Covenant by Steven Konkoly

Author:Steven Konkoly [Konkoly, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-15T04:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

BLACKOUT

Chapter 15

Karl Berg’s cell phone buzzed, displaying an anxiously awaited number. He’d just received a call from Audra Bauer requesting an immediate status update on the Uruguay operation. Sanderson had been stingy with the details surrounding the take down, which didn’t sit well with him or Audra. Reznikov’s continued ability to draw oxygen represented a serious black eye for the agency, not to mention a clear and present danger to the world. The investigation into his escape from custody pointed directly at the Solntsevskaya Bratva. A painful revelation given the Bratva’s involvement in Berg’s plan to destroy Vektor Institute.

He should have known better than to trust an organization built around a “thieves’ code.” Technically, the Bratva had honored their word, enabling Sanderson’s team of operatives to wipe out the Russian Federation’s secret and highly illegal bioweapons program. They had jacked up the price at the last minute like any thief would, but he’d been ready for that—had built it into the budget. What he hadn’t anticipated was a complete end run by the Bratva to steal the grand prize right under his nose. Pure genius on every level, which led back to Reznikov.

Bratva leadership was crafty—not crazy. Breaking into a heavily defended CIA compound to retrieve a man at the top of every nation’s watch list was the definition of crazy. Something tipped the scales, and he was willing to bet Reznikov had planted that seed long before his capture. What else was growing out there? Nothing good, he thought, swiping the phone from his cluttered desk. He hoped this call represented the end of a very ugly chapter in his CIA career.

“Tell me he’s dead,” said Berg, holding his breath.

“We ran into an unexpected complication,” said a vaguely familiar female voice.

“Nicole?” he said.

“I prefer Jessica,” she said.

“Uh-huh. How complicated—Jessica?” said Berg, not sure why he wasn’t communicating directly with Sanderson.

“On a scale of one to ten, I’d give this a ten,” said Jessica.

“Where’s the general?” said Berg, starting to feel flush.

Something was way off here.

“Sanderson told me to deal with you directly on this,” she said. “Reznikov escaped.”

“Fuck,” whispered Berg. “That’s more than a complication. How the hell did this happen? The intelligence was up to date and verified by a highly trusted source.”

“We didn’t have a problem with the target intel. We had a problem with the Mossad team sent to kill Zuyev,” she said. “It got a little crowded at the resort.”

What the hell was she talking about? Mossad? They weren’t even looking for Reznikov. Shit. Zuyev had been photographed with the Iranians recently. What were the chances of a simultaneous operation? Double Shit. Their intelligence source had double-dipped. Both agencies had been tipped off simultaneously.

“Jessica, what exactly happened at the resort?”

“The Mossad team hit Reznikov’s suite at the same time,” said Jessica.

“As in the same exact time?” said Berg.

“As in Jeff and Graves are seriously wounded. We’re hiding out in some country shithole in Uruguay. Both Russian targets escaped. And the Mossad has Daniel,” she recited.

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