With astonishment he said, “Maksim Akulov.”
“You know me. I am flattered.”
“How the hell are you alive?”
“I ask myself that a lot. I also ask myself a more important question. Why? Why am I alive? But I think I know the answer finally.”
“Tell me,” Court said.
“I am alive to kill the Gray Man.”
“You know me, too,” Court said. “And I couldn’t possibly give a shit.” After a second of silence he said, “Seriously. How are you alive?”
Maksim sniffed out a laugh. “Because I can fly, obviously.”
Court turned his attention to the silhouette of the doctor, just in front of Akulov. “Azra. It’s going to be all right. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She sniffed and sobbed. “I believe you.”
Zoya was downstairs, but neither she nor Zack was armed, and Zack was out of the fight due to his blood loss. Court didn’t see a solution to the puzzle in front of him, other than hoping for a lucky shot if the man moved the pistol away from the Turkish doctor’s face.
Akulov said, “Where is Zakharova?”
Court replied, “Brazil, last I heard.”
“Liar. I have people down in the street. They confirmed that three of you, including Zakharova, entered the lobby five minutes ago. I will give you this girl, I will let her live, let her leave here right now. But only if you get Zakharova up here. Call her now.”
Court said, “Fat chance, Maksim.”
“Then I suppose the one noncombatant among us tonight dies. Isn’t it always like that in our world, Gentry? We live to kill another day, and the innocents around us fall like lambs in the slaughter?”
Court’s jaw flexed. “You better pray you can fly again, motherfucker, because I’m going to throw you out the window tonight.”
Maksim laughed at this. “Pray? I don’t believe in God.”
Court just shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, you won’t be running into him where you’re going.”
The Russian laughed at this, as well. “Ah, yes. I understand. Perhaps it is the devil who will get me?”
“If I don’t get you first.”
“Take your best shot, Gentry.”
Court did everything he could to calm his body, to remove any tension that could alter his shot, because he was pretty sure he’d have to take it soon. His eyes were slowly adapting to the low light, but still, Kaya and Akulov were so close together, and Akulov so well shielded by her, that he didn’t like his chances.
But he faked utter self-assuredness in his voice. “I’ll save my best shot for someone who warrants it. I can drop you anytime I want.”
Court’s pistol was in a two-handed grip, his arms fully extended, the sights of the weapon lined up in his eye, the barrel pointed at Maksim Akulov.
Court said, “You don’t want to kill some random doctor. You want to kill me. Shoot her now and I drop you where you stand. And what will you have accomplished?”
“You are a long way away, Mr. Gentry. Don’t try to scare me. We are both in the same line of work. I know it is impossible to shoot me in a way that would cease my motor functions instantly, which means if you shoot me now, then I shoot her. You know this. I know this. Let’s treat one another with professional respect.”
Court shrugged. “I barely know her.”
It was quiet for several seconds. Finally, Maksim said, “Then why haven’t you shot me already?”
This dude was smart, and he seemed to be pretty damn sure of the tactical situation before him. He was just missing Zoya, and as far as Court was concerned, that was a good thing. He answered, “I haven’t shot yet because I don’t want innocents to die if it can be avoided, and if you are any type of a man, you don’t, either.”
“A poor line of attack on your part, Mr. Cowboy. I have killed men, women, and children. Combatants and innocents alike. I question my actions, they haunt me, but that hasn’t stopped me yet. I’ll kill this bitch, and then I’ll kill you.”
Court slowly, reluctantly, lowered his weapon and stuck it in his jeans. “Okay. Let’s do it your way. You have a shot at me now. Take the gun away from her head, point it over here, and let’s end this whole thing right now.”
Maksim did so. Azra cried out at this.
The Russian assassin smiled a wide, toothy grin now. The mathematical solution he’d been working through the last minute had seemed to partially solve itself.
“Now you are at gunpoint. Call Zakharova.”
“It’s nyet gonna happen, Maksim.”
Suddenly,