The Cold Edge (3 page)

Jake couldn't hold back a flash of incertitude. “Why do you need me?” he asked.

Colonel Reed cleared his throat. “Our governments can't get involved with this.”

“Why not?”

“That's one thing I can't tell you, Jake. All I need you to do is go up there and find whatever remains of your old friend, Captain Steve Olson. Anna has agreed to go with you. She thought. . .”

“That I needed something to do.”

A slight smile tried to escape from Anna's mouth, but she was doing a fine job holding back.

“Well, she said it's been a while.”

“Can I think about it?”

Colonel Reed pulled his wallet from his back pocket, retrieved a plastic card, and handed it to Jake.

He looked at the Visa symbol and then read his name on the card. “A platinum debit card with my name on it. Pretty sure of yourself. How much is on it?”

“Just under ten grand. Pin number is the last four of your Social. Kept it simple. You'll need to buy some gear. You have e-tickets waiting for you at Oslo Gardermoen international airport. Flight to Longyearbyen, Svalbard leaves tomorrow at thirteen ten. I've already given Anna a programmed GPS, maps, a satellite phone, and instructions on who you'll meet up there.”

“You've thought of everything,” Jake said. “What if I just want to hang out here in Oslo and party?”

“Your sense of duty,” the colonel said. “And Steve was a good friend. Plus, you could never turn down a good adventure.”

He had Jake right on that one. Duty was more than something you stepped on in a cow pasture. Adventure was a reason to live. And, other than for Anna, Jake had not found many reasons in the last few months.

“Fine,” Jake said. “But I hope to hell you plan on providing some polar bear prevention.”

“You'll get some guns when you reach Spitsbergen,” Colonel Reed assured him. With that he went to the door and turned back to Jake, who had followed him from the bed.

The two of them shook hands and turned that into a hug.

“You two take care up there,” Reed said. Then he whispered, “That's a beautiful lady you have. Don't let her get away.”

Jake smiled and nodded and let him out the door. Then he turned to Anna, who was looking at the floor.

“Shopping?” Jake asked her.

She shrugged. “The GPS and SAT phone. It's like shopping.”

Something wasn't settling properly in his stomach, and he guessed it had nothing to do with the schnapps. Regardless, he rushed to the bathroom and puked his guts out.

●

Colonel Reed got downstairs, strolled through the lavish hotel lobby, and out onto the street. Gazing left and right, he eventually went to the left and then down a narrow side street. Darkness from an overcast sky had nearly enveloped Oslo, but the city lights of the downtown shone brightly as he got behind the wheel of his rental BMW. He glanced up to the fourth floor and tried to guess which room held his old friend, Jake Adams, and that pretty little Interpol agent. He hated this. Hated to lie to Jake like this. But what choice did he have? Some things were bigger than mere individuals.

He checked the rearview mirrors and thought about starting the engine.

Suddenly the passenger door swung open and a man slid onto the leather seat, closing the door behind him.

“How'd it go?” the man asked with an indeterminate accent. A voice that resonated with each syllable. His gruff intonation was probably the result of the skinny cigars he always smoked. He had one now hanging out the right side of his mouth, smoke rising up and making him close his right eye.

“Jake looked like shit,” Colonel Reed said. “I don't know if he's up to the task. Looks like he's trying to drink himself to death.”

“What's his problem? I've seen his girlfriend. They don't get any warmer than that.” He moved the cigar to the front of his mouth and puffed the end red.

“You mean hot,” Reed corrected. “Don't get any hotter than that.”

“You know what I mean,” the man said, exhaling smoke in a straight stream at the windshield. “Try to say that in Russian. Has Jake Adams ever failed to complete a mission?”

He had good points. The colonel smiled thinking about sending Jake to Kurdistan back in the 80s, and how he had come back with first-hand evidence that Saddam Hussein had used nerve agents on his own Kurdish population. No. Jake had never failed him. But he had also never led Jake this far astray. And that bothered him.

“Keep an eye on him,” the colonel said. “We'll feed him more information as needed.”

