Page 173 of Cry Havoc

He was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, the Walther sub gun hanging at his side. This was Tom’s show now.

The SEAL kicked the security man in his right leg, resulting in a grunt. He kicked him again, and the man’s dark eyes fluttered open.

“What’s this?” Tom asked, pulling a small pocket pistol that looked like a derringer out of the man’s satchel.

“Fuck you.” The Russian’s accent was heavy.

“I’ve never seen a pistol like this before. Is this what you used to kill Ella DuBois?”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“It’s quiet. We didn’t hear the shots even though we were just down the hall,” Tom said, slipping the pistol into his back pocket.

The Russian grunted again.

“And this,” Tom said, pulling a larger pistol out of the bag. “This one I know. A Stechkin select-fire pistol. I’m going to hold on to it.”

“Be my guest.”

Tom returned the pistol to the satchel.

“You’re dying.”

“I know. Why don’t you just kill me now and get it over with?”

“Oh, I will, but your part in this is not over.”

Dvornikov started to stir.

Tom walked to the other pole, leaned down, and slapped the GRU man across the face.

“Kirill Dvornikov,” Tom said.

The startled Russian took in his situation. His eyes darted about the cabin, the confusion turning to fear. He remained silent.

“I have a few questions, but I am not going to ask you anything yet. I want you to see something, something that will make your choice very easy. You can either remain silent or end up like your friend.”

Tom walked back to the security man, the blood pooling up under his legs. He reached into his pocket and removed the Croix de Lorraine rosary. He knelt down, dangling the double-barred cross in front of the dying Russian’s face.

“I know you,” Tom said, his voice slow and measured, the kerosene lamp illuminating one side of his face. “I watched you gut my friend in Laos. When I got back to him, his head had been chopped off and stuffed in his stomach.”

The Russian managed a smile.

“That was you on the hill that day.” He shook his head. “Funny how things come full circle.”

“What do you mean?” Tom asked, standing and returning the rosary to his pocket.

“I know you too. Thomas Reece. Navy SEAL.”

He detected the confused look on Tom’s face.

“You thought you were in control here. No. We know all about you. You want to know why Ella and her father are dead. It’s not because of me. I am just an instrument. It’s because of you.”

“Keep talking.”

“This will stay in your head forever. I’ll die today but you will live with it. Had you not connected with them, they would still be alive. You killed them both.”

Tom’s eyes searched the Russian’s.