The Unspoken Words

  Chapter 11: "Interrogation Record" The morning after the meeting at Cape Rytyi dawned overcast. Elena sat in Gromov's office, nervously tapping her fingers on the armrest of the chair. The colonel was searching through the safe hidden behind a painting of Moscow—a banal hiding place, but effective. "Here," Gromov finally extracted a small metal box. "What my mother gave me. My father's archive, which he kept secret even from his superiors." He placed the box on the table between them and opened the lid. Inside lay folders yellowed with age, photographs, several audio cassettes, and a small notebook in a worn leather binding. "I've never shown this to anyone," Gromov said quietly, taking out one of the cassettes. "I don't even know why I kept it. Perhaps I was waiting for the right moment. Or the right person I could trust." Elena carefully took the cassette. On the faded label was handwritten: "I. Velichko, first ...