310 DALE BROWN

gas and arranged for refueling support. But I am pledging to you that your Captain James had no support from us in planning and executing this operation. We concede only that we were cooperative, mistakenly in my government's view, once he left your country. "

" You're lying," Elliott said. Heads turned in his direction, but no one, including the President, made a move this time to silence Elliott.

Vilizherchev turned to face Elliott. "I beg your pardon, sir?"

" Look, we identified the two men killed on my airfield in Nevada. One was an experienced KGB operative. The other was a young, inexperienced infantryman. We've also identified the mortar rounds used during the escape. All were Soviet in origin.

James was a KGB agent, and he killed twelve people while stealing a top-secret aircraft from a U. military installation. In my book they call that an act of war. Of course, I'm a general, not a statesman." I .

It was all supposed to be a bluff. KGB Chief Kalinin had assured Vilizherchev that the identities of the two operatives were untraceable. By some standards, perhaps, but the Americans had sophisticated ways of identifying even a badly muti-lated body. And Elliott now was describing the two operatives almost perfectly. Vilizherchev decided he had been caught in a neatly arranged trap. To use the American vernacular-he'd been set up.

But, again according to Kalinin, a trace of the mortars used in the attack should have revealed that they were Belgian in origin, not Soviet. They had never been consigned to anyone remotely connected with Russia until they were turned over to the two operatives by a dealer in the Dominican Republic days before the operation was to begin . . . Unless there'd been a terrific foul-up, Elliott was just talking to provoke him into reacting, showing his hand . . .

"I would like to see your report on those men and those weapons," Vilizherchev said.

"And we would like to see Kenneth James," Elliott said.

"It can be arranged very soon. I have been in contact with-"

"And I want the modification process discontinued on the aircraft," Elliott added.

"Modification?"

Elliott hit one button on the remote control he held in his DAY OF THE CHEETAH 311

hand. The digital videotape cued itself to the preprogrammed point and the screen flared to life, showing the last clear image of DreamStar taken from Cheetah. The picture clearly showed access panels open, the fuel tanks in position under DreamStar's wings, and jacks supporting DreamStar in position. Vilizherchev studied the image.

"Thank you, sir, for verifying that it was an American aircraft that violated our restricted airspace," Vilizherchev said.

"Thank you for verifying that you have the aircraft and that you are in fact destroying something that is not your property,"

Elliott shot back.

The film was a surprise as well-Kalinin had not mentioned anything about a reconnaissance film of such detail. "The aircraft was heavily armed when it arrived at our airbase. Since it is obviously an unusual aircraft with systems and devices unknown to us, a thorough examination was necessary to verify that the aircraft posed no threat to our people. Otherwise, immediate disposal would have been called for."

"I'll be happy to supply you with personnel to ensure that the aircraft is safe," Elliott said quickly.

"That will not be necessary. Our technicians are well qualified to- II

"The bottom line is that the aircraft is not your property, it belongs to the U. We want it back immediately."

"I'm afraid that's impossible, General," Vilizherchev said, surprised that the President or one of his advisers wasn't stepping in. He turned away from Elliott and back to the President.

"I trust you understand, sir, that a complete investigation must be conducted. The aircraft is material evidence in that investigation. We simply can't release it until the investigation has been completed."

Silence. Elliott was being left to carry the ball, for the moment. "That sounds like a dodge to me, Mr. Ambassador,"

Elliott said.

Vilizherchev's cool was wearing thin. "We have procedures that must be followed in serious matters such as this, just as you do. Let me assure this distinguished gathering that at the end of our investigation all property belonging to the United States will be returned- "

"Including James?" Deborah O'Day said.