both Riga International and Spilve field. He called Riga Fly. A woman answered and he told her he was supposed to meet one of their helicopters coming from Ludza but lost the paper with the name of the airport it was arriving.

  “You are the second one to call about that flight. It’s coming into Riga International in about forty-five minutes.”

  He thanked her. There wasn’t enough time to set up an ambush or sniper shot. They would get one chance. If they missed, the targets would be on high alert and it would make it very difficult to carry out the mission. He had two assets in the embassy. It was better to let them get in and have a solid plan ready when they try and leave. He sent two men to the airport to photograph the men. They would then follow the targets part way to the embassy. Another car would then take over following them to decrease the
risk of being detected.

  87

  Riga Latvia

  Tuesday afternoon July 2, 2019

  “What now?” Sonkin said watching the countryside flash by.

  “Someone will pick us up at the airport.”

  “And?”

  “We get you out of Latvia to the USA.”

  Sonkin thought about going home. How would he be treated? Although he was a POW, he did work for the Russians for decades. He was a traitor, but he would redeem himself. He had the means to give the US the means to dominate the Russians. It would be his redemption.

  Jax looked over at Sonkin. Poor fellow thinks the danger has passed.

  “Now that we are safe, I have a confession to make,” Sonkin said looking at Jax. When Jax said nothing Sonkin continued,” The USB drive I gave you doesn’t have all the information needed. I put it together rapidly on short notice and some explanations are incomplete. Someone very smart could, with time, figure it out.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’ll soon be back in the laboratory”

  They finished the flight in silence. At the airport, a car pulled up to the helicopter and two men got out and waited for them to exit. They were casually dressed, thirtyish and fit. One a tall blond, blue-eyed with an athletic build wearing a bomber jacket and jeans approached Jax.

  “I like to speak to you alone for a minute.”

  “ Not until you show me some identification.”

  Alhough he appeared annoyed he took out a wallet and opened it to his identification. “Robert Hansworth.”Jax said,” What can I do for you?”

  Hansworth put the wallet away.” I was instructed to tell you that the remainder of your fee has been transferred. We will be taking over from here.”

  “’ What’s going to happen to Sonkin.?”

  ‘We’ll be taking him to a safe house here in Riga then a flight to the US.”

  “Why not the embassy? It’s much safer.”

  “Politics. They don’t want a high-value defector in our embassy. It would cause an incident with the Russians. As of now, they don’t know it’s a US operation. They believe it but can’t prove it.”

  “The Russians want him very badly,” Jax said. “They will stop at nothing, even shoot down the plane he’s on, but they can’t attack an embassy.”

  “You really believe that about the plane?”

  “Yes, I do. and they will hit your safe house.”

  “No worry there. I have an excellent team and they’ll be in a world of shit if they try. Can we give you a lift?”

  “No thanks. Safer to take a taxi.” Jax went over to Sonkin and explained that these men would take care of him from here. “You’ll be home soon. Good luck.” Sonkin thanked him profusely. Jax watched as they got into their car and drove off. He walked to the terminal, noted he had cell phone service, hailed a taxi, then made a call.

  88

  Riga Latvia

  Tuesday Afternoon July 2, 2019

  When Portnov received the call informing him that they were not going to the embassy he was delighted. Thirty-nine per cent of Riga’s residents were ethnic Russians. He had recruited numerous operatives. Now he knew where they were keeping the one Bykov called Sonkin. The younger man with him did not go with the CIA men who picked Sonkin up. His job was apparently over.

  Bykov had told him that they wanted the old man dead or alive, preferably alive. Anything they had to do to keep him from leaving the country was acceptable. If he managed to get on an aircraft Moscow would take it from there.

  Portnov called in his deputies and presented his plan. “We don’t know when they are going to move him. I assume it will be tomorrow or the next day. We will hit them early in the morning. Any questions?” He looked at the two men. “No? Then get your teams ready.”

  89

  Riga Latvia

  Tuesday evening July 2, 2019

  The safe house was a three-bedroom apartment on the top floor of an older four-story apartment house in the Center district of Riga. Sonkin was tired. He sank into an armchair and asked, “What’s next?”

  Hansworth sat on a couch opposite him,” You’re well protected. I have a man on the roof, one at the back exit, two at the front checking anyone who enters the building, one outside our door, myself and two others in here with you. Tomorrow we will take you to the airport and fly to the states. Now I suggest you eat, shower and get some sleep.”

  There were several premade sandwiches in the refrigerator. He chose a ham and cheese washing it down with a Pepsi. After a long hot shower, he changed into the new clothes one of Hansworths men had provided. Sonkin lay on the bed reviewing the happenings of the last few days. He was asleep in minutes.

