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His shirt was ripped open and the big man was
sprawling across his legs so he couldn't move.
Then the knife came down and he felt the pain as the
sharp blade began to shave the skin from his body.
Kadinskov tried to scream, but no sound came.
THE ANDROPOV FILE
"Enough, Yevgeny, for the moment."
151
It was the woman's voice, and now her face was
directly above his. She was smiling, a leering smile.
"Go back in time, Joseph Kadinskov. There is a great
deal we want to know."
Jt was the last village on his route. There were two
small restaurants. While Nina checked them, Carter
scoured around until he found the only phone.
He thought he had it now, not all of it, but enough.
On the drive up the mountains between checking
delivery stops, Nina told Carter every detail of what her
brother had told her over the years.
Some of it Carter remembered himself, but there were
a few details Kadinskov had not mentioned that night in
Finland.
' 'Yes, she was definitely Spanish and the body was
going to Madrid and there was a medallion around
her neck a school or church. It had an engraving on
it ... we eventually translated it. It was from Our Lady
of Sorrows, in Cordona."
It took three tries and a lot of screaming before he
could get through to Mandetti in Rome.
"You found them?"
"I found the woman." Carter replied. "We're look-
ing for her brother now. Listen carefully. I want you to
go through Washington to Madrid the very highest
authority.
g 'I understand.
"There was a woman, young, twenty-two, maybe
twenty-three. She was Spanish, and worked for a
Spanish company or maybe the government in Moscow.
She died in an auto accident, possibly suicide, on or
about February eighth, nineteen eighty-four. Her body
would have been returned to Spain shortly after that.
Her home village was Cordona."



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, mneteen dy
about February et
would have been returned to Spain shortly after that.
Her home village was Cordona."
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NICK CARTER
"Okay, got it all. What do you need?"
"A name, Salvatore, I need a name. I'll contact you
as soon as I can get back to Palermo and the chopper."
He hung up and headed back for the car.
Carter knew that his first duty, now that he had the
key, was to get to Spain. But he couldn't stop now and
leave Nina alone, not until they found her brother.
She was waiting by the car.
' 'He was here about two and a half hours ago." She
shrugged. "This was his last stop, so he is probably
headed back to the house."
"All right. Hop in, let's go!"
Yevgeny emerged from the house using a towel to
wipe the blood from his hands.
"He is dead."
"Anything further?" Anya Chevola asked, flipping
away her cigarette.
"Nothing."
"No matter. We have enough. Get in!"
"The English couple?"
"Leave them. They know nothing that can harm us."
Yevgeny got in the car. Tilkoffstarted the engine, and
roared out of the courtyard and down the twisting road.
They were halfway out Of the mountains when Nina
suddenly cried out, "Wait!"
Carter slammed on the brakes and pulled the car as
far off the narrow road as he could. "What is it?"
' 'This is Wednesday, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Go back to that big Y in the road. On Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday, Joseph makes a special deliv
ery to a young English couple who lease the Dozi villa."
Carter had to maneuver back and forth several times
to get the car turned. Then it was a full five minutes
THE ANDROPOV FILE
153




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THE ANDROPOV FILE
153
back to the fork. He turned off onto the high road, and
about a mile later Nina pointed.
"There, through those big gates."
Carter turned and rolled down the drive into a large,
cobbled courtyard.
' 'Is that Joseph's truck?"
"Yes," she replied with a sigh.
The Killmaster slipped from the car. Just as Nina was
emerging from the passenger side, he heard a soundi a
pounding from above. He looked up to see a man with a
gag in his mouth banging his head against a win-
dowpane.
Instantly. Carter filled his hand with the Luger and
pushed Nina back into the car. "Stay here and stay
He slammed the door and took off at a run across the
courtyard. The front door was ajar. He hit it and rolled.
coming up in a shooting crouch at the foot of a sweep-
ing stairway.
There wasn't a sound on the first floor. The only
sound in the house was the steady pounding coming
from above.
Cautiously, he went up the stairs to the second-floor
hallway. There were three doors on his right, two on the
left, all closed.
He guessed the last door on his right near the front of
the house, and glided forward, keeping his back to the
wall.
The door was locked, and he wasn't going to take the
time to use one of his master keys.
Carter stepped back and aimed a solid kick. It took
three before the lock gave and the door flew open.
Immediately. he assessed the situation. The wife was
bound and gagged, lying on a bed. She was out cold and
the side of her face was turning a nasty blue.
The husband was similarly hog-tied by the wrists and
154
NICK CARTER
ankles, and also gagged. From the look of his face h
had taken a bit of a beating before they'd finally sub-
dued him.
Right now his eyes were wild with fear and focused o




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nd thCdoornew
ree
ore
Immediately. he assessed the situation. The wife was
bound and gagged, lying on a bed. She was out cold and
the side of her face was turning a nasty blue.
The husband was similarly hog-tied by the wrists and
154
NICK CARTER
ankles, and also gagged. From the look of his face h
had taken a bit of a beating before they'd finally sub-
dued him.
Right now his eyes were wild with fear and focused o
Carter's gun.
"It's okay," the Kiltmaster said in English, slippin
the Luger into its shoulder rig, "l'm a friendly."
He tensed his right forearm and the stiletto slid int
his hand. In seconds he had cut away the man's gag an
the cord binding his arms and legs.
"Oh, my God, it was frightful just frightful!"
If nothing else, the educated British accent tol
Carter who he was. Before Carter could speak, the man
bolted for his wife.
"Sabrina ."
Carter quickly cut her bonds and gag as her husban
checked her pulse and face.
"Thank God. she's all right."
"What happened ... quick," Carter growled.
"Three of them, a woman and two men. They cam
early this morning wanting to use the phone. They sai
they were lost ."
"That truck outside
"Oh, yes, Vito—he's the fish man. I heard him ar
rive, and then there were terrible screams. It sounded
if they were torturing the poor chap— "
Carter cut him off. "Where, what room?"
"The sitting room in the rear, I believe .. ."
He said more, but Carter didn't hear it. He w
already bolting for the stairs.
One look and he knew it was all over for Josep
Kadinskov. And the poor devil hadn't gone easy.
Behind him in the hall Carter heard the click of heel
He leaped for the windows and ripped one of a pair o
drapes from its rod. He scarcely had the body covere
by the time Nina appeared in the door.
"Nick, what is it? What happened?"




