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**International Amazon bestseller 2012
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CATEGORY: international adventure, mystery-thriller, historic mystery, treasure hunt, romance, conspiracy, psychic, karma, women sleuths
Rating: more R than PG13 (for passionate romantic scenes)! Suitable for ages: 16 to adult All-Star Reviews **Series Page: ACCIDENTAL SPY CONFESSIONS! Where are Jade and Alexei going? Exciting new books on the horizon? |
FULL DESCRIPTION
GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure 2) 2nd edition International espionage and conspiracy thriller, based on an alluring mystery of one of history's largest ever treasure troves: the lost Russian Imperial gold reserve. Permeated with a dreamy forbidden love triangle and exciting psychic powers. GOLD TRAIN is the second full-size Accidental Spy Adventure, featuring sleuthing international journalist Jade Snow and FSB operative Alexei Moguchev |
It all starts with one secret phrase scribbled in a black, leather-bound journal of an assassinated Russian journalist:
"Accounts wrong that all gold left the country or was buried in Lake Baikal."
This sets off an epic treasure hunt, which along the way uncovers a major international conspiracy to unseat the government of Russia, and begins an undying, yet forbidden passion between two unlikely people that will defy reality, time and space.
Full of tantalizing twists and turns, action and revelations throughout, the book's unexpected culmination and ending will leave you speechless!
11/27/22 From author, LADA RAY
Just yesterday, I reread the whole Gold Train for the first time since its original publication in 2012, and had an unexpected blast. I was engrossed in the adventure and all the story's twists and turns. I rediscovered how much I enjoy my two characters, Jade and Alexei, and how much I appreciate their otherworldly, yet forbidden, relationship! They are so 5D, so out of this world… yet firmly with their feet on the ground! They are amazingly blessed and strangely cursed at the same time; they are locked into this reality, yet free and united beyond it.
"Accounts wrong that all gold left the country or was buried in Lake Baikal."
This sets off an epic treasure hunt, which along the way uncovers a major international conspiracy to unseat the government of Russia, and begins an undying, yet forbidden passion between two unlikely people that will defy reality, time and space.
Full of tantalizing twists and turns, action and revelations throughout, the book's unexpected culmination and ending will leave you speechless!
11/27/22 From author, LADA RAY
Just yesterday, I reread the whole Gold Train for the first time since its original publication in 2012, and had an unexpected blast. I was engrossed in the adventure and all the story's twists and turns. I rediscovered how much I enjoy my two characters, Jade and Alexei, and how much I appreciate their otherworldly, yet forbidden, relationship! They are so 5D, so out of this world… yet firmly with their feet on the ground! They are amazingly blessed and strangely cursed at the same time; they are locked into this reality, yet free and united beyond it.
"FIVE STARS:
What evolves is a brilliantly crafted thriller with murder, mystery, espionage and captivating twists and turns throughout. The author takes us on a tantalising, rip roaring, dangerous, action packed, yet passionate journey across modern day Russia.
Jade Snow is to journalism, what Jason Bourne is to action and espionage. The author has managed to develop a character with a fascinating thoughtful purpose. "Gold Train" is an absolute must read, the author goes beyond the obvious and whisks us along into the heart-stopping world of Jade Snow with breathtaking appeal for the next paragraph and page. The author's knowledge and comprehension of the Russian political scene brings a very credible and believable level of authenticity to the plot.
A mesmeric thriller, "Gold Train" is marvellous book which has something for every reader. It leaves you wanting and calling for the next instalment in the adventures of international journalist extraordinaire, Jade Snow."
~ J.J. Collins, Author
"Once I read THE EARTH SHIFTER, I was eager to read more from Lada Ray.
I love the way she blends the historical with fiction and the paranormal. The words flow smoothly as the story unravels. Her writing grips me as soon as I open the book and the ride to the end is full of murder, conspiracy, intrigue, passion, loss and sorrow."
~ Sherry Fundin Reviews
"On top of breakneck action, the ending blew my socks off. It was 100% an original book. It's even inspired me to learn Russian."
~ Rachel's Book Reviews
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ACCIDENTAL SPY ADVENTURES
- Green Desert (Iraq prequel short)
- Stepford, USA (Small Town Adventure #1)
- Gold Train (Russia Adventure #2)
- Accidental Spy 3.3 Omnibus (Collector Edition)
- Dragon Gate (Asia Adventure #3 - in progress)
SHORT DESCRITPTION
It all begins with one secret phrase scribbled in black, leather-bound journal of an assassinated Russian journalist... This sets off an epic treasure hunt, which along the way uncovers a major international conspiracy and begins an undying, forbidden passion between two unlikely people. Full of tantalizing twists and turns, action and revelations throughout, plus an unexpected culmination!
It all begins with one secret phrase scribbled in black, leather-bound journal of an assassinated Russian journalist... This sets off an epic treasure hunt, which along the way uncovers a major international conspiracy and begins an undying, forbidden passion between two unlikely people. Full of tantalizing twists and turns, action and revelations throughout, plus an unexpected culmination!
ACCIDENTAL SPY SERIES The story of Jade Snow, Accidental Spy extraordinaire, and top FSB operative Alexei Moguchev gets a new life! ACCIDENTAL SPY CONFESSIONS! Read Jade and Alexei story and how it all began + The inside scoop on future books! |
And now, I'm inviting you to experience an extensive mega-excerpt from the newly re-edited 2nd edition of Gold Train!
These chapters have never before been shared free with the public.
I hope you enjoy these consecutive chapters, taking place in gorgeous St. Petersburg and stately Moscow, at the FSB Lubyanka Headquarters and the Sculpture Park. I deliberately chose the chapters near the middle of the book,
when the real adventure takes off and shoots into stratosphere. Enjoy this holiday gift from me to you!
~ Author Lada Ray
Read
GOLD TRAIN MEGA-EXCERPT
Complete chapters 9-13!
Chapter 9
My eyes flew open. Through the splitting headache, I recalled the events of last night: the ball, freezing, confused and alone in the cold St. Petersburg night, Alexei coming to the rescue, his hotel suite, lots of wine and vodka, presumably to warm up. Then... then... I felt my ears starting to burn. I couldn’t believe what I’ve done next! It wasn’t really like me. I... I loved Paul, didn’t I?
“Jade, are you awake?” Alexei’s buttery baritone floated into the bedroom and although my eyes were open for the past fifteen minutes, I didn’t say anything. Instead, I closed them and pretended to be asleep, frantically going in my mind through different how-to-slip-out-unnoticed scenarios. Maybe he’ll just leave and go to do whatever it is he came to do in this city so I could make my escape, I thought hopefully.
He tiptoed to the bed and leaned close to me. His scent drifted into my nostrils, tickling my senses and driving me crazy with desire. It cost me all my self-control to hold it together as I concentrated on breathing as evenly and naturally as possible. I think I passed the test of a sleeping person, because he kissed me on the cheek and quietly shut the bedroom door. I exhaled and sat up. Then, I heard him ordering breakfast.
My plan was to grab my things the moment he stepped out of the room, slip out quietly, catch a cab, get my stuff from Vera’s and escape to Moscow. It looked like I had no luck in this fairytale beautiful city. Well, unless I call unlucky the best sex of my life. The treacherous thought came as I felt color spreading to my cheeks. The best sex of my life... Mmm... I licked my dry lips. Granted, sex with Paul was always good, but all too often he was so very, very far away, while I was home alone with the baby. How I needed him yesterday, how I needed to be “saved.”
Saved... I guess every woman, no matter how emancipated and independent, sometimes still needs her knight in shining armor, her very own prince to rescue and sweep her off her feet. What’s fifty years of modern sex equality conditioning versus thousands of years of genetic memory?
