“Well, King says it’s Kuznetsov. That’s all I meant.”
“What’s his move?”
“Confirm it’s Kuznetsov and get him to talk. He doesn’t have a plan after that.”
“All right. I want to know when you know. Got it?”
“Of course, Mr. President. I’ll be in touch.”
Gibbons ended the call and turned on the news. The media hadn’t stopped speculating since news broke about the deaths in the small Alaskan town. The travel ban he had to place on the area didn’t help matters any. It gave them even more to speculate about. This was all spinning out of control really quickly. But the thing that scared him the most was that it could get so much worse.
Chapter Thirty
Barrow, Alaska, 1:04 p.m.
As King and Kuznetsov sat in the driveway that was just around the corner from Volkov Industries, King had finished another call with Josiah. Josiah had managed to get three other men, all crack shots according to him, to help in case King brought some trouble with him. King told him to have two of them set up at good vantage points at the airport—one with an eye on the entrance and one with an eye on the tarmac where Cali’s dad’s plane sat waiting. Then he wanted Josiah and his other man to come to King’s current position. When they arrived, they would go on foot through the trees that led to the gates of Volkov. King’s biggest concern was that what happened in Moscow would make the powers that be paranoid and they would beef up security. He needed Josiah’s new deputies there in case the added guards needed taking down. He already explained this to Josiah so King and Kuznetsov could move as soon as he arrived. Josiah’s truck was pulling up now.
King exited the SUV. Josiah parked and got out of the truck. The cold was immediate. It wasn’t something King would ever get used to, no matter how long he stayed. The snow was just a trickle now, and it was the brightest part of the day. An hour or two from then, it would be back to a dark twilight. Josiah walked over and handed King an earpiece.
“How’d you manage these?” King asked as he put the radio in his ear.
“When a few of your buddies are out hunting around polar bears, it’s good to be in constant communication. The other boys at the airport are in place. They’re waiting for my call.”
“You sure you want to do this? You don’t have to. This could get ugly.”
Josiah pulled his rifle off his shoulder and held it in his hands. “I know it’s second nature for you to be working for the president, X, but it isn’t for me. It means something when the commander in chief asks a favor of me.”
“Yeah?” King smiled. “Matters to me too. Why do you think my frozen ass is way up here?”
“Good point. Well, we are going to start hoofing it. Give us a five-minute head start.”
“Will do. Thanks, Josiah.”
King reached out his gloved hand. Josiah grabbed it and shook it firmly. “My pleasure. Haven’t seen this much excitement since Cali came to town,” he said with a wink. “We have to get this wrapped up so you can get the hell out of here and I can get a second chance with her.”
King feigned a tip of the hat. “Be careful out here. I have no idea what we are walking into.”
“A hunter never really does.”
Josiah and his deputy never looked back. King thought for a moment about that statement. It had been true many times in his life. No matter how much planning went into a mission, you never really knew what you were going to get. He thought maybe the Army should target hunters for their next recruiting campaign. Seemed they’re a damn good fit.
He walked back over and slid inside the warm SUV. While they were waiting for Josiah to arrive, Kuznetsov had managed a call to his banker. The woman was going to send all records to a secure email that Dbie could comb through. Hopefully she could trace the account that had been wiring Kuznetsov his money for his work in Barrow. It could be a massive break in getting to the bottom of this entire science fiction nightmare. But King knew those odds were long.
“Let’s get moving,” King told Kuznetsov. “We can’t afford to sit around any longer. We are as covered as we are going to be.”
Kuznetsov pulled out of the driveway and drove toward Volkov. It was just around the bend of trees, not even a half mile. The plan was simple. King would be brought in as Kuznetsov’s extra security. Since King was already a security guard there, he would have credentials and a backstory, and would have no need to make up some elaborate cover. All Kuznetsov would have to do is sell the fact that he felt in danger so he needed to add a little more security. The only problem with the plan was the men King killed in the driveway of Kuznetsov’s house. No one was going to find them as King had dragged them inside. However, if they were supposed to check in with someone, there would be more red flags that everything at Volkov was compromised. All they really needed was to get through the gate, then pass the front desk. It was the only play they had.
The SUV rounded the bend. King moved his knife from his pocket, down to the right side of his left boot, just in case there was a search at the gate. Kuznetsov was beginning to fidget in his seat. The last thing King needed was for him to spook the guards. Then a sour thought crept in. What if he really was being played by Kuznetsov? What if the plan now was to tip off the guards? He’s going to have to speak Russian to them. King wouldn’t have any idea what they were saying. He needed an insurance policy.
King pulled his Glock from his concealed holster and showed Kuznetsov he was keeping it under his coat in his lap. “Just so we are clear on how this is going to go.”
“They will kill me, too, you know.”
“Listen, I’m about to tell you to relax, take a deep breath, and act normal with the guards. But before I do, you must know that if you spook them, I will kill you, and every one of them. Make no mistake, it’s what I am trained to do, and I am the very best at it. So don’t get any ideas.”
“I thought you knew by now that I am on your side.” Kuznetsov glanced over as he spoke. The gates to Volkov came into view.
