Page 84 of Spymaster

Harvath appreciated the man’s attention to detail, but he hadn’t intended to bring the Rattler. No need to tip Dominik Gashi that anything was out of the ordinary.

Haney did a final team radio check, and then flashed a thumbs-up. They were all ready to go.

Harvath looked at the Chief Inspector and said, “Just two cops, responding to a suspicious activity call. A casual knock and talk.”

CHAPTER 49

In their patrol uniforms, they both got into the patrol vehicle and headed down the narrow beach road toward the house.

A light fog had begun to gather. Nyström was on edge. Harvath could see it by how tightly he gripped the steering wheel.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” said Harvath.

“Have you done this a lot?”

“Use the police as a ruse in order to capture a bad guy?”

The Chief Inspector nodded.

“I have, actually.”

“Where?”

Harvath thought for a moment. “The last time was in Germany. Similar to this. We had an actual Bundespolizei officer, in uniform, as another member of my team posed as a plainclothes detective from the Kriminalpolizei.”

“I assume it worked, or we wouldn’t be doing this, right?”

“It worked perfectly. The target was also a Russian. They treat the police in their own country with disdain, but when operating abroad, especially illegally, they’re highly deferential to law enforcement.

“That’s why I like this approach. It’s safer. They don’t want any trouble, so they go along with what a uniformed officer asks. By the time they realize what’s happening, it’s too late. You have them.”

“And what happened to that Russian?” asked Nyström.

“To be honest,” replied Harvath, “I don’t know. It was only my job to pick him up.”

“Who hired you for the job?”

Harvath smiled. “I can’t remember.”

“I see,” said the Chief Inspector, relaxing a little bit. “I imagine memory loss happens a lot in your business.”

“I wouldn’t know. I keep forgetting.”

Nyström grinned. He was fairly certain that the American was much more than just a NATO liaison.

As they neared the house, the Chief Inspector said, “Don’t talk. Just follow my lead.”

Harvath nodded. “Don’t worry. My Swedish isn’t that good. That’s why I have you along. I plan to let you do all the talking.”

“Good. We’ll start off with an inspection of the perimeter. You still have your flashlight? The one that’s brighter than mine?”

He pulled it from his pocket and gave a quick flash against the palm of his hand.

“Okay, then,” said Nyström, pulling up near the house. “Here we are.”

Reaching behind, he withdrew a handheld spotlight, plugged it into the cigarette lighter, and handed it to Harvath. “Roll down your window and sweep the light slowly across the house and around the perimeter.”

Harvath did as the Chief Inspector had asked. When it was complete, he turned off the light, rolled up his window, and handed it back. “What now?”