Black Harvest (The PROJECT)

by Lukeman, Alex

  "What does the virus look like?"

  "Demeter looks exactly like common pepper. Samples are kept in one of the refrigerators in the laboratory. The main supply is in a large freezer, packed in sealed boxes. All of that is in Building Four."

  The car slowed.

  "One more thing." The electronic voice crackled over the speaker. "He has effective security on site. Be careful."

  The car stopped. The door opened. They were in front of the restaurant.

  "How do I contact you?"

  There was no response. Nick got out. The driver closed the door, went around the back, got in. The car drove away. The license plate was obscured.

  He walked into the restaurant where Selena waited.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  April in Washington. The day was sunny and warm, in the high 60s. Ronnie had shifted to summer mode. He wore a bright blue Hawaiian shirt with surfboards all over it, green Dockers and a tan linen jacket that concealed his Glock. He'd gone for Oakley wraparounds and a hat that would have pleased Frank Sinatra. Winter, Ronnie dressed dull. The sun brought out another side of him.

  Ronnie and Nick waited for Korov in front of the Marriott. He came out of the entrance and headed straight for them. They would have guessed what Korov did for a living even if they didn't already know.

  "He's armed." Ronnie gestured. "Figures. Probably diplomatic pouch."

  "He's got the look."

  "Yeah he does."

  Korov stopped in front of them. He was about the same height as Nick, about the same weight. He had the same tension in the way he moved. Something about the eyes said this man didn't miss much.

  "So. You are Carter and Peete." He didn't offer to shake hands.

  "Car's over there." They walked to Ronnie's black Hummer and got in. No one spoke on the drive to Virginia.

  In the parking lot Korov eyed the anonymous gray office building that housed the Project. Noted the antennas clustered on the roof.

  "You have added a few." Nick and Ronnie glanced at each other. Game on. They walked to the entrance.

  "You'll have to leave your weapon at the door. You'll get it back when you leave."

  "And yours?"

  "I work here. I get a pass."

  Korov shrugged. He took the Drotik from his holster and handed it to the security guard.

  "That what you used in Bulgaria?" Ronnie studied the odd pistol.

  "It is."

  "Maybe you could show it to us later."

  "Of course. Now that we are working together."

  They got in the elevator. Half way up, Nick pushed the stop button.

  "Before we go in. Neither one of us is happy about this."

  Korov nodded.

  "This is my team. You take orders from me. Understood?"

  "Of course. We are both professionals. I read your file, Carter. We have much in common."

  Nick wasn't surprised there was a file about him somewhere in Moscow.

  "We need to make this work. I'm going to try. How about you?"

  For the first time Korov smiled. "Honesty is good. Yes. I will try."

  "Good enough." Nick pushed the button again. The elevator rose.

  Selena, Stephanie and Lamont waited with Elizabeth in Harker's office. No one got up as Korov came in.

  "Major Korov. I am Director Harker. Please sit down." She indicated a chair. She didn't introduce the others. Nick and Ronnie sat down on the couch.

  "Getting crowded in here," Lamont said. Harker gave him a warning look.

  "What are your instructions, Major? We'd all like to know."

  "My orders are to cooperate with you in every way. I am to place myself under your command for the duration of this assignment. General Vysotsky showed me the video of your CIA Director."

  "Then you understand our concern."

  "I do. We have a mutual goal."

  "How do you feel about being here? Working with us?"

  "I'll be blunt. I have mixed feelings." Korov's English was excellent. "I never expected to work with Americans. I was raised to see your country as the enemy. As you were regarding the Motherland."

  She opened a folder on her desk. Turned it so Korov could see. His picture was prominent. The folder contained a full history. Family, education, military service. The date he'd been recruited to Spetsnaz. His assignment to the non-existent Zaslon. Commendations for heroism under fire. Evaluations from superior officers.

  If Korov was surprised, he gave no sign.