“I don’t know you. I am here for one reason and one reason only—to keep my country safe. You are merely a means to an end. And if you get out of line, I mean to end you.”
“Fair enough,” Kuznetsov said.
King didn’t know if reassuring Kuznetsov that he was a stone-cold killer had eased his worry or not, but something he’d said had calmed the old man down. It was a win either way.
“There normally this many guards?” King said.
Kuznetsov must have known the question was rhetorical, because he didn’t answer.
He didn’t like what he saw as they drove closer. There were two large trucks blocking the gates on both sides and at least a half dozen men walking the area. It didn’t really matter, however, because short of parachuting in, this was his only chance of entering the mining facility and the secret lab. All he could do was hope their story was viable to the guards. That, or hope his aim was true if they decided not to believe them.
Chapter Thirty-One
Kuznetsov rolled slowly toward the gate. The snow had picked back up a bit, but visibility was still good.
“Deep breath,” King told him. “It’s just you coming to work as you would on any other day.”
However, with the influx of security, it clearly was not any other day.
King added, “You’re here to work. I am just extra security. Nothing more.”
Kuznetsov didn’t respond to King’s coaching; he just pulled the SUV to a stop. Then King spoke to Josiah who was listening in his ear. “Josiah, if I say fire, you take down any man standing. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“No hesitation now, you hear me? I will only say fire if they have to die.”
“We have them in our sights. Waiting on your word.”
King couldn’t help but feel a little better that Josiah and his man were watching them, even though he had no idea if either of them could actually shoot. As a man holding a rifle walked over to their SUV, Kuznetsov rolle
d down the window. The man said something in Russian that King didn’t understand. But he did understand when the man shook his head and pointed back toward the direction they came.
Kuznetsov glanced over. King thought he was going to crack. King’s hand was ready to shoot for his Glock. Kuznetsov said something to the guard.
The guard shook his head and was a little more adamant with pointing behind them again.
Not good.
King stayed ready. He watched as Kuznetsov’s chest was going up and down a little faster. He could tell he was getting worried. However, when he spoke again to the guard, his voice was even and he didn’t sound worried. The word fire was on the tip of King’s tongue. Ready to shout it if it came to that. So far it seemed likely that it would. Then the guard walked away to go talk with another of the men.
Kuznetsov looked straight ahead as he whispered under his breath. “No one is permitted today. I am trying to convince them to let just me go.”
“No. I go, or they all die,” King whispered back. “Tell them you discovered a problem with your calculations and that is why you are here early. Tell them many lives are at stake and if they don’t let you through, those deaths will be on them.”
“These men don’t know about the virus or a vaccine!” his whisper was almost too loud. The pressure was getting to him. “They think this is a rock mining company!”
“No they don’t,” King said, keeping an even tone. “They don’t know the details, but they know they aren’t guarding this place over rocks. Tell them what I said. They’ll have to make a call to whoever put them here on such short notice. If they tell them you said something is wrong and people will die, maybe you’ll get the go-ahead.”
Kuznetsov took a deep breath. He wiped the sweat from his lip, and King could see his hand was trembling. The guard started back their way. Kuznetsov went to raise his arm again, but King shot his hand over and yanked it down.
“You’re shaking,” King whispered. “Just relax. You’re fine.”
Before the guard even got to the window, he was shaking his head. Kuznetsov tried to speak, but the guard interrupted him immediately and barked at him as he motioned for them to leave. Kuznetsov tried to speak again, but he was once again interrupted. King was ready for hell to break loose. One more time, Kuznetsov spoke but again was interrupted by the guard shouting at him. Then Kuznetsov surprised King.
Kuznetsov shouted, “Nyet!” and banged his fist on the steering wheel. Then he went on to shout at the guard. Before the guard could react, the man who was clearly in charge walked over, and Kuznetsov yelled at him as well. King prepared for a quick jump out of the car so he could get some cover as he shot them. Kuznetsov had done exactly what King asked him not to do, and freaked out. Now everyone was in danger.
Then King was surprised again. Instead of pointing his gun at Kuznetsov, the guard in charge pulled out a phone and stepped away. Kuznetsov sounded like a man who’d just sprinted a mile, he was breathing so hard. King wanted to try to calm him, but the other guard was still standing by the window. The cold air was swirling through the SUV now, but for the first time, King welcomed it. He was running hot as he tried to keep calm.
While the one man was on his phone and the other guard had his back turned, King quickly surveyed the rest of the surroundings. There were seven men total. If he took out the two guards who had approached the car, and Josiah and his man could get two others close to the gate, he had a fighting chance. The Suburban they were in would provide ample room for King to move behind and still be protected. The next worry would be what awaited beyond the gate. They needed whatever Kuznetsov shouted at the guards to work. It was not only the cleanest way in, but it might be the only way out. Other security would hear the shooting, and they would send more men. It would be too much for King to try to survive while keeping Kuznetsov alive as well.
Kuznetsov broke. He pounded the steering wheel again and shouted something out the window. The guard closest to him turned and pointed his gun at Kuznetsov’s head. King watched the guard’s eyes. He was focused on Kuznetsov, and Kuznetsov only. King slid his hand under his coat and wrapped his hand around the grip of his gun. If this was about to go down, he wasn’t going to be the last man with a weapon in his hand.
