〃As long as that doesn't result in a jurisdictional squabble here；〃 London replied。
〃I'm sure it won't；〃 Kirov said。 〃Now； if there are no further ments or suggestions； I remend that we terminate this call to allow you to deploy your resources。〃
There were none。 One by one； the parties hung up until only Klein remained on the line。
〃Are you ing home； Jon？〃 he asked。
〃A suggestion； sir？〃
〃Go ahead。〃
〃I think it'd be better for me to remain in the arena； sir。 If General Kirov can provide me with transportation； I can be in European airspace before the Swissair flight touches down。 I can monitor the situation in…flight； then direct the pilot to whichever city the target plane lands in。 I'll be at ground zero； giving both of you real…time reports。〃
〃What do you think； General？〃 Klein asked。
〃I like the idea of having our own bioweapons expert on…site；〃 the Russian replied。 〃I'll arrange for transportation immediately。〃
〃That would have been my remendation； too。 Good luck； Jon。 Keep us posted。〃
Twenty minutes later； Jon Smith was being escorted into Kirov's apartment。 Under the watchful eyes of the security man； he went into the kitchen； where he found the laptop and the cell phone that had belonged to Lara Telegin。
The escort drove Smith to the embassy； watching as he cleared the marine guard post and disappeared behind the gates。 Driving off； what he didn't see was Smith doubling back。
Smith walked fast to the arcade； only a mile away from the embassy。 He was relieved to see Randi as soon as he stepped through the front door。
〃Why is it I expected to see you today？〃 she asked quietly。
〃We need to talk； Randi。〃
Smith's arrival drew amused smiles from the staff； in particular a redheaded boy whose look made Randi blush。
〃They think you're my lover；〃 she told Smith after they were in her office。
〃Oh。。。〃
She laughed at having caught him off…guard。 〃It's not the worst thing people could think of you； Jon。〃
〃Actually； I'm flattered。〃
〃Now that we've gotten that out of the way； what can I do for you？〃
Smith brought out the videotape； laptop； and cell phone。
〃As you probably heard； there's a situation at the airport。〃
〃A 'situation' as in the Russians are shutting it down。〃
〃Randi； all I can tell you is that they're looking for someone。 Believe me； it's important to us that they find him。〃
He explained the problem with the videotape。 〃It's a question of enhancement。 The Russians just don't have the software and expertise to do it fast。〃
Randi pointed to the laptop and phone。 〃What about those？〃
〃The massacre at the railroad station and the situation at Sheremetevo are direct results of munications between two conspirators；〃 Smith replied。 〃I don't expect the phone to give up much。 But the laptop。。。 Maybe E…mails were exchanged。 I don't know。〃
〃If your conspirators were professionals… and I assume they were… they'd be using encryption and firewalls。 It could take a while to crack them。〃
〃I'd appreciate your taking a shot。〃
〃Which brings us to the next problem。 You don't think that I can just waltz this stuff into the embassy； do you？ I'm here on nonofficial cover。 My contact with the CIA station chief is nonexistent。 I'd have to contact Langley and have them alert the SC。 The minute I do that； headquarters will want to know why I'm hitting the panic button。〃
She paused。 〃Going that route means you have to tell me a whole lot more than I think you want to… or can。〃
Smith shook his head in frustration。 〃Okay； I understand。 I thought that maybe…〃
〃I didn't say there wasn't an alternative。〃 Quickly； Randi went on to tell him about Sasha Rublev。
〃I don't know。。。〃 Smith said。
〃Jon； I know what you're thinking。 But consider this： the FBI hires teenage hackers to help track down cyber terrorists。 And I'd be looking over Sasha's shoulder every minute。〃
〃You trust the kid that much？〃
〃Sasha is part of the new Russia； Jon； a Russia that looks out to the world； not one that keeps it at bay。 As for politics； to Sasha it's the most boring thing in the world。 Besides； I'm guessing that you didn't just trip over this laptop。 The Russians must have sanctioned the hunt。〃
Smith nodded。 〃They have。 All right。 I have to leave Moscow in about an hour。 You have my number。 Call me the minute your boy genius es up with anything。〃
He smiled at her。 〃And thanks； Randi。 Very much。〃
〃I'm happy to help； Jon。 But there is a quid pro quo。 If there's anything I need to know…〃
〃You'll hear it from me； not CNN。 Promise。〃
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The Swiss have one of the most highly organized terrorist…response teams in the world。 Superbly trained； expertly equipped； the twenty…man unit known as the Special Operations Group was on its way to Zurich International Airport within minutes of receiving the go signal from the minister of defense。
By the time Swissair 101 was twenty minutes out； the mandos were in position。 Half of them wore the uniform of the Swiss border patrol； whose ubiquitous presence at airports and railroad stations went unnoticed by travelers accustomed to visible security。 The other half were dressed as mechanics； fuelers； baggage handlers； and caterers… the kind of people anyone would expect to see around parked aircraft。
The plainclothes contingent； heavily armed with MP…5 submachine guns and smoke and stun grenades； would be the first…wave assault troops if the situation degenerated into a hostage crisis。 The uniformed patrols were the second perimeter； ready to move if Beria somehow managed to slip past the invisible cordon that would be established around the aircraft。
Finally； there was a third ring； made up of Swiss Army sharpshooters who had positioned themselves on the roofs of the international terminal and the maintenance hangars。 They would have an unobstructed view of the plane as it taxied to the last gate。 There； an attempt would be made to collar the jetway to the fuselage。 The attempt would fail。 The captain would announce a malfunction and advise his passengers that a ramp would be wheeled up to the forward hatch。
Once the passengers started moving down the ramp； the snipers would try to pick out Beria and lock on to him。 If successful； there would be no fewer than three rifles covering the target at any given moment。 According to plan； the plainclothes mandos would execute the takedown； wrestle Beria to the ground； and neutralize him。 But if for any reason there was a problem； the snipers were cleared for center…mass/head…shot fire。
Wearing a caterer's baggy white overalls； the SOG mander quietly radioed the control tower and received the latest word： flight 101 was on final approach。 Word was passed along； the safeties of weapons were thumbed off。
The bus rattled into the St。 Petersburg station just as Swissair 101 touched down in Zurich。 Following the crowds； Ivan Beria drifted into the terminal； headed for the lockers。 Removing a key； he opened a locker and pulled out a cheap suitcase。
The washroom was abominable； but a tip to the attendant got Beria a private stall that was reasonably clean。 He took off his coat； jacket； and pants； and from the suitcase pulled out a new navy blue blazer； gray slacks； a sports shirt； and fortable loafers。 Also in the suitcase were a fleece…lined jacket； several plastic bags filled with souvenirs from the Hermitage Museum； and a billfold containing an airline ticket； passport； credit cards； and American currency。 Beria flipped open the passport and scrutinized his picture； in which he wore the clothes he'd just put on。 He thought he looked like a John Strelnikov； a naturalized American citizen who worked as a civil engineer for a Baltimore…based construction pany。
Beria packed up his old clothes in the suitcase and left the bathroom。 In the station； he stopped at a refreshment stand； put down the suitcase； bought himself a Coke； and moved on。 Given the homeless population that meandered through the station； the suitcase would disappear before he reached the front doors。
Outside； he got into a cab and offered the driver ten American dollars over the negotiated rate if he got him to the airport in thirty minutes。 The driver made it with two m