Chapter 23 Chapter 21

Mrs. Daly and Kenmore waited at Dulles Airport to greet Dana.She hadn't realized before how much she missed Kenmore.She threw her arms around him tightly. Kenmore said, "Hi Dana. I'm glad you're back. Did you bring me the Russian bear?" "I did, but damn it, it got away." Kenmore grinned: "Are you staying home from now on?" Dana said sincerely, "I sure would." Mrs. Daly smiled. "That's good news, Miss Evans. We couldn't be happier to have you back." "I couldn't be happier to be back," Dana said. On the drive back to the apartment, Dana said, "Do you like your new arm, Kenmore? Are you used to it?"

"It's cool." "I'm so happy. How are you doing at school?" "It's not hell." "No more fights?" "yes." "That's great, honey." Dana studied him carefully for a moment.He seemed a little nonchalant, almost docile.Something seemed to have happened to change him, but whatever it was, he certainly looked like a happy kid. When they got to the apartment, Dana said, "I have to go to the studio, but I'll be back and we'll have dinner. Let's go to McDonald's." Where we used to go with Jeff.

When Dana steps into the sprawling Washington Tribune building, it feels like she's been gone for a century.She was greeted by six colleagues on her way to Matt's office. "Glad you're back, Dana. We've been thinking of you." "It's a pleasure to be back." "Oh, look who's here. Did the trip go well?" "fine thanks." "This place just wouldn't be the same without you." When Dana walked into Matt's office, he said, "You've lost weight. You look awful." "Thank you, Matt." "sit down."

Dana sat down in a chair. "You did not sleep!" "not much." "By the way, our ratings have plummeted since you left." "you flatter me." "Eliot will be glad you let this go. He's worried about you." Matt didn't mention how worried he was about Dana himself. They talked for half an hour. When Dana returned to her office, Olivia said, "Welcome back. There's been—" The phone rang.She picked it up: "Miss Evans' office...please wait a moment." She looked at Dana. "Pamela Hudson is on line one."

"I'll take it." Dana walked into her own office and picked up the phone. "Pamela." "Dana, you're back! We're so worried, Russia isn't the safest place to be these days." "I know." She laughed. "A friend bought me a bottle of pepper spray." "We've been thinking of you. Roger and I would like you to come over for tea this afternoon. Are you free?" "Have." "Three o'clock?" "very good." The rest of the afternoon was occupied by preparations for the evening broadcast. At three o'clock Caesar greeted Dana at the door.

"Miss Evans!" he had a big smile on his face. "I'm so glad to meet you. Welcome home." "Thank you, Caesar. How have you been?" "Very good, thank you." "Mr. and Mrs. Hudson are—?" "Yes. They are waiting for you. Can I get your coat?" As soon as Dana walked into the living room, both Roger and Pamela yelled, "Dana!" Pamela Hudson gives her a hug: 'The prodigal son is back' Roger Hudson said, "You look tired." "That seems to be the unanimous opinion." "Sit down, sit down," said Roger.

A maid brought in a tray of tea, biscuits, soft baked buns and croissants.Pamela poured tea. When they sat down, Roger said, "Well, tell us what happened." "What happened was I regretted that I didn't get anything, I was completely hopeless." Dana took a deep breath, "I met a guy named Dieter Zander who said he was inspired by Taylor Winthrop Framed and thrown into prison. While he was in prison, his entire family died in a fire. He blamed Winthrop for their deaths." "Then he would have an incentive to kill the Winthrop family," Pamela said. "Yes. But more to come," Dana said. "I spoke to a man in France named Marcel Falco whose only son was killed by a hit-and-run driver." Taylor Winthrop's personal driver pleaded guilty, but the driver now claims that Taylor Winthrop was the one driving."

Roger mused, "Falco was on the NATO committee in Brussels." "Yes. And the driver told him it was Tyler Winthrop who killed his son." "interesting." "Very. Have you ever heard of Vincent Mancino?" Roger Hudson thought for a moment. "No." "He's the mafia. Taylor Winthrop impregnated his daughter, sent her to a bogus doctor, gave her a horrible abortion. The daughter was in a convent and her mother was in a nursing home." "my God." "The problem is that all three of them have strong motives for revenge." Dana sighed in frustration, "but I can't prove anything."

