Konrad's phone rings....

'Hello'

'Konrad?'

'Ah, Sergio...my delusional friend - how did you like the Sanctity? I trust you enjoyed your little mind vacation...'

'I'm not sure what that was all about - Does everybody and everything seem incredibly beautiful to you when you take that stuff?'

'Ha ha ha...once you've seen the light, it's hard to readjust to normal life my friend - I'm having another party in a month, and of course you're invited...We'll continue our game of "what is Sergio's real job?" '

'Yes, well, we need to talk about that Konrad - I'm quite certain you would have killed me had I not managed to escape the dental chair - and still I feel a strange kinship to you  -  we have unfinished business between us.'

'Where are you right now?'

'I have the GPS in my phone bouncing off several different towers, all random, and you'll never find me until I want you to. Do you want to have sex with everyone when you're on the Sanctity Konrad?'

'I want to have sex with everyone when I'm not on Sanctity, Sergio! - The Sanctity makes all of our inner desires rise to the surface  - we are no longer inhibited by shame or societal norms, and the true loving nature of our selves is revealed - Society's boundaries and pathos are washed away, leaving a childlike innocence - a reverence for all creatures and life. Even a mother fucker like myself has redeemable qualities in God's eyes -  Sanctity  has given me faith in God and an inner knowing that anything I do on this earth is His plan.'

'Some of the things you said while I was strapped into your chair don't mesh with your faith, Konrad'

'And you think you can change my mind about anything, Sergio?'

'You have a point. I still have to tell you about my misadventure - Who else could understand? I alternately curse and bless you for hitting me with that syringe. It was fascinating  - my experience can be summed up quite simply - we're all one, and it's all love - That's it, the secret of the universe. Every person and every living thing I saw seemed to have a soul - a soul that I could communicate with - there was an unspoken understanding of our interconnectedness - I'm still quite fuzzy about a lot of the last three days, but I know I have never felt so much love and deep guttural satisfaction during sex - and it was just as intense holding hands and staring into people's eyes as it was to be entwined completely in the throes of passion. You have created a drug that will either save the planet and mankind, or lead to the utter destruction of everything good in our world.'

'Tell me something I don't know, Sergio. Let me guess - you're going to be the one who saves the world from Konrad and his evil drugs - how noble...'

'Konrad, your reputation precedes you - You are notorious for a thousand miles in any direction - You are feared, respected, loathed - you threatened my life just three days ago, and I can't figure out how you can be so ruthless when you've invented a drug like Sanctity. 

I absorbed the slightest dose and had a sexually religious experience with a hooker.  You've tried it at least a few times, yet still have the instincts of a cold calculating business mogul, ready to take out any and all threats that stand between you and your goals. '

'He who creates the poison also creates the antidote.'

'There's an antidote to Sanctity?'

'I can never be too careful Sergio - Like with you , for instance. You were quite believable as the chemical salesman, until the point where you pulled your escape from the chair - You've had some sort of training - I can't put my finger on it - you're not Interpol because my labs would have been swarmed  with agents by now, but no chemical salesman would be capable of weaving such a deceptive web of lies, or of infiltrating my labs within a few weeks of meeting me'

'Konrad,  I've been stumbling around a brothel for days (actually quite enjoying myself) but now that I've landed back in reality, we have some serious matters to address. Ozerov has set a meeting with me tomorrow. I think it is in your best interests to make sure I live long enough to report the details of our meeting back to you. Of course I want something from you in return for handing you Ozerov's head on a platter, but we'll discuss that later.'

Sergio, I'm fascinated that you think I need anything from you - I'm quite capable of taking Ozerov out on my own, and although I do thank you for exposing this weakness in my lab staff, you will never live to see me fall from my position of power. In fact, I'll give you a heads up - prostitutes have no scruples - their bodies and the information they get from loose lipped Johns can be bought for a price - Your little hideaway at the brothel did not go unnoticed by me.  You may want to leave Minsk, and take your girlfriend or whatever she is. Things are going to get ugly for the two of you if you continue to interfere with my life's work.'

'Things are going to get ugly anyway if you continue to develop Celtox and Sanctity...'

'I'll have a little of both ready for you the next time we meet.'

'How can you be such a bastard after taking Sanctity, Konrad?

