Ли Чайлд - The Sentinel

Reacher nodded.

‘Thank you, Major,’ Wallwork said. ‘You’ve done us a solid and we appreciate it. You have my number. If there’s ever a way I can return the favour, don’t hesitate. Also, apologies for yesterday. Hiding my identity. I didn’t want to mislead you. But in the circumstances I didn’t have a choice. I hope you understand.’

‘No apology necessary,’ Reacher said. ‘Your partner is in the field. Protecting her comes first, second, and third. But your thanks should go to Rusty Rutherford. It’s down to him that the records exist at all.’

‘That’s good to know.’ Wallwork picked up the server and started to move. ‘Please pass on our gratitude if you see him. Me, I need to get back on the road. Time’s not on our side with this thing.’

Reacher stepped between Wallwork and the door. ‘Two questions before you go.’

‘OK. Make them quick.’

‘Klostermann. The guy I met at the Spy House this morning. Agent Fisher said she’d have him checked out again. Is there any word on that?’

‘She told me. We’re on it. Nothing yet. What else?’

‘The server. I guess you’re going to take it to a field office. Probably Nashville. Where a bunch of pointy heads will descend on it, looking for whatever secret it holds.’

‘You guess right.’

‘How long will that take?’

‘To get to Nashville?’

‘To find the secret.’

‘How long’s a piece of string? It’s impossible to say. There could be thousands of documents to search through. It’ll be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Only not a needle. Looking for something, but not knowing what. Just hoping we recognize it when we see it.’

‘So you’re not likely to get it done in, say, thirty-seven hours or so?’

‘I don’t know. It could take two seconds. It could take two months. We won’t know till we try. That’s not your problem, Major. But it is why I have to get going.’

‘It’s not Major. It’s just Reacher. And it is my problem. A little bit. But mostly it’s Rutherford’s problem.’

‘How do you figure?’

‘Agent Fisher told me her cell was restricted to surveillance until roughly lunchtime the day after tomorrow. Then they’re expecting reinforcements. A big hitter from Moscow. Now, if you haven’t figured out who their agent inside Oak Ridge is by then, you won’t have been able to arrest him. The Russians won’t know you have the server, either, so they’ll think they still have a chance to get it themselves and protect their guy. So they’ll come after Rutherford again. And Fisher might not be able to keep him safe because of the new arrival.’

Wallwork shrugged. ‘All true, I guess. Tough break for Rutherford. Specially after he helped us. Any chance you could convince him to leave town?’

‘I doubt it. I already tried. He refused. And I can’t blame him. He’s done nothing wrong. In fact, he’s done everything right. He shouldn’t be driven out of his home.’

‘I agree. But we have limited options here. Could you stay awhile? Keep an eye on him?’

‘For a while. Not for ever.’

‘It won’t take us for ever to figure out who the agent is.’

‘You said it could take two months. I rarely stay in one place two days.’

‘I’m sorry, Reacher. We’re dealing with the unknown here. The unknowable, in fact. I’d like to help Rutherford. I really would. But I’ve got to think about the bigger picture. I don’t know what else we can do.’

‘I know what I can do.’

‘What?’

‘Klostermann offered me ten grand for the server. I’m going to accept.’

‘Absolutely not. I can’t authorize–’

‘I’m not asking permission, Wallwork. I’m giving you a heads-up. As a courtesy. There’s something off about Klostermann. I could feel it when I met him. The Russians have some kind of permanent presence here. I’m going to find out if it’s him.’

‘No.’

‘This is happening. Embrace it. There’s no danger. There’s no downside. If I’m wrong, an old geezer gets to see some files that used to be public anyway. If I’m right the Russians will think their mission is accomplished. They’ll think their agent inside Oak Ridge is safe, so they’ll leave him in place, giving you time to figure out his identity. They’ll pull Fisher’s team out of the field, taking her out of the firing line. And Rutherford will be in the clear too.’

‘It’s out of the question.’

‘Listen. You wouldn’t know about the server without me. You wouldn’t have a copy of the server without me. You’d still be chasing your tails wondering what you’re looking for. So you can damn well cut me some slack.’

Wallwork didn’t respond.

‘If you have any sense you’ll watch how this plays out. And if it works, take the credit. No one will hear any different from me.’

Wallwork was silent for another minute. Then he squeezed around Reacher, to the door. ‘I have to get this thing to Nashville. People are waiting. And I have to tell you. Officially I cannot condone what you’re proposing.’

‘And unofficially?’

‘Call me when it’s done. But this stays between you and me.’

Reacher woke himself the next morning at half past seven. He showered and dressed, and fetched coffee and cinnamon rolls from the office while Sands got herself ready. Rutherford was in room nineteen, still hunched over his laptop, too focused on his work for conversation, so Reacher left him his breakfast and went back through the connecting door. He took a bed. Sands took the armchair. He sprawled. She perched. They ate, and Reacher filled her in on his meeting with Wallwork.

‘So this could all be over by tonight?’ she said, when he finished. ‘If you’re right about Klostermann. If he’s working for the Russians and gets the server back for them, they won’t need to come after Rusty for it.’

‘If I’m right about Klostermann,’ Reacher said.

Sands frowned. ‘I think you’re missing something. If you’re right about Klostermann, he must have killed the journalist. Or had her killed. What if he sees you and Rusty as loose ends, after getting the server? And decides to kill you both, too?’

‘The journalist’s situation was different. She wasn’t a loose end. She knew something. From her work at the archive. She found out whatever it is that can identify the Russian agent. That’s why she was killed. To keep her quiet. We, on the other hand, are just greedy fools as far as Klostermann is concerned. He thinks we bought the bullshit about researching his family history. He’ll take the fact that we’re happy to sell him the server as proof we don’t realize what’s on it. Meaning killing us would be unnecessary. And more than that. It would be dangerous. Because it would risk attracting unwanted attention. And if there’s one thing the Russians don’t take, it’s unnecessary risks.’

‘What about leaving Rusty with a copy of the server? So he could stumble across their secret at any moment, just like the journalist did? Wouldn’t Klostermann call that an unnecessary risk?’

‘He might. If he knew Rusty had a copy.’

‘He won’t suspect you’re lying if you tell him otherwise?’

‘I won’t lie. I’ll let him reach that conclusion on his own.’

‘How?’

‘Can you get his number for me?’

Sands picked up her phone and clicked and swiped for a few moments.

‘Here it is,’ she said. ‘Want me to dial it for you?’

‘No thanks,’ Reacher said. He took out the phone Rutherford had bought him. ‘Read it out to me.’

‘Why not use mine? It’s already up on the screen.’

‘Then Klostermann would know your number. Phones can be tracked.’