And so, Alexei became that prince I needed deep down so badly. And let’s face it (the thought I tried to chase away crept back into my mind) it was the best sex of my life!
But no, it would never do, I admonished myself, tiptoeing to the door to listen. No more lapses of judgment! I must get back to Moscow as soon as possible and focus on things that needed to be done. My story, investigation into Svetlana’s death - no more adventures of the sexual nature! Going forward, I’m all business.
I heard breakfast being brought in.
“Jade,” called Alexei from the sitting room. “Are you awake, sleepy head? Breakfast is here.”
I sighed. There was no point in stalling any longer.
“Yes, I am up,” I responded, and having put on my royal-blue evening gown with the mismatched terry robe thrown on top of it, emerged out of the bedroom.
“Good morning,” I mumbled. It felt awkward seeing him in broad daylight after what happened between us last night and I tried not to look at him.
“Good morning!” He smiled, but somehow, I got the feeling he was equally uncomfortable.
“Breakfast?” He pointed at the room service on the white-clothed table.
“Thanks,” I said. “I am not really hungry.”
“I’ll take you to Vera’s right after breakfast,” he said.
He poured me some tea and I sipped it slowly, feeling terrible. Well, not about the sex with him. That was really, really, really... amazing – truly and incredibly amazing! Not only was it the best sex I’ve ever had, but probably the best I’ll ever experience. I knew I’d always treasure that night, which was unlike any other night of my life.
But I felt awfully confused and guilty about cheating on Paul, something I’d never done before and never intended to do. Yet it happened. Alexei was so handsome, so desirable, and I was so cold and miserable... Svetlana’s murder, Vera’s betrayal, the intrigue and secret dealings behind the closed doors of that creepy mansion, where I was cast in the role of a sucker, Alexei’s unfathomable mystery, plus the underlying fear of what I’ve gotten myself into... all that combined played a nasty trick on me.
What kind of an excuse is that? I chided myself sternly. I am a married woman, who loves her husband and her little daughter... I should’ve known better. I had no business sleeping with Alexei, however handsome and desirable he might have been and however miserable and cold I was!
Speaking of which, why did I get the impression that he felt guilty or regretful, as well? Was it because he didn’t plan it either or was it because I busted him yesterday at the ball? Perhaps, he was afraid of my questions about what he was doing there? Well, why not live up to his expectations? It for sure beats reveling in my guilt!
Having rediscovered my purpose, I felt better.
I peered at Alexei. It was difficult to look at him without falling under his charm again and I had to force myself not to avert my eyes. I opened my mouth… but instead of the tough question, my lips stretched into a smile and I uttered, “I had a good time.”
“Me too,” he echoed and looked directly at me for the first time. These blue eyes, these sensuous lips, this great body… Last night was coming back to me so vividly that I once more started feeling all moist and tingling.
Oh no, I said to myself. Not again! I must be businesslike. As I thought that, our eyes locked into a tight embrace and my head immediately began to spin. There was so much tenderness in his glance... I must’ve imagined that he felt any regret at all. What I noticed was probably the fear I’d start asking some uncomfortable questions!
I steeled myself: after all, the best defense is a good offense.
“Speaking of which,” I said in a completely different tone. “I still don’t quite understand what you were doing at the ball. I thought you were on a business trip before taking a nice vacation to help me solve Svetlana’s murder. What am I missing?”
He contemplated me, apparently weighing how to react, then his lips stretched into a smile and he started laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“You are a very determined woman,” he said, shaking his head. “A third degree, no less. I don’t envy your future husband.”
“My husb...” I started, then stopped and automatically looked down at my ring finger. I took off my ring and, to be on the safe side, left it in the hotel safe back in Moscow after Svetlana’s murder. For the first time, I realized that he didn’t really know I was married. He probably thought I was single and available, just like him. Then, it occurred to me that he expertly diverted my attention from the main subject.
“Smart,” I said. “But you can’t divert my attention that easily. Could you answer my question, please?”
“I belong to the Monarchist Society.” He shrugged his shoulders. “So naturally, I was invited to the ball. Along with you, I might add. A better question I think is what were you doing there?”
“Vera invited me, dragged me there really, insisting I would find it interesting.”
“And did you?”
“Not really. I felt it was not my cup of tea, so to speak. Besides, I didn’t appreciate them deciding my life for me behind my back.”
“Deciding your life? What do you mean?”
“They were talking about me behind that door where I caught you eavesdropping.”
“And how do you know what they were talking about, unless you were eavesdropping, too?” he said shrewdly.
“Touché.” I laughed, eyeing him carefully. How much should I tell him? Conventional wisdom said, don’t be too open with strangers. On the other hand, the devil’s advocate in me objected, he wasn’t really a stranger. He saved me from those muggers, then he saved me from the cold and last night, we were together. Any closer and we’d be married.
Married?! I caught myself, utterly appalled at my Freudian slip. What am I talking about? I must be out of my mind!
I decided to share what was really bothering me and said, “True, I did eavesdrop a little. I was exploring the mansion when I overheard voices, then I heard my name. I decided to listen, until you spooked me.”
“You must have very good ears,” he remarked, “if you heard your name through the door while simply walking past.”
“Not bad,” I admitted. “Never had a reason to complain.”
“So, what else did you hear?” he asked casually.
“Can you believe it! They were talking about how they needed a courier from New York and how I would be ideal! The nerve of them! I wonder if that little package I delivered to Vera from Uncle Boris gave them this crazy idea…” I stopped at that, realizing that every time I asked a question, Alexei managed to turn the tables. As a result, I already spilled the beans about everything, yet learned absolutely nothing about his own clandestine plans. To my dismay, as far as coaxing the information out of a subject, he could run circles around me - and I was hardly a novice at this fine art.
“I see,” he said distractedly, his eyes acquiring a faraway look.
“But I should be going,” I added hastily, deciding that I wouldn’t be able to fish anything else out of this expert at diversion. “It’s getting late and I really need to pick up my stuff from Vera’s.”
“What are your plans afterwards?”
“I want to return to Moscow as soon as possible. I think I’ve had enough of St. Petersburg for now. I want to get going with Svetlana’s investigation.”
“As I promised you before, you can count on me.”
I contemplated him silently. Could I accept his help after everything that happened?
“You can trust me,” he said, as if reading my thoughts.
“Thank you,” I replied, making up my mind. I did need his help if I wanted to get anywhere. “It’s a deal.”
“Let me take you to Vera’s,” he offered. “After that, we can go to lunch together before leaving back to Moscow.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I should go alone. There is something I must discuss with her and I have no idea how long it’ll take.”
In truth, there was nothing I wanted more than to be with him every second of the day. But I couldn’t! When he was around, the temptation was simply too much. I had to limit my exposure to Alexei, otherwise I didn’t think I could resist the nuclear reaction between us. And I was absolutely determined to never, ever allow the repeat of yesterday’s unforgivable lapse in judgment.
“As you wish,” he said. “I’ll be waiting for you. Be back soon!”
“Ok,” I said, as he helped me with my cape. His hands paused on my shoulders, and from that touch my heart came to a halt. In that moment of suspended reality I almost forgot what I was supposed to do next. Forcefully yanking myself out of that alternate realm I kept landing in when Alexei was around, I concentrated on the task at hand.
“I’ll take you downstairs,” he said.
“No,” I said resolutely, as the thought of being alone with him in the elevator made my heart skip a beat. “I’ll go by myself. See you soon!”
And I hastily exited his suite.
Chapter 10
As I waited for the elevator, I decided to take a look at my flushed face in the cosmetics mirror I carried in my purse. And that’s when I realized that I left it in Alexei’s suite. All my money and documents were in the purse too, which meant I had to go back and face him once more. And although seeing that sensuous smile again was too much to endure, there was no way around it.
