Page 16 of Dead Fall

“How do we know these are Wagner mercs and not Russian soldiers?”

Nicholas pointed to several of the reports Harvath had flipped past and replied, “As you know, Wagner mercenaries wear a patch on their uniform, usually along their right shoulder, that identifies them as being part of the organization. It depicts a skull, inside a set of crosshairs, with the words ‘Wagner Group’ written in English above and Russian below. In each of our cases, someone recounted seeing the patch.”

“But Wagner makes up, what, at least ten percent of Russian forces fighting in Ukraine? You’re going to need a lot more than that patch to ID the people responsible.”

“What if I told you that we’ve also identified a unit patch?” Nicholas asked.

“I’d say you’ve successfully narrowed down your search to a needle in a field of needle stacks.”

The little man was accustomed to his friend’s occasional sarcasm.Humor, tinged with cynicism, was a sine qua non of maintaining sanity in their business.

“The unit,” he continued, “goes by the name the ‘Ravens’ and uses the bird as their symbol. Its members were initially comprised of prisoners from Russia’s notorious penal colony Number Six, built along the border with Kazakhstan, which dates back to the 1700s.

“Every criminal at Number Six is considered the worst of the worst. From murderers and terrorists to cannibals and child molesters, all are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.

“Upon arrival, before they even enter the prison, they’re blindfolded so that they can’t make any mental maps that might help facilitate a breakout.

“They’re kept in isolation, each behind three steel doors, and only allowed out for ninety minutes a day to exercise inside a large, iron cage.

“A ‘Raven’ was the nickname given to anyone cunning enough to have ever risked escape and to have successfully broken free.”

“You said the unit wasinitiallycomprised of prisoners from penal colony Number Six,” Harvath stated. “What about now?”

“Our intelligence is somewhat limited. From what we’ve been able to pick up, only a few of the original Ravens are still around. Like the rest of the Wagner Group, they have reached deep into other prisons, and even mental asylums.”

“What a fucking nightmare.”

Nicholas gestured toward the folders. “The nightmare would be in letting them continue.”

Harvath didn’t disagree. He held up one of the orphanage photos. “Why show me this? You already had my attention with six dead American aid workers and two dead American journalists.”

“Because there was also an American at the orphanage,” he replied, activating his phone and showing him a picture. “Anna Royko. A twenty-five-year-old attorney from Chicago. She had given up her job to go help in Ukraine.”

“I don’t recognize her,” Harvath said, flipping back through the grisly photos, surprised that he had missed her. “Was she one of the victims?”

“We’re not sure. Her body hasn’t been found. We think they may have taken her.”

If that was true, Harvath didn’t even want to begin thinking about the horrors she was probably suffering. Shaking his head, he exhaled and said, “You and I both know that if she was taken, it wasn’t as a hostage to be ransomed back. These guys aren’t going to pop up in a few days looking to negotiate.”

“No, they’re not,” Nicholas responded. “That’s why I’m here.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

“We want you to confirm what happened to her. If she’s alive, you get her out.”

“And if she’s dead?”

“You kill every single person associated with that unit.”

Harvath paused and studied his friend as he ran down a list. “Active war zone. Wagner mercenaries. Zero actionable intelligence. How am I doing so far?”

“So far, so good,” the little man replied.

“I’m glad we both appreciate the job. That said, as far as manpower is concerned, I’m going to need my entire team to turn around and fly back, plus a contingent of local guys, weapons, ammo, vehicles—”

Nicholas held up his hand and cut him off. “Nope. Just you.”

“Very funny. I also want at least a dozen Javelins for Haney and Staelin, as many claymores as you can get your hands on for Preisler and Johnson, full demo packages with C-4, det cord, timers, and breaching charges for Palmer and Ashby—”