  90

  Riga Latvia

  Wednesday early AM July 3, 2019

  Hansworth had the men on four-hour shifts. They changed at six, ten, two and six. At eight AM they would leave for the airport. There was one man on the roof checking surrounding buildings for suspicious activity, two men inside the back door, and two inside the front door who could watch the front, the stairs and small elevator. One man sat outside the door to the apartment. Six additional men who rotated with the ones on watch were in an apartment on the first floor. Hansworth went to bed after his ten-to-two AM shift. A third man slept in the small bedroom next to Sonkin. Another man sat in the living room watching the door and used his cell phone every half hour to text the other men on duty to see if everything was okay.

  At three forty-five in the morning two black Mercedes parked a half block away from the safe house, out of sight of those watching the front door. They had spent the day checking out the house, surrounding area and adjacent houses. Five men got out of the first car. All were dressed in black wearing kevlar vests and carrying silenced submachine guns. They did not leave a driver. Three similarly dressed men got out of the second car but one man stayed behind the wheel. The leader leaned on the passenger side, “Miroslav you know where to take him? “

  “Yes, boss.”

  “OK. Don’t fuck up” And he and the other seven me entered the building and made their way to the roof. It was three forty-six. “One more time. At exactly four the sniper will take out the roof man. We will enter and one man will go quietly down the stairs to neutralize the man I’m sure they will have outside the door to the apartment. Three of us will go proceed to the door.

  You two will go down to the third floor landing and you two on the second. Your job is to keep the men downstairs from getting up here while we secure the prisoner. Any questions so far? ...No, good. You two will use the ram to smash the lock. I will go in with you following right behind. Remember what he looks like as we want him alive if possible.” He looked at his watch. “Seven seconds.”

  At exactly 4 AM the sniper put a round into the head of the CIA man on the roof. The seven moved quickly and quietly over the roof to the safe house roof door. One man entered and moved down the first flight then slowly down the second until he saw a man sitting on a chair in front of the apartment. The man looked over in his direction, but he was already dead from the two rounds in his heart. He walked back up, waved, and the rest followed. Four men proceeded to their position on the landings. The leader signaled and the men with the short metal ram took a big back swing and crashed into the lock. The door splintered and swung open. In went the leader firing as he entered cutting down the man in the armchair facing the door.

  Hansworth heard the snapping of the door. He jumped out of bed and slowly opened the door of his room just in time to see the man in the chair take a chest full of rounds. He took aim at the first man through the door and fired three times. Hansworth had seen the Kevlar vest so he aimed low hitting the man in the left thigh dropping him to his knees. He had no time to savor his shot as the second man put four bullets into his face. They went to help the leader who waved them off, “Get the old man.” As th
ey approached the bedrooms the remaining CIA man burst out of his bedroom firing an Uzi on full automatic. It was not silenced and the noise in the small hallway was thunderous. One Russian twisted completely around dropped his weapon then collapsed. The wounded leader put a round in his forehead.

  Sonkin had awoken at the sound of the door splintering. He was smart enough not to leave his room. He heard muffled sounds that were like distant gunfire, then the roar of an automatic weapon which stopped abruptly. His door opened and a man dressed all in black with a face mask entered. “Come with me. Resist and you are dead.”

  Sonkin followed him as the sounds of gunfire from downstairs became more intense. A man applying a tourniquet to his thigh said, “Take him to the car. You and Miroslav get him to the embassy. We will deal with the rest of them.”

  Sonkin was hustled up the stairs, across the roof, onto the roof of the adjacent building, down the stairs, and out into the street where a black Mercedes was waiting with its motor running, The Russian opened the door forced, Sonkin in and slid in next to him. Let’s go Miroslav.” Much to his surprise the man who turned around and shot him was not Miroslav but Jax Wilder. Jax drove away.

  As they drove through the quiet streets Sonkin got over his shock at seeing Jax. “How did you do this?” Sonkin ask incredulously.

  “After talking with Hansworth at the airport I knew there was going to be big trouble. The Russians want you very badly. Preferably alive so you can tell them what you did and what you’ve given away. But if they can’t get you alive, they’ll kill you. Half this city are Russians. They have plenty of help and Hansworth was underestimating his opposition.” Jax checked his rearview mirror to make sure they weren’t being followed.

  “They followed your car from the airport to the safe house. I know because I paid a taxi driver a nice sum to follow you as well. It was obvious that the CIA was going to get you out of Riga as soon as possible. I assumed the Russians would come late at night. I rented a car and parked across from your building and waited. When I saw they left one man to drive one car I assumed it would be the one they were taking you back in. When they went upstairs, I went across the street, eliminated the driver and put him in the trunk. When we get to the next street I am going to turn down an alley.