Roger watched Dana thoughtfully: "So, Taylor Winthrop did commit all these horrific crimes." "There's no question about that, Roger. I've talked to those men. Whoever among them was behind the murders, he's orchestrated them. No clues left--not at all. Every The murders were all done in different ways so there was no discernible pattern. Every detail was planned, nothing was left to chance and there were no witnesses to any of the deaths." Pamela mused, "I know it might sound far-fetched, but — is there a chance they'll band together for revenge?"

Dana shook her head. "I don't believe there was any complicity. The men I talked to were very powerful, and I think each wanted to do it themselves. Only one of them was guilty." But which one? Dana looked at her watch abruptly. "Forgive me. I promised to take Kenmore to McDonald's for dinner. If I hurry, I can finish it before work." "Of course, dear," Pamela said, "we totally understand. Thank you for coming." Dana gets up to leave. "Thank you both for the good tea and your spiritual support." "I've been thinking about doing this, and now I'm back," Dana said, as she drove Kenmore to school early Monday morning.

"I'm glad." Kenmore yawned. Dana realized he had been yawning since he woke up.Dana asked, "Did you sleep well last night?" "Yeah, I guess so." Kenmore yawned again. "What do you do at school?" Dana asked. "You mean anything but horrible history and dry English?" "yes." "I play football." "You don't play much, do you, Kenmore?" "yes." She glanced at the frail figure beside her.Dana felt as if all energy had been drained from Kenmore, who was unnaturally quiet.Dana wonders if she should take him to the doctor.Maybe she could look it up and see if there were some vitamins that would restore his strength.She looked at her watch.There is still half an hour left before today's evening broadcast preparation meeting. The morning passed quickly, and it felt good to be back in her world.When Dana returned to her office, there was a sealed envelope with her name on it on the desk.She opened it, and the letter inside read: "Miss Evans. I have the information you want. I have reserved a room in your name at the Soyuz Hotel in Moscow. Come at once. Tell no one about it." The letter was not signed.Dana read it again, in disbelief.I have the news you want. This is of course some kind of hoax.If someone in Moscow had the answers she was looking for, whoever he was, why didn't he tell her while she was there?Dana thinks about her meeting with Commissioner Sasha Shadanov and his brother Boris.Boris seemed eager to talk to her, but Sasha kept interrupting him.Dana sat at her desk, lost in thought.How did this note end up on her desk?Is she being watched? I'm going to forget about it, Dana decided.She stuffed the letter into her bag.I tore it up as soon as I got home. Dana spends the night with Kenmore.She had expected him to be smitten with the computer game she had bought for him in Moscow, but he didn't seem interested.At nine o'clock his eyes began to close. "I'm so sleepy, Dana. I'm going to bed." "Okay, honey." Dana watched him walk into the study, thinking, he's changed too much.He seemed to be another boy.Well, we're all going to be together from now on.If something is bothering him, I'll find out what it is.Time to leave for the studio. In the apartment next door, the tenant watched the TV and talked into a tape recorder. "Target has left for the studio to do her show. The boys are in bed. The butler is sewing." "Live broadcast!" The camera's red light snapped on. The announcer's voice sounded emphatically: "Good evening. This is the eleven o'clock news on Washington Tribune. The announcers are Dana Evans and Richard Melton." Dana smiled at the camera: "Good evening. This is Dana Evans." Richard Melton, sitting next to her, said: "I'm Richard Melton." Dana begins: "We begin today's evening news with a horrific tragedy in Malaysia..." This is where I belong, Dana thought, not traveling the world trying to follow in vain. The broadcast went well.By the time Dana got back to the apartment, Kenmore was asleep.Dana said goodnight to Mrs. Daley and went to bed, but she couldn't sleep. I have the information you want.I have reserved a room in your name at the Soyuz Hotel in Moscow.Come now.Don't tell anyone about this. It was a trap, and it would be a fool to return to Moscow, Dana thought.But what if it's true?Who would take such trouble?Why?That letter could only have come from Boris Shadanov.What if he really knew something?She stayed up all night. Dana got up in