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"Nick, what is it? What happened?"
THE ANDROPOV FILE
155
He moved toward her, shielding the gruesome lump
on the floor from her eyes with his body. But at the last
second she slipped aside.
' 'I'm afraid so, Nina. It's Joseph."
Her mouth opened to scream but no sound emerged.
Suddenly she lurched forward. Carter caught her just
before she reached the body.
Then she did scream, and struggled to break free.
"No, he's not.. w"
"He is, Nina. They killed him."
Then the shock hit and the scream turned into
hysterical laughter.
Carter had seen it happen before, shock becoming
futility.
She stood there and laughed. At first her stomach
moved, rolled, then she gasped. Her laughter rang in the
room, coarse. loud, and she staggered from it.
It was wild, hysterical laughter, and it cut into
Carter's guts.
"Nina
She looked up at him and her eyes filled with tears.
Her mouth gaped like a raw wound and her body shud-
dered.
"Oh, God, God, God," she whispered, unable to
speak aloud.
"Nina, please e"
"Let me go!"
He did, and she lurched to a large, leather-covered
easy chair and sank into it. She sobbed convulsively
then. her shoulders shaking, eyes streaming.
Carter heard a sound and turned. It was the husband.
He stood in the doorway, his eyes on the draped mound
on the floor.
i 'Signore Stillati 2"
' 'Yes," Carter said.
"l'm a doctor. Is there anything I can do?"
156
NICK CARTER
"Not for him," Carter said tersely. "This is his sister,
Sophia. Can you give her something?"


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then. her shoulders shaking, eyes streaming.
Carter heard a sound and turned. It was the husband.
He stood in the doorway, his eyes on the draped mound
on the floor.
i 'Signore Stillati 2"
' 'Yes," Carter said.
"l'm a doctor. Is there anything I can do?"
156
NICK CARTER
"Not for him," Carter said tersely. "This is his sister,
Sophia. Can you give her something?"
' 'Of course."
He disappeared and was back in no time with a
hypodermic. Nina was still sobbing but she was docile.
your wife all right?"
"Shaken up, bruised," the man replied, sliding the
needle into Nina's arm. "but she'll be all right. What in
God's name is this all about? Some sort of vendetta?"
"You could say that," Carter answered. "Do you
have a phone?"
"Across the hall, on the wall in the kitchen."
Carter found it and dialed the hot-line numbe
Mandetti had given him for Palermo CID.
It was picked up on the first ring. He identifie
himself and quickly relayed the information, giving th
location of the villa. He also identified the killers an
gave the approximate time they had for a head start.
He was fairly sure they had had a plane or a fast boa
ready to ferry them to a safe place in North Africa, bu
it was worth a try.
When he was assured that there would be a team a
the villa in no time, he hung up.
Back in the other room, the wife had arrived. She sa
with Nina, cradling the woman in her arms. Her hus
band was just sliding the drape back over Joseph'
body.
Carter crouched beside him.
"Christ, they butchered him!"
"l know," Carter nodded, flipping his credential
case open. "The authorities will be here very soon. I'v
got to move, fast. Will you and your wife take care o
her until they arrive?"
' 'Of course."
Carter stood and moved to the two women.
"Why?" the wife asked, her arms still around Nin
rocking her.




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rter stoo an moved to the two women.
"Why?" the wife asked, her arms still around Nin
rocking her.
THE ANDROPOV FILE
157
"You really don't want to know." He took Nina's
face in his hand and tilted it up. Her eyes were already
becoming glassy from the injection. "Nina? Nina, it's
me, Nick.' t
She stared in silence.
' 'Nina, can you hear me? Do you understand?"
Slowly the eyes began to focus slightly. "Yes," she
whispered.
"I'm going after them, Nina. You'll be all right."
He didn't know whether she understood or not.
She just stared.
Carter could feel her eyes boring into him as he
walked out of the room.
Now the Andropov file took second place to the
woman and two men.











FIFTEEN
Carter got directions at San Pedro del Arroyo and left
the main highway. In no time the road along the Rio
Adaja became little more than a dirt track.
The land was harsh, mostly barren, and became more
so the higher he climbed. A huge, nearly white full
moon bathed the hills in an eerie glow.
He had moved fast, flying into Madrid and jumping
right into the waiting car. Hopefully he had moved
faster than they had, because he could move openly.
And then he saw the sign. It was four kilometers to
Cordona, about two and a half miles. His headlights
told him it was straight up.
The road was merely a dusty cart path now, with a
wall of rock to his right and a sheer drop-off to his left.
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Far below, he heard the waters of Rio Adaja rushing
down the mountain.
Suddenly he reached the of the road and started
down. Another few hundred yards and he slowed. H
could see the lights of the village and, as he drew nearer,
the buildings.
There was the usual plaza. with shops and
bar-cum-café or two. Low houses fanned out from
plaza up the opposite side of the mountain.
A gas station and garage was just ahead. It was
first building before entering the village
Carter pulled in.
' 'Gasolina, porfavor. "
The attendant moved around the car to the pum
and Carter followed. He leaned against the fender whil
the man pumped the gas, and stared off at the village.
White. pink, and blue houses were jammed togeth
on each side of narrow. centuries-old dirt streets. Eac
of them led into the small plaza. The plaza itself
dominated on one side by the cathedral.
'WPorfavor. sehor...
"The cathedral on the plaza. Would that be Our Lad
of Sorrows?"
"No, sehor. Our Lady of Sorrows is the convent, u
there."
Carter followed the man's pointing finger. High ato
the mountain he could see the imposing, rectangu
shape of a large building. A tall cross on its roof st
out starkly against the sky.
S 'How can I get up there?"
The man chuckled. replacing the gas cap. "Wal
senor, up many steps from the plaza. "
Carter gave him a large bill and he moved toward th
THE ANDROPOV FILE
161
station to make change. The Killmaster followed and
leaned over the grease-smeared counter.



