The Unspoken Words

  Classified Archive (Book 2) Chapter 14: "The Warning" The phone rang at seven in the morning. Elena had just stepped out of the shower and was drying her hair with a towel when her mobile screen lit up with an unknown number. "Svetlova speaking," she answered, trying to sound alert despite her lack of sleep. "Captain Svetlova," the voice on the other end was dry and official. "You are summoned to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Today, nine hundred hours, office 714. Attendance is mandatory." "Regarding what matter?" Elena asked, though she already suspected the answer. "You will be informed on arrival." The connection ended. Elena thoughtfully looked at the phone. A summons to the ministry boded nothing good. Especially now, when their investigation had progressed so far and touched the interests of influential people. "Who called?" Andrei entered the room with two cups of coffee, offering one to his wife. "...

  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 ...