the morning and called Roger Hudson and told him about the note. "My God. I don't know what to say." He sounded excited: "It probably means someone is going to tell the truth about what happened at the Winthrops." "I know." "Dana, it could be dangerous. I don't want that." "If I don't go, we will never find out the truth." He hesitated, "I think you're right." "I'll be careful, but I have to go." Roger Hudson said reluctantly: "All right then. I wish to keep in touch with you." "I promise, Roger." Dana bought a round-trip ticket to Moscow at the Corniche travel agency.It's Tuesday, and I hope I won't be gone too long, Dana thought.She left a note for Matt, telling him what was going on. Dana said to Mrs. Daly when she returned to the apartment: "I'm afraid I have to leave again. Only a few days. Take care of Kenmore." "You needn't worry about anything, Miss Evans. We'll be all right." The neighbor next door turned away from the TV and made a hasty phone call. This is all too familiar, Dana thought, as she boarded the flight to Moscow, maybe my king is making a big mistake, it could be a trap.But if the answer is in Moscow, I'm going to find it.She sat down comfortably, ready for the long journey. The next morning, the plane landed at Sheremetyev No. 2 Airport, which she was already familiar with.Dana took out her luggage and walked into the dark blizzard.There was a long line of travelers waiting for taxis.Dana stood in the cold, grateful for her warm coat.When it was finally Dana's turn after forty-five minutes, a burly man tried to get in front of her. "No!" Dana said firmly. "This is my taxi." She got in. The driver said, "Where are we going?" "I want to go to the Soyuz Hotel." He turned to stare at her and said in broken English, "Are you sure you want to go there?" Dana asked suspiciously, "Why? What do you mean?" "That's a lousy hotel." Dana shuddered with alarm.Am I sure?It is too late to back off now.He was waiting for her answer: "Yes, I—I'm sure." The driver shrugged and started the taxi into traffic blocked by heavy snow. What if, Dana thought, there were no reservations in the hotel?What if it's all a silly joke? Soyuz Hotel is located on Levoberezhnaya Street in the working-class suburb of Moscow.It is an old unassuming building with peeling brown paint on the exterior. "Do you want me to wait?" the driver asked. Dana hesitated only for a moment. "No." She paid the driver and got out of the taxi.A bitter cold wind blew her into the small, shabby hallway, where an elderly woman sat behind a reception desk reading a magazine.She looked up in surprise as Dana walked in, and Dana walked up to the reception desk. "What's up?" "I believe I've booked a room. Dana Evans." She held her breath. The woman nodded slowly: "Dana Evans. Yes." She reached behind her and took a key from a shelf: "Four-zero-two, fourth floor." She handed it to the Dana. "Where do I register?" The woman shook her head: "No need to register. You pay now. One day." Dana felt another wave of alarm.A hotel where foreigners in Russia do not have to register?This is outrageous. "Five hundred rubles," said the woman. "I have to change some money," Dana said, "later." "No. Now. I take dollars." "Okay." Dana reached into her bag and took out a handful of money. The woman nodded, stretched out her hand and took out half a dozen. I think I can buy the hotel with that money.Dana looked around. "Where's the elevator!" "There is no elevator." "Oh." Porters are obviously impossible.Dana picked up her bag and started up the stairs. Her room was even worse than she had expected.It was small and run down, the curtains were torn and the beds were not made.How did Boris contact her?It might be a prank, Dana thought.But why do some people take so much trouble? Dana sat on the edge of the bed, watching the busy street below through the unwashed window. I'm a complete fool, Dana thought.I'll just sit here for a few days and it'll be fine— There was a light knock on the door outside.Dana took a deep breath and stood up.She was now either going to solve the mystery, or discover that there was no mystery at all.Dana went to the door and opened it. The corridor was empty.There is an envelope on the ground.Dana picked it up and carried it into the room.A piece of paper inside said VDNKh at nine o'clock in the evening.Dana stared at it, trying to read it.She opened her suitcase and took out the guide book she had bought.There are above. VDNKh.The explanation reads: Soviet Union, Exhibition Hall of Economic Achievements.It also gives the address. At eight