Just then Stanski came back into the roomsupporting a dazed-looking Popov. When the big Ukrainian saw Akashin his eyesblazed.

"If you don't pull the trigger,Jake, I will."

Massey said to him, "Tell me whathappened."

Popov wiped a trickle of blood from hismouth and pointed to Akashin. "Our friend here's after the woman. They'vebeen tailing her. After I left the cabin some of' his men fooled me intostopping my car and knocked me unconscious. Then they took me here and tried toget me to talk. His name's Akashin."

Stanski tossed a handful of maps andphotographs on the table. "These were in the bedroom. It looks likeAkashin's got a keen interest in photography. And in us."

Massey looked at the photographs. Some ofthem were of Anna alone, others of him and Anna and Stanski together coming outof a hotel and at the Boston railway station. The maps were of New Hampshireand he noticed the ducks that circled the lake.

Massey turned pale and looked over atAkashin. "Where's your friend Braun?" Akashin said gruffly, "Idon't have to answer any Of Your questions."

Massey crossed to him and put the gunagainst his forehead and said, "That might be true or not, but if youdon't so help me I'm going to punch a hole in you so big you could run a trainthrough it."

"I really don't think that would bewise or necessary."

"I don't give two shits for yourimmunity, Akashin. And it doesn't matter. What you're involved in here iskidnapping. That's a serious federal offense. So talk before I lose my patienceand this thing goes off."

Akashin sighed and spread his hands in agesture of helplessness. "You understand, we couldn't let the woman getaway just like that."

"Who's we?"

"The embassy had orders fromMoscow."

Suddenly everything was clear to Masseyand he stepped closer. "How did you know where to find her?"

"We tailed her from Helsinki. We'vebeen following her since she arrived in this country." Massey was silent,then he said, "Why'? She's a nobody."

Akashin smiled faintly. "Wherepeople like you and me are concerned, ours is not to reason why, Massey. Wesimply do what our masters tell us,"

"How do you know my name?"

"Your activities are well known tous. Finding out your identity from the photographs wasn't difficult."

Massey's face flushed angrily."Where's Braun?"

When Akashin hesitated, Stanski pushedthe silenced Tokaiev hard into his temple until the man's eyes opened wide interror.

"Gone to get the woman."

"Alone?"

Akashin shrugged. "Does it matternow'? You won't be able to stop him."

"What's he going to do withher?"

"Put her on a Soviet boat in NewYork Harbor."

"How long has Braun been gone?"

When Akashin didn't reply, Stanski struckhim hard across the face with the pistol, drawing blood.

Akashin staggered back. When he hadrecovered he wiped blood from his nose. "That wasn't necessary."

Stanski's face was white with rage and hegestured to Popov and said, "It'll get a lot worse if I let my friend hererepay you for what you did to him. When did Braun leave?"

Akashin glanced nervously over at Popov.then said, "He left for Boston two hours ago by train." Stanski saidto Popov, "Take him inside and tie him up. Good and tight. So he can'tmove or talk."

"With pleasure. And then I'm goingto beat him to pulp."

Massey glared at the Russian. "Afterthis you won't see daylight for a long time, Akashin. Assisting an illegalresident, intent to murder, kidnapping, cari-vin" an illegal weapon. AndI'm sure there's more your immunity won't cover. You're finished."

Akashin turned noticeably pale.

As Popov went toward him, Arkashingrabbed for the Walther on the table. When Popov reached to wrench it from himhe was too slow and the gun went off, hitting the Ukrainian in the face. AsPopov was flung back, Stanski fired once, hitting Akashin in the heart.

Massey had turned white as he went tofeel Popov's pulse. "Christ ... he's dead ..."

Stanski came back from Akashin's bodysprawled on the floor, the Russian's clothes bloodied from the wound in hischest.

"Akashin too. Jake, this is gettingmuddier by the minute What now?"

"We get out of here fast. Leaveeverything as it is. I'll figure out what to do later."

Stanski said softly, "We're nevergoing to get to the lake in time. It's six hours @ by car and Akashin's peoplehave a head start."

"Then let's get going."

Massey was already moving toward the fireescape when Stanski gripped his arm and said, "Wait ... ! "

He crossed to the table and picked up oneof the maps. There was sweat on his face as he looked back at Massey and said,"There may be a quicker way. But it's 'just a chance."

New Hampshire.

Carlo Lombardi watched the countryside.He wrinkled his nose as Vince rolled down the Packard's window and the blast ofcold fresh air swept in, "Put the fucking thing up. What are you trying todo? Kill me?"

Vince did as he was told as Braun satsilently in the back. They had come off the highway ten minutes ago, Lombardidoing the driving after pickina up Braun from Boston station. The quaint NewEngland wooden houses flashed past, but Lombardi wasn't impressed.

"What's the story with the hick withthe beard?"

Braun flicked him a look. "He'sAkashin's problem now. How much farther?"

"Another hour."

Lombardi turned to Vince. "You knowthe plan. Anybody gets in the way you blast them.

Vince climbed down and hefted up a canvasbag and removed three handguns, two sawed-off shotguns and a carbine, Lombardisaid, "Jesus ... what the fuck are You expecting?" Vince shrugged."You said there could be trouble. You never know."

Lombardi turned to Braun seated in thebackseat and smiled. "I'll say this for- the kid. He comes prepared."

Vassily stepped out of the boat andhelped Anna onto the wooden walkway.

They had spent an hour fishing on thelake and caught three large trout, and as they walked back up to the cabin,Anna said, "Tell me about the photograph in the cabin. Is it of Alex'sfamily?"

"His father and mother, brother andsister. He told you about them?"

"Enough to make a guess about thephotograph."

"Then he must like you, Anna."

"Why do you say that?" Helooked at her knowingly for a moment, then said, "Alex never talks aboutthem. I think you must have found a chink in his armor."

She smiled. "When I came up here thefirst day I have to admit I found him difficult."

Vassily laughed. "That's nothingcompared to the first day he came here."

"What was he like?@'

"Like a wild little wolf cub.Impossible to tame. He'd refuse to eat or talk. Just wanted to be on his own,like he had a pain so deep in his heart no one could reach."

"But you reached it."

Vassily shook his head. "I don'tthink anyone's ever reached it, And I don't think anyone ever will."

"So why did you let him stay?"

They had reached the cabin and Vassilyput down the fishing things and the trout and sat on the veranda.

"I knew he'd been through a bad timeand didn't trust anyone but himself. He needed distraction and he needed afather. I did what I could and taught him about the woods and about hunting. Idon't know of anyone who could survive better in those woods than Alex, evenme. It took his mind off things and he gradually settled in. And aftereverything that had happened to him he needed space, not people aroundhim."