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g.A tan cross on
out starkly against the sky.
S 'How can I get up there?"
The man chuckled. replacing the gas cap. "Wal
senor, up many steps from the plaza. "
Carter gave him a large bill and he moved toward th
THE ANDROPOV FILE
161
station to make change. The Killmaster followed and
leaned over the grease-smeared counter.
When the man counted out his change, Carter
reached forward and pushed it back to him.
"Tell me, has anyone else, a stranger, asked about the
convent tonight?"
"No."
Carter added yet another bill from the roll in his
pocket.
"Have you seen or sold gas to any other strangers
tonight?"
"Our village is small, out of the way, seåor. We get
few tourists here.
' 'A blond woman, tall, very beautiful. and two men,
one big, bigger than myself, the other short, pear-
shaped."
"No, senor, no one like that. I would remember. "
have something for a family in your village,
something of value."
/ 'A name, sehor?"
"The family Galadin."
' 'Ah, si, si, "he said, nodding. ' 'Senora Galadin lives
in the small white house just before the gate of Our
Lady of Sorrows. It is on your right as you climb."
"Muchas gracias. "Carter headed for the door.
"Senor ."
He turned. The man was grinning broadly.
"If your friends do come this way, should I tell them
where to find you?"
Carter returned to the counter, and this time peeled
"l would rather you didn't. I want to
off several bills.
surprise them Ennende?"
"Si. I understand, senor."
Carter drove on into the village. He found a tiny
street just off the plaza where several cars were parked,




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Carter drove on into the vülage. He found a tiny
street just off the plaza where several cars were parked,
162
NICK CARTER
two wheels pulled up onto the narrow sidewalk, their
fenders nudging the buildings.
He checked the magazine in Wilhelmina, put two
spare clips in his pocket, and slipped a powerful
flashlight into his belt.
With the car locked, he angled back into the plaza
and walked around it until he spotted the stone steps
leading upward.
It was a long climb. Halfway up, he paused and lit a
cigarette. From where he was, he could see all of the vil-
lage, the gas station, and the road he had gone over. He
could also see the same road exit the other end of the vil-
lage.
He climbed again until he reached the end of the
houses. The small white one at the end to his right was
dark.
Carter decided to take a chance. He opened the
whitewashed gate and moved up the stone walk. He rap-
lightly on the door, and then again when there was
no answer.
"What do you want, senor?"
Carter whirled.
He was big, about Carter's size, with narrow hips and
beefy shoulders. A blue workshirt was rolled up tight
over thick biceps, one of which twitched as his fingers
drummed the hilt of a knife at his belt.
' 'I would like to talk to Senor and Senora Galadin."
The big man stepped forward a little, and Carter
could see his face. It was a rugged, handsome, square-
jawed face, with a sensitive mouth under a thick mus-
tache. Carter guessed him to be somewhere in his mid-
twenties. The eyes were fierce, but full of intelligence.
"There is no Senor Galadin. The old man died about
a year ago."
"Then I would like to speak with Senora Galadin."
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"The senora is at her evening prayers. What do you
want?"
The man's black eyes hadn't left Carter's for an in-
stant. He could almost feel the mistrust, or worse,
radiating from them.
"It is a private matter," Carter said, and started to
move around the man.
Suddenly a hand gripped his arm. It was like a vise,
and Carter had no doubt that if he tried to break away
he might get a knife in his ribs.
"Senora Galadin is an old woman, very sad. Why
would you, a stranger, come to our village to see her?
"I want no trouble."
' 'I take care of the old woman. You can tell me."
"I have to give her something," Carter said, gently
sliding his left hand up to his lapel.
Before the other man could move or draw his knife,
the snout of the Luger was under his chin.
"l told you, friend, I want no trouble," Carter
growled. "But I can handle it if it comes. Try and pull
that knife and I'll take off one of your ears."
Slowly the hand dropped from Carter's arm and the
other one moved away from the knife.
The black eyes gleamed. "I think you should leave
our village, senor. Otherwise, you might not see the
dawn."
' 'I want to speak with Senora Galadin about her
daughter. Now, tell me where she is."
' 'Angelina?"
"Yes."
"What of Angelina?" The voice was strangely low,
husky.
"You don't hear very well, friend. "
"Senora Galadin is in the chapel of the convent. She
spends hours there each evening."
164
NICK CARTER
"Gracias. " Carter backed off. "Believe me, mean
her no harm."
The Killmaster left him standing there, and walked on
up the hill to the gates. They were old, rusted, and they
yawn



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husky.
"You don't hear very well, friend. "
"Senora Galadin is in the chapel of the convent. She
spends hours there each evening."
164
NICK CARTER
"Gracias. " Carter backed off. "Believe me, mean
her no harm."
The Killmaster left him standing there, and walked on
up the hill to the gates. They were old, rusted, and they
yawned open.
He made his way through the gardens, livid with color
in the moonlight. to a pair of massive oak doors with
discolored bronze hinges.
Gently, Carter opened one of the doors and slipped
inside. His rubber-soled shoes made barely a sound as
he stepped across the stone floor and stood in the
shadow of a pillar.
She was a hunched figure in the first pew. Dressed all
in black in the dim church, she could scarcely be seen.
Carter could barely hear her whispering voice as she
prayed.
He stood watching her for several minutes. Then,
when she stood and approached the altar, he moved
back to the door. When he saw her light a candle and
kneel one last time, he slipped out the door.
She emerged a moment later. and Carter fell in step
beside her as she walked toward the gates.
' 'Senora Galadin ?
Silence, not even a glance.
' 'Senora Galadin, J am an American. I would like to
talk to you about your daughter, Angelina."
The woman stopped. Slowly she turned her sad,
wrinkled face and glazed eyes up to him.
"My daughter is dead. "
"Yes, I know. senora. That is what I want to talk to
you about. "
"My son Jesus is dead. My daughter Angelina is
dead, and my husband Roderigo is dead. "
She lowered her head and moved off. Carter caught
up to her.
"Sehora, if r could talk to you, I might be able to ease
your grief."




