directions.”
Rudolf felt a shiver of excitement.
Reaffirming what they had finally been able to learn—that the destination for the Czar and his family had been Tobolsk—Hanisch confided that agents were already hard at work attempting to infiltrate the guards there to gain information.
“But things are starting to explode,” Hanisch explained. “Kerensky and the PG are crumbling. The word is—Lenin is ready to make his next move.
“Comrade…” He paused to flash a grin that seemed to split his rugged face wide open with its ebullience. “The revolution we’ve been waiting for is right around the corner. I’m heading for Russia because I want to be a part of it.”
Fearfully, because he did not want to be involved in actual combat, Rudolf asked, “What, then, are my orders?”
“The abduction will take place as soon as you decide the time is right. Agents are waiting for word from you. Cord Brandt will be in charge after I leave.”
“When is that?”
“I’m not sure, but soon!” He pounded his chest in triumph. “No more dreams and fantasies about what might happen! I will be there to help make it happen!”
“Then Brandt will take care of the ransom for our Romanov princess,” Rudolf mused out loud.
“Right. He has his orders and knows what is to be done.”
Rudolf felt annoyed. The abduction and ransom had been his idea, and now it appeared he was being pushed aside. With barely contained bitterness, he asked, “After it’s over, what will the Zealots and Bolsheviks want from me then?”
“Your orders are to proceed to marry Marilee Mikhailonov as quickly as possible to keep her here. Let nothing stand in your way. She cannot leave Switzerland.”
Rudolf’s laugh was mocking. “That’s easier said than done, Hanisch. It may come as a shock to you and everyone else, but the young lady is not willing to marry me for the moment. I have a plan, however, and—”
“Make it work, dammit!” Hanisch growled, grabbing the front of his shirt and giving him a shake. His eyes were stormy, narrowed, as he hoarsely whispered, “You haven’t heard the rest of why I was summoned! Word has just come that Drakar Mikhailonov has escaped with a large portion of the Czar’s personal wealth. It was smuggled to him by a cousin of the Czar, a woman, said to be in love with him. She was captured but refused to tell where he was going, but we do know the money was to be used to try and buy freedom for the Imperial family.”
He released Rudolf, who instinctively stepped back out of his reach.
“Mikhailonov, we have been told by one of our informants, was seen on the Imperial train at Pskov, where the Czar signed the formal papers of abdication. He was not on that train when it left for Mogilev. He has not been seen since, but it stands to reason that sooner or later he will get in touch with his daughter. That’s why you will marry her and keep her where she will be under surveillance. When Mikhailonov contacts her, our people will be ready to grab him—and the gold.”
Suddenly a voice came from the shadows: “A very good plan…if it works.”
Hanisch drew a knife from his boot so fast Rudolf did not see the lightning-quick movement, only the glint of steel as he turned in the direction of the intruder.
Cord Brandt stepped into the light. “You should make sure you’re alone before you start telling secrets, comrade.”
Hanisch bristled but laughed nervously to cover up his error. Brandt was right. “I thought we were alone. What business have you here, anyway?” He returned the knife to its hiding place with an equally swift motion.
“I came to look the place over, make sure I know my way around when the time comes so I won’t stumble in the dark.”
To Rudolf, he said, “I’ll need a diagram of the castle.”
“I have one ready for you,” Rudolf informed him.
“Good. It’s nearly dark. I’m going inside to look around.”
When he was gone, Rudolf felt compelled to
Rudolf felt a shiver of excitement.
Reaffirming what they had finally been able to learn—that the destination for the Czar and his family had been Tobolsk—Hanisch confided that agents were already hard at work attempting to infiltrate the guards there to gain information.
“But things are starting to explode,” Hanisch explained. “Kerensky and the PG are crumbling. The word is—Lenin is ready to make his next move.
“Comrade…” He paused to flash a grin that seemed to split his rugged face wide open with its ebullience. “The revolution we’ve been waiting for is right around the corner. I’m heading for Russia because I want to be a part of it.”
Fearfully, because he did not want to be involved in actual combat, Rudolf asked, “What, then, are my orders?”
“The abduction will take place as soon as you decide the time is right. Agents are waiting for word from you. Cord Brandt will be in charge after I leave.”
“When is that?”
“I’m not sure, but soon!” He pounded his chest in triumph. “No more dreams and fantasies about what might happen! I will be there to help make it happen!”
“Then Brandt will take care of the ransom for our Romanov princess,” Rudolf mused out loud.
“Right. He has his orders and knows what is to be done.”
Rudolf felt annoyed. The abduction and ransom had been his idea, and now it appeared he was being pushed aside. With barely contained bitterness, he asked, “After it’s over, what will the Zealots and Bolsheviks want from me then?”
“Your orders are to proceed to marry Marilee Mikhailonov as quickly as possible to keep her here. Let nothing stand in your way. She cannot leave Switzerland.”
Rudolf’s laugh was mocking. “That’s easier said than done, Hanisch. It may come as a shock to you and everyone else, but the young lady is not willing to marry me for the moment. I have a plan, however, and—”
“Make it work, dammit!” Hanisch growled, grabbing the front of his shirt and giving him a shake. His eyes were stormy, narrowed, as he hoarsely whispered, “You haven’t heard the rest of why I was summoned! Word has just come that Drakar Mikhailonov has escaped with a large portion of the Czar’s personal wealth. It was smuggled to him by a cousin of the Czar, a woman, said to be in love with him. She was captured but refused to tell where he was going, but we do know the money was to be used to try and buy freedom for the Imperial family.”
He released Rudolf, who instinctively stepped back out of his reach.
“Mikhailonov, we have been told by one of our informants, was seen on the Imperial train at Pskov, where the Czar signed the formal papers of abdication. He was not on that train when it left for Mogilev. He has not been seen since, but it stands to reason that sooner or later he will get in touch with his daughter. That’s why you will marry her and keep her where she will be under surveillance. When Mikhailonov contacts her, our people will be ready to grab him—and the gold.”
Suddenly a voice came from the shadows: “A very good plan…if it works.”
Hanisch drew a knife from his boot so fast Rudolf did not see the lightning-quick movement, only the glint of steel as he turned in the direction of the intruder.
Cord Brandt stepped into the light. “You should make sure you’re alone before you start telling secrets, comrade.”
Hanisch bristled but laughed nervously to cover up his error. Brandt was right. “I thought we were alone. What business have you here, anyway?” He returned the knife to its hiding place with an equally swift motion.
“I came to look the place over, make sure I know my way around when the time comes so I won’t stumble in the dark.”
To Rudolf, he said, “I’ll need a diagram of the castle.”
“I have one ready for you,” Rudolf informed him.
“Good. It’s nearly dark. I’m going inside to look around.”
When he was gone, Rudolf felt compelled to
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