Chapter 396

I had asked the cooks for a cookout tonight because the weather was supposed to be nice. I called to check on the food and to make sure that Linda had set all the cameras on the place to record. All those that had been damaged were replaced with newer and better.

The cooks said everything would be ready in 15 minutes or less. Time enough for a beer.

I called Andy to tell him I was bringing guests to the cookout, to put the beer in a cooler and take it outside to the tables. I was not sure if the guests would eat.

“Who are the guests?” Andy asked.

“Anton Pavlenko and his guards make sure everyone stays close lipped about operations and keep all conversations to a social nature,” I said.

“You like playing with fire, is all I can say,” Andy replied.

Anton’s car followed us in the front gate. I could smell and see smoke from the grill when I stepped out of the SUV.

“I get home in time to have a cold beer before supper. I am glad you could join me; we have Budweiser and Coors Lite. Which do you prefer Anton?” I asked.

“I have had Coors before, I will take that one.”

Anton had four bodyguards with him, including the driver. After I handed Anton his beer I handed a Coors to each of them, not allowing Anton to refuse for them.

“Anton, how long have you worked for the Russian government?”

“Twenty eight years.”

“Have all of them been in foreign service?” I asked.

“No, four years in the military academy and then foreign service,” he replied.

“How long have you been working for the government?” he asked. Sort of a tit for tat game, I thought.

“Ten years and six weeks when I finish this stint. Ten in the Marines and the six weeks are here, with a few years in between building a business,” I replied.

“Ah yes, aviation, auto rental and the security that brings you here,” he said.

“You forgot the gym, has my girlish figure gone away that quick?” I asked.

“You still have that and work hard to keep it, I bet. You only have a couple more weeks here according to the press release; where do you go from here?” he asked.

“Back to Maryland; lots of people to train,” I replied.

“Where is the next hot spot that Anton is going?”

“Back to Mother Russia then to Iran and on to Syria,” Anton replied.

“How many were in the house?”

“Twelve that I talked to, but there were more in the back,” he replied.

“Do you do the old buckaroo thing and carve notches on the grip?” he asked.

“Tough to do with synthetic grips and all those notches leave ugly looking marks in your palm after shooting,” I replied.

The bottle of beer was half gone when the cook yelled food was ready.

“Anton my friend, care to join us for supper? Supper is low key cookout foods tonight; a taste of home, hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, homemade baked beans, potato salad, cucumbers and onions,” I asked.

He hesitated then, “Sure, why not?”

“I see you have repaired the wall.”

“Yes, I want the place back to the way it was when I leave. I don’t want anyone else to have to clean up any mess I made.”

“The other wall will be finished soon, then just a few more things to tidy up,” I replied.

“Are you going to do the security for the Havana embassy when it is reopened?” he asked.

“It is not on any list that I have so far,” I replied.

“That will be good duty for your people if you get it,” Anton said.

“LOL, that right there is one reason we won’t get it,” I replied.

“Have you ever been to Russia?” Anton asked.

“No, there are a lot of countries that I have not been to yet. A year from now that number will be greatly reduced because of contract obligations,” I replied. “Then I will travel looking for more prospects. If I get to Russia will you give me a private tour of the Kremlin?”

“Be a privilege to do that, just let me know a few days in advance,” he replied.

We talked about a lot of general things and lightly getting involved international political arena. Finally, after two more beers and two plates of food, Anton decided it was time to go.

“Hopefully I will see you at the German Embassy Ambassador’s evening Gala on Friday; I would like to try a couple of those dances you do,” Anton said.

“We can do that; it will be fun,” I replied as I walked to the car to see him off.

Back at the table Andy asked, “Did you learn anything?”