Reluctantly, I retraced my steps to his door. My hand on the doorknob, I was about to turn it, when I overheard Alexei’s voice. He seemed to be talking on the phone to someone he called Comrade General. I stopped, puzzled and without thinking, cupped my ear firmly against the door, an old sound-amplifying trick of spies and domestic servants of all times and cultures.
As Alexei’s phone conversation progressed, I liked it less and less.
“She has left to get her things from Vera Golitsina. But I am pretty confident I got her,” he said quietly.
Then he paused, listening.
“No, not really. I believe we are good,” he responded to some unknown question.
“Slushayus’! Yes, I’ll keep you posted.”
Again, there was a pause. Then, Alexei said, “Yes, I realize that we are running out of time. I appreciate your confidence in me, Comrade General!”
I stood by the door frozen, digesting the new and very unpleasant turn of events, when I heard his footsteps. He was heading towards the door. I crossed my arms and waited. When he opened the door, his face registered a momentary surprise, but immediately snapped back to its usual, composed expression.
“Jade, what are you still doing here?” he said evenly.
“I had to come back,” I said and resolutely stepped into the room.
He let me through and closed the door. “Why, what happened?” Did I see a shadow of concern on his face or was I imagining it?
“You happened, you treacherous louse!”
“What are you talking about?” he said, frowning.
“I heard everything,” I said, my eyes narrowed.
“You and your damn hearing,” he said, shaking his head in exasperation. “You had to ruin a perfectly good operation, didn’t you?”
I briskly walked to the sofa and sat down. “You better tell me everything I want to know,” I said sharply. “What game are you playing? What is your real name? Who is Comrade General? Why are you running out of time and why do you need me?”
I knew it was a gamble to talk like that to a man who was reporting to some Comrade General and who appeared to be involved in some kind of high stakes game where I was to be a pawn. But I never appreciated being taken for a sucker. I’ve never been a pawn in anyone’s game and never intended to be. Besides, I had a hunch that, for whatever reason, these people really needed me. I was taking a risk, but it was a well-calculated risk.
He eyed me carefully, apparently considering his options. I met his glance with a confident stare. I think I was putting up a very good front, considering that my stomach was doing nervous flip-flops. He blinked first. I assumed it was because he desperately needed me for something.
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll level with you. But it’s a very involved conversation.”
“I’ve got time,” I said, bluffing the confidence I didn’t feel.
“Lucky you,” he murmured. “That’s one thing I haven’t got.”
“What do you mean?” I asked sharply. “And who do you work for?”
“All right,” he said, apparently making up his mind. “I’ll tell you.”
“I am all ears.”
“I work for the FSB, the Russian equivalent of the CIA, if you will.”
“I know what that is,” I snapped. “It’s the agency that replaced the old KGB.”
“Right,” he nodded. “I have been on this case for almost a year now, but we’ve got intel that it’s about to explode.”
“What case?” I said, getting annoyed. “What’s about to explode?”
“You do realize,” he said, “that you are twisting my arm. This is top secret information. I am not authorized to disclose any of that to a civilian and a foreign national at that.”
“If you want my help and it looks like you want it badly,” I retorted, “you’ll have to tell me everything.”
“Jade,” he started again, now in that soft, but oh, so manly baritone that made me forget everything, and looked straight at me with those damn blue eyes that had the power to bewitch. “Don’t you think if it were my choice I wouldn’t tell you everything?”
“So, do!” I shrugged, refusing to be bewitched this time.
“I want to, I really do,” he uttered with a tortured look on his face. “I’d do anything for you!” I blinked at that statement. Was it my imagination or did he really mean it? Holy... If it was genuine, then it was my chance to pounce.
“Alexei,” I said firmly. “You must tell me everything! For start, what’s your real name? And why does everyone call you Prince Obolensky?”
He sighed. “I guess I have no choice. My real name is Alexei Moguchev.”
“So, you aren’t really Prince Obolensky,” I said, feeling irrational disappointment that my Prince Charming turned out to be a castle in the sand, after all.
“Not technically.”
“What do you mean, not technically? You either are or you aren’t!”
“Very long ago, before the 1917 Revolution, my great-great-grandmother, when she was barely eighteen, worked as a chamber maid at the Obolensky estate. She was very beautiful. The old Prince Obolensky fell in love with her and they had an affair. When she got pregnant, he sent her away to Moscow. Prince Obolensky paid for the child’s expenses, including his education, but all in all they lived modestly. Despite his partially exalted birth, my great-grandfather always felt he belonged on the other side of the tracks. So when the revolution came, he sided with Lenin. You are looking at the descendant of a long line of Russian intelligence and KGB operatives. My family had always served and protected the Motherland. That’s what I do.”
I realized that I was absorbing this unbelievable family history with my mouth open and promptly closed it.
“And even though I always knew about this other part of my heritage,” continued Alexei, “I never used it until this assignment came along. You know, the Royal Society is very strict. They only want what they deem genuine royals and nobles among their ranks. The Society maintains an extensive DNA bank with samples drawn from both the living descendants as well as the bone samples from the historic graves of Russia’s nobility. I did DNA testing to prove that I was an Obolensky. And DNA doesn’t lie.”
“So, what does all this have to do with me?”
“We received data that you may have some useful information pertaining to the case I’ve been working on. So I pretended to rescue you from the muggers...”
“I know,” I interrupted, “we’ve already established that it was all a setup!”
“True,” he nodded. “But you have to believe me, if something like this really happened, I’d never hesitate to help!”
“Did you follow me to St. Petersburg? And to the ball?”
“No, that was a coincidence. We didn’t know you’d be there. Remember, I told you from the very start that I was going on a business trip.”
I had to admit, he had a point. Apparently, his was a planned attendance, while mine was a last minute decision. All right, I’ll let him off the hook there.
“And what happened last night between us,” I continued my interrogation, “was that staged too?”
“No!” he shook his head earnestly. “You must believe me! I would never do anything like this! It’s not like me at all.”
I sized up his perfectly ripped body and handsome face that exuded enough sex appeal for fifty men. Somehow, I doubted it.
“But,” he went on, “I want you to know that I don’t regret what happened between us!”
“I do!” I said angrily.
He recoiled, an expression of hurt on his face.
“You deceived me!” I said.
“I didn’t mean to,” he whispered. “I am very sorry.”
“Sorry my ass!” I was livid.
“How can I make it up to you?”
“You can tell me what case you are working on!”
“Okay,” he sighed in resignation. “It’s the Gold Train case.”
“I see,” I said slowly, as it finally clicked into place. “So, that police captain wasn’t that dumb, after all.”
“That’s right.” Alexei nodded. “When you told him your story, on a hunch, he alerted us because it seemed to him it could be our neck of the woods. He is sharp and I am thinking about hiring him away from the police. I think he’ll do well in our department. What d’you think?” He said confidentially, as if asking an opinion from a trusted advisor.
“I think you are ri...” I started, but quickly realized that he again almost succeeded in changing the direction of our conversation. Almost... not quite.
“Look,” I said. “I really don’t care who you hire to work for you. What concerns me right now is that you lied and deceived me.”
“I said I was sorry. You are very important to me.”
“Yeah, right,” I said sarcastically. “Of course, I am important to you. You need me for some reason to help you with your case.”
“No,” he said, peering at me with his magical eyes, now burning with hot, blue flames. “You have no idea how important you are to me.” He took my hand and placed it firmly against his heart. His chest was like a rock and his heartbeat was fast and strong. Despite myself, I felt our hearts starting to beat in unison. It was very hard to stay focused.
“No idea!” he repeated, and let go of my hand.
