The Crown of the Romanovs

Irkutsk

Irkutsk

The city of Irkutsk is located in south-eastern Siberia, about 120 km from the Mongolian border and about 50 km from the southern tip of Lake Baikal. Its population has been decreasing over the years and now stands at around 587,000 people. In the architecture, fine wooden houses from the 19th century coexist with tsarist buildings and buildings from the Soviet era. It was benefited with significant investments in the period of the former USSR including an aircraft production center. Both the Trans-Siberian Federal Highway and the Trans-Siberian Railway pass through Irkutsk on the other side of the Angara River. The city has an important international airport and another local one.

The distance to Moscow traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway is 5153 km and normally this journey takes 3 days and 4 hours of travel, although the members of the Diadem group had taken 7 days, due to the stops.…

As stated in previous chapters, during the Russian Civil War the city was the scene of furious struggles between the Red (Bolshevik) and White (anti-communist) forces, which culminated in 1920 when Aleksandr Kolchak, the commander of the largest contingent of anti-Bolshevik troops he was executed in the city and the resistance against the soviets collapsed.

When the members of the Diadem group arrived in the city, their first task was to find a low-profile hotel so as not to attract attention. Once installed, Jack called Watkins on the satellite phone and informed him of their location. In turn, the member of the New York steering committee informed him of the flight number that Lakshmi had booked on her flight from Moscow to Irkutsk.

“But she must just be arriving in Moscow and has a waiting time of four hours there, so she will be arriving in Irkutsk at 20 hours Siberia time.”

“Well, I'm going to pick her up at the airport. Do you know if she will arrive at the international airport or the local one?”

“This flight then continues to Mongolia. They go to the international airport.”

Since they always made short calls to hinder eventual detections, they were about to cut off the communication when Watkins said.

“Oh! I forgot to tell you. Aman Bodniev will be arriving in Irkutsk in three to four days. I ask you to remain at your hotel until he arrives. Now I will send the hotel address to him via Madame Swarowska.”

“Why through her?”

"Well, you know, they are both ... clairvoyants."

“But, why don´t they communicate by phone or other technical means?”

“I really don't know and I don't want to know.”

Igor Fiodorov and Dieter von Eichenberg had bought a kind of light truck with seats that had belonged to the Soviet Army in its glory moments and still retained the original painting, although logically very worn. It had a powerful engine that would take them to all the wild places that they would have to travel from that moment on. They preferred this alternative to hiring a vehicle with driver and guide as they would never be sure of his loyalty and in particular that he was not an informant for the FSB or other potential rivals.

At 19:30, Jack accompanied by Irina guided the vehicle to the Irkutsk International Airport.

When he saw her leave the central hall of the Airport from the local arrivals sector, Jack ran to catch up with her and they both melted into a long hug and kiss. Irina looked at them surprised when she saw the usually rough American in a tender scene in a crowded airport. She also sighed as she remembered the distance with Thiago and missed his caresses. The Russian lady let a short period of time pass, then came over, extending her hand. Surprisingly the newcomer left her husband and proceeded to hug her as well. Irina realized that in the case of both spouses, anxiety and nerves were playing due to the situation that the Indian woman had in front of their home in New York.

They had occupied one of the hotel rooms on the ground floor that were dedicated to business and other meetings and that was empty at the moment. Lakshmi had already narrated in detail the episode in front of his house and had left the others meditating.

"So there is no doubt that what they wanted was to kidnap you?" Taro Suzuki reiterated.

“That´s right. If they wanted to kill me, I wouldn't be with you right now. Nor was it a simple intimidation.”

“A k********g would not be aimed at asking for ransom. “Dieter von Eichenberg argued. "It can only be explained by their wish to get information from you."

“ So we also think at the FBI.”

Jack made a resigned gesture.

“This episode, plus the follow-up that you were the object of in front of Richardson´s building leaves no doubt that they are behind you.”

"Are you working on any other case with the FBI that could leave you exposed?" Asked Irina.

“Not right now.”

“Revenges, vendettas or something similar? Igor asked.

"It can never be completely ruled out," Lakshmi replied. "But it is not very likely. Also, why now?”

"If we add the episode that happened to Taro in the wagon, we can only conclude that all these events are related to the Diadem Project." Jack concluded.

"Again, that's how we think in Bluthund, the FBI, and also Admiral Donnelly," His wife replied.

“Donnelly? Is he involved in this case too?” Berglund's surprise was real.

“How do you think I got the FBI to authorize my trip to Siberia?”

At dusk everyone gathered in Irina and Igor's room. Jack had the singing voice and was connected to Watkins on the satellite phone.

“Tomorrow we will start exploring the shores of Lake Baikal, which is about 50 km from Irkutsk. There we will have to show our cards because we will have to consult with residents of the area, some of whom are probably informants for the FSB or other groups hunting for treasure. But we need them to guide us because the information we have does not indicate precise places. It is also possible that during these days we will not have a good connection to communicate. We hope to be back in three days, when Aman Bodniev arrives.”

"What are the hypothetical places where you will search?" Asked Watkins.

“The west and south banks of the lake, which in itself is a very long length. Other noted sites are the Say an Mountains, close in part to the lake, the Altai region, close to Mongolia and Keremevo, cited by a source who had been with Kolchak, about 1500 km west, between Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk. A last version that locates the treasure in the Yamal Peninsula, much further north, in the Kara Sea should be rejected in our opinion.”

“I think Bodniev will not be useful to you in the surroundings of Lake Baikal, since it is far from his habitat. Instead he may be a key player in Altai.” Watkins added.” Ah! I forgot to mention. Do you remember the mathematician from Krasnodar?”

"The alleged hacker?" Asked Eichenberg.

“Yes. He seems to have already finished designing its algorithm and is very close to having a site to point us, or rather than a site, a well-defined region. We are concluding the negotiations with him so that he reveals his result to us.”

"Will he join us at Irkutsk?" Jack inquired.

“ Yes, we will try to get him to come more or less simultaneously with Bodniev to avoid unnecessary waiting.”