The Spy Case Chapter 2

The Spy Case

Chapter 2

Oh, no, I blurted. That’s terrible news. Is he going to be OK?

The doctors say he should recover, but it might take weeks, Petrov replied.

What do you think of his story? Dad asked.

Romanov and Petrov exchanged glances. It’s possible, Petrov replied stroking his moustache thoughtfully. We have a proposition for young Justin here, he added. With your permission of course, Mr. Macdonald. Before we propose it, we should explain exactly what we know.

Can we go somewhere and talk? Dad asked and the Russians agreed. There is a new mall next door, just opening up for morning business, Petrov said. There is what you Westerners call a “food court” there. We can get something to eat and discuss the case. Would that be satisfactory?

Dad and I agreed. We followed the Russians back out into the early morning deep freeze. These malls are springing up everywhere, Romanov said as we walked along the street, his breath creating a cloud in front of him.

Petrov chuckled. Yes, “shop ‘til you drop” is the new motto I hear the young people talking about, he said. Sounds dangerous!

I’ve never actually tried it, I said with a grin. But my girlfriend back home has tried it—lots of times!

Did she hurt herself? Petrov said. When she dropped, I mean?

I laughed. No, she wasn’t hurt, but her bank account sure was!

We came to the front entrance of the mall and went inside to the relative warmth. The food court was on the lower level. I was surprised to see some of the same fast food chains as back home. With a few new ones.

Petrov ordered breakfasts and coffees for all of us and we found a table near the back of the food court where there weren’t a lot of people around.

As we ate, Romanov started his story. As you know American Atlantic Oil hired your father to work with us at TSO to find out who is sabotaging plans for a new pipeline in Eastern Siberia. We have a base there and are already starting to build the pipeline, but we don’t have all the land that we need. We started building prematurely, he added, looking at Petrov. Now, our deals to purchase land are falling through and a rival company, Northlands Oil, is quietly buying up the land that we need. At a lot higher prices, so of course the land owners are taking their offers.

Northlands doesn’t need the land it is worthless as far as other uses for the land. It is too cold for crops and there is no oil on the site, Petrov added. Someone in our company is leaking the details of our purchases to Northlands so they can swoop in with a better deal.

A spy! I said.

Romanov nodded. We suspected Malenkov. He always worked late and was becoming increasingly nervous at work.

Then one day we found a memo allegedly written by Malenkov. It had information about the land sales—pricing and locations, things of that nature. We wanted to confront him, but we couldn’t prove conclusively that he wrote the note.

He was being set up? Dad asked.

We didn’t know, Petrov replied. All the evidence was a little too neat. Then two days ago we learned of the meeting Malenkov was to have. We didn’t know the exact address of this meeting, but we knew the area. We knew Malenkov would go, hence the mission we had you go on last evening.

After you gave us the information, we went to the address to confront Malenkov. No one was there, but there was information about the land sales and notes detailing our work. Malenkov’s prints were all over the paperwork.

Wow! Looks like a real good set-up, I said. You went to arrest Malenkov, then?

We had to, the evidence was incriminating. If he has been set up hopefully that will come out in the trial, Romanov stated.

Our deal with AAOil is in danger, Petrov went on. If we can’t build the pipeline, AAOil will go elsewhere, perhaps to another country. Russia needs the money and the employment that this pipeline will bring to the area.

What’s the proposition? I asked.

We think that if Malenkov was set up, whoever set him up will soon learn that he is in custody. They will think that they can continue to deal with our rival. Their guard will be down. We want you to go to the TSO office in Siberia and see if you can find out who this person is. Like we mentioned, the evidence surrounding Malenkov is incriminating, but we don’t believe he was acting alone. Someone else is involved. He was what you would call the “fall guy”.

You want me to be a spy? Why me? I don’t have any experience.

Your father thinks you’re up to it. He speaks very highly of you, Petrov remarked. And—besides we need someone who will not arouse suspicions. We were going to send a junior officer from our headquarters here in Moscow, but his wife just had a baby and he doesn’t want to leave his family.

We can send you in his place, Romanov said. No one will be suspicious of a Canadian student working here on a work visa and needing the experience.

I sat for a moment quietly and let it all sink in. A spy? Justin Macdonald, International Spy. It has a nice ring to it, I said with a grin.