I sat still, tingling from his touch and not knowing what to say.
“But Jade,” he started again, and this time, the look in his eyes was serious and straightforward. “I have a very important job to do; so important that the fate of my country, and perhaps of the whole world, may hang in the balance. And I do need your help. I am asking for your help.”
“You are asking for my help,” I said, cradling my hand that still had his imprint on it, “and I want to believe you. Yet, you lied to me more than once in the few days we’ve known each other. You wormed your way into my confidence and seduced me, seemingly under false pretenses. You spied on me and to top it all off, you are not telling me everything about the case. So, how can I trust you?”
He sighed. “I told you as much as I could. The rest is top secret and I simply can’t release this information without authorization. I’ll try to get clearance as fast as I can, but till then, will you please trust me? I am running out of time.” He said that last bit almost pleadingly.
I contemplated my answer for a moment. “I hear you, but I can’t help you under these circumstances. Too many unanswered questions, too many red flags. Sorry and goodbye!”
Without another look at him, I grabbed my purse, walked out the door and headed downstairs. The front desk called ma a taxi and I went straight to Vera’s place.
When Vera saw me, a relief registered on her face.
“Thank God you are back,” she said. “I didn’t know what to think! What happened? Where did you disappear? I wanted you to meet some very interesting people!”
Yeah, right… The interesting people she was talking about were undoubtedly those who wanted to use me as a pawn in yet another game, the game that had nothing to do with me, in the country I didn’t belong and defending alien ideals.
I gave her a tired smile. “Thank you Vera, I am fine. I wanted to leave early, so when I couldn’t find you at the ball I decided to spend the night at a hotel. And thank you for your hospitality. I actually need to return to Moscow as soon as possible. I’ll go to my room and pack now.”
“Are you sure?” she said, taken aback. “Do you really need to leave this soon? After all, I did promise you a good time. I wanted you to meet some very important people. As a matter of fact, I am throwing a little party tonight for a few select friends. It’s very exclusive and I’d love to have you there.”
Here we go again! My worst friend, Duchess Vera, was determined to drag me into her circle, kicking and screaming. I knew she had some kind of secret agenda for me, just like my best enemy, Alexei.
But what an irony! Coming to the country where I hardly knew a soul and promptly becoming more popular than I’ve ever bargained for, so popular in fact, that it could be hazardous to my health.
I forced a smile and pretended to be impressed. “Thank you so much, Vera. It sounds very interesting. But I have to return to Moscow. Something has come up for the story I am writing, an interview I can’t pass up. That’s the life of a journalist for you.” I gave a fake sigh. “I’ll take a rain check, okay?”
Vera didn’t look particularly happy. “If you must,” she said reluctantly. “But when do you think you may be ready to come back? You haven’t seen the real St. Petersburg yet.”
Oh my, but she was desperate to get me into her net!
“When? Oh, I don’t know,” I said evasively. “Possibly, in a week or two.”
“But you must come sooner than that!” she exclaimed. “I’d really love to show you Russian treasures. There is so much to experience! Tell you what, I’ll get you a first class plane ticket and send a car for you at the airport in Moscow and also, from the airport to my apartment, as soon as you are done with your interviews. This way you won’t have to take a train, plus, you’ll save time and money! Deal?”
She was way too anxious to get me back into the fold and I didn’t like it. But aloud I simply said, “All right.”
My gracious hostess with ulterior motives gave a visible sigh of relief.
Chapter 11
On the sleeper express back to Moscow, I noticed a strange man spending an awful lot of time next to my compartment. I thought that was odd and decided to check if I was just being paranoid or that I was indeed being followed. I pretended to head to the restroom, but instead, slipped into the connector area between two carriages. There, I stood quietly in the corner waiting, as a woman in a silk robe opened the door into the restroom and went in.
I could see through the glass screen that the man followed me along the narrow passage and pretended that he was waiting his turn. A couple of minutes later, the woman in a robe came out. The man looked surprised and quickly dashed inside to check that I wasn’t hiding somewhere, which obviously was impossible, since these accommodations are so incredibly tiny.
I watched as he re-emerged into the corridor, throwing confused glances in both directions and trying to figure out which way I could’ve disappeared. At that moment, I opened the connector door and casually walked past him as if I’d just returned from visiting another carriage. The man seemed to relax and slowly followed me back.
I went inside my compartment and locked the door. There was no doubt – I was being followed and very sloppily at that. But by whom? I didn’t want to think it was Alexei who sent this idiot. No, it wasn’t him. He’d definitely send someone brighter. But if it wasn’t him, then who? Could it be my tricky hostess, Duchess Vera? All this was starting to sound like a nightmarish spy movie.
Once we reached Moscow, I got off the train and headed for the Leningradsky Railway Station exit. The plan was to dissolve into the passenger crowd that arrived together with me from St. Petersburg and then, when my crowd merged with the crowds spilling from other trains, try and lose this unpleasant tail. I felt like a genuine spy, maneuvering between the throngs of people, changing directions and pausing behind a kiosk that sold newspapers and snacks, in order to check up on my tail. After that, with one last glance around and despite myself enjoying this new game, I headed towards a side exit instead of the main station entrance, confident that I lost the unwanted company.
I was so proud of myself that I didn’t notice two men shadowing my every move to perfection. When I was about to reach the exit, an inconspicuous door opened in the nearby wall, two men smoothly took me by the elbows and dragged me silently to that door. Everything happened so fast that by the time I opened my mouth to scream, the door had already shut with a thud and we emerged into a long corridor, which they quickly dragged me through. On the other side of the corridor, behind another door, I saw a back alley where a large van with darkened windows and running motor awaited our arrival.
The third man emerged out of the van and disregarding my loud protests, slipped a hood over my head. I could breathe comfortably through the slits, but was unable to see a thing. I tried to kick and scream as they lifted me into the van and seated me forcefully inside. When I punched one of them I heard a crunch, accompanied by a yelp and a swear. After that, they tied my wrists and feet.
“I am a US citizen and accredited journalist!” I said. “I demand that you let me go immediately, whoever you are, unless you want a big international scandal on your hands!”
There was no answer.
“I demand that you let me go immediately!” I said again, louder.
Still, no reaction.
I filled my lungs with as much air as I could and yelled, “Help, help! I’ve been kidnapped!” I don’t know who I hoped would hear me, as we were moving through the city at a very high speed, judging by how the van swayed and screeched on turns. But I couldn’t just sit and take it on the chin. I had to do something! I had to resist this violence!
“Please, Ms. Snow, don’t scream,” said one of my kidnappers politely. “Otherwise, we’ll be forced to gag you too, and we’d really like to avoid that.”
I fell silent, trying to make sense of these words. Who were these well-mannered kidnappers? But at that moment, the van apparently arrived at its destination because after a quick exchange with a guard we drove into what felt like a courtyard. The door opened, my feet were untied and I was helped out of the vehicle. Then, I was carefully led inside and seated in a comfortable armchair. The hood came off and I saw myself in a large and rather stylish room with plush sofas, chairs and a coffee table set with tea and pastry.
The man who stood by the window came into view. He wore a well-tailored gray suit and a frown. He looked me up and down and said, pointing at my tied hands, “Is this really necessary?”
“Sorry, Vasily Anatolievich,” said one of my kidnappers sheepishly, as the other one hastily untied me. “We had to, she punched Andrei on the nose. I heard a crack myself. Hopefully, it isn’t broken. I sent him to see the doctor.”
“Punched on the nose? Understandably,” responded the man with a sly grin. “You’d punch too if you were being kidnapped.”