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"Go away."
"But, senora ."
"Go away."
Carter stopped. It was useless and he knew it. The
woman was a shell. Nothing he could say would make
her listen.
He lit a cigarette and looked out over the village and
the roads leading into it.
When would they come? It would probably be in
daylight. They wouldn't want to attract any attention
while they located the grave.
Did they know that he, Carter, knew everything they
did?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Either way, they would take the chance. The reward
was too great.
He crushed the cigarette underfoot and struck off
through the gardens around the huge old convent.
The cemetery was in the rear on a lower level. It was
surrounded by a low stone wall and, even in the
moonlight, he could see that it was well cared for.
He took out the flashlight and adjusted the shaded
lens down to a pinpoint.
It was a small village, consequently a small cemetery,
with each family plot clearly defined. Nevertheless, it
took nearly an hour to find the Galadin plot.
There was one large, black marble stone. Across the
top of it, in large beveled letters, Carter read:
GALADIN.
Underneath to the left and evenly spaced were two
names and the dates: Roderigo, Father: 1922-1985.
And just to the right: Jesus. Beloved Son: 195(M972.
Carter measured the remaining space on the right
with his fingers. There was space for two more names,
but the marble was blank.
"Did you find what you were looking for, senor?"
Carter whirled with the light, coming up out of his
166
NICK CARTER
crouch. He was moving his right hand toward the
Luger, when the shaft of light fell across the shotgun.




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names and the dates: Roderigo, a er: 92iLi98 .
And just to the right: Jesus. Beloved Son: 195(M972.
Carter measured the remaining space on the right
with his fingers. There was space for two more names,
but the marble was blank.
"Did you find what you were looking for, senor?"
Carter whirled with the light, coming up out of his
166
NICK CARTER
crouch. He was moving his right hand toward the
Luger, when the shaft of light fell across the shotgun.
It was the same tall young man. Only now he wasn't
alone. There were three others. They all had guns, and
they were all as stony-faced and dark-eyed as the first
one.
Carter moved his hands to the side. The three sur-
rounded him instantly. They took the Luger, his wallet,
and his credential case. Eventually, patting him down,
they found the stiletto.
"I'm looking for the grave of Angelina Galadin. She
is not buried here with her father and brother."
"You are an American?"
"Yes," Carter replied, watching the tall man scru-
tinize his credentials with the flashlight.
"Why do you come here looking for the grave o
Angelina Galadin?"
Carter looked at the four suspicious faces, and
returned to their leader.
"Who is asking?"
"My name is Luis Estabel. Angelina was to hav
been my bride. "
The air was heavy with the scent of cigars, musky
Spanish cigarettes, and beer. Somewhere in the rear a
youth strummed a guitar. The café owner, a plumpish
woman with laughing eyes, held court behind the bar.
The three friends, minus their guns now, sat on stool
at the bar. Now and then they glanced at the table in the
corner where Luis Estabel and Carter sat in shadow.
"So, you, too, feel that Angelina's death could n
have been a suicide?"
"I'm sure of it," Carter replied. "I think the Ru
sians involved had her killed because they needed
body, a foreigner's body, that could be shipped out o
the country. "
Estabel winced and lowered his face into his hands



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o y, a oreigner's body, that could be shipped out o
the country. "
Estabel winced and lowered his face into his hands.
THE ANDROPOV FILE
167
Carter remained silent, sipping his beer and Waiting.
When the face came back up, the eyes were alive with
fury. And the face had changed color. Now an angry
thread of crimson had crept under the olive skin.
"And they defiled her body?"
' 'Yes, but that is no matter now, Luis. The impor-
tant thing is that they want to do it again. They want to
come here and do it again."
The young man's brow furrowed, his expression one
of pain, anger, and disbelief. "They would dig her up to
regain this file they want so badly?"
Carter nodded. "Yes, they would." Here the Kill.
master leaned forward and placed his hand on the
younger man's shoulder. "If we let them."
' 'What can we do?"
' 'No, Luis, it's what I can do. But I could use the
help of you and a few of your friends. "
"Anything you want, it is yours. Tell me."
Carter lit a cigarette and slowly told the other man ex-
actly what help he would need. When he finished,
Estabel stood and walked to his friends. He exchanged
only a few words, and all three of them scattered.
Estabel returned to Carter at the table.
' 'The roads into the village will be watched every
minute from now on. "
"Good."
A stout woman, all in black with a bright bloom on
her cheeks and alive, piercing eyes under a head of shin-
ing white hair, entered the café. She paused for only a
moment and came to their table.
"This is my aunt," Estabel explained, rising until the
woman was seated. "Her name is Inez. She will help
us."
Carter leaned toward her. "Seåora," he said, "I want
you, tonight, to move Senora Galadin into your home.
Will you do that?"
"l will do whatever my nephew asks of me. "
168
NICK CARTER
"Excellent. I want youto move into Senora Galadin's




