Page 40 of Spymaster

He shook his head. “It had been abandoned. They hid it inside the barn, hoping to delay its discovery. Keep going.”

Ryan did, and in the next series of photos saw a stack of empty U.S. Army crates that had been left behind.

“I had my people go over everything—the van and the crates,” said Kopec. “They wiped everything down. They couldn’t find any clues.”

“How did they find the barn in the first place?”

“I had put a flag on the stolen vehicle. When a local reported finding it, my team was alerted and they stepped in.”

Ryan lowered her voice. “Have you told anyone what was in those crates?”

“No, but we had to pay the local police to forget they had ever been called to the barn.”

“Money well spent,” she replied

“Indeed,” said the Pole, nodding as he poured himself another shot.

“So what do you think happened?” Ryan asked.

“I think they had another vehicle waiting. I think they transferred the upgrade kits and took off.”

“For where?”

Kopec shook his head and raised his hands, palms up. “Who knows? It could be anywhere.”

“Come on, Artur. You must have some idea.”

“All I have are guesses.”

“So guess,” she encouraged.

“Belarus.”

Ryan looked at him. “You think they left Poland?”

“The spot where the van was discovered is near a known smuggling area. It’s not as bad as parts of your border with Mexico, but we have some of the same problems—drugs, sex trafficking, those kinds of things.”

“Damn it,” she replied. “If those upgrade kits were taken into Belarus, they might as well have been taken into Russia.”

“I agree. It’s not good. But it’s also not hopeless.”

“What do you mean?”

“There may be something we can do,” said Kopec.

“In Belarus?”

The Pole nodded. “It won’t be cheap, though.”

“I’m listening.”

“I’m going to need ten times the money.”

Ryan didn’t bat an eye. “I’m still listening.”

“And I’m going to need a piece of insurance.”

“Whatkindof insurance?”

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