Page 26 of Dead Fall

The leader of the team, a man named Kozar, introduced himself and then had his teammates step forward and shake hands.

All in their thirties, the men were wearing dark jeans, leather jackets, and hiking boots. It looked as if it had been several days since any of them had shaved. Despite the stubble, the men were clean and professional.

“May I?” Kozar asked, pointing at Argos and Draco as the train began moving again. “I haven’t seen my dogs since the war started.”

“What kind of dogs?” Nicholas asked, having Kozar stand still as he brought Draco over first and then Argos to familiarize themselves with him.

“Anatolian shepherds.”

“Those are beautiful animals. Independent, yet very loyal. Large as well.”

Kozar scratched Nicholas’s dogs under their chins and replied, “Mine are not nearly as large as yours. Ovcharkas, correct?”

“You know your breeds.”

“We’re fielding a special K9 unit that will employ them.”

“Out of Ukrainian Intelligence?” the little man asked. “For what purpose?”

“The Soviets used Ovcharkas for years and they still have a fearsome reputation across the Russian military. Bottom line, they scare the shit out of the Russians. We believe they will be useful in certain interrogation settings.”

Nicholas liked the way the Ukrainians thought. “I agree. My dogs have been fantastic. I cannot say enough good things about the breed. My friend Scot has one as well.”

“Had,” Harvath corrected him.

“Oh, that’s right,” the little man stated. “I forgot. I gave you one as a puppy and you gave it away.”

Kozar looked at Harvath. “How could you give a dog like that away?”

“He knows damn well why,” Harvath responded, pointing at his friend. “He also knows that the dog is living a much better life up in the wilds of Maine than at my house with me gone all the time.”

“The dog also has a much better owner now, too,” Nicholas conceded. “Calmer. Much gentler and considerably more relaxed.”

Harvath rubbed his nose with his middle finger.

“She’s also much more attractive, which is important, as many pets end up looking like their owners.”

“Where are yours?” Harvath asked Kozar, ignoring the additional jibe.

“My wife and children went to stay with her parents, who live outside of Ukraine. They took the dogs with them.”

“It must be tough to be without them,” said Nicholas.

“My teenagers,” Kozar responded wryly, “or my dogs?”

“No, your in-laws.”

The intelligence operative laughed. “Very funny,” he said. Turning to his men he added, “I like this guy.”

“Trust me,” Harvath offered. “It’ll fade.”

This time it was Nicholas who subtly gave his friend the finger.

“Okay,” said Kozar, doling out a final pat to the dogs and directing everyone to the conference table. “Let’s get down to business.”

One of the men placed a small LED lamp on the table and activated its red-light feature. Another man produced a stack of folders from a briefcase he was carrying. Removing a document from the stack, he flipped to the signature page and slid it across the table to Harvath.

Kozar handed him a pen and said, “This is your contract. It states that you are joining Ukraine’s International Legion of your own free will, that in volunteering, you understand the inherent risks, that you are combat-qualified, and that you will abide by all the terms and conditionshereto—including all relevant international laws governing warfare, including both the Geneva and Hague Conventions.