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NICK CARTER
"Excellent. I want youto move into Senora Galadin's
house. Some time tomorrow, some people will come
asking for the location of your daughter's grave e"
Carter told her, in detail, how to act and what to say
When he was finished, she rose and left without a word.
Carter turned to Estabel. "Now, Luis, tell me. Whe
is Angelina buried?"
"In a small plot on mountain land I own above my
house. It is not far from the village. I will take yo
there. 'j
They walked out of the village and up into the hills
Estabel's house had two stories and was painted star
white.
He spoke as they passed it. "J built it for Angelina
and myself to live in. 1 live there myself now, with m
sister. "
It was another mile into the hills, and then they cam
to a grassy slope. The plot was small but well tended an
alive with flowers. The marker was large, black granite.
The moment they arrived, Estabel fell to one kn
and crossed himself. Over his shoulder, Carter read:
ANGELINA
BELOVED OF LUis
There were no dates.
It was all clear to Carter now. The death certificat
from Moscow had listed the cause of death as suicide
Angelina Galadin could not be buried in the consecrat
ground of the convent cemetery. Clever bastards
thought Carter angrily. The Russians had counted on a
out-of-the-way burial spot, away from the town.
Finally, Estabel stood and turned to Carter. ' 'Well
senor, have you seen enough?"
Carter looked around the rocky hillside, back at th
path they had climbed, and nodded.
THE ANDROPOV FILE
"it's perfect."
169
$ 'Senor, you have set out this elaborate plan. I have
gotten the others to help. i have agreed to never tell
another person in the world what you have told me.



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oestooa and turned to Cart
senor, have you seen enough?"
Carter looked around the rocky hillside, back at th
path they had climbed, and nodded.
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"it's perfect."
169
$ 'Senor, you have set out this elaborate plan. I have
gotten the others to help. i have agreed to never tell
another person in the world what you have told me.
Now, tell me the end of this elaborate scheme of
yours."
would think, Luis, that you would have figured
that out by now. I'm going to kill them. All three of
them."










SIXTEEN
It was nearly eight o'clock. Already the sun was high
and the small room, high in the convent, was hot.
It was a tiny room, not much larger than a walk-in
closet. A narrow bed took up most of the space. Until
an hour before, one of the nuns had been sleeping in the
She had left quietly, without question, when she was
asked.
It was a small village, the people tightly knit. Those
who didn't know what the tall, dark American was
doing in their village didn't ask.
The American was under the protection of Luis
Estabel.
Carter stood at the open window, a pair of powerful
binoculars to his eyes. Estabel was beside him, smoking.
staring Off into the distance.
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staring off into the distance.
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NICK CARTER
"This woman, Nina. What will become of her now?"
Estabel asked.
"I don't know," Carter replied. "She was very close
to her brother. And the way he died He let the last
few words trail off.
"These are very bad people who would do such a
thing to Angelina and to Nina's brother. You will tell
this Nina some day that her brother's death is
it was the tone in the man's voice that made Carter
drop the glasses and turn to stare. Estabel didn't look
over. He just continued to stare down at the village.
"Maybe you should tell her," Carter said.
Estabel smiled. "Perhaps."
For another half hour they stood silently. and then
they saw the car. It was a green Fiat sedan. When it
pulled into the gas station and the woman got out,
Carter had no doubts. Even from that distance her
and the sun glinting off the blond hair identified her.
• 'It's her,' • he growled.
"You are sure?"
"Positive."
"But where are the two men?"
s 'My guess is that they are in a café in the last "illage
down the road. Sheill probably find the grave and then
go back and get them."
Estabel shook his head. "You are a very smart man.
Sehor Nick. It is just as you said. I will send Manuel."
Carter heard his retreat down the stairs as he watched
the woman get back into the car. Just as she hit the
plaza. a youth on a motorcycle roared past her down the
road.
The car stopped at the foot of the stone Steps in the
plaza. and the woman got out. She opened the rear door
and filled her arms mth flowers.
Carter felt a chill as she got far enough up the s
for him to see her face clearly.
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Anya Chevola, beautiful in a tailored white linen
summer dress.
He felt like a puppet master pulling her strings as she
moved through the gardens and then out of sight.
By the time Carter was down the hall and at a rear
window, she was in the cemetery. In daylight, it took
her only a few minutes to locate the Galadin family plot.
As she knelt and ran her hand over the stone, Carter
could read her thoughts from the way her face changed.
He knew when she had figured it out. She grabbed the
flowers and headed for the front of the convent. She
was halfway to the gate when Estabel came through it,
carrying a rake over his shoulder.
Carter could almost read their lips.
g 'Porfavor, sehor... "
"l have come to visit the grave of an old friend. but
cannot seem to find it. Could you tell me where in the
village the Galadin family lives?"
"Si, senorita. The Senora Galadin lives right there, in
that white house."
' Gracias. "
She almost ran through the gate and down the few
steps. Inez answered her knock at once.
They spoke, and then the Spanish woman stepped out
into the yard and pointed.
Anya Chevola nodded her thanks and hurried back
to her car. She was through the village in no time and
climbing up the tiny road that led to Estabel's home.
She drove past the lane and on into the hills.
Immediately, Carter knew her intent. She would
navigate around the tiny roads up there where she, the
car, and, much later, her two comrades could park un-
disturbed later that night.
Carter barely heard Luis Estabel's tread on the stairs
and then coming down the hall behind him. A few
seconds later he appeared at Carter's Side.
174
NICK CARTER
The man moved like a cat.
"Where is she? "
' 'Around the other side of the mountain," Cart
answered.
"Scouting?"