Then he approached me, his arms open wide in a traditional disarming gesture of famed Russian hospitality. He said, smiling, “I sincerely apologize for the way we had to bring you in, Ms. Snow. I am sure when you hear about our reasons you’ll understand and won’t fault us.” Then, he took my hand and kissed it.
I yanked my hand out of his fingers. “I am not interested in this show, Vasily Anatolievich, or whoever you are,” I said furiously. “I am not accustomed to being kidnapped and if you think I am going to melt just because you’ve kissed my hand, you are in for a huge disappointment.”
“Ha, ha, ha! You are exactly as he described,” said the man, rubbing his hands in delight. “Exactly!”
“I demand that you let me go immediately,” I said coldly, wondering who was the he the man in gray suit was referring to. “Otherwise, I’ll contact the American Embassy and your government will have a big scandal on its hands!”
The door opened and another man stepped in.
“Come in, come in,” said Vasily Anatolievich with the same broad smile. “Look who we have here.”
The new arrival moved into the light and my jaw dropped… again.
“Alexei!” I exclaimed.
“Jade!” he croaked out.
“Ah, very good!” nodded the man in gray suit, satisfied. “You obviously recognize each other. This makes everything much easier.”
“You, conniving, crazy maniac, you son of...” I hissed at the man I was desperately in love with just yesterday. I tried to stare Alexei down with all the hatred I could muster and if looks could kill, I am sure his body would be lying lifeless at my feet.
“Permission to speak freely, Comrade General?” said Alexei, his face pale.
“Go ahead,” said Vasily Anatolievich magnanimously.
“Jade,” Alexei addressed me. “I didn’t know they would bring you in. I wasn’t told. Please confirm my words, Comrade General!”
The General frowned. “This is correct, Ms. Snow. Lieutenant Colonel Moguchev didn’t know. I felt it would be... eh... counterproductive – and I was right.”
“Lieutenant Colonel?” I remarked sarcastically. “So, how many women did you have to deceive in order to get to this level?”
It didn’t escape my attention that the two young officers, who were my kidnappers, exchanged an amused glance, hardly able to keep their faces straight. Meanwhile, Alexei said nothing, but did an intake of breath, his handsome face turning crimson.
Comrade General threw the two officers a disapproving glance and continued in a sharp, commanding tone. “I need you to listen to me carefully, Jade,” he said. “This is neither a joke, nor a game. I already apologized about how you were brought in and I won’t do it again. If I wanted to arrest you as part of a conspiracy that threatens the very existence of the Russian Federation, I could. I have more than enough evidence for that. For example, the parcel you delivered from Boris Goncharov to Vera Golitsina contained a secret communication for the terrorists. But I didn’t arrest you. Because we need your help and because we have Lieutenant Colonel’s word that you can be trusted.”
“Look,” I said, trying to sound much braver than I felt, because his tone made me pay attention. He wasn’t kidding – there was something subversive I got unwittingly entangled in, even though I personally did nothing wrong. And in a case like this, foreign national or not, they had the right to detain me. But he said they wouldn’t arrest me because they needed my help. That was good – very good!
“I didn’t do anything, and you know it,” I went on. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be talking to me like this.”
“True,” nodded the General readily. “You are not only beautiful and gutsy, but smart. Exactly as Alexei described you.”
I threw a sharp glance in the traitor’s direction (who’s been now officially demoted from Prince Charming). He squirmed under my gaze, his face, if at all possible, turning even more crimson. I realized that Comrade General was trying to butter me up, which meant they really needed me badly. It appeared my cause wasn’t the lost one. Besides, I was curious to hear more.
“I am listening,” I said.
“Good,” the General said, nodding. “Jade, how much do you know about the Gold Train?”
“Not very much. Primarily, what Svetlana told me.”
“Ah yes, the journalist killed by the Monarchists. I am very sorry about her death.”
“Wait,” I said, as the terrible thought that I’ve been chasing away since the ball, came back. “Are you saying that the Monarchists, like the delicate, elderly socialite Duchess Vera, have blood on their hands?”
The General read between the lines. “I know you saw the glamorous side of the Monarchists: the balls, beautiful women and gallant gentlemen. But behind all that façade, a dangerous conspiracy is brewing, the conspiracy to overthrow the legitimate government of the Russian Federation and to restore the monarchy.”
“But how would they ever accomplish that?” I objected skeptically. “They are just some obscure organization. How would they be able to overtake this giant machine, this huge state of which you are a part? The Russian state isn’t perfect – show me the one that is – but it’s obviously strong. Having been here for a very short time I can already see that.”
“You are right, our state is very strong,” said the General with pride. “Russia has fended off many invaders and enemies and it never surrendered. But this is a different matter. These are enemies from within. They are hoping to start a new civil war. Last time we had a revolution and civil war the country was completely devastated; families torn apart, siblings fighting siblings, sons against fathers, wives against husbands. The society was completely disrupted and it took a long time to rebuild any normalcy and trust. That’s why Stalin was able to rise to power, and that’s what we are trying to avoid at all cost, Jade!”
“I see.” I nodded. “However, I still don’t get it. In order to pull something like that off, your Monarchists would need tremendous financial backing, I mean billions upon billions of dollars! Sure, they do count some wealthy people in their ranks, but that doesn’t seem enough. They’d have to buy loyalties, bribe everyone left and right, as well as grease certain useful connections. They’d have to buy weapons and munitions, build infrastructure, buy property and technology, feed and clothe an army, make sure all the logistics are taken care of – things like that. Where would they acquire that kind of resources?”
“Ah, I am glad you mentioned it,” said the General, nodding. “The answer is simple: the Gold Train.”
“The Gold Train? I don’t quite...”
“Jade, you’re smart. Put the two and two together.”
“I’ll try.”
“Svetlana was killed by the Monarchists when she got too close to the Gold Train mystery. Why? Because they knew exactly where the treasure was hidden and they couldn’t afford anyone discovering its true whereabouts.”
“But I thought that a Chechen national killed Svetlana,” I said, grasping at the last straw.
“Jade, who do you think finances Chechen terrorists’ subversive activities here?”
“I am no expert, but I thought it was financed from abroad.”
“You are right. But recently we acquired new intel suggesting they switched masters. They still get financing from abroad, but now they work mostly for the Monarchists. We understand they promised them a Muslim state and independence after the restoration of the monarchy is completed, not that they’d ever follow through on their promise.”
“It makes sense,” I murmured, recalling the exchange I overheard at the ball. “What independence? What promise?” and the laughter that accompanied the joke.
Great, just great! How do you ever get yourself mixed up in these things, Jade? To think that I came all the way to Russia to reconnect with the world of my ancestors, to explore, to write…instead, as usual, look what I’ve gotten myself into!
“So, Comrade General,” I said, not even trying to hide the irony in my voice, “what do you need me for?”
“We need your help,” said the General gravely. “See, it took Alexei almost a year to get close to them. But not close enough. He still wasn’t able to penetrate their inner circle. Meanwhile, for you it would be easy. Vera Golitsina already trusts you and she is the co-chair of the Monarchist Central Committee. We need you to stay close to the decision makers and let us know when and where they are planning to strike.”
“I see.”
“And there is another problem,” continued the General, “the one, for which your friend Svetlana paid with her life.”
“The Gold Train.” I nodded.
“Right. So far, we’ve been unsuccessful in locating the treasure, which has been dormant all this time. But we have a hunch that the Monarchists are about to start dipping into it in order to finance the whole thing. When they do, they’re bound to leave a trail. We need you to keep your eyes and ears open. Because if we take away their financial muscle, they won’t be able to wreak havoc they are planning.”
“And the treasure wouldn’t be a bad find for the Russian Federation either, right?” Again, I couldn’t resist a ‘wise Alec’ remark.