  Harker closed the folder. "Your record speaks for itself. You have the skills. My question to you is if you can give us your total commitment."

  "I've been ordered to do so."

  "That's not what I asked."

  "I will do my best."

  Harker waited for the others.

  "We spoke in the elevator," Nick said. "I'm willing to put him in the loop."

  "Likewise." That was Ronnie.

  "Selena?"

  "Yes." She watched Korov. A flicker of surprise on his face.

  "Lamont?"

  He shrugged. "Okay."

  Stephanie nodded.

  "All right. That's settled."

  Korov knew what had happened. He just hadn't expected it.

  "If one of you had said no, would I now be on my way back to Moscow?"

  "You would."

  "This will be interesting."

  Nick couldn't resist. "You can count on it."

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  "Tell them about Adam, Nick."

  "Who's Adam?" Lamont asked.

  He briefed them, leaving out the part about the Pentagon. It was up to Harker to tell Korov or not. Nick had given her the full story earlier.

  "You have no idea who Adam is?" Harker said.

  "No. Whoever he is, he's got power, he's got money and he's playing his cards very close. The voice was disguised. I think Adam is a man. Just something in the way he spoke. I could have refused to get in the car. Nothing would have happened."

  "You sensed no threat?"

  "No."

  "Do you think he was giving you accurate information about Demeter?"

  "Yes."

  Korov said, "I will have to pass this to Vysotsky."

  "You can call him now, if you like."

  "Here? Right now?"

  "Yes. I told Yakov I'd let Vysotsky know immediately if we learned what Demeter was."

  Korov nodded. "You continue to surprise me. You have the number?"

  She picked up her phone, dialed. A short pause while the signal relayed across the world. In Moscow, Vysotsky picked up.

  "Da."

  "General, this is Director Harker. Major Korov would like to speak with you."

  Elizabeth smiled inside. She didn't think Vysotsky would have expected that. She handed the phone to Korov.

  "I will speak in Russian."

  "Feel free."

  Korov began talking. Selena listened. She spoke Russian. If Korov knew it, he didn't care. He paused, listened. He said "Da" several times. Even Nick knew that meant yes. Korov gave the phone back to Harker.

  "He wants to speak with you."

  Harker put the call on speaker. She'd decided full transparency might build trust. She wanted Korov to see she played it straight.

  "Director Harker. We meet, so to speak. What do you intend to do?" Vysotsky's English was accented but quite good.

  "Now that we know what and where it is, we are going to destroy Demeter."

  "Time is running out." The speaker hissed in the background. "When do you plan this operation?"

  "Two nights from now. I need to get the logistics together and the team on site."

  "What about Lodge?"

  "Our primary concern is Demeter. After we take care of that, then Lodge."

  "Major Korov will be part of the strike unit?"

  "Definitely. His experience will be valuable. There may be resistance."

  "Arkady is used to that." A pause. "Good hunting."

  Elizabeth set the
phone down.

  "Let's talk about the mission. Steph, bring up the objective."

  Steph tapped keys at her console. A live satellite picture came up on the big wall screen.

  Harker swiveled toward the monitor. "This is Dansinger's compound in Texas. He grows experimental crops in those large buildings."

  The live satellite picture was stationary, clear and detailed. A state highway paralleled the complex to the north. A straight, blacktop road ran south for about a quarter of a mile from the highway to the main gate of the compound. The compound itself was several hundred acres in size, rectangular, with the long sides on the east and west. The entrance by the gate was the only way in.

  A high fence went completely around the property. Low shrubs and landscaping split the center of the compound east and west. Looking south from the highway, there were ten large buildings to the west, spaced evenly in two rows along the fence.

  On the eastern side was an L-shaped building with parking areas. South of the structure, five two-story buildings followed a perfect line. It reminded Nick of a military base. A good sized airstrip ran along the eastern border, with two runways crossing each other in an offset X. It was contained within the fenced perimeter. It featured a windsock, a hanger and a helicopter pad. The pad was empty.