o'clock that night, Dana hailed a cab: "Economic Achievement, Park?" She wasn't sure how she pronounced it. The driver turned to look at her: "The Economic Achievement Exhibition Hall? They're all closed." "Oh." "Are you still going there?" "yes." The driver shrugged, and the taxi moved on. This huge park is in the northeast region of Moscow.According to the guidebook, these prolific exhibits were supposed to be a memorial to the glory of the Soviet Union, but as the economy slumped, funding was cut off and the park became a decaying memorial to Soviet dogmatism.The magnificent pavilion is crumbling, and the park is deserted. Dana hails a cab and pulls out a handful of dollars. "this is--?" "Yes." He grabbed the money and disappeared without a trace in a blink of an eye. Dana looked around. She was alone in the wind-beaten park.She went to a nearby bench and sat down to wait for Boris.She remembered how she had waited for Joan Sinisi at the zoo.What if Boris—? A voice from behind Dana startled her: "You're still here." Dana turned around, eyes wide with surprise.She had always thought it was Boris Shadanov.Instead, she saw Director Sasha Shadanov. "Director! I didn't expect—" "You follow me," he said briefly.Sasha Shadanov began to walk quickly across the park.Dana hesitated for a moment, then stood up and hurried after him.He went into a small rustic café on the edge of the park and took a seat in a booth in the back.There was only one couple in the cafe.Dana walked through them to his cubicle and sat down. One wore a dirty apron.The sloppy waitress came to them: "What would you like?" "Get some coffee, please," said Shadanov.He turned to face Dana. "I'm not sure you'll come, but you're so resilient. It can be dangerous sometimes." "You said in the note that you could tell me what I wanted to know." "Yes." The coffee came.He took a sip and was silent for a while: "You wonder if Taylor Winthrop and his whole family were murdered." Dana's heart began to beat faster, "Are they?" "Yes." A frightening whisper came out. Dana suddenly shivered: "Do you know who killed them?" "yes." She took a deep breath: "Who?" He raised a hand to stop her: “I’ll tell you, but first you have to do one thing for me.” Dana stared at him and said cautiously, "What's the matter?" "Get me out of Russia. I'm not safe here anymore." "Then why don't you just go to the airport and fly away? I heard there are no restrictions on foreign travel anymore." "Dear Miss Evans, you're naive, naive. It's true, it's not like the old days, but if I try to do what you suggest, they'll put me in the air before I'm even near an airport." I'll kill. There are ears and eyes on the walls too. I'm in dire danger. I need your help." It took her a while to understand what he said.Dana looked at him dejectedly. "I can't get you—I don't know where to start." "You have to. You have to find a way. My life is in danger." Dana thought for a moment. "I could talk to the American ambassador and—" "No!" Sasha Shadanov's voice was harsh. "But it's the only way—" "Your embassy has traitorous ears. No one but you and those who are going to help you will know about it. Your ambassador can't help me." Dana suddenly felt depressed.There was no way she could have smuggled a Russian bureau chief out of Russia.I couldn't even smuggle a cat out of the country.And she had other ideas.The whole thing was probably a ruse, Sasha Shadanov had no information, and he was using her as a springboard to America.Nothing came of this trip. Dana said, "I'm afraid I can't help you, Chief Shadanov." She stood up, furious. "Wait! You want proof? I'll give you proof." "What kind of evidence?" It took him a long time to answer.When he spoke, he said slowly, "You are forcing me to do something I had no intention of doing." He stood up: "You come with me." Thirty minutes later they entered the secret back door of the International Economic Development Bureau leading to Sasha Shadanov's office. "What I'm going to tell you is enough to kill me." Sasha Shadanov said after they arrived, "But I have no choice." He made a helpless gesture: "Because if I stay here, I will be killed." kill." Dana watched Shadanov walk to a large safe built into the wall.He turned the combination lock, opened the safe, and took out a thick book.He took it to his desk, and on the cover was written in red letters: TOP SECRET. "This is highly confidential information." Director Shadanov told Dana.He opens the book. Dana watched him closely and began to turn the pages slowly.Each page contains color photographs of bombers, spacecraft