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car, and, much later, her two comrades could park un-
disturbed later that night.
Carter barely heard Luis Estabel's tread on the stairs
and then coming down the hall behind him. A few
seconds later he appeared at Carter's Side.
174
NICK CARTER
The man moved like a cat.
"Where is she? "
' 'Around the other side of the mountain," Cart
answered.
"Scouting?"
Carter nodded, keeping the glasses to his eyes. "She'
find a good place to stash the car. and then look for
trail up the mountain to the grave without being see
from the village.
"Manuel rode back to the village of San Lierdo on hi
motorcycle."
"I know. I saw him leave and pass her on the road
Look there she is."
For just an instant she was a white flash against th
sky, the flowers a blaze of color against her dress.
"She will be at the grave now," Estabel said tightly.
' 'Is there any road up there they could use to get out
in case I miss one of them?"
"No, not by car. By car they would have to come
back through the village. From there, if they didn'
come back through the village, they would have to wal
over the mountains. "
"There she is again," Carter growled, "going back t
the car."
"The river is about a hundred yards on that side
They could go that way, if they had a boat waiting."
"Any chance of that?" Carter asked.
Estabel shrugged. "A chance, yes, but slim."
"Have one of your friends check it out anyway. "
"I will do that."
They both fell silent, smoking, waiting, watching.
It was nearly a half hour before they saw the c
round the side of the mountain and head back down
Fifteen minutes later, she was through the village an
gone down the road to San Lierdo.
"That's it!" Carter said. 'SLet's go!"
Together they descended and walked through th



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er they descend and walked through the
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175
gardens to the gates. They passed three sisters of the
convent. The women neither spoke nor looked at them.
At the house of Senora Galadin. they stopped and
knocked. The door was opened at once by Inez, and
they slipped inside.
Without waiting to be asked, the woman spoke. "It
was as you said. She wondered why Angelina's name
was not on the tombstone in the convent cemetery."
"And you told her?"
"Yes," the woman nodded, smiling for the first time
since Carter had met her. "I told her with tears in my
eyes."
Estabel kissed her on both cheeks. "You should be in
the cinema, Tia Inez. She went right to the grave on the
mountain."
"What excuse did she give you, Senora Inez," Carter
asked, "for wanting to visit the grave?"
"She said that she had been a close friend of
Angelina's in Moscow, and since she was visiting in
Spain, she wanted to come to Cordona and pay her
respects. "
Inez puckered her lips, spit in her palm, and rubbed it
on her hip.
"My sentiments exactly," Carter growled. "Estabel,
let's climb the hill!"
For the next half hour they walked the mountain
above and below the grave. Estabel had already found
the place where Anya Chevola would park the car.
Carter had located a niche of high rocks where he could
conceal himself yet still see them at the grave and see the
car.
"This will be perfect."
They moved down the trail to the grave. The flowers
Anya had been carrying now rested on the mound at the
foot of the headstone.
"Bitch," Estabel hissed, and reached for them.
176
NICK CARTER
"No," Carter said. grabbing his arm. "Leave them."
The other man sighed. "Of course. am sorry."
Carter turned and pointed back toward the village.



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at me grave ana see
car.
"This will be perfect."
They moved down the trail to the grave. The flowers
Anya had been carrying now rested on the mound at the
foot of the headstone.
"Bitch," Estabel hissed, and reached for them.
176
NICK CARTER
"No," Carter said. grabbing his arm. "Leave them."
The other man sighed. "Of course. am sorry."
Carter turned and pointed back toward the village.
"Have your friends in two trucks, one on each road ou
Of the village. Tell them to use the flash signal when th
car has passed through. "
Estabel lit a cigarette and stared at the ground in deep
concentration. Carter did the same. The other man ob-
viously had something important to say, and Cart
knew he would say it when he had thought it out.
"Senor Nick "
"Yes?"
"l am like a cat in the night 8"
"No," Carter said.
"There are three of them and only one of you .. i"
"No, my friend," Carter said. resting his hand on th
other man's shoulder.
' •l must do this alone. Believe
me. blood on my hands means nothing. You, and your
friends, must do nothing and say nothing. What you do
not know you cannot answer for.
At last Estabel shrugged. "Very well."
"Now I must find a gully, deep, where I can bury
them. The river will take care of the car."
Suddenly, Estabel turned and faced Carter squarely
a wide grin on his face, his eyes alive with a new light.
6' That will not be necessary ... finding a grave."
"What do you mean?"
The Spaniard turned back to the mound at their feet
He dropped into a crouch and let his hand move in the
air over the grave.
"Why look for a grave, when one is ready-made?"
Carter blinked. "Good God, you mean yo
Estabel interrupted him. "All you have to do, Seno
Nick, is let them dig the grave deep enough before yo



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oennterruptedhimZ"All you have to do,
Nick, is let them dig the grave deep enough before yo
THE ANDROPOV FILE
177
make your move." The dark face was smiling even more
broadly when it again rolled up to face Carter.
The Killmaster spun on his heel and looked across to
the next mountain and the convent of Our Lady of Sor-
rows.
He closed his eyes and visualized the Galadin tomb-
stone in the cemetery. He saw his own hand stretched
out, measuring the space for the names.
When he turned back, Estabel was standing, still smil-
ing.
A slow smile crept across Carter's own lips. "You
mean • • i"
A shrug, and the dark eyes flicked heavenward. "My
Angelina was beautiful, and good. I do not think God
considers her a lost soul. I think He is happy she rests in
His hallowed ground."
A low whistle erupted from Carter's throat. "Who
knows," he asked, "besides yourself?"
"Senora Galadin knows, as well as my sister, my Tia
Inez, and the three you have met. They helped me move
her."
"And the priest?"
"Father Penares is an old man, a very old man. He
has lived his entire life in our little village. He has
known us all from birth. We are like his children and
can do no wrong."
' 'But does he know?"
"In his heart, I think he knows. And as long as the
Another shrug. "But now
name is not on the stone e"
you should sleep, Senor Nick. Tonight will be a long
night and you have much to do."
The two men moved down the hill and turned up the
lane to Estabel's house.
It was a nice house, simple, yet an estate when corn-
pared to others in the village. It was well maintained,
with a red tile roof, and the gardens surrounding it were
178
MCK CARTER
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MCK CARTER
a delightful blaze of color.
Seeing it, Carter again thought of Nina. Poor I
Nina.
She would love this house, and this peaceful li
village.
"Senor Nick, one last question," Estabel asked
they entered the square, tiled entry hall.
"Yes?"
6' This thing that the woman and the two men cam
for—it must be very valuable, very important."
"It is, to some people."
Estabel grasped Carter's arm gently, halting him at
the foot of the stairs. ' 'Tell me, Senor Nick, is i
valuable to you?"
Carter did hesitate, though he really didn't need to
He had already thought out the problem and made up
his mind what to do. "No, Luis, it is not important t
me."
The Killmaster turned and walked up the stairs.
Jt would serve no real purpose. he thought. On
safely in Soviet hands, the Andropov file would sooth
a lot of fears. Without it, they would always fear. In
American hands. it would become merely another too
in a silent war that was already top-heavy with mea
ingless tools.
No, he thought, stretching out on the bed, it was bet
ter to let Angelina Galadin rest in peace.








