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iy Vladimirovich was probably not the demanding bastard that Beria had been。 Party people might be overly precise in their demands； but anyone who'd worked in the Party Secretariat doubtless knew how to work with people。 The age of Stalin had indeed passed。
So； it looked as though he had an assassination to arrange； Bubovoy thought。 He wondered how Boris Strokov would react to it。 Strokov was a professional； with little in the way of excess emotion； and less in the way of a professional conscience。 To him； work was work。 But the magnitude of this was higher than anything he would have encountered working for the Dirzhavna Sugurnost。 Would that frighten him or excite him？ It would be interesting to see。 There was a coldness to his Bulgarian colleague that both alarmed and impressed the KGB officer。 His particular skills could be useful things to have in one's pocket。 And if the Politburo needed this annoying Pole killed； then he would just have to die。 Too bad； but if what he believed was true； then they were just sending him off to heaven as a holy martyr； weren't they？ Surely that was the secret ambition of every priest。
Bubovoy's only concern was the political repercussions。 Those would be epic； and so it was good that he was just a cutout in the operation。 If it went bad； well； it wouldn't be his fault。 That Strokov was the best man for the job； based on his curriculum vitae； was something no man could deny； something a board of inquiry； if any； could confirm。 He'd warned the Chairman that a shot； however closely taken； would not necessarily be fatal。 He'd have to put that in a memo to make sure the thin paper trail on operation 15…8…82…666 would have his formal evaluation in it。 He'd draft it himself and send it by diplomatic bag to The Centre…and keep his own copy in his office safe； just to make sure his own backside was properly covered。
But for now he would have to wait for the authorization to e from the Politburo。 Would those old women elect to go forward with this？ That was the question； and one on which he would not make a wager。 Brezhnev was in his dotage。 Would that make him bloodthirsty or cautious？ It was too hard a question for the colonel to puzzle out。 They were saying that Yuriy Vladimirovich was the heir apparent。 If so； here was his chance to win his spurs。
〃So； Mikhail Yevgeniyevich； will you support me tomorrow？〃 Andropov asked over drinks in his flat。
Alexandrov swirled the expensive brown vodka in his glass。 〃Suslov will not attend tomorrow。 They say his kidneys have failed； and he has no more than two weeks；〃 the ideologue…in…waiting said； briefly dodging the issue。 〃Will you support me for his chair？〃
〃Need you ask； Misha？〃 the Chairman of the mittee for State Security responded。 〃Of course I will support you。〃
〃Very well。 So； what are the chances for success in this operation you propose？〃
〃About fifty…fifty； my people tell me。 We will use a Bulgarian officer to set it up； but for security reasons the assassin will have to be a Turk。。。〃
〃A black…ass Muslim？〃 Alexandrov asked sharply。
〃Misha； whoever it is will almost certainly be apprehended…dead； according to our plan。 It is impossible to expect a clean getaway in such a mission。 Thus； we cannot use one of our own。 The nature of the mission places constraints upon us。 Ideally； we would use a trained sniper…from Spetsnaz； for example…from three hundred meters； but that would mark the assassination as a killing done by a nation…state。 No； this must appear to be the act of a single madman； as the Americans have them。 You know； even with all the evidence the Americans had； some fools over there still blamed Kennedy on us or Castro。 No； the evidence we leave must be a clear sign that we were not involved。 That limits our operational methods。 I think this is the best plan we can e up with。〃
〃How closely have you studied it？〃 Alexandrov asked； taking a swallow。
〃It has been closely held。 Operations like this must be。 Security must be airtight； Mikhail Yevgeniyevich。〃
The Party man conceded the point： 〃I suppose that is so； Yuriy…but the risk of failure。。。〃
〃Misha； in every aspect of life； there is risk。 The important thing is that the operation not be tied to us。 That we can assure with certainty。 If nothing else； a serious wound will at least lessen Karol's ardor for making trouble for us； will it not？〃
〃It should…〃
〃And half a chance of failure means half a chance of total success；〃 Andropov reminded his guest。
〃Then I will support you。 Leonid Ilyich will go along as well。 That will carry the day。 How long after that to get things moving？〃
〃A month or so； perhaps six weeks。〃
〃That quickly？〃 Party matters rarely sped along that well。
〃What is the point of taking such； such…'executive action；' isn't that what the Americans call it？…if it is to take so long？ If it is to be done； better that it should be done quickly； so as to forestall further political intrigue by this man。〃
〃Who will replace him？〃
〃Some Italian； I suppose。 His selection was a major aberration。 Perhaps his death will encourage the Romans to go back to their old habits；〃 Andropov suggested。 It generated a laugh from his guest。
〃Yes； they are so predictable； these religious fanatics。〃
〃So tomorrow I will float the mission； and you will support me？〃 Andropov wanted that one very clear。
〃Yes； Yuriy Vladimirovich。 You will have my support。 And you will support me for Suslov's full voting seat at the table。〃
〃Tomorrow； rade；〃 Andropov promised。
CHAPTER 12 … HANDOFF
This time； the alarm clock worked； and woke them both。 Ed Foley rose and headed for the bathroom； quickly made way for his wife； then headed to Eddie's room to shake him loose while Mary Pat started breakfast。 Their son immediately switched on the TV and got the morning exercise show that every city in the world seemed to have； starring； as everywhere in the world； a woman of impressive physique…she looked capable of waltzing through the Army's Ranger School at Fort Benning； Georgia。 Because he had seen the Lynda Carter series at home on cable； Eddie called her Worker…Womannnnnn！ Mary Pat was of the opinion that the Russian's blond hair came out of a bottle； while Ed thought it hurt just to watch the things she did。 With no decent paper or sports page to read； however； he had little choice in the matter； and semi…vegetated in front of the TV while his son giggled through the end of the wake…up…and…sweat program。 It was done live； the Chief of Station saw。 So； whoever this broad was； she had to wake up at four in the morning； and so this was probably her morning workout as well。 Well； then； at least it was honest。 Her husband must have been a Red Army paratrooper； and she could probably beat the shit out of him； Ed Foley thought； waiting for the morning news。
That started at 6：30。 The trick was to watch it and then try to figure out what was really happening in the world…just like at home； the CIA officer thought； with an early…morning grumble。 Well； he'd have the Early Bird at the embassy for that； sent by secure fax from Washington for the senior embassy staffers。 For an American citizen； living in Moscow was like being on a desert island。 At least they had a satellite dish at the embassy so they could download CNN and other programming。 It made them feel like real people…almost。
Breakfast was breakfast。 Little Eddie liked Frosted Flakes…the milk was from Finland； because his mother didn't trust the local grocery store； and the foreigners…only store was convenient to the pound。 Ed and Mary Pat didn't talk much over breakfast； in deference to the bugs that littered their walls。 They never talked at home about important matters； except via hand code…and never in front of their son； because little kids were incapable of keeping secrets of any kind。 In any case； their KGB surveillance people were probably bored with the Foleys by now； which they'd both worked hard at； inserting just enough randomness in their behavior to make them look like Americans。 But a considered amount。 Not too much。 They'd planned it out carefully and thoroughly at Langley； with the help of a tame KGB Second Chief Directorate defector。
Mary Pa