“Yes, we could use it,” responded the General seriously, disregarding my tone. “Any state could use that kind of money, don’t you think? Tsar’s gold belongs to the Russian people and the Russian people made their choice a long time ago: they decided to leave the old monarchy in the past!”
The General sat down next to me on the sofa, poured some tea into a cup and offered it to me. I accepted the cup and thanked him.
“Jade, I know you love Russia. You probably heard from your Grandma Anastasia what the country and her family had to go through during the Civil War. If her family didn’t have to emigrate you might have been born here, in Russia. Please, help us! Don’t let them turn back the clock! Don’t let another generation suffer a brutal civil war!”
He finished this proclamation with great conviction and looked at me inquiringly.
I returned his gaze; then my eyes rested on Alexei, who watched the whole scene silently, his arms crossed. Then, I looked down at my hands, which were now free, and again at the General.
“I understand,” I said slowly, “where you are coming from. I even believe you to a degree. But I don’t have any independent information that what you are saying is true. I am not accusing you of lying, but where I come from, independent, verifiable sources of information are a must.”
“Independent and verifiable?” retorted the General. “Give me a break! Next, you’ll start preaching to me about merits of Western democracy and how we are falling short!”
“No,” I shook my head seriously. “I won’t start preaching about merits of Western anything. That’s not the issue.”
“Then what is? Your friend died because she knew too much, for God’s sake! You saw what happened to her! I’ve just explained the whole story to you, and I took a huge risk. After all, you are a civilian, a foreigner, and a journalist to boot - and this is top secret information concerning Russia’s national security!”
The General was sounding a little annoyed and I was getting a little apprehensive.
“I am not questioning what you’ve told me,” I said, to appease him. “And I do appreciate your trust. But if you really want my voluntary help and not hold me prisoner, why this masquerade? Why kidnap me? Why bring me here? Why not talk to me like a human being?”
“I’ve already apologized,” said the General shortly. “Look, it wasn’t my first choice to do that. But you parted on bad terms with Alexei when he was careless enough to let you overhear what you weren’t supposed to know.”
“Don’t you think,” I interrupted, “that even if I didn’t overhear him, I would’ve felt betrayed when I found out later, anyway?”
“You are missing the point, my dear,” said the General. “Didn’t you notice that the Monarchists were following you? Didn’t you see the tail? I know you did, because you tried to lose them.”
“So… it was them?” I murmured. “I wondered.”
“Obviously, it was them! You wouldn’t have noticed our people – and you didn’t, because they are professionals.”
“Touché,” I agreed. I never did notice the other two.
“That’s why we had to act surreptitiously. Semyon here,” a nod towards my kidnapper, “had to make a split-second decision, because you did indeed lose the tail for a moment and we could at least remove you to a safe location where they wouldn’t witness our contact. Do you understand now?”
I nodded.
“We never dreamed of kidnapping you. We just wanted a chance to talk without them knowing... because if they did, that could ruin everything. And I mean, everything!”
“So,” I said quietly, “are you saying I am not a hostage?”
“Of course not!”
“And I am free to go any time?”
“Certainly you are, but...”
“All right then,” I said briskly, getting back to my feet. “In that case, it’s been nice chatting with you all. You can rest assured that I won’t breathe a word to anyone about what I’ve heard here, but I really need to be going.”
I started walking to the door, all the time expecting someone to stop me. The young officer, my kidnapper, made a step to block my passage. But the General just said one word: “Semyon!” and shook his head. The officer stepped back. The way to freedom was clear. I opened the door.
“Ms. Snow,” called out the General.
I turned around, my heart beating fast. “Yes?”
“If you change your mind, be sure to give me a call.” And he extended an inconspicuous card with just a single phone number on it. “But remember, time is short.”
I nodded and walked through the corridor to another door, which opened without a hitch.
I was in a giant courtyard. I inhaled the fresh air deeply, then again and again, until my head was spinning from all that oxygen. But I didn’t mind. At least I could again see the sun, the sky and the trees. I deliberately walked to the automatic gate, with two officers on both sides watching my progress. The gate opened to let me through and I walked out of the famous Lubyanka, the former KGB Compound, now the FSB Headquarters, free at last.
Rounding the corner, I hailed a taxi, which took me back to my hotel.
Chapter 12
I stepped inside my hotel room, put the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and locked it very carefully. I needed some time to think and meditate. After a long and luxurious bath, I ordered dinner and lounged on the sofa, flipping through channels and thinking.
It was hard not to like Comrade General, despite the way he brought me in. Smart, powerful, can take a calculated risk, heart seems in the right place...In a word, my kind of a guy. Admittedly, I came here to relax and have fun. But what can be better fun than a little adventure? Just imagine! I pictured myself telling my grandchildren how I worked as a secret spy for the legendary KGB, I mean, FSB! That’s the stuff of spy thrillers and legends – and what a story!
I felt my inner pendulum swinging in the direction of collaborating with my interesting kidnappers.
But, I reminded myself, there was the question of Alexei. That treacherous bastard, I thought angrily. And to think that I trusted him with all that stuff about Svetlana and with my feelings and...and that I...that I... I felt awfully betrayed. And they want me to work with him? No way!
Now, the pendulum swung decidedly against helping the FSB.
But then again, there was the question of preventing a major civil war. I recalled my Grandma Anastasia’s stories of loss, suffering and betrayal, and of how her own family had to abandon everything behind and leave Russia in the middle of the night, all this, because neither side was ready for concessions. And now, it could happen again.
The 1917 Russian Revolution and subsequent Civil War had changed the balance of power in the world, facilitating revolutions in other countries. The General didn’t say any more, but I read between the lines. I knew history, the real history of the twentieth century my parents taught me. Back then, during the 1918 Russian Civil War, the Western Powers, USA, Great Britain and France, motivated by their fear of communism and their own geopolitical interests, openly backed the Whites. Meanwhile, Germany, suffering losses in World War I and assured that Russia would exit the war, was secretly helping Lenin and the Bolsheviks.
The allies of World War I became enemies and distrust between the two worlds, communist and capitalist, deepened to the point of no return. As the two opposing ideologies collided in a deadly embrace, as the clandestine war raged on the world’s invisible fronts, Hitler was allowed to rise to power. What followed was the deadliest century human civilization had ever known.
And what if it happened again? Even though Russia wasn’t communist any more, the rivalry and geopolitics of the West has not changed. What if the United States and Britain decided to intervene on the side of the Monarchists? The Russian Federation, with its nuclear capacity, wouldn’t just shrivel up and die! And this would mean nuclear war! In fact, this would mean World War III!
What if the General was right and I did have the means to prevent that kind of scenario? What was my petty resentment of Alexei compared to the global disaster I could help avert?
The pendulum started swinging again towards helping Comrade General.
But, my skeptical side objected, it’s unclear if he is telling the truth, and only the truth. He may be playing me for a sucker and there is no way I can verify all this information. The Monarchists could be a totally innocent bunch and the FSB could just be out to get them. After all, look at the KGB’s history, at least the way it’s taught to us in the West. Granted, they’ve changed the name, but where is the guarantee their methods have changed much? The General sure made a great impression on me, but it could all be an act.
I thought of Duchess Vera. She certainly was a busybody and not what I’d call the loveliest person I’ve ever met, but she also was an old lady. What if they arrested her and threw her in jail? And what if she’s innocent? I couldn’t just serve her on a platter to the FSB!
The pendulum again swung in the opposite direction.
I shook my head. There was no way I could make this decision tonight. One, I had to sleep on it, and two, I needed more information.
Tomorrow... tomorr... I’ll go and… My eyes closed and I fell asleep.