  A paved two lane access road connected everything in a neat grid. Two more of the big buildings sat at the far eastern corner of the compound. Beyond them and the fence, the Texas panhandle headed south toward civilization.

  "The outside fence is twelve feet high and electrified." Harker traced it with a laser pointer. "Razor wire on top. Floodlights that come on at dusk."

  "Typical," Lamont said.

  "How's your arm?"

  "Better." He held it up, out of the sling. "I can use it. I've been working it."

  "Good. Because you're going."

  "All right." Lamont grinned. "Back in the saddle."

  "There's only the one gate, backed by the guard house. Dansinger owns the land up to the highway and 5000 surrounding acres. Security will have monitors on everything. There are cameras along the outer fence and on the corners and entrances of each building. Those big buildings are where he grows his crops."

  "What's that L-shaped one?" Nick said.

  "That's admin. Offices. The next two buildings are for equipment, supplies, vehicle storage, that kind of thing. There's a full garage and shop. He's got a fire station with two engines. The security vehicles park there. They use GMC Suburbans, like the Feds."

  Nick pointed. "Next to the Suburbans. Get a closer look."

  Steph zoomed in with the satellite camera.

  "Well, well. Three Humvees, M-240s on top. Early models, looks like. There's no protection for the gunner. How the hell does Dansinger have stuff like that? What's he need them for?"

  "Coyotes, maybe," Ronnie said.

  "That building next to them could be a barracks. Adam mentioned security."

  "How many men, you think?"

  Nick thought about it. "Hard to say. Three Humvees, eight SUVs. Probably two men in the guardhouse, two in the patrol vehicles. Probably three shifts. I'd guess around forty. Former military, with those Humvees and guns. Gone over to the Dark Side. That's a lot of firepower to protect a few rows of corn. He's got himself a little army there."

  "Mercenaries." Korov's voice was full of contempt.

  "Yeah, mercs. Except we don't call them that anymore. Now they're contractors."

  "The compound is self sufficient except for power. It comes in from the road." Harker used a laser pointer to indicate an electrical substation where the access drive made a T with the highway.

  "He has to keep those buildings cool." Nick studied the image. Propane tanks and gas pumps were visible in the photo.

  "Those are backup generators behind that last building, near the propane tanks. Big ones. It would take a few minutes to get them up and running if the power goes down. They're vulnerable from the rear."

  Two men came out of the building next to the Humvees. One man carried an assault rifle. They climbed into one of the security vehicles.

  "Not much cover," Ronnie rubbed his chin. The land around the compound was featureless.

  "Nothing except jack rabbits, weeds and cactus," Harker said. "Steph, show us Texas."

  A map of Texas appeared on the wall monitor. Dansinger's compound was northwest of Amarillo, off Highway 87 and a state highway linking two small towns.

  "I can get you and your gear to Dyess in Abilene or Sheppard in Wichita Falls. You'll have to drive from there. We can't use helicopters for this."

  "Looks like Sheppard and Dyess are about the same distance away." Nick studied the map. "The roads are more direct from Sheppard. 287 to Amarillo, then 87 north. Piece of cake. Get us to Sheppard."

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  Nick poured wine for Selena, whiskey for himself. They sat at the counter in his apartment. He'd fixed a simple plate of snacks. Crackers, celery and cream cheese. Olives. Brie.

  There was a comfortable silence between them.

  "I've been thinking."

  "About what?" He cut a piece of brie, smeared it on a cracker.

  "Us. You and me." She sipped. "You want to move in together or not?"

  There it was.

  "Mostly."

  "Mostly?"

  "It might be a bad idea."

  "Why?"

  "I'm afraid I'll fuck it up."

  "Me too."

  "That I'll fuck it up?"

  "That we both will. Maybe we should wait a little."

  "You want some distance?"

  "No, that's not it. I'm having a little trouble right now. With what we do. What I do."