The guard pointing the gun at Kuznetsov was shouting now. King readied himself by moving his finger along the trigger. He angled the gun upward, pointing it, from under his coat, at the guard’s right shoulder. Kuznetsov had frozen up when the gun had been turned on him. He was holding his hands in the air and seemed to be begging for his life. The guard shouted one more time; then a man yelled at him from behind. The guard holding on Kuznetsov seemed to protest; then, after another command, he lowered his weapon. King released the breath he was holding, but he did not let go of his weapon.
The man in charge put away his phone, and as he was walking toward their SUV, he gave a waving motion and shouted something to the guards by the gate. They were going to let them in. But that meant they were going to search King. He was security, so it wouldn’t be a deal breaker that he had a weapon, but if it was sitting in his lap, that would be a problem. Before the man could make it to the SUV, King slid the Glock from under his coat and quickly tucked it into the concealed holster at the small of his back. The man hadn’t seen him do it.
The truck in front of them roared to life, and as it moved out of their path, the gate also began to open. Step one of the secret mission had been cleared.
Next came the hard part. Extracting the evidence. King knew that however rough the entrance had just been, it was going to seem like still waters compared to getting out of there alive.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The head guard barked something at his other man, who then walked around the front of the SUV. The head guard then opened Kuznetsov’s door and ordered him out. King knew he would be searched as well. He waited for the guard to open his door. The guard shouted at King and pulled him out of the vehicle way too hard. King stumbled forward but managed to keep his cool. King wasn’t a massive guy, but he towered over this little man, who then shoved King forward against the hood and pushed his upper body to where King’s face was on the frozen fiberglass. Again, King didn’t react. He would have taken a beating at that point just to get through the gates.
Then he felt a sharp pain after something slapped against the back of his head. The guard had just struck him in the head with his gun. Rage flooded King. And believe it or not, it was the sheriff who nearly shot and killed Kuznetsov an hour or so ago who actually calmed him down.
Josiah spoke through King’s earpiece in a soft tone. “Easy, X. Don’t let that guy get to you. They’re going to let you in if you can keep your cool.”
King took a deep breath. The head guard at the other side of the truck was shouting something at the little man in Russian. It sounded like he was angry with him for hitting King on the head. That’s when King felt the guard slip King’s gun out of his holster. A split second later he twirled King around and was shouting at him as he pointed King’s own gun at his face.
“Just say the word and we can take all these guys together,” Josiah whispered.
King was ready to take more punishment for the cause, but he was not used to being on the receiving end. The man’s half-covered face, spitting unmentionables in Russian, was beet red in front of him. King could see that the abuse of power he was wielding was simply a cover for his fear. His eyes told the real story.
Finally, his boss shouted something that made him cool off. The boss walked around the SUV and finished patting King down. He made the mistake of not reaching down inside King’s boot, so he didn’t find the knife King had tucked away there. King hoped that would come back and haunt the man before all of this was over.
The boss seemed satisfied, so they pulled King off the hood. King stared down the little man, then got back in the SUV. The two guards got in the back of the SUV, and the boss must have told Kuznetsov to drive, because that’s what he did. Th
e car now smelled of cigarettes, and all the heat equity that had built up inside was gone. But at least they’d made it past the gate.
“Nice job,” Josiah whispered. “We’ll be out here freezing our asses off waiting for you, so make it quick, would you?”
King appreciated the humorous jab. It helped him center himself and forget about the pip squeak behind him who’d bashed him in the head. Kuznetsov drove up to the front of the first building of what collectively was Volkov Mining. King didn’t move until he was removed from the car by the guard who had assaulted him. Then the four of them moved toward the entrance. King had a feeling these two were going to be like shadows until he and Kuznetsov left the property.
The two guards swiped them in, and finally they were out of the cold. King removed his beanie, stuck it in his pocket, and unzipped his coat. As they pushed inside the second door, King was surprised and unhappy to see that Arnie was working the desk. He stood up with a look of shock on his face.
“Xavier? What the hell are you doing here?”
“Security for Dr. Semenov here. What about you?”
“Working a double. Everything okay?” Arnie looked behind King at the two security guards.
“Any idea why there is so much security here today?” King said.
“You know they don’t tell us nothing.”
All four of them walked past the security desk and over to the first secured door. The boss guard said something to Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov responded, then the boss shook his head no.
Kuznetsov looked at King. “He said you must stay here. I said I need you and he said—”
“No, yeah, I saw that.”
When King had exited the SUV outside, he was sure to look back over his shoulder to see what was happening at the gate. He found them shutting it and pulling the large truck back in front of it. No one was coming in or out. When he got inside, as he was talking to Arnie, he checked all the monitors behind him. No other security, other than the other desk guard on shift, and he was outside building three. King knew from walking the perimeter himself that the second deskman on duty wouldn’t be back for at least ten more minutes. All of that was important because it meant it was just King and the two gate guards who’d escorted them in.
Alexander King Thriller Series: Books 1-3 Page 36
