Brian Freemantle - See Charlie Run

‘That’s how I want it to be,’ said Kozlov.

‘It’s still your choice, don’t forget,’ said Charlie. ‘It’s still possible to change your mind, even now; both come with me.’

‘Fredericks made one last try,’ remembered the Russian.

‘So?’

‘We stay separate,’ insisted Kozlov.

‘Then the planning is separate.’

‘All right,’ accepted Kozlov, without a choice.

Charlie looked at the dashboard clock, trying to calculate the amount of time he needed: it was fortunate the difference was so great, between Tokyo and London. A lot of potential problems still remained. He wished he’d thought it out and synchronized the possible flight schedules. Caught by a sudden doubt, Charlie said: ‘She speaks English?’

‘Perfectly,’ assured Kozlov.

‘The bookshop tonight?’ said Charlie. ‘Will just that one occasion be sufficient for her to recognize me?’

‘I hope so.’

‘It must be more than hope!’ insisted Charlie.

‘She’ll recognize you,’ guaranteed Kozlov. ‘Where?’

‘There is a tourist bus which leaves the hotel at noon tomorrow: a city tour. Tell Irena to catch it.’

‘You will be on it?’

‘I will make contact with her,’ qualified Charlie. ‘She must wait.’

‘All the arrangements will be settled then?’

Charlie did not reply at once. Then he said: ‘Everything. And at the same time you must contact Fredericks; don’t forget the necessity to coordinate.’

‘I’ve thought about this for a long time,’ said Kozlov. ‘I’m not going to forget any necessity.’

Detecting what he thought to be doubt, Charlie said: ‘Don’t worry. I’ll get her out safely.’

‘I’ve been very careful, preparing her,’ said Kozlov.

‘I’ll protect her,’ insisted Charlie.

‘It is difficult for me to believe that after so long, everything will be settled by tomorrow,’ said Kozlov, distantly.

More positively than you imagine, thought Charlie. He said: ‘That’s how close it is, now.’

‘It must be over soon,’ said Kozlov. ‘There are some difficulties at the embassy.’

‘What difficulties?’

‘There is a security officer: it is obvious there is some suspicion developing.’

‘By tomorrow everything will be fixed,’ reassured Charlie.

‘We haven’t settled the terms,’ reminded Kozlov.

‘How much?’ asked Charlie. Would the man stick with the American demand or try to hype the price?

‘I’ve asked Washington for $500,000,’ said Kozlov. ‘I’ll want the same for Irena.’

‘Agreed,’ said Charlie, at once.

‘Index-linked, to take account of your inflation,’ continued Kozlov. ‘That’s what your Civil Servants get, isn’t it?’

This was one for the lecture rooms! thought Charlie. He said: ‘I’ll insist it’s index-linked.’

‘And something else,’ went on Kozlov. ‘I want it pegged to a fixed exchange rate against the dollar.’

‘I’ll arrange that also,’ said Charlie, using the immediate response to cover his reaction. That insistence could only mean that Kozlov ultimately intended to settle with his wife in America: another important warning to pass on to London. He said: ‘Is that all?’

‘Of course not,’ said Kozlov, just as quickly. ‘I want private health care for her: your National Health Service suffers delays.’

Definitely one for the training manual, decided Charlie. ‘That’s possible,’ he said. Kozlov had made an omission which confirmed Charlie’s thoughts about their eventually living in America.

As if aware of those thoughts — and the doubt — Kozlov said: ‘A house in Britain, as well … something that we can choose, after the necessary appearance change.’

An afterthought recovery? wondered Charlie. He said: ‘Where do you want the plastic surgery to be carried out?’ A hospital situation provided the best opportunity for a grab.

‘We’ll arrange that later,’ avoided the Russian.

The hospital potential was certainly something he should pass on to London, determined Charlie. He said: ‘We’ll meet every one of those conditions.’

‘And the amnesty?’ reminded the Russian.

‘A positive guarantee,’ assured Charlie. He saw Kozlov had brought the car back into the centre of the city and that they were very close to his hotel. He said: is there anything else?’

Kozlov stopped the car and removed the heavy spectacles, polishing them reflectively. The Russian looked quite different without them, Charlie saw, remembering the first night’s conversation with Fredericks: but he’d used them to drive for more than an hour, so there had to be a genuine need, beyond any minimal disguise. Kozlov said: ‘I can’t think of anything. It just seems there should be more.’

‘That’s always the impression,’ said Charlie. ‘Really, once the decision is made and the agreements reached, there isn’t.’

‘You’ve brought people across before?’

‘Yes,’ said Charlie.

‘Always successfully?’

Charlie hesitated. ‘I’ve always got the subject safely across,’ he said.

Kozlov isolated the qualification at once. ‘But others have been caught? Hurt?’

‘Not often,’ said Charlie.

‘I don’t want it to happen this time,’ said Kozlov.

‘Meet Fredericks tomorrow,’ insisted Charlie.

‘Noon,’ agreed Kozlov.

‘And where’s Irena to meet me?’

Kozlov smiled at the rehearsal. ‘On a tourist bus, from the New Otani. Noon as well.’

There was a need to hurry the Russian on, before he began thinking too deeply about the arrangements. Charlie said: ‘We won’t meet any more, not until after the crossing. From now on, it must be exclusively between Irena and myself. I’ll explain everything to her tomorrow.’

‘I understand,’ said Kozlov.

‘The offer to both of you, to come with me, is still there,’ said Charlie. He knew it was a waste of time but he hoped it would further deflect the man.

‘We’ve been through that,’ said Kozlov, dismissively.

Remembering Kozlov’s own remark, Charlie said in repeated reassurance: ‘By this time tomorrow, everything will be settled.’ Kozlov looked more like a senior clerk than a killer, he thought.

‘At last!’ said Kozlov, the relief obvious.

It really did seem to be resolving itself very easily, thought Charlie: maybe too easily. He opened but held the door and said: ‘Next time we meet we’ll laugh about it.’

‘I hope so,’ said Kozlov. ‘You can walk from here?’

‘I need to think,’ answered Charlie, honestly. And hurry, he thought.

The lobby travel desk was still open and the clerk found in minutes a 6 p.m. flight from Osaka the following day, possible by catching the 3 p.m. Bullet train from Tokyo. Tight but feasible, decided Charlie, booking both. Luck seemed to be with him: he hoped it stayed that way. He guessed London wouldn’t like the idea. Be careful, the Director had insisted: so he was simply obeying orders. It was ironic, Charlie thought, that he was using Hong Kong and wasn’t going to see Harry Lu after all. Always return through the colony, he supposed: be a good way to celebrate, a few drinks with an old mate. London — or rather Harkness — wouldn’t like that either, which was tough shit. Good reason for doing it, in fact. Reward, for a job well done.

When he called Fredericks, the American said: ‘Quite the operator!’

‘You couldn’t expect to get away with it!’ said Charlie, impatiently.

‘Well?’

‘We need to meet,’ said Charlie.

‘Tomorrow,’ said Fredericks.

‘Tonight,’ insisted Charlie.

Only at the end of setting out his impressions of the meeting with Kozlov did Charlie remember the photograph of the woman. He took it from his pocket, frowning down.