The Imperative U-turn

The first chapter of my 29th book, a thriller "The Imperative U-turn".

The Imperative U-turn

Chapter 1

While enjoying hardly a few days with his beloved mate. Fiodor Yefimovitch Ilayev was summoned by an unexpected phone call to an urgent meeting with his department’s head.

‘Who is it Fedya?’ Ludmila his beloved mate asked him, with a clear note of disquietude.

‘It’s from headquarters, they wish to consult me I guess… I’ll be back in a couple of hours, so please don’t worry my love.’ He gave her a quick kiss and went out, to the limousine that came to pick him up.

The driver who was waiting for him near the rear door, opened it up without a single word; and shut it carefully, right after Ilayev was already sitting on the cofortable rear seat.

As the reached the SVR headquarters at Yasonovo district of Moscow, the driver stopped the limousine before the headquarters entrance, and hastened to leave his seat to open the rear door for his sole passenger.

They parted without a word and Ilayev went inside the huge building, he took one of the free elvators, and went up to his superiour’s office.

Three men awaited to his arrival sitting behind the mahogany desk, Milanov the deartment head, Serov his deputy and Dologin the department operational office.

Right after Ilayev was ushered in by his boss’s secretary, he went forward the few seps to reach the huge desk, and stopped standing before his superiors.

‘Sorry to cut off your short leave

Dima.’ His superior turnd to him using Ilayev’s nickname. ‘Sit down!’ His boss ordered him rather briskly. You’ll fly to Washington the day after tomorrow, and Vladia will brief you with the very few details that you’ve to know, the rest you’ll learn over there.’ Milanov said and turned his face towards the operational officer.

‘You’ll take the IAD four pm flight the day after tomorrow, as a regular customer and after landing you’ll take a cab to our embassy. You’re supposed to be our press attache’s aid. He will see to direct you to your accomodation, and he’ll be your operator. As your mission is top secret, its details you’ll learn directly from him.’ With these few sentences the department operationl officer summed up the little, which Ilayev had to know at this stage.

‘You may leave now Dima, and good luck.’ His department’s head summed up the urgent meeting.

‘It took less than one miserable hour, and I’m so glad you’re back dearest Fedia.’ With these cheerful words Ludmila welcomed him.

‘I’m flying the day after tomorrow abroad again dearest Lusya.’ Ilayev hastened to alert her.

‘But why you’ve just returned a three week away from me...’

Ilayev hugged her, kissed her and whispered in her ear: ‘I’ll be very soon back my love, and that will be my last mission, I’ll retire right after I’ll return to you dearest Lusya.’ He promised while kissing the tears that ran down her cheeks.