Lincoln opened his mouth to address his superior once more, only to give pause to the shrill ring of the office IP phone. Viktor waved Mat aside when he advanced to pick up the receiver. Viktor answered on the second ring. "Dobryy denʹ, Viktor Maxckmillian." As he listened to the voice over the phone, his face suddenly paled and he sat down slowly in his chair. The voice on the other end had unmistakable similarities to his missing wife. Viktor shut his eyes when he realized that he was instead speaking to her mother. He released a short breath over an inaudible, muttered curse. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, dragging his hand down his face gently, using his thumb and index finger to massage his closed eyelids. "No, Mama." Viktor stopped to listen. "Yes, she is a very ungrateful girl, I'll make sure she comes over to you before the day is out, of that you could play lotto." Viktor shrugged off the well of reassurance that surged through him at the sound of the quiet giggle that erupted in his ear. Yes, the both agreed he was no good at colloquial slangs. He ended the conversation with his mother-in-law, only to field another call.
"Viktor, how are you? I have yet to speak to your wife today. I am having trouble getting a hold of her - is she still unavailable? Tonight is the one true night she can see the Saturn's rings at optimal clarity."
Dammit! Viktor cursed silently. Had he known his wife had this many personal engagements on a daily basis, he would have reined in her private schedule long ago instead of leaving her 'daily' to be settled between herself and Lincoln. His wife was an amateur astrophysicist. Witnessing Saturn's rings for the first time was all she could talk about the whole week. Viktor kneaded his chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Really, hmm, I'm not aware of her being busy, 've meeting has overrun - she may run late."
"She is well then?" Dr. Eli asked, concerned about his colleague.
"Yes, she is over the moon about the meeting, so to speak. She has long to arrive; after all, you have all night."
"Yes, very well then, I will see her soon." Dr. Eli left the conversation at that. He was not too familiar with the Russian diplomat. He had only met him on occasion when he was with his wife.
Viktor hung up the phone, but it was a moment before his tight grip on the receiver was released. His strong resolve remained hidden behind the look he gave the two assistants, who gazed at him with questioning eyes. "Find her," he ground out.