  "I know."

  "I'm having nightmares. I think maybe I need to see someone."

  "A shrink?"

  "Or a therapist. Someone to help me sort it out. I'm having these dreams, someone's trying to kill me. I can't see who they are."

  "Doesn't surprise me. I thought it would happen before now."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Everyone gets bad dreams who does things like we do. Soldiers, cops. Everyone. Except the psychos who love it."

  "That's what bothers me. Part of me loves it." She picked up a cracker, nibbled it.

  "That's because of the rush. Being on the edge. At risk. Am I right?"

  She nodded.

  "It's not the same thing as enjoying it the way the nut jobs do."

  "So why the dreams?"

  "When I came back from Afghanistan." He stopped.

  "After the grenade."

  "Yes. They made me talk to a shrink. We talked about this. It's called cognitive dissonance. The mind sets up a conflict between belief and reality."

  "I know about that."

  "We're brought up that killing people is wrong. Then we kill people. We believe we shouldn't do it. Reality is different." He shrugged. "Cognitive dissonance."

  "So we get nightmares."

  "Yup. PTSD is a nice catch all for a lot of different ways it shows up. Dreams is one of them."

  "Doctor Nick. I still think I need a shrink."

  "Maybe." He set his glass down. "I've got an idea for short term therapy."

  "What about living together?"

  "Why don't we talk about that later? After our therapy session?"

  He took her hand and led her into the bedroom.

  "Doctor Nick," she said.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Early next morning the team and Korov gathered around a flat table covered with satellite photos of the compound.

  Nick began. "Harker's got the logistics locked down. Transport to Sheppard. Vehicles waiting for us there. That's the easy part. Steph dug up info on the opposition. They provide hard core security in Iraq and Afghanistan. There have been incidents with this group."

  "What kind of incidents?" It was Selena.

  "They shoot first and ask later. All combat vets, former Rangers, Marines, SOCOM. We have to assume they know what the
y're doing and will respond rapidly."

  "They gotta be there to protect Demeter," Ronnie said.

  "No other reason I can think of."

  "Our weapons?"

  "We'll take all that with us, Korov. MP-5s, side arms, grenades, ammo. Night scopes. You know the MP-5?"

  The Russian nodded. "A good choice."

  "We'll take Thermate-TH3 for the meltdown and C-4 just in case. All our personal combat gear. Vests and the like. Lamont, can you handle a rifle with that arm?"

  "Yeah, with a bipod and a rest. Don't think I'd be much good in a running firefight, though."

  "I'm thinking we take a Barrett .50 and give you an M4 for backup. You stick with the vehicles, set up and give us cover while we go in."

  "That'll work."

  Nick put his finger on the electrical substation at the junction of the highway and the access road.

  "A big transformer fire will make a nice diversion. We'll take it out with a delayed charge and be in position when the lights go out. I'm betting they'll think it's a normal power failure. These guys have been sitting on their ass in the middle of nowhere for months with nobody shooting at them. They'll be dull. That will change pretty quick once they realize we're inside."

  Selena said, "How do we go over the fence?"

  "We don't go over it. We go through it with a plasma cutter. Easier and faster that way." He tapped the photo. "Here. In the rear, away from the guard shack and the barracks. Once we're in, we've got cover between the buildings. We'll get close before the power goes off."

  Korov nodded.

  Nick continued. "They won't see us. There's no moon. Weather says clouds, so no stars either. It'll be black as Hitler's heart out there. We'll approach from the back, beyond the lights. Lamont will set up to cover us with the Barrett. We crawl up close and go through the fence when the power goes down."

  "And if the lights come back on while we're doing that?" Selena asked.

  Nick was in leader mode. "We deal with it."

  "Which building is the primary objective?" Korov studied the photo.

  "Building Four. This one."

  Building Four was in the second from the last row, in the back of the complex. That made it a little easier.

  "Korov, what's your experience with demolition?"