I woke up late the next morning, took a quick shower and went to the nearby cafe for breakfast. It was half past ten, the official breakfast hour was over and the café was deserted. I almost finished my coffee with Russian pancakes – yum – still not being able to make up my mind about the previous day’s adventures, when all of a sudden...
“Hello, Jade,” said a voice. I lifted my eyes off my plate and almost chocked on a pancake. Sitting opposite me was Duchess Vera accompanied by two very muscular-looking dudes clad in black leather and dark shades.
Duchess Vera put a finger to her lips and mouthed, “We need to talk to you right away.”
“Who is we?” I said.
“I’ll explain later,” she replied evasively, throwing surreptitious glances around. “Let’s go!”
“First off,” I said, not too happy with this kind of a greeting, “I am in the middle of a breakfast. Secondly, I want to know who we is, before I go anywhere.”
“We,” she whispered impatiently, “is the Monarchist Organization. And this is urgent. We need to go now.”
I tried to protest, but the two athletic dudes lifted me easily off my chair, pretending to hug me, and escorted me out of the café. Duchess Vera hastily left a few bills on the table and followed our procession. I was steered firmly towards the black Mercedes SUV with tinted windows, and forcibly shoved in. Once inside, my kidnappers of the day seated me on a comfortable seat and blindfolded me. Next, they tied my hands and I felt the car move.
I opened my mouth to protest again, but one of the athletic dudes warned me to keep it shut, if I didn’t want to be gagged. I obliged because I decidedly preferred my breathing unobstructed.
In about forty five minutes we have arrived. I was led out of the car and up a few stairs. Inside the building, the elevator door opened, then closed behind us. We rode what felt like a few floors up. Another set of steps and my kidnappers took off the blindfold and untied my hands.
I looked around. We were in the middle of a large and richly decorated room where the electric lights were on despite the sunny day, and heavy curtains drawn to completely cover the windows.
“Ah,” said the man I recognized as Yury Gurevich, who was sitting behind a magnificent Renaissance desk. “Here is our little American friend.”
“What do you want?” I uttered coldly.
“What do I want?” he replied in a mockingly shocked voice. “All I want is the power in this beautiful country of ours to be restored to its rightful owner, Tsar and Emperor of All Russia, of whom I am just a humble servant.”
“Jade,” chimed in Duchess Vera, “I want to explain something to you.”
“Okay,” I said. “Since I am a prisoner here, why don’t you!”
“No, no,” objected Vera. “You certainly aren’t a prisoner. You are a guest!”
“Guest?” I said, raising my eyebrows. “Do you always blindfold and kidnap your guests?”
“No, no...” Vera started again.
“Enough of this,” said Yury Gurevich in a thunderous voice, getting up from his chair and banging his fist on the desk.
I watched him curiously. He was a famous oligarch, one of the richest men in Russia and his name was constantly in papers. Yury Gurevich built a new stadium, Yury Gurevich bought a Spanish football team, Yury Gurevich has divorced his wife and right next to it, Yury Gurevich is about to marry again. He was in the news so much that even I, a foreigner who had no interest in some oligarch’s goings-on, had heard about him. This man was rather short of stature, but behaved as if he was a giant and I coudn’t help but wonder whether he was suffering from the Napoleon complex.
“Duchess Vera tells me that you are of royal blood,” he said sharply.
“So what if I am? Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” he laughed, apparently amused. “I hold strings to the largest conspiracy in modern history. Without my financial backing and my connections they would be nowhere. And you think I am jealous?”
“You sure act as if you were,” I retorted.
“And you act as if you weren’t of royal blood,” he responded in a dangerous voice. “If you are who you say you are, then you should be keen to help our cause, because you’d be restoring your heritage. So, your resistance makes me think that you are not…”
“I am who I say I am,” I interrupted him. “And who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I don’t like your tone,” hissed Yury Gurevich. “And you better be careful…”
“Wait, Yury,” interjected Duchess Vera hastily. “Jade is who she says she is. I can vouch for that. And we are here to fill her in on what’s happening and to ask for her help, not to argue.”
“True,” agreed the oligarch grudgingly. “But she is not as cooperative as you said she would be.”
“Excuse me,” I said, “but I don’t take kindly to people blindfolding and kidnapping me during my breakfast.”
“I apologize,” said Duchess Vera hurriedly, trying evidently to prevent yet another outburst from Yury Gurevich.
“Jade,” she continued quickly, to avoid any more interruptions. “I again apologize for the way you were brought in. But it couldn’t be helped. We couldn’t wait because time is short.”
I stared at her. Was she kidding me? I was having a major sense of déjà vu. Only yesterday, I’ve heard the exact same words from my other kidnappers – her biggest enemies, and today I clearly found myself between the rock and the hard place.
“We need a courier,” said Duchess Vera, “who’d deliver some important information to us from New York, our headquarters, and back. Would you be ready and willing to fulfill this mission?”
I gazed at her incredulously. Boy, but these people presumed a lot! A courier, who’d risk her life to deliver some kind of stuff to them so they could start a civil war in Russia?
“What’s in it for you?” I addressed the oligarch, disregarding Vera.
“Patriotism, pure and simple.”
“And lots of lucrative contracts from the future Tsar’s government,” I added. “And perhaps, a Minister of Finance seat. Or who knows, a Prime Minister or Chancellor’s seat, or whatever it will be called in your version of Russia.”
“Smart girl,” he responded with a crooked smile. “But without my money and connections they’d be nowhere.”
“That goes without saying.” I nodded seriously. He gave me a penetrating stare, as if suspecting some double meaning.
“I will need to sleep on it,” I said. “Right now, I must get back to my hotel. I am tired.”
I looked him straight in the eye – a dangerous, take-no-prisoners eye – with confidence I really didn’t feel. But I held the eye contact, until he nodded imperceptibly.
The two athletic dudes opened the door and one of them blindfolded me again.
“Is this really necessary?..” started Vera.
“Vera, shut up!” was the thunderous response, and Vera said no more.
I was led out of the room into the familiar elevator, back into the car and forty five minutes later, out of the car. The blindfold came off and the Mercedes SUV sped away, turning the corner with a loud screech. I was left in the middle of the street, blinking in the bright sun. Once again, I stood in front of the cafe where I was kidnapped this morning. It was already afternoon.
Chapter 13
I had no appetite, so I went straight to my room, again hung the “Do Not Disturb” sign and locked the door. I needed to think. I opened a bottle of red wine and sat on the sofa. This was a predicament with huge potential consequences not just for me, but for the whole country of Russia and possibly for the entire world. I sipped the wine and stared out the window of my hotel room. Down there, on a lively Moscow street, the day went on as if nothing happened, as if no catastrophe was on the horizon. But I knew better…unless I did something to prevent it.
And that’s when I remembered the Gypsy’s strange prophecies, which were materializing one by one. She predicted that I would miss my St. Petersburg train and that I’d go to a ball and meet a prince. With the thought of Alexei, my heart immediately jumped in my chest and I involuntarily pressed my hand against it, as if afraid this vital organ might inadvertently escape from my body’s confines.
Clenching my teeth, I willed myself to get back on topic. So, what else did Rada say? Yes, she said that Svetlana would not be able to complete her investigation, that someone else would do it for her. Now I finally understood the glance she gave me while uttering these words. That someone who’d finish Svetlana’s work was me!
The question was, what other predictions were about to come true? What was I to expect going forward?
Suddenly, I knew exactly what to do next. I needed to see Rada urgently! She would have all the answers! I hastily put on my coat, grabbed my purse and dashed out. The front desk called car service and twenty minutes later I was opening the door into the Gypsy’s parlor.
Rada just finished reading for another client. She noticed me and nodded, as if expecting my arrival at this particular hour all along.
“Now you see…” she murmured with a mysterious smile. “I knew you’d be back!”