The antidote takes me right back to my old familiar self. Whenever I've had enough tripping, I take a cure. All my experimentals have an antidote, but I'm not stupid enough to let anybody know what or where those are. So you see, I am in control of the entire situation here, and you better move along before somebody you love gets killed.'

'It's unfortunate we won't get to develop our "friendship", Konrad.'

 'Death is a development'

'I've had enough of your threats Konrad, have a good life...'

'Enjoy the rest of yours Sergio, it may not be very long'...

click....

Nikita, 

Good morning! 

How are you? (besides being the most amazing lover in the world...I'd go into detail about the feelings I'm having toward you, but we don't have time)

Above is a transcript of the conversation I just had with Konrad - Are you certain your cover is good? You are the only chance we'll have to get an antidote for the Celtox and the Sanctity, and after revealing to Konrad that Ozerov and I are to meet tomorrow our time is running short  - I know you said they have a meeting later today - I hope I haven't put Ozerov in a position he can't get out of - I'm sure you got the surveilance kit from Grigori last time you saw him - You must be sure to attach the micro transmitter microphone to something he carries with him - maybe his clothing or briefcase - I know you can figure that out yourself.  

I'm meeting Grigori for a late lunch, as he tells me an important side mission needs to take place this evening  - I was bummed for a moment until my career priorities asserted themselves - I really wanted to see you again, but the mission must go on, and perhaps this exact moment isn't the best time to be lost in your arms. (Well, at least for the mission's sake.)

Be careful my love - we still don't know if Konrad and Ozerov are setting a trap for the both of us. I'll keep my receiver on - you know the signal to send me if you are in grave danger  - I hope that never happens - I want the next signal from you to be whispered in my ear, at close range....'more'

S

More Questions than Answers

Sergio,
It is nice to hear from you again in your normal state. Of course you don't remember, but I saw you more than a few times during those three days of.... Sanctity. What a ridiculous, ironic and insidious name... as you are anything but safe and forgiven as long as it is flowing.

I already knew I had some damage control to do after saying your name to Konrad some days ago (ahh, if I only had killed him when I meant to, our lives would be much less complicated...HA! only a trained killer could say that!). I was planning my strategy when you showed up at the brothel asking for your 'Little Bird'. Sergio, you were a sight. It reminded me of the home movies you showed me of your father during his Berkley days... smiling, staring at the sky, swaying to music that no one else could hear... you just kept saying how you "loved your little bird, you want her to fly with you". (While snooping at the lab I had come across info on Sanctity.. and based on your 'symptoms' I figured you had this in your system. Later, back at the office I heard about the party and realized my guess was right on... more on that place later). That is when it was clear what I could do. You looked like you could be pretty easily manipulated and I figured I should keep you where I knew you couldn't get into too much more trouble. I paid some of the other girls to go to you when you came in asking for me... told them to say you would be taken to me. Of course I instructed them to just keep you in there and play cards or something. In your state it seemed all you did was hug them and cry over their wasted their lives.

I also told the girls to be quite talkative about this guy, Sergio who has been in 5 times a day for the past 3 days and how he insists on calling ALL his 'ladies': 'Little Bird'. You were the talk of the brothel, honey... I am sure this would be pleasing to you if it was for another reason: ("wow, you had to see this guys equipment... HUGE", instead of "What a hippie freak"). On the third day, Konrad came in. I timed it perfectly, Konrad came in just as you asked for the Little Bird and one of the other girls took you away. I came down the hall just quickly enough for Konrad to see me seeing you, but not quickly enough for you to see me. As soon as you were around the corner I fell into hysterics, with the obligatory: 'How could you do this to me's" and "You are my life!!! Seeeeeerrrrrrgio!!!" and then even an "I am nothing without you!!!" Konrad seemed to agree with me on this one, as he spit on my leg and called me a crazy bitch whore. I stayed, sobbing on the floor until the Head Madam collected me. She also cursed out the predicted line: 'That fucking freak bastard is spending a lot of money here with every girl in the place, Fuck you if you think I am going to let some crazy bitch pussy scare him away from my business...GET OUT!." Perfect. I don't have to quit, because I am fired!