Don’t let it get to your head, son, Dad said.

I won’t. When do I start?

Today.

I didn’t think it was possible. But the wind was actually colder in Siberia than it had been in Moscow. I had just alighted from a small twin engine plane owned by TSO and out into the brisk afternoon air near the small town of Yakutska, on the eastern Siberian plain. The head offices of TSO pipeline division were nearby. I had a meeting with the head of the facility in five minutes, so I pulled the hood of my parka tighter around my head and walked briskly to the long dull grey coloured building beside the airstrip at the edge of the TSO compound.

I went inside and was met by a prim older woman seated at a small desk. She smiled at me as I read her nameplate which read “ОЛГА”. Olga.

I’m Justin Macdonald, here to see Mr. Krakov.

Yes, Olga said in perfect English. We’ve been expecting you. I will have your luggage taken over to the dormitories while you are meeting with Mr. Krakov.

That would be great, I said, putting my two bags down beside her desk. I took off my parka and hung it on a nearby hook on the wall. I grabbed my briefcase which held some training materials and sat down on a hard plastic chair against the wall.

Olga picked up her phone and spoke in Russian then hung up. Mr. Krakov will see you now, Mr. Macdonald.

I followed Olga into the inner office where I was met by a young man, not much older than I. He had dark hair and was clean shaven except for a small patch of whiskers on his chin. He had a modern suit and a bold purple tie. He was about my height with stark blue eyes and glasses.

Justin, great to meet you, he said with a slight accent. I’m glad you could come on such short notice. We shook hands across his desk.

I look forward to working with you here at TSO, I said, and Krakov smiled warmly.

That’s great. Here, have a seat, he said motioning to a plush chair in front of his desk.

Krakov picked up his phone and spoke in English. Olga, can you send for Vlad. I’d like him to meet Justin.

She said she would, then hung up.

Now, Justin, I know why you’re really wanted to come here. You can’t fool me.

Pardon?, I said, trying to hide my surprise.

All the pretty girls, of course, he said with a chuckle. Siberia is known all over the world for it’s beautiful women.

Oh, right, I said. That’s it exactly, sir.

Krakov just looked at me for a moment. Justin, you’re going to fit in perfectly here and I know you and Vlad will get along fine, he remarked. He’s about your age. I want him to train you. I have another meeting in a few minutes but I just wanted to meet you before you got started.

Basically you will train with Vlad in the lab. If you have any problems, just let him know or get a hold of me directly.

Just then there was a knock at the door. Come in, Krakov said.

A young guy about my age came into the room. He had longish dark hair and deep set dark brown eyes. He was a little taller than me and was very skinny, his clothes hung on him. He sported a wispy beard and thick framed glasses, that he pushed up on his nose as he came into the room.

Justin, this is Vladimir—Vlad Malenkov.

I was startled by Vlad’s last name. Malenkov. Was he related to the man lying in a hospital in Moscow? I shook Vlad’s hand and he smiled. Hi Justin, nice to meet you. So you decided to brave the balmy Siberian weather?

Yes, I said, trying to look friendly. I needed all the friends I could get. Krakov says you have lots of pretty girls out here as well.

Oh, I wouldn’t know about that, he said sheepishly, looking down at he floor. Maybe.

Vlad, can you give Justin a tour of the facility? He will be working with you and the team in the lab, Krakov said, breaking the awkward silence.

Vlad looked up and nodded. Let’s go!

We donned our parkas and boots in the outer office and headed out into the bright sunshine—and subzero weather.

The snow had stopped but the sunshine was blinding on the snow. I pulled my sunglasses from my pocket and put them on.

We got into a small jeep and headed to the dormitory so I could get settled in. The dorm was a low brick building—very plain looking like most of the buildings here. It was situated near the front entrance of the complex. Beyond I could see a large hangar and another building, most likely where the labs were located. As well another plant was located beside the large hangar.

The pipeline is being constructed in the hangar, Vlad said. Because it’s so huge they need a very large work space. I’ll show you around there later. But first I’ll take you to your room then introduce you to the other lab technicians. You’ll really like Sergei, Vlad said with a grin. He’s—different.

Can hardly wait, I said with a grin of my own.

