Lakshmi Dhawan
1079 Words
With the speed of reactions that was characteristic to her, the Indian woman took out the car keys and sat down, activated the ignition, leaving at full speed towards the corner. Before turning, she looked in the rearview mirror and saw the two attackers rolling on the ground.
Keneisha Sullivan was waiting nervously in her office. She had given orders that when Lakshmi arrived the personnel would clear her way regardless of the subordinate's appearance. When she appeared in the corridor Keneisha ran to meet the woman and taking her by the arm she led her in her office to the surprise of the other agents. After closing the door, the boss made Lakshmi sit down immediately as she sensed her agitation. She spoke to her secretary over the intercom.
“Sheena, please call Admiral Donnelly immediately. I hope he is in New York City and not on an aircraft carrier or destroyer.”
Lakshmi listened silently, trying to keep up with her heartbeat. The fact that her boss called the Admiral was in itself a sign of the seriousness of the situation.
B.C.Donnelly was on the papers an adviser to the State Department, but in fact he headed a lateral branch that was in charge of coordinating actions with the different agencies of the intelligence community in situations in which neither the threats nor the purposes were well defined and they required decisions that deviated from protocols. Both Keneisha and Lakshmi had previously worked with him.*
(* Cf "The Eagle's Nest" by this author)
"The Admiral is in New York and is already on his way," Reported Sheena over the intercom.
"So you don't think the purpose of these men was to kill you?" Asked the Admiral.
“ No, they undoubtedly had the chance to do it when I left the house. I have no doubt that they wanted to kidnap me.”
"What are the police saying?" Donnelly asked Keneisha.
“They arrived in less than five minutes. They did not find the wounded men but they did find bloodstains and caps. A passerby who was in the area said he saw a black car leaving at full speed. They are now processing the evidence.”
"Didn't this passer-by see the license plate number of the car?"
“No, if did gave a description of make and model, but I don't think it will be of much use. It is surely a rental car and the rent was paid in cash.” Keneisha replied.” We are still following that lead.”
Donnelly addressed Lakshmi again.
“Is it necessary to take precautions for the safety of your relatives?”
“No thanks, following Keneisha´s advice fortunately I had already taken some precautions before this event occurred. My daughter is in the West with her father and my parents at home.”
“We have to find some place safe for you.”
"A shelter?" Asked the African American.
“Yes, until this situation passes.”
Lakshmi decided to formulate a request that she had been maturing since the incident outside her home.
“Admiral, I have a formal request to make. It's something ... beyond the FBI.”
“I am listening.”
“I would like to move with my husband and the group that he leads and is currently working in Siberia.”
“Siberia! This one I did not expect. Keneisha, what are we talking about?”
“The aforementioned said in turn.
“Lakshmi, I think you better explain it to the Admiral.”
When the Indian finished Donnelly scratched his chin thoughtfully.
“I don't know what to think ... you just got out of danger in our own New York City where we have all the resources to protect you and yet you want to go to the middle of the steppe where you will be left to your own resources.”
“I think I should be with my husband in this situation.”…
"Well, let me see what I can fix." Dubiously the admiral rose from his chair. “Keneisha, I'll be in contact with you.”
The next day Lakshmi returned to the office of her boss called by her.
“Donnelly was able to arrange your departure. You will travel directly to Moscow and from there to Irkutsk. Pack your bags.”
When the woman left, she called Jerome Watkins and told him what had been decided.
“Please communicate this decision to Jack, since you are in permanent contact with them.”
“I will do it.
“ Ah! Another thing. Who will fill my position on the steering committee of the Diadem Project in New York?
“Madame Swarowska. A replacement of excellence.”
Jack Berglund received an encrypted text message, sent by Jerome Watkins.
“There was an attempt to kidnap your wife. She was able to escape and is fine. She sent Anila with her father in Montana. Lakshmi decided to join you and we could not dissuade her of doing so. She is traveling to Moscow by Aeroflot right now. From there she will fly to Irkutsk. Since you will arrive in that city before she please let me know which hotel you are staying in so I will pass the message on to Lakshmi. Another issue: Madame Swarowska contacted Aman Bodniev. You remember him? This is the time when he must start acting. ”
Jack answered immediately.
“I will give you the name of the hotel as soon as we arrive, but I will go meet Lakshmi at the Irkutsk airport. Let me know what flight she is arriving on. ”
When Berglund read the messages to the other members of the Diadem Project, they could see his uneasiness. Dieter said.
“Calm down, Jack. Lakshmi will tell us what happened to her but the important thing is that she is fine and she comes to meet you and us.”
Irina and Igor looked at each other when they heard Watkins' message, finally the woman asked.
“Who is Aman Bodniev?”
The answer was left to Taro Suzuki.
“ He is another member of Bluthund who has already collaborated with us. A man of many resources.”*
(* Cf. “La Estrella de Agartha” by this author)
"What is Mister Bodniev's specialty?" Igor asked.
“He's a Siberian shaman.”
And so fate was leading its creatures towards the city of Irkutsk.
- Writer
