Chapter 10 #4
"That you and Claire—Jane, Joshua, my father, Pip—you've all been so caught up in the world where everything is binary. Everyone thinks they are doing what's right—even when the choices they make hurt the people closest to them."
"I know your dad has hurt you."
"He has. We've been through this so many times it makes me dizzy."
"This?"
"Yes," Cassidy said. "This. I think when you can help, you should. But you aren't responsible for other people's choices."
"You sound just like Claire."
Cassidy shrugged.
"She said something similar about Fallon earlier."
"Losing Brian was hell, Alex. For you most of all. But that didn't happen because of you."
"I know," Alex said.
Cassidy nodded.
"I'm worried that it wasn't Jane's decision to leave," Alex confessed.
"I know."
"Cass, did she?—"
"Jane had been distant, Alex. That started before we found out about her father. My guess is she felt guilty about keeping her relationship with Joshua from us."
Alex nodded.
"What?" Cassidy asked. "Do you think there's another reason?"
"I don't know. I just know we need to find her. And I'm?—"
"Afraid what you might find," Cassidy finished the thought.
Alex looked away.
Cassidy pulled Alex back down and held her.
"Your dad said he thinks it might be safest to move Kapralov here before Christmas."
"I heard."
"Do you think it's?—"
"I trust you, Alex. When it comes to this, I trust my father. I just hope you don't expect too much."
"I know I can't trust him."
"Mm."
"You think we can trust Nika Kapralov?" Alex asked.
"I don't know. You'll have to decide what you think when you meet him," Cassidy said, pulling Alex closer.
"Did you talk to Kenzie?" Alex asked, yawning.
"She knows she needs to tell us about important things—not her version of important. Ours."
Alex yawned again.
"But she also knows how proud we are that she cares. About whales and us."
Alex chuckled and tightened her hold on Cassidy.
"Don't you want to get changed?" Cassidy asked.
Alex shook her head and nestled closer. "I just want to stay here."
Cassidy kissed the top of her head and drew the blanket over them both.
"Then stay," she whispered.
Kaliningrad, Russia
"You take a great risk," Nika Kapralov said. "Coming here again so soon."
Pyotr nodded.
"You would not do so unless you required something."
"Harmony has asked for you."
Kapralov took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Asked for me?"
"McCollum believes it's imperative that you leave here."
"For America?" Nika laughed. "Pyotr."
"It isn't safe here."
"What haven't you told me?"
Pyotr stepped aside.
"Hello, Nika."
Nika's eyes brightened.
"An unexpected message," he said. "Whom might I greet today? The mighty Sphinx or the mightier Pigeon?"
Jane Merrow smiled. A practiced, cordial smile. It was neither warm nor cool. Simply practiced.
"One brings the other," she replied.
"Why do I think you are not Harmony's messenger?"
"Candace can speak for herself," Jane said. "And she has closer allies to carry her messages."
Nika looked between his son and the former First Lady.
"You have arranged something," he said.
Jane's smile did not change. "I have arranged many things."
"For me?"
Pyotr looked at Jane.
Jane only smiled.
"If you are not here at Harmony's request?—"
"Your departure from this—" She looked around the room. "Place is inevitable."
He laughed. "In a black bag."
"I think we can find more comfortable accommodations."
He sat back.
"Jim believes the Sparrow can deliver you safely," she said. "Or so Pyotr tells me."
"And you?"
"I believe there is someone else who can ensure your journey is successful," she said. "Pyotr will arrange it."
"With the Sparrow?" Nika asked.
"She will carry the message," Jane replied.
"They don't know you're here."
"It's for the best."
"For whom?"
Jane said nothing.
Nika studied her.
"He isn't here," he said finally.
"I'm not here for the Doctor."
"Your father?—"
"Is dead."
"Jane."
Pyotr watched the conversation move back and forth like a tennis match.
"The only dead man I'm interested in seeing is sitting in front of me," she said.
"How did you know they would send for me?" Nika asked. "If that isn't your purpose for this... visit?"
"I never said it wasn't my purpose."
Nika chuckled. "You knew if you fell off the radar, they would look to have ghosts find you."
She smiled, genuinely this time.
He sighed heavily.
"You're safer in the light where no one is looking," she said.
"And you?"
"My safety is less important than my usefulness now."
"Jane," Nika said.
Jane looked at Pyotr. "Make the calls."
He looked at his father.
Nika nodded.
Pyotr hesitated only a moment before leaving them.
The sound of his footsteps faded into the tunnel, swallowed by the hum of old machinery and cold stone.
Nika waited until they were alone.
"You understand what you are doing?"
Jane's practiced smile returned, but it did not reach her eyes.
"No," she said. "I understand what has to be done."
Nika regarded her for a long moment.
Then he nodded once, not in agreement exactly.
In recognition.
Above them, the world would begin looking for Jane Merrow.
That was the point.
Jane turned toward the deeper passage beneath Kaliningrad.
"Go to Washington, Nika," she said. "Let them look for me."