He parked the jeep and we headed into the dorm. The main entrance had a security panel and Vlad punched in the four digit number. He told me the number and I committed it to memory.

It was nice to be in out of the cold and wind.

My room was on the second floor. It was simply furnished with a small cot, a plain sofa and small brown upholstered chair. The kitchen was one counter with a sink and some plates and cutlery and a small table with one rickety chair. My bags were on the floor inside the door.

The washroom and showers are down the hall, Vlad said. The hallway gets cold in the morning so you’ll want to wear a housecoat and slippers. My room is next door, he said. If you need anything after you settle in, just let me know.

I will, I said with a smile. Thanks, Vlad.

What do you guys do on your off time? I asked.

A lot of the guys go into town, Yakutska, it’s a town about 10 km to the east. I just stay here and read, mostly, he added sheepishly.

I’ll probably just stay here too, I said.

That’s great, Vlad said, clearly happy at this news. Maybe we can hang out?

Sure, I said. But one more thing. No TV?

The TSO Labs were located next to the giant plant in a low brick building. As we walked Vlad told me about the experiments that took place here, from testing the soil for impurities to helping with chemical compounds related to the construction of the pipeline.

We went in the front entrance and were met by a security guard who scanned Vlad’s pass. I was listed as a visitor until I was issued my own security pass.

Vlad led me down a short hallway to a metal door with a small window. We stepped inside.

A man and woman looked up from a stainless steel table where they were looking at what looked like soil samples.

This is Sergei and Vera, Vlad said introducing me.

Sergei was an older man about 50 with spiky black hair. The sleeves of his white lab coat were rolled up to reveal colourful sleeve tattoos on both arms. He wore dark rimmed glasses and had a neatly trimmed beard and sported a small gold stud in each ear. I noticed his shoes were bright orange with fluorescent green laces. He shook my hand but didn’t speak.

Sergei doesn’t know much English, Vlad reported and Sergei nodded and smiled. He turned back to his work.

Vera was younger with her blonde hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. She had hazel eyes and a quick smile. She too just nodded and shook my hand when Vlad introduced us. Vera doesn’t speak much English either.

Vlad then said something to Sergei in Russian and the man grinned broadly winking at me. He said something back to Vlad.

He says you should come into Yakutska with him this weekend. He’ll show you a good time, but I told him you would probably stay here. Sergei pouted and shook his head.

Tell him I’ll think about it, I said to Vlad and he repeated (hopefully) what I had said. Sergei nodded again and gave me the thumbs up.

Sergei can get kind of wild, Vlad reported. Just a friendly warning. Now, I’ll show you the rest of the lab and we can get started. For now you’ll mainly just be running errands and delivering reports. Maybe in a week’s time you can help with some of the experiments.

In a weeks time hopefully I’ll have nabbed the spy and be back home.

Sure thing, I said. Sounds good. Say, how’s the pipeline project coming along?

Vlad visibly stiffened but turned to me with a grin. Great. Right on schedule as far as I know. My friend Volya works in the plant where the pipeline is being constructed.

I made a mental note to have a word with Volya.

It was nearing lunchtime, so we followed Sergei and Vera to the small cafeteria that was down the hallway. The special was a strange looking soup (not borscht) and sub sandwiches. We sat with Sergei and Vera but they talked to each other in Russian. I told Vlad little about my life, trying to be nonchalant and reticent in my comments. I didn’t want him to get suspicious but I didn’t quite trust him enough and didn’t want to blow my cover.

The afternoon we toured the rest of the lab and I ran a few requisitions and memos to the plant and to the main office. Putting on my parka and boots every time was a pain, but I was getting the lay of the complex and it kept me busy.

The night passed uneventfully and the next morning after showering and dressing in warm clothes, Vlad and I headed to dorm cafeteria for breakfast. Then to the lab.

That afternoon I was with Vlad in the lab when he turned to me. Can I trust you to keep a secret, Justin?

I was startled but responded yes.

You were asking about the pipeline yesterday. My father has disappeared and I think it has something to do with the pipeline. I also think there’s a spy out here at TSO.

A spy?! I said trying to hide my gulp.

Yes, he said looking me in the eye. And I think I might know—.

Suddenly the building shook, rocked by a powerful explosion!