Read Online Eden's Gate by David Hagberg - Free Book Online

notice—”
    â€œLet’s take a walk,” Lukashin said. “This way, if you don’t mind.”
    They went across the circular drive and took the stairs down to the reflecting pool where there were only a handful of people out and about, most of them heading to the Vietnam War Memorial. Lukashin’s two bodyguards kept close to their boss, and Lane and Baumann flanked them.
    The Russian Washington rezident had come to his post in the past six months, and Lane had the troubling thought seeing him now in person that he’d met the man somewhere. He was tall, but slender like a soccer player, and his eyes were blue, his hair blond. Very unusual for a Russian man. Lane tried to think where he might have met him. It was worrisome because he thought he’d seen the spark of recognition in Lukashin’s eyes.
    â€œThomas was somewhat mysterious,” Lukashin said. “But we’ve always had good dealings in the past. And you come highly recommended by him.”
    â€œThis isn’t a social call,” Speyer said unnecessarily.
    â€œNo, I didn’t expect it was.” Lukashin glanced at Lane and Baumann, but didn’t bother asking for introductions.

    â€œI need some help from you, and I’m willing to pay handsomely, but only on one condition,” Speyer said.
    â€œI’m listening.”
    â€œOnce we conclude our business you will make no attempt to find my whereabouts, or in any way contact me, or even mention my name to anyone. When this operation has been completed I’ll need to make myself very scarce. Perhaps for a very long time.”
    â€œI can live with that. What do you want from me?”
    Speyer took an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Lukashin. “These are the names and brief dossiers of four former KGB officers who worked with Stasi in East Germany. They’re still there, under deep cover working for the SVR. I want to hire them, but they will have to be discreet, and they’ll have to understand that once this project has been completed, their covers will be blown and they will have to leave Germany forever. Where they go after that makes no difference to me.”
    Lukashin held the pages up to the light from a lamppost and briefly glanced at the information. “You want these men because of certain knowledge they have?”
    â€œThat, and their contacts in Germany.”
    Lukashin thought about it for a moment. “I don’t think that they would be welcome at home afterward,” he said. “In any case the cost of their repatriation would be very steep. I’ll leave that part of the deal to your discretion. What will you have them do?”
    â€œWe’re going to film a documentary.”
    Lukashin glanced at the four brief dossiers again. “Under the noses of the BKA, without anyone being the wiser.” The BKA was the German Federal Police Bureau.
    â€œThat’s exactly it.”
    â€œAfterwards everyone disappears, and in time even the documentary will be forgotten. I, on the other hand, have a very good memory.”
    Speyer handed him another envelope. “You might find this interesting.”
    Lukashin opened it and examined the documents that Mann had supplied Speyer. When he was finished reading he looked up, a very interested expression on his face now. “Very generous,” he said.
    â€œI take care of my friends.”
    â€œWhat if I were to hand these back to you and demand ten percent of whatever it is you hope to recover?”

    â€œIt’s a risk that you could take, I suppose,” Speyer said. He held out his hand for the envelopes.
    After a moment, however, the Russian put them in his breast pocket. “What if I don’t go through with my part of the bargain?”
    â€œThe checks will bounce, and word will get back to Moscow.”
    â€œHow soon will you be ready to move?”
    â€œThe entire project should be finished within a couple of