Page 51 of What Remains

“So,theyknew another way in?” Driver was quiet a moment then nodded. “Okay, I’ll give you that. Either they found Roni alive and then she died, or they killed her, or they found her body. Same diff, really. Dead would be easier for them. Bag the body and split.”

Driver’s detachment, his tone ofjust the facts, stung. On the other hand, didheget emotional when talking about a patient who didn’t make it? Did his lack of a display of emotion make a patient’s death any less of a blow? He couldn’t do his job if he wasn’t master of himself.

“We’re agreed that what I just said might be true?” When Driver nodded, he said, “Therefore, if they’ve cut a deal to return Roni’s remains, that has to mean whoever’s had her is getting something in return.”

Driver studied him for a long moment. “Where are you going with this, Worthy?”

“I think I just got there.”

“What you’re really asking is whynow? Is that it?”

“Precisely. Driver, it’s been two years and change since Roni was MIA. Why release her remainsnow? What’s differentnow, in the Wakhan, than two years ago?”

Silence. Then: “The road.”

“Exactly. The road is done, except the Taliban can’t use it because China won’t open the border. Which doesn’t make a lotof sense if Ustinov is right, and Chinese engineers have been exploring ways to ramp up mining.”

“But Ustinov is a Russian spook.”

“Whom Patterson and with whomeverhe’scollaborating on this mission trusted enough to act as a go-between.”

“The Ruskieshelpingus? You’re assuming that’s the case because Ustinov’s a spook and Mac was a spook, that somehow equals them working on the same side.”

Again, that tickle at the back of his brain, a sense he was missing something. He said, “Maybe Ustinov’s a double agent. Or a triple?”

“You’ve been watching too many spy movies.”

That pissed him off. “Listen, you were a Raider. You worked for JSOC once upon a time. You worked with Mac. Tell me there haven’t been some questionable calls that have no basis in morality but every basis in practicality. Wouldn’t be the first time Russia aligned itself with us. Wouldn’t be the first time we got in bed with some pretty ruthless people.”

“Believe it or not, Worthy, I read books. So, yeah, I know Stalin and Roosevelt made like besties even while the Soviets slaughtered Poles and Ukrainians. But that was during a really big war. That’s not happening right now.”

“There are all kinds of wars, Driver. Not every war involves a gun.”

“Fine, Professor, so explain how you can seriously believe the Russians are helping us or that our interests align? Ustinov is the one who set you up with Parviz.”

“I think Parviz was acting on his own. I don’t think Ustinov was involved.”

“You got proof of that?”

“No, except someone above our pay grades must trust him because he was our contact in Dushanbe. Driver, it’s not hard to imagine there aren’t factions in Russia right now who aren’treally happy with the guy in charge.” He paused then added, “Even if that’snottrue, Russia might want to buddy up if there’s a common enemy.”

“Which, in your calculus, would be China.”

He nodded. “Especially since Afghanistan kicked both the Russians and us out.”

“Leaving only China as a major player in the region.”

“Precisely.”

“Then why doesn’t China open the border?” Driver asked.

“Dunno. There might be too much instability in Afghanistan for China to risk allowing in the Taliban. The Wakhan borders Xinjiang Province.”

“So?”

“Do you know who lives there?”

“No, Worthy, but it’s clear you do. Why don’t you just tell me?”

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