SEVENTEEN
Carter cupped the bright tip of his cigarette and in•
haled deeply. For the hundredth time since sliding down
into the rocky crevice, he shifted positions to ease stif-
fening muscles.
A cloud cover had moved in since dusk, but it didn't
smell like rain. Now and then there would be a break in
the clouds and the moon would burst through for a few
seconds.
Mostly it was gray, an eerie half-night light.
He checked his watch. It was nearly two in the morn-
ing. Below him, the village was completely dark. On
the opposite mountain, one window was dimly lit on the
second floor. Now and then from the window on the
third floor, where they had stood that morning, he
could see the glow of a cigarette.
180
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NICK CARTER




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NICK CARTER
That would be Estabel.
Suddenly the cigarette arced from the window and fell
into the gardens. A second later Carter saw a pinpoint
light from the flash, and then another.
They were coming.
Carter shifted his gaze to the road leading up from the
village.
It didn't take long.
They were moving at a snail's pace in the dim glow of
amber fog lights. Carter watched the lights until they
disappeared. Then he followed them by the sound of
their engine.
When the engine died. he moved just enough to see
the trail up from the rear road. At the same time, all he
had to do was swivel his head slightly and he had a com-
plete view of the gravesite.
It was another five minutes before he saw them, all
three of them, with the woman in the lead.
They were ail wearing dark clothing. Anya Chevola
had wrapped a dark scarf around her head to hide the
glow of her honey-colored hair.
They passed within ten feet of where Carter lay con-
cealed in the rocks, and dropped down to the level of the
grave. They were clearly outlined now, and Carter could
see that the two men carried shovels. The bigger one
also had a pickax.
The woman spoke. "When you have it, fill the grave
back in completely. Be sure there is no trace. I want it to
be just as though we were never here.'
' 'Da. Comrade Major."
"l will move the car back to the curve and watch the
road from there. Work fast!"
' 'Da, Comrade Major."
Major Anya Chevola moved back and down the trail.
Even before the sound of her footsteps died out in the
night, the two men had started digging. The larger one
attacked the mound with a vengeance. The short, fat
THE ANDROPOV FILE
one grunted from the exertion.
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a rom ere. or ast!'
' 'Da, Comrade Major."
Major Anya Chevola moved back and down the trail.
Even before the sound of her footsteps died out in the
night, the two men had started digging. The larger one
attacked the mound with a vengeance. The short, fat
THE ANDROPOV FILE
one grunted from the exertion.
181
With every muscle in his body tense, Carter waited.
Everything was ready. The silencer was securely at.
tached to the muzzle of the Luger. The stiletto was in its
chamois sheath on his right forearm. and the snap on
the piano-wire garrote at his belt was loose.
Now it was only waiting.
The flowers had been carefully removed to the side.
The two mounds of dirt at each end of the grave slowly
grew. Eventually the men stood in the hole up to their
hips. Now it was too small for both of them to work ef-
ficiently. They began to dig in shifts, the smaller man
shirking, the bigger man complaining.
The woman returned.
"How much longer?"
"Two, maybe three feet, Comrade Major."
"Faster!" she hissed. "Work faster!"
"Da, Comrade Major."
The woman went back down the hill.
Carter began to sweat. More and more of the big man
had disappeared into the hole.
He would have to move soon. The question was,
which way?
Carter was about to slide backward down the rocks
and go down the trail to take the woman, when the
break came.
"Yevgeny • • e"
"l have to piss."
"Then piss. The time it takes will be no loss. You use
a shovel like an old man dying."
The fat one whined something Carter couldn't make
out, and moved off through the rocks.
Silently, Carter slithered backward from his hiding
place and dropped to the soft earth between two huge
rocks.
He holstered the Luger and swiftly but quietly moved




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rocks.
He holstered the Luger and swiftly but quietly moved
182
NICK CARTER
in a wide arc around the rocks until he was below the
grave.
It wasn't difficult. He located the man by the sound
of his stream.
And then he saw him, his head and shoulders
silhouetted against the sky. Directly behind him there
was an alley between the rocks. Carter moved into it,
flipping the stiletto into his hand.
The crepe soles of his shoes made no sound as he
moved.
Five feet... three feet one foot
The Killmaster's left arm went around the other
man's throat. He jerked the head back and brought the
pencil-thin blade up in a sure, violent thrust.
The blade entered dead center in the throat. It severed
the windpipe and entered the brain.
There was no more than a low gurgle in the dead
man's throat as he slipped to the ground.
Carter pulled the stiletto free and wiped it on the
man's pants. Then he peeled off the coat and pulled it
on over his own shoulders. The narrow-brimmed hat he
placed on his head, and made his way silently back to
the gravesite.
The one called Yevgeny was up to his shoulders now
in the grave, and cursing. He barely glanced up over the
rim of the hole when Carter emerged from the rocks.
"How deep do they plant them in Spain?" he
growled. g 'I must be down at least six feet, and still
nothing!"
Carter held the Luger down at his side as he moved
over the open ground. He didn't bring it up until he was
at the foot of the grave.
It must have been the second sight, the pure instinct
Of the trained agent, that made Yevgeny look up at th
last instant.
He made no sound but swung the shovel in an arcing
blow at Carter's middle.
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183
ne Killmaster kicked the shovel to the side with his
left foot and shot the man square in the face.
The big man's arms went wide with and he fell
back into the grave.
But Carter didn't stop.
He dropped to one knee, leveled the Luger on the
man's chest, and emptied the clip.
"For Joseph. you son of a bitch," he whispered.
When the hammer clicked on empty, he ejected the
clip and dropped it into the grave. As he scrambled
down the trail he put in a fresh clip and jacked a shell
into the chamber.
It was nearly a hundred yards down, and the trail was
winding. The car was to the left as he hit the bottom. He
could see the woman clearly in the driver's seat. A
cigarette was in her left hand. She jabbed the cigarette in
and out Of her lips as she drummed on the steering wheel
with the fingers of her right hand.
Carter hunched down in the coat as much as he could,
and walked directly for the car. Again he held the Luger
in his right hand just behind his hip.
Closer and closer he came.
Just then, a sliver of moon peeked from behind the
clouds. It streamed downy white across the windshield.
' 'Tilkoff, have you finished? Do you have it?"
Carter kept his eyes on her face, on her eyes in the
moonlight. Her lips were a tight slash of red with a rim
of white around them.
She was beautiful.
He wondered how such a beautiful person on the out-
side could be so rotten on the inside.
And then she knew.
She hit the starter and first gear at the same time. The
engine roared and the car bucked forward, its rear
wheels spinning on the soft, dusty track.
Just as the wheels caught, Carter fired. The slug hit
the windshield, shattering it.
184
NICK CARTER
But he had seen her duck, and knew that he'd missed.
He leaped to the side among the rocks and, as the car
sped past, emptied the clip into the rest of the windows.
Unable to see, she lost control at the curve. The right
fender hit the sheer rock. sending th




