Then came a shot with a different sound—the dull thunk of a silencer. Novosty jerked in surprise, pain spreading through his eyes. The silencer thunked again, and again.
It was Vera Karanova. She was holding a small .22 caliber Walther PP, with a specially equipped silencer. And her aim was flawless. Novosty had three slugs arranged neatly down the side of his head before he even realized what was happening. He collapsed forward, never knowing whose hand had been on the gun.
She's probably wanted to get rid of him for years, Vance thought fleetingly. She finally got her golden opportunity, the double-crossing bitch.
He briefly considered grabbing back one of the .38's and avenging Alex then and there, but he knew it would be suicidal.
"Alex, no!" Eva's voice sobbed.
"Both of you, hands on the wall." Comrade Karanova was definitely in charge.
"Michael," Eva said, turning to comply, "what happened to our well-laid plans?"
"Looks like too little, too late." He stretched beside her.
"What did she mean just now? About our 'contribution'?"
"Probably the protocol. My guess is she wants to see it destroyed. Let's hope that'll be the end of it. The godfather's got his money. And Alex's problem is solved permanently."