Scorpion Winter by Andrew Kaplan Read Free Book Online

forgotten,” he said, and Scorpion knew he was talking about FOBE. His friend studied his long fingers, which Scorpion had seen him bend coins with without even trying. “All I know is that Dave Rabinowich wanted you on it because somebody way high up is scared shitless.” He looked up. “That good enough for you, bro?”
    Scorpion took a deep breath. Now he understood why Rabinowich had pointed Akhnetzov toward the marinas—his emergency back channel—instead of just giving Akhnetzov one of the dummy Gmail addresses that were his normal contact points. Rabinowich had done it to get his attention. Something was up all right. But why? Ukraine seemed out of the way, a minor regional dispute. Why would someone high up be so anxious for him to go in?
    â€œI could use a few things,” he said.
    Shaefer nodded. Scorpion told him what he wanted, and Shaefer nodded again.
    â€œOne thing still bothers me. Why me?”
    â€œYou have to remember, they’re Eastern Europeans.”
    â€œMeaning paranoid?”
    â€œWait till you have to live here like I do. If they were a whole lot more trusting, they’d be paranoid.”
    â€œSounds like they wanted someone independent,” Scorpion said. “Someone who could play both sides. Especially if the CIA is involved.” After a moment he added, “So are we?”
    â€œWhat a dirty little mind you have.” Shaefer grinned.
    â€œIt’s a dirty little world.”
    A young Romanian couple got up and walked past their table. For a moment the two men fell silent. They waited till the couple went out into the night.
    â€œAkhnetzov says Russia will invade if anything happens to this politician, Cherkesov,” Scorpion said.
    â€œDoes he?” Shaefer said. “Who’s feeding him this stuff?”
    â€œHe says SVR.”
    â€œDid he tell you who his contact is?”
    â€œSomebody named Gabrilov, Oleg Gabrilov. Cultural attaché at—”
    â€œI know who he is.” Shaefer made a face. “Gabrilov is SVR, all right; Directorate S for Kiev.”
    â€œAkhnetzov says it could mean war. Lot of saber rattling going on.”
    â€œRabinowich thinks so too.”
    â€œChrist. You really see us going in?”
    â€œWho the hell knows?” Shaefer shrugged. “Technically, Ukraine is a member of the NATO Membership Action Plan. They sent troops to support us in Afghanistan. If Russia were to invade, in theory we’d have to do something.” He hesitated, as if he knew what he was about to say wasn’t something he should ask as a friend. “When you get to Kiev, my bosses would appreciate anything you could toss our way.”
    â€œI can’t go near Kiev Station. Besides, there’s ELINT all over the place,” meaning heavy Russian and Ukrainian surveillance on electronic communications, and that he wouldn’t go near any CIA operatives or locations in Ukraine.
    â€œWe’ll stay clear,” Shaefer agreed. “Have to. If anything goes south, they’ll blame the CIA bogeyman. Suppose you need to get hold of Rabinowich or me?”
    â€œGive me a dead-drop.”
    â€œOld school.” Shaefer nodded approvingly and gave him the details and how they would handle Scorpion’s cover.
    Scorpion glanced at the café window. It was still snowing; the street was empty. He wasn’t anxious to get back out in it and to the airport. They were the last ones in the café, and the waiter had glanced over at them more than once.
    â€œWe should get going,” he said.
    Shaefer touched Scorpion’s forearm. “About Ukraine. How much time have you got? Did Akhnetzov say?”
    â€œThe election’s in a week. Whatever is going on, it’s already running.”
    Shaefer whistled silently to himself. “You’ll have to force the issue. You watch your ass, bub. The difference between the SVR, the SBU, and the Ukrainian mafia, that’s