“Rada,” I said, feeling a newly found respect for this strange woman. “I was wrong to doubt you. Several things you predicted already came true.”
“So,” said Rada with a mischievous smile, “he is the one, isn’t he?”
I felt my face turning pink, as Alexei’s image obligingly floated into my mind.
“But how did you know…” I started, then quickly corrected myself. “I guess that’s a silly question. Of course you knew, you are psychic! When you predicted it, did… did you also realize I was married?” I just couldn’t resist asking this question, which was on my mind a lot lately.
“Of course,” she shrugged her shoulders. “But what has happened - what is happening to you - it is Destiny. You have to understand that Destiny brought you here, to Russia. You are here because the world needs your help. He needs your help.”
If she for a moment thought that such sweeping statements would make me feel better, she had another thing coming. I gulped and said miserably, “But I don’t know what to do. I am torn! Can you help me understand?”
Rada took my hand and pressed it silently against my heart. Her bottomless eyes looked straight into mine and I, like the last time, had a feeling that she was rather uncomfortably reaching into the deepest secret compartments of my soul.
“You need to trust what’s in here,” she said. “You have all necessary information to make the right decision. All necessary information! Over here,” she touched my heart, “over here,” she touched my head, “and over here,” and she pointed at my eyes. “You are much more like me than you allow yourself to believe. Don’t underestimate your psychic ability! Trust your intuition and your heart. That’s where all your answers lie.”
“But you don’t understand!” I exclaimed, frustrated with all that cryptic stuff, when all I wanted was a straight answer. I wanted to be told what to do next, dammit! “I need to make a decision, and it’s way too hard! I don’t know what to do!”
“You will make the right decision,” she said in a confident voice, “and sooner than you think. After you do, follow through on that decision to the very end. Don’t waiver, don’t get scared. Remember, it is your Destiny - and your Destiny will protect you!”
“Thank you… I guess,” I said, seeing that this was all I would ever get out of her.
“Don’t mention it,” she replied.
“One more thing,” I said, preparing to leave. “You said I would find something very valuable, but lose something even more valuable in return. What did you mean?”
“You’ll see,” she responded with enigmatic smile. And on that cryptic note, I exited Rada’s parlor.
I took a walk around the night Arbat in order to get my thoughts together. It was almost eleven, Moscow time, when I got back to the hotel. A nice shower helped me wash off the imprint of all the strange events I experienced lately. My hand picked up the phone, my tired mind recalling my New York number, but as I was preparing to dial it, my eyelids grew heavy, the phone slipped out of my hand and I fell into a restless sleep.
I woke up with a start and immediately looked at the clock. For some reason I had a strange feeling that time was short and that I needed to do something very urgently. Six a.m., Moscow time, which meant that it was nine p.m. in New York.
Without thinking, I reached for the phone and dialed home.
“Hello,” said Paul’s voice.
“Darling,” I said, “it’s so good to hear your voice!”
“Jade, sweetheart,” exclaimed Paul, “where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for three days!”
“Oh, the usual - interviews, research, that sort of thing.”
“So, how is it going over there, in the good old Moscow?” he said playfully. “Is it living up to your expectations?’
“And then some. In fact…” I started, but mid sentence changed my mind and stopped. It occurred to me that telling Paul what happened would serve no purpose. What if he decided to come to my rescue and fly down here? I wasn’t ready to face him just yet… not after that night with Alexei. I needed more time to disentangle this confusing situation. As of now, his presence would only complicate matters. Or, what if he demanded that I drop everything and return to the safety of home? That I couldn’t do either, because I couldn’t leave my unfinished business here. Rada said that I had to come up with decision on my own. So why burden him with problems only I could solve?
“In fact…” prompted Paul.
“In fact… it’s amazing here,” I said in an exaggeratedly joyful voice. “I met a lot of very interesting people and got a ton of material for the story. Everything’s super!”
I might have overdone it a little, because Paul said, “Is everything all right, sweetheart?”
“Yes, of course,” I said in a perky voice. “Great!”
“Are you sure?” he said doubtfully. “Do you need my help?”
“No,” I said firmly. “I am fine and everything is going fine.”
“Glad to hear that,” said Paul - and I exhaled.
“Listen,” I said. “Is Lara awake? I’d love to talk to her!”
“Yes, she just ate and Dolores is about to put her to bed.”
I heard an exchange between Dolores and Paul. Then Dolores said, “Here is the little one, Ms. Jade.”
I pressed my ear closer to the phone and heard Lara’s breath. “Sweetheart,” I said softly, my eyes filling with tears. “Hi darling, this is Mama.”
“Mama?” responded Lara’s little voice, as I felt tears streaming down my face.
“Yes darling, yes, my precious, this is Mama!”
“Mama, Mama,” said Lara and started crying.
“I love you, baby,” I whispered. “I love you with all my heart.”
I kept talking to my little daughter for another minute or two, after which Paul took the phone and said, “Lara seems a little upset. She misses you awfully.”
“I know,” I said. “I miss her terribly, too. I miss all of you! Speaking of which, where is Princess Lily?”
“Here she is. Just appeared out of nowhere as I was talking to you and is rubbing against the phone. No doubt wants to talk to you, too. Sometimes I think this cat can read minds,” Paul said in a joking voice.
You have no idea, I thought.
“Lily,” I said, “how are you?”
“Mrrreow,” responded Lily, which meant that everything at home was under control.
“I miss you so much,” I said.
“Mrrreow, mrrreow,” said Lily. Translation: I miss you, too! When are you coming home?
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, but I still have a lot to do, so it’s hard to tell.”
“I understand,” said Lily in her feline dialect, “I sense danger, so please be very, very careful. And don’t worry about home, I’ll take care of everything here!”
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ll be careful, I promise!”
“Thank you for letting me hear Lily’s voice,” I said to Paul. “I missed that.”
“No problem,” he said. “Her meows can be very comforting. Lara likes them too.”
As usual, Paul had no idea that those weren't mere meows. But it seemed like my smart little daughter was already developing her own communication channel with Lily. Good!
“Sweetheart,” continued Paul. “I believe in you. You are a beautiful, wonderful and very talented woman! Go, get’em!”
“Thank you, darling,” I whispered, my eyes turning misty again. “I needed to hear this!”
“I love you,” he said.
“I love you,” I responded.
I hung up the phone, feeling that immense load I was carrying on my shoulders just got lighter. I so needed this call, this opportunity to say goodbye to all of them. After all, because of what I was about to do, this could be the last time I’d ever talk to my family.
AT-A-GLANCE
Accidental Spy Adventure Series:
For news and details visit the NEW✍️BOOKS SECTION
LINKS
AT-A-GLANCE
Accidental Spy Adventure Series:
- Green Desert (Iraq prequel short)
- Stepford, USA (Small Town Adventure #1)
- Gold Train (Russia Adventure #2)
- Dragon Gate (Asia Adventure #3 - unfinished, in progress)
- Russian Roulette (New Treasure Adventure #4 - began, in progress)
For news and details visit the NEW✍️BOOKS SECTION
LINKS
- ACCIDENTAL SPY series page
- New complete GREEN DESERT (Accidental Spy Iraq prequel) page, with big excerpt
- New complete GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia #2) page with mega-excerpt
- LRP post: 📖🌟Read Mega-Excerpt & more! 📚🕵️♀️GOLD TRAIN (ACCIDENTAL SPY RUSSIA ADVENTURE, 2nd edition)!
- LRP post: 📖💥Read Big Excerpt & more! 📚GREEN DESERT (ACCIDENTAL SPY Iraq prequel, special 2nd edition)!
- STEPFORD, USA (Accidental Spy Small Town #1) page
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