launchers, anti-ballistic missiles, parachute-to-surface missiles, automatic weapons, tanks, and submarines. "This is the complete Russian arsenal." It looked extremely large and murderous. "Right now, Russia has more than a thousand intercontinental ballistic missiles, more than two thousand nuclear warheads, and seventy strategic bombers." He pointed to various weapons while turning the pages, "This is a drill... spicy... aphids ...Anab ... Sagittarius ... our nuclear arsenal rivals that of the United States." "It's very, very impressive." "There is a serious problem with the Russian Armed Forces, Miss Evans. We are facing a crisis. We have no money to pay our soldiers and morale is very low. Reality offers little hope and the future looks even worse, so the military Fang is forced to turn to the past." Dana said, "I—I'm afraid I don't understand how—" "When Russia used to be a real superpower, we made even more weapons than the US. All of those weapons are stockpiled here. There are dozens of countries coveting them, and they're worth billions." Dana said patiently: "Director, I understand this question, but—" "That's not the problem." Dana stared at him, puzzled: "No? What's that?" Shadanov weighed his words carefully: "Have you heard of Krasnoyarsk-26?" Dana shook her head, "No." "I'm not surprised. It's not on any map and the people who live there have no legal presence." "What are you talking about?" "You'll see. I'll take you there tomorrow. You're still meeting me at that cafe at noon." He put one hand on Dana's arm and squeezed it tightly. "You must not reveal this to anyone." He hurt her. "Do you understand?" "yes." "Very well. Then it's settled." At noon, Dana came to a small cafe in the VDNKh park.She went in and sat down in the same cubicle and waited.Thirty minutes later, Shadanov still did not appear.What's happening now?she thought anxiously. "Hello." Sasha Shadanov stood by the cubicle. "Come on, we have to go shopping." "Shopping?" she asked incredulously. "Come!" Dana followed him into the park. "Why do you shop?" "For you." "I do not need--" Shadanov hailed a taxi, and they came to a business district in tense silence.They got out of the taxi, and Shadanov paid the driver. "In here," said Sasha Shadanov. They walked into the business district, passing a few shops.Shadanov stopped when they came to a store with provocative lingerie displayed in the window. "Here." He led Dana inside. Dana looked around at the thin clothing, "What are we doing here?" "You need to change clothes." A saleswoman approaches them, and a quick conversation in Russian ensues.The saleswoman nodded, and a moment later was holding a bright pink miniskirt and a ribbon-embellished one.Bolero tops with very low openings are back. Shadanov nodded in agreement. "Okay," he said to Dana, "you put them on." Dana flinched. "No! I don't wear that. You want to—" "You must." His voice was firm. "why?" "You'll know." Dana thought, This man has some sort of fetish, what kind of demon have I put myself in? Shadanov was watching her, "So?" Dana took a deep breath. "Okay." She went into a tiny fitting room and put on a full outfit.After she came out, she looked in the mirror and gasped: "I look like a whore." "Not yet," Shadanov told her, "we're going to buy you some cosmetics." "Director—" "Come." Dana's clothes were stuffed into a paper bag.Dana put on her wool coat, trying to hide the suit as much as possible.They started walking through the business district again.People passing by stared at Dana, and the men smiled knowingly at her.Dana felt humiliated when a worker winked at her. "Come in!" They are in front of a beauty salon.Sasha Shadanov walked in.Dana hesitated for a moment, then followed him.He went to the counter. "Cosmetics," he said. The beautician showed him a tube of bright red lipstick and a jar of rouge. "That's all," Shadanov said.He turned to Dana. "Put on. Heavy makeup." Dana has had enough. "No, thanks, I don't know what kind of game you think you're playing, Chief, but I'm not going to be part of it. I've been subjected to—" His eyes stared hard at her. "I assure you it's not a trick, Miss Evans. Krasnoyarsk-26 is a closed city. I'm one of the very few who can get into it. They allow very few of us outsiders A couple of guys bring prostitutes in during the day. That's the only way I can possibly get you past the guards. That's plus a case of premium vodka as payment for your entry. Are you interested?" Closed city?guard?How far do we go on this matter? "Yes," Dana decided reluctantly, "I'm interested."