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e car bucked' forward'its rea
eng ne roa
an
wheels spinning on the soft, dusty track.
Just as the wheels caught, Carter fired. The slug hit
the windshield, shattering it.
184
NICK CARTER
But he had seen her duck, and knew that he'd missed.
He leaped to the side among the rocks and, as the car
sped past, emptied the clip into the rest of the windows.
Unable to see, she lost control at the curve. The right
fender hit the sheer rock, sending the car careening to
the left.
When it hit a tree full on, Carter was already running
for it, jamming his last full clip into the Luger's butt.
He was still thirty yards away when Anya rolled out
the passenger side.
The Killmaster saw two things at the same time: her
battered, bloody face where it had collided with the
steering wheel or the shattered windshield, and the
automatic in her hand.
She fired twice just as Carter rolled to his right into
the dirt. The slugs screamed off the rock wall behind
him, and he got off one shot that went wild before she
was up and running.
Neither of them said a word. There was no need for
words.
At the last minute. sitting in the car, she had seen
Carter's face beneath the hat brim.
She knew that he meant to kill her.
Carter ran after her. She was heading toward the
river. There was no use trying another shot. There were
too many rocks and trees, and she constantly darted
behind them as she ran.
Then she was gone momentarily. Carter heard the
rushing water, then saw the river. The moon was com-
pletely out from behind the clouds now. He slowed.
There was no sound, but he sensed that she was just
ahead of him, very near.
Then he saw her.
"It's over, Anya."
She turned and looked directly at Carter.
She was standing on the riverbank, grasping a low
waving branch. Other leafy branches tumbled over her
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185
shoulders as she half crouched, watching first Carter,
then the rushing waters below.
"It's no good," Carter hissed. "You, wouldn't get a
hundred yards in that current."
Her hand came up from her side, holding the gun.
Her green eyes were filled with fear, and they fastened
on the Luger in Carter's hand.
"l should have killed you," she rasped. Her voice was
a hoarse whisper, and there was something of bright
satisfaction in it, of oddly unpleasant, wild relief.
"Shoot, Anya," Carter said. "Because, if you don't,
I will."
She fired, and the slug ripped bark from a tree just
above Carter's shoulder.
The Luger made a soft popping sound in his own
hand, and she fell to her knees.
She had both hands on the gun pressed to the
spreading crimson stain.
She looked up, her eyes wide. "You did it," she said
through sagging lips.
With an effort, she tried to raise the gun.
It was useless.
'*Good-bye, Major," Carter said, and fired twice
more."
Carter was patting the ground solid over the grave
when Luis Estabel climbed the hill and joined him.
"It is a pleasant night."
"It is now," Carter said, dropping the shovel, "Did
anyone hear the shots? "
"Perhaps," the young man shrugged. "No matter."
I 'The car?" Carter asked.
"In the river. It will never be found. You will go
now?"
"Yes."
Carter took a folded slip of paper from his pocket
and handed it to Estabel. On it was a crude map show-
186
NICK CARTER
ing the way from Palermo up into the hills, and a sm
house with a garden in the rear.
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' 'The car?" Carter ask
"In the river. It will never be found. You will go
now?"
"Yes."
Carter took a folded slip of paper from his pocket
and handed it to Estabel. On it was a crude map show-
186
NICK CARTER
ing the way from Palermo up into the hills, and a sm
house with a garden in the rear.
"She lives under the name of Sophia Stillati. I thin
you can tell her much better than I."
Estabel pocketed the paper without speaking. H
opened his arms, and the two men embraced.
"Will we ever see you again?" the young man mur
mured.
"No," Carter said. "It's better. All the dead can res
in peace now, and the living can get on with living. "
"Go with God, my friend. "
"Would that I could, Luis. Would that I could.
He walked down the hill and found his car. Acro
the plaza, he parked and climbed up the long flight o
stone steps and through the gates.
It wasn't really necessary, but he wanted one mor
look.
It was almost dawn now, with the grayness giving th
stones an eerie yet somehow peaceful glow.
He didn't stay long, a moment at most. And on th
way back, a stooped, black-clad figure stepped from th
shadows of the trees to block his way.
"Sehor .. .i'
' 'Senora Galadin.
Her gnarled hands tugged at his face as she lifted he
frail body to her toes.
"Gracias, senor. Muchas gracias. "
She kissed him on both cheeks, and, without anothe
word, turned and faded back into the shadows.