Lukin removed his Tokarev and placed iton the desk.

Romulka crooked a finger. "Comecloser, away from the door."

As Lukin stepped forward, Romulka slammedhis fist into his jaw. Lukin fell back against the wall but Romulka moved in smartlyand jerked his knee savagely into Lukin's groin.

As he slid to the floor, Romulka stoodover him, his hands on his hips.

" I can't understand it, Lukin. Icredited you with some brains. Did you really expect to get away with what youdid tonight? Preventing me from catching the American? Releasing the woman andtaking the child from the orphanage? You must think I'm a fool."

A trickle of blood ran down Lukin's chin."No, just a callous, brutal bastard."

Romulka lashed out with his boot and itsmashed into Lukin's thigh.

"Get up, traitor!"

When Lukin didn't move, Romulka yankedhim savagely by the hair and hauled him into a chair. He stared into his face."You know what I don't understand, Lukin? Motive. But there must be anexplanation. There always is. And you're going to give it to me."

He replaced the pistol in his holster andthe riding crop appeared. Without warning it swished through the air and struckLukin a stinging blow across the face, As he jerked back in pain, Romulkagrabbed him by the hair again.

"A small debt repaid. But nothing tothe debt you're about to be repaid by Beria. Interesting to know that your wifeisn't at home, Lukin. I had my men stop at your apartment half an hour ago. Nodoubt you thought she'd be safer elsewhere. But don't you worry, we'll findher. And you know what I'll do to that bitch wife of yours when we throw her ina cell? Screw her until she can't walk." He leered. "Of course,cooperate and you may find me a little more lenient. What have you been playingat, Lukin?"

"Go to hell," Lukin spluttered.

The muscles tightened in Romulka's face."You had your little yellow friend here tie us up nicely until you gotaway, didn't you?

Unfortunately, he hasn't been much helpeither. But then perhaps we haven't tried hard enough to loosen his tonue." He nodded to the two men standing over Pasha.

Show Lukin what he and his bitch wife canexpect in the cellars."

One of the men grinned and slapped therubber truncheon in his hand. It swished through the air and struck Pashasavagely across the face. The Mongolian screamed in agony as again and againthe rubber struck, his head tossing from side to side with the force, until hisface was a bloodied pulp.

Lukin screamed, "No!" Thebeating went on until finally Romulka said, "Enough."

He put the barrel of Lukin's pistol hardagainst Pasha's temple.

"Something else I discovered. Thisyellow bastard was seen sniffing around the records office. That's off limitswithout a permit." He grinned. "A man could get himself killed forsticking his nose where he shouldn't. I wonder what he was up to? One lastchance, Lukin. Either you talk, or I blow this yellow bastard's brains out hereand now."

Pasha seemed barely conscious, his eyesunable to focus, a froth of blood on his mouth. Then suddenly a gurgling soundcame from his throat and with a burst of rage he came to life.

"Tell him nothing, Yuri ..."His bloodied face stared up at Romulka, his voice a hoarse whisper. "You... go ... fuck yourself ..."

Romulka's face erupted in rage and theTokarev came up so fast Lukin could barely react. The weapon pressed intoPasha's temple, the hammer clicked, and the gun exploded.

Pasha's head snapped sideways with theforce, his body suddenly limp like a rag doll's, blood spattering the walls asthe bullet tore into his skull.

Lukin roared, "NO!"

As he tried to struggle from the chairthe two men held him down.

Romulka turned to him and the gun came uphard and struck him below the jaw, sent him reeling back, then Romulka pressedthe barrel painfully hard into his forehead. "Now it's your turn, Lukin.You're going to talk if it's the last thing you do." He put the pistoldown and picked up the riding crop and said to the men, "On the desk withhim. Pull down his trousers.

He produced what looked like a pair ofpliers from his pocket and said to Lukin, "A little implement even theFrenchman couldn't resist. Only in your case, I assure you you'll never walkagain. And I can't tell you how much I'm going to enjoy this."

As the two men dragged Lukin onto thedesk, a voice said, "I really wouldn't do that."

Romulka and the men turned at once.Stanski stood in the open doorway, the silenced Nagant in his hand.

It happened quickly. One of Romulka's menwent to reach for his pistol and Stanski shot him in the eye. As the man reeledback a second shot hit him in the neck, shattering his windpipe, cutting offthe scream in his throat.

As the man spun, the second man lungedforward and Stanski fired twice, hitting him in the throat and chest.

Stanski was already reacting as Romulkastarted to reach for his weapon, but Lukin shouted, "NO! He's mine."

He lunged just as Romulka grabbed for thegun, pushed him back against the wall. His arm came up and the metal claw dughard into Romulka's chest. The man's eyes opened wide in horror as Lukin's handwent over his mouth to stifle the scream.

Lukin stared into his face. "Have anice time in hell, you bastard."

He withdrew the claw and stepped back asRomulka slid down, a fountain of blood gushing from the gaping wound in hischest.

Lukin stared at Stanski in disbelief."How the hell did you get in here?"

"As soon as you stepped into theelevator the guard on the desk couldn't wait to reach for the phone. So Idecided to keep you company."

"You took a risk."

"Lucky for you the building's almostempty at this time of night."

"Thanks, Mischa."

Stanski nodded over at Pasha's body."But too late to help your friend."

Lukin stared at the corpse. For severalmoments he didn't speak, then he turned back, grief etched on his face,"He was a good man. A good man wearing a bad uniform."

It took several moments for- him tocompose himself. "What happened to the guard?"

"Dead in one@of the offices acrossthe hall. Did you make the call?"

"There wasn't time."

"Then make it now."

Lukin crossed to the desk as Stanski wentto stand by the door, leaving it open a crack, the Na gant raised and ready.

It took Lukin less than a minute to makethe call, and when he replaced the receiver there was sweat on his face. Helooked at Stanski and said, "It's done."

"Then let's get out of here beforesomeone raises the alarm. Don't forget the uniform."

Lukin crossed to his locker in the cornerand removed his spare uniform, gloves, boots and cap.

Stanski went out, pausing only to checkthe hallway, but it was deserted.

Lukin took a long, painful look at Pasha'sbloodied face, then followed him out.

They reached the Kuntsevo road tenminutes later.

There was hardly any traffic. Once theyhad left the suburbs behind, Stanski said, "Pull over. I want to go overthe plan one more time. There can't be any mistakes, Petya."

Lukin shook his head. "There's notime. It won't take long before someone discovers the guard on the door ismissing. After that, all hell's going to break loose."

"How much time have we got?"

"The shift changes in half an hour.But someone's going to notice the missing guard before then."

"How much longer to Stalin'sdacha?"

"Ten minutes, a straight road allthe way. Another ten to get in, if we're lucky, We're cutting it fine.'@