Konrad laughed and laughed and seemed very pleased that I was nothing more than I psycho prostitute, and Sergio simply a guy with a strange fetish. I am fairly confident this should get us both off the hook, as long as we continue not to be seen together again. It also gave me the reason to hang up my leather thong for good and quit the whoring business. I of course did this with great style, to make sure Konrad saw the whole thing. I called the madam a queen bitch for enabling Sergio to see other girls when she knew I was in love with him, then called her a few names that I picked up while working at this fine establishment. That got me a good slap in the face which created a very genuine shriek during which I pushed passed Konrad and ran out the door (and kept running until I was home). I did notice that Konrad was sober, so now reading your letter, it is clear that he has some sort of antidote for, or block against the Sanctity serum... We will need to get our hands on that, it could prove very very useful.

By the way, I don't think I need to tell you that Konrad never raped me.

Now that all that is cleared up, I have to focus on what is going on at the lab. Ozerov should be nervous. Your story does explain a lot. He was not invited to that party, and of course word has spread (via the 'coke fiends') of this guy Sergio from Interpol who threatened Konrad. Ozerov also knows that you were given Sanctity, and given the information he has told you, this should not be good news to him. I am watching him very carefully. He is a cool one, that is for sure. He seems to be acting completely normally, but his 'normal' leaves a lot of room to guess about things. He is practically a machine, always the same expression, the only soft and variable part of his face being the complex tangle of hair sprouting from his ears when they catch a breeze. Those out-dated glasses.... shit, they look like they are from the 50's. Hey, you know he reminds me of the character Michael Douglas played in that movie, Falling Down. He looks like he's a normal guy, but he is doing this slow brew and I have the feeling that some big explosion is brewing on the inside.

He has reported that some files have gone missing ever since the day that car ran through the laboratory lobby (hmmm, I wonder how that happened?!) It only reminds me of our night in the park, but I must control my urge to smile when he mentions it. He has concocted a story that the little red car that drove through the wall was registered to Genovese. This is not true, but if it was, this information would appear, of course, to confirm Konrad's 'suspicions' about her and validate Ozerov's decision to 'kill' her. Now after reading your letter I am not sure whether the 'damage control' Konrad told you he had to take care of back at the lab was to get his hands on these files from Ozerov's office, and Ozerov does think they were stolen, or whether they are files that Ozerov himself has taken perhaps to use as future collateral, or perhaps to cover up some information that would incriminate himself against Konrad. I am working my way through all the files now to see if I can find what is missing. So far he has not told me specifically what was taken. But if Ozerov is lying about the car, and Konrad is the one who took the files, this could mean that they are both working together against an even bigger opponent.

I have to admit, Sergio, this Ozerov has me really guessing. I am still not sure if Genovese was in his confidence and that is why he saved her from Konrad actually killing her, or whether she is punished and it is all part of the sick torture to have her here, trapped with him inside this Ingrid's identity. His expression is like stone; he rarely makes direct eye contact, but when he does, I am not sure whether to give him a look of gentle knowing or sheer terror. Right now I am simply matching his avoidance and giving him the feeling that I am afraid. I think for now this will work for either of the possible situations. I am contacting Grigori... you or I need to get a hold of this Sanctity drug to give to Genovese. Obviously the interrogation techniques being used have not yielded any useful information. I need to know more about her relationship with Ozerov in order to go deeper here.

Konrad, meanwhile appears as maniacally happy as ever. He is enjoying the story floating around the office about the 'man from Interpol posing as a chemical salesman'. In the halls when he is around other people he laughs at the 'simple man with the bird fetish who has been reading too many spy novels'. "Interpol! How classic, I am surprised he didn't tell me his name was Bond, James Bond!!" His coke-addicted associates laugh obediently and wouldn't really care one way or the other as long as their supplier was in working condition. Konrad surrounds himself with people who are chemically, or otherwise dependent on him to maintain their perceived level of sanity. This also can be useful information. It makes me wonder even more about Ozerov's zombie-like demeanor. Is it induced or just a wise act in order to remain close to Konrad.

The way Konrad is talking so lightly about you, it would be simple to guess that he did not at all take your confession about Ozerov seriously that night. It is the only thing a sober, desperate man could have threatened while strapped to a dentist chair, and about to be injected with an unknown substance... Apparantly once the Sanctity kicked in you no longer talked about Ozerov... you only spoke of the Little Bird. (So as much as I love to hear you utter my name, in this case I am happy you also enjoy our little aliases.)

Konrad and Ozerov have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I need to be there. I don't know if I am invited, but I need to be there.

So rest, my love and I am sorry I only have more questions than answers...
All My Love,
Nikita