The Russian nodded and got out, disappearing in the darkness like a ghost in a cloud of cigar smoke and car exhaust.

How the hell had it come to this? He thought he had left the game long ago. Now he was pulled right back in. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb, blending in with light traffic.

Jake and Anna checked out of the hotel early the next morning and then went shopping for warmer clothes. After his stomach settled the night before, Jake had checked out the weather forecast for Spitsbergen on the internet. Even though it was summer there now, there was perpetual permafrost and glaciers and they would have to be ready for any weather. Layers would be the best way to go. Jake had also researched the Svalbard Archipelago on the net. Interesting place.

Then the two of them headed to the Oslo airport and waited for their flight. Colonel Reed had not only arranged for tickets, he made them first class. When they got onto the plane, the flight attendant asked if they'd like Champagne. Jake considered it but declined. His right hand shook and he grasped his leg to calm himself. He needed to clean up. Not just for him, but for Anna. She didn't deserve a drunk. Had put up with him like a saint the past few months as he had descended deeper into a funk that even he didn't understand. He hadn't been sober long enough to decipher why he was drinking so hard in the first place.

The flight took three hours, and most of that over the North Pacific. When they finally set down in Longyearbyen, the Svalbard capital of some 1,800 Norwegians, clouds shrouded the little town in near darkness. It was amazing the pilot had even been able to land in that soup.

They took a cab to one of the only real hotels in the town and plopped down onto a feather bed. Jake closed his eyes and his body felt like he was spinning. He needed a damn drink. Couldn't come down this hard.

Anna ran her hand across his forehead. “You're sweating like a pig, Jake.”

“I need a drink.”

Her hand moved to his chest and she grasped him by the shirt, catching a handful of hair. “No. You need to tell me why you're drinking so much. Don't you love me?”

Opening his eyes, he said, “Of course I love you, Anna. It has nothing to do with you.”

“But it does, Jake. It affects me. What happens to you happens to me.”

He rolled to his side and gazed at her. She was so beautiful. Colonel Reed was right, though. He couldn't let this woman get away. They had had a good two years. Not perfect, with both of them gone on business so often, but pretty damn good when they were together. And even while they were separated by distance, they maintained contact by cell phone and e-mail. It wasn't perfect. But what relationship was perfect? Maybe they needed to get away more often. . .together. This would be good for them. He only wondered if she knew how much pain he was in at this moment. God he needed a drink.

“Are you okay, Jake?”

He hesitated. “I will be. A part of my mind is telling me I need a drink, and the other part is telling me I can't have one. My body is agreeing I can't. Two against one.”

“Why don't you take a shower and we'll go get something to eat.”

“Reindeer steaks?”

She laughed. “Or salmon.”

His stomach became unsettled with the thought of fish. He thought he might lose his lunch, which had consisted of a large pretzel at the airport before the flight. He rolled off the bed and went to the shower.

Once the shower started, Anna pulled the satellite phone from her backpack, turned it on, and punched in the long number from memory.

“Yeah, we're in place in Spitsbergen,” she said in French. She listened carefully as the shower droned on in the bathroom. “I understand. We go to the site tomorrow.” She listened again, hoping Jake would take a long shower. “All right. When I know, you'll know.” She clicked off the phone and quickly plugged it into the wall to make sure the charge was full.

Then she pulled out her cell phone, found a full signal, which amazed her, and hit in another number.

“I know it's short notice,” she said in German, “but I need to extend my vacation beyond the weekend.” Listening, she heard the shower stop. Hurry. “It's personal. And I haven't taken vacation in almost a year.” Pause. “Thank you.” She flipped her phone shut just as Jake came out of the bathroom, naked, wiping his long hair with the towel.

“That feels much better,” Jake said. “You should give it a try.”

She moved close to him and placed her hand onto his penis, which almost immediately responded to her touch. “I plan on it. But first. . .”

Once they had tested out the bed, Anna went in for a shower. Jake picked up the SAT phone and checked the last number dialed. Interesting. Then he did the same with Anna's cell phone. Not as interesting.

