HAW WAS WAITING in the British Airways lounge at Frankfurt Airport. He, along with the other passengers, was watching the news on several TVs sprinkled around the room. On one screen indignant senators from the United States were on the floor of that august chamber taking turns lobbing potshots at the Russians and their downward spiral into an autocratic state that rivaled the ruthless machine Papa Joe Stalin had cobbled together.

On another screen the BBC was showing the British Parliament giving the same treatment to the former Soviet Union. On yet another screen the German chancellor was putting her two cents in. While she was asking for calm and urging others not to rush to judgment, the chancellor still made it quite clear that the Russians should be deeply ashamed of themselves. This was the same tack the French president was taking, although he was erring more on the side of caution than his fellow leaders.

Shaw was not focused on the great international political question of the day. He’d made up his mind. He was flying to London and would tell Anna the truth about what he did for a living. If she still wanted to marry him, which he doubted she would, then he would figure out some way to do it. He was actually surprised that he hadn’t heard from her after his meeting with her parents. He’d called and left her a message telling her he was coming to London. She hadn’t called him back, which was also unusual. He was thinking about this when the men approached him. They didn’t have to flash their creds; he recognized them.

Frank’s goons.

A few minutes later, deep in the bowels of the airport Shaw entered a small room where Frank sat at one end of a table and a man Shaw didn’t recognize at the other. There were four other men here, all fit and, Shaw assumed, amply armed.

“I did Heidelberg.”

Frank nodded. “I know. Nice easy job, just like Scotland. How was the side trip to Wisbach by the way? Work out okay for you?”

This didn’t surprise Shaw. He knew that Frank tracked his every movement. “As a matter of fact it did.”

Frank glanced at the men standing against the wall and nodded. They each crept forward a bit, putting a wall of flesh and guns between Frank and Shaw.

“The Fischers are nice people, aren’t they?” Frank said. “My guy really enjoyed his chat with them. And I really enjoyed getting to know Anna when I visited her in London. Though I was really surprised at how clueless she was about you. But now, just so you know, she’s all filled in.”

About a minute of absolute silence followed as Shaw stared at Frank and Frank smiled at Shaw.

Shaw instantly sized up the situation. They would kill him long before he could reach Frank. But if the last six years had taught him anything, it was patience.

He turned to the short, thick-necked, curly-headed man about Shaw’s age seated at the table. “Who’s this, Frank? Your boss or another flunky?”

If Frank was disappointed that Shaw had not tried to attack him he didn’t show it. Hs just continued to smile and motioned with his hand at the other man.

The man said, “I’m actually neither. The name’s Edward Royce, MI5.” He handed Shaw his card.

“And what’s so important that you had to pull me away from a comfortable chair and a bottle of Guinness, Mr. MI5?”

Royce glanced at Frank, his eyebrows slightly upraised. “Sorry to inconvenience you.”

“No you’re not and hurry up. I have a plane to catch.” Shaw stared directly at Frank as he said this.

That comment got another eyebrow hike from Royce. “Well, frankly, if it were up to me, Mr. Shaw, I wouldn’t even be here. MI5 is working with Interpol in investigating this Red Menace phenomenon. I think we’re perfectly capable of handling the situation, but it’s not my call. And my superiors have asked Mr. Wells’s people for assistance. And he, in turn, recommended that I meet with you.”

“What do you want me to do about it?” Shaw said bluntly.

“I’ve been told that you have very good contacts in Moscow, speak fluent Russian, and can handle yourself in dangerous situations. That makes you pretty unique.”

“The time I spent in Russia was against my will. So you might want to find another unique person to carry your bags.”

“Don’t you want to find out who’s behind the Red Menace?”

“Why?” Shaw asked pointedly. “Is what they’re saying about Russia not true?”

“Who the bloody hell knows?” Royce exclaimed. “Well, some of it undoubtedly is. But the truth is quite beside the point. In fact, it’s really the last thing we need. As you probably know, MI5 protects the UK against terrorists, spies, extremists, and the like. Well, the Red Menace business has opened quite the Pandora’s box. The world is in a delicate state right now. Many countries are powder kegs ready to blow.”

“Really? I must’ve missed the warning signs,” Shaw said.

This response drew a snort of laughter from Frank.

Royce hurried on. “Anyway, this campaign is driving the Russians in a direction neither we nor the rest of the EU want them to go. A brooding, hunted Russian Bear is dangerous to everyone, Mr. Shaw. We have to defuse the situation. To do that we have to find out who’s really behind this whole campaign.”

“Why not team up with the Americans? They can pull the bear’s claws if it comes to that.”

“The Americans are, as usual, going their own way on this matter. But Wells here has agreed to allow you to work with us. He said you even knew Sergei Petrov, who was just murdered.”

Shaw shot a glance at Frank, who stared back at him imperturbably.

“That was very generous of Frank to offer my services. But I respectfully decline.”

Royce said angrily, “Fine. No bloody skin off my nose.”

Frank stood. “Look, Shaw, you get this done, then maybe we talk about those other things.”

“Is that right?” It was all Shaw could do not to leap over the table and rip out the man’s throat.

Frank hitched up his pants. “That’s right. I’m giving it to you straight, Shaw. I always do.”

“I’ll have to get back with you.”

“What? Why?” Frank exclaimed.

“I’ve got something more important to do right now.”

Royce said, “More important than the whole bloody world going to hell?”

“Yep.”

“What could that possibly be?” Royce demanded.

“I need to go see a lady,” Shaw answered, staring at Frank before walking out of the room.

Royce glanced at Frank. “Not exactly what I was hoping for, Wells,” he barked.

Frank was solemn-looking, staring after Shaw. “Surprised me too, but for a different reason.”

“Why? What the hell were you expecting?”

“For him to try and kill me.”

“Good God. And the man works for you! You’re both bloody insane.”

“The man doesn’t really work for anybody, Royce.”

“But I thought you said...”

“Yeah, well, Shaw’s a special case.”

“Do you have anyone else that can do what he can?”

“Not even close.”