Knowing Anna would be a while with the shower, the blow drying and the make-up, he took out his own phone and made a call across the pond to an old friend in Washington.

“Sidewinder Three Eight Four,” Jake said. A pause of silence on the other end. He had only used this call sign a few times in the past few years. Only when he really needed information he could not get anywhere else. And why not? Since he had left the old CIA, the Agency had called on him many times for help. Now it was his turn to get help from them.

“Lindberg one three three.”

Jake smiled as the shower continued. He still had time. “Your favorite ex-officer. I take it this is a secure line on your end.”

“Of course, Jake. What about your end?”

“Where do you have me located?”

Hesitation. “What the hell you doing in Brazil?”

“I'm far from it,” Jake said, smiling. “Tell me everything you know about any Op in Norway.”

His contact hesitated too long before saying, “You know I can't talk to you about anything ongoing.”

“I understand.” More than he was letting on. “Tell me if Colonel Reed is involved.”

“Jake, you know the rules. What have you gotten yourself involved in this time?”

How the hell should he play this? He could need their help down the road. Better to come clean. Jake explained what the colonel had hired him to do, and then waited.

Heavy sigh on the other end, just as the shower stopped. “You're on Spitsbergen Island right now.” It was a statement. “Colonel Reed was correct. Captain Olson, we believe, either died up there or was taken by the KGB or GRU. Either way, he's long dead. It happened around the time of the Reagan Gorbachav Summit in Iceland.”

Jake remembered that now. He thought his old friend had died on a flight to Iceland, where he was supposed to provide intel support.

“What really happened?” Jake asked. He heard the hair dryer turn on.

“Jake,” Anna yelled. “I hope you plan on taking me out to the best restaurant in town.”

Jake turned the phone away from him and yelled back, “Of course.”

“What was that?” Jake's contact asked.

“I have a lady friend.”

“The Interpol?”

Shaking his head, Jake guessed the Agency had done a complete background check on Anna. “Yeah.”

“I've seen photos. Very pretty.”

“Thanks. Now can you tell me what kind of shit I'm stepping into?”

“I'll need to do some research and get back with you.”

He guessed as much. “I leave for some glacier in the morning.” He checked his watch. “I'll call you in twelve hours.” He flipped his phone shut just as the hair dryer turned off.

Anna opened the door to the bathroom and looked at Jake in the mirror as she put on mascara, dressed only in a thong and a bra. “Who were you talking to, Jake?”

Jake shook his head. She had to have the best ears in the business. “Asking for a little help.” He came up behind her and placed his hand on her bare cheek. “I hope you have something to keep these cute buns warm.”

She wiggled away from him. “Hey you just got that. And you saw me buy the silk long underwear.”

He leaned against the door frame. “Well, I think I was still a little wasted.”

She set down the mascara. She rarely used much make up and needed to use none at all. She was a natural beauty. “What did the Agency tell you?”

“Not much. I have to get back with them in the morning. Ready to eat?”

“Famished.”

They headed out. Their hotel, the Radisson, was situated on the edge of Longyearbyen, which wasn't saying much. The town was a cluster of colorful wooden structures in yellow, red and green. Walking the streets for a few blocks and finding only a pizza joint and a couple of cafes, they decided to return to the restaurant attached to their hotel.

They had barely sat for a short moment, when Jake had a strong urge for a drink. He needed a drink. No.

Anna ordered them both a strong cup of coffee, which came in a few minutes. Then they both ordered the salmon.

“You could have ordered a glass of wine,” Jake told her.

“That's not fair. We need to have clear thoughts. Besides, I think I might be getting a beer gut.”

He laughed. “You have the nicest tummy I've ever seen.” And if she wasn't so hot it would have pissed him off. She could eat damn near anything and not put on a pound. “Did you make a pact with the devil to keep that beautiful figure?”

“Ha, ha.”

Jake casually glanced at a picture on the wall, as if admiring the photo of mountains and glaciers, but in reality was looking at the reflection. He pointed at the photo. “Isn't that a beautiful place,” Jake said to Anna.