Brian Freemantle - Kings of Many Castles

“Maybe even more than one,” suggested Anne. “Think about it. Nothing adds up. Every move we’ve made-every move anyone else has made, as far as we’re aware-always runs into a brick wall.”

“Are you suggesting someone at our level?” pressed Charlie, feeling the beginning of a chill at his recognition of how much sense Anne’s remark made.

“I’m just pointing out that we’ve been made to dance around in circles and for that to happen so consistently it would be useful for the bad guys to have someone very close to the investigation.”

“You think Okulov is masterminding it to get the presidency? That’s the only level with a link to the FSB-or rather the KGB before it-that makes sense.”

“I’m not sure what I think,” said Anne, uncharacteristically careless.

Okulov-through Trishin being on the commission-wasn’t the only one who fitted, thought Charlie. He ran the rest-their faces even-through his mind, desperate for a more likely suspect. And failed. Which didn’t prove anything. Nothing was provable. The whole thing-the entire speculation-was based upon a casual, throwaway aside that just, only just, might have sinister implications. But from her chairmanships of both the Russian coordinating groups and the presidential commission Natalia perfectly fitted the incriminating profile. Which was absurd. What reason-what possible purpose-could there be for Natalia even to be remotelyconnected-the ultimate of unacceptable absurdities-with the killing and maiming of people. And yet …?

It had been a working dinner and the recalled James Scamell had, only minutes before, quit the Regents Park official residence of the United States ambassador to England, leaving Anandale and Wendall North alone together.

Anandale said, “You sure the plug will hold?”

“They’re short eleven documents, three the minutes of the meetings at which the decision was made to contribute the soft $750,000 to your campaign and in which you were specifically named,” assured the chief of staff. “I’ve got the chief exec’s personnel guarantee they’re shredded. What’s left is a general discussion, about election funding. As far as the paper trail goes, it was a discussion upon which no action was taken, no names mentioned.”

“How many of the board know?”

“Five.”

“What if they’re subpoenaed?”

“They’d fall too. Diverting company funds without stockholders-and the full board’s-approval is fraud, a criminal offense.”

“They could plea bargain. Cop an amnesty for turning State’s evidence.”

“They’re firm. There’s insufficient to pressure any of them.” Anandale swirled the brandy in his snifter. “How long before the Grand Jury’s concluded?”

“Two weeks. And from now on it’s the dregs, no one who can hurt us,” guaranteed North. “You’re still high on the sympathy wave and the media are taking the duty-before-personal-safety line of your going back for the funeral.”

“Three specialists have so far decided there’s nothing that can be done for Ruth. Only two to go.”

“I’m very sorry to hear that, Mr. President.”

“Find more doctors, Wendall. Better qualified. We can’t let her stay like she is. She’s too proud.”

The chief of staff looked unnecessarily at his watch. “Donnington will still be up at the hotel. I’ll call him right away.”

“Let’s go outside the country-Europe’s fine-if he gets the name of the right man.”

“I’ll make sure Donnington understands.”

“You really think I should do what Scamell wants in Moscow after all the speculation?”

“Kayley doesn’t buy it. And we’ve been through the protection arrangements with a finetoothed comb. Aston says it’s safe. It’s been rehearsed so many times everyone can do it in their sleep.” Wendall North had ensured that this time there wasn’t a single security provision or objection in which he was a named participant.

“I want everyone with their eyes wide open,” said Anandale.

Charlie stayed late into the evening, alone in his own embassy office, going through everything-even the CNN film-knowing it was ridiculous but having to acknowledge that Anne Abbott’s suggestion deserved consideration and that when it was considered, Natalia was the best placed of any possible suspects to be an inside source. He couldn’t-wouldn’t-contemplate her being involved-aware in advance-in the actual murders. That was totally unthinkable. But examined closely-and Charlie’s examination was microscopic-that wasn’t what the lawyer had theorized. Anne Abbott had been referring to the almost orchestrated confusion afterwards. Which still didn’t make sense. Wasn’t it as unthinkable that she’d become inveigled afterwards? Knowing complicity after the crime would be as bad-as criminally culpable-as knowing of it before. He asked himself if she could have acted un knowingly and decided that was impossible: Natalia was far too astute to allow herself to be used unknowingly. It was only when he spread the reflection to honesty and integrity, trying to imagine any conceivable situation in which she’d be prepared to sacrifice either, that Charlie felt the first real flicker of unease. He didn’t doubt that Natalia would abandon honesty and integrity-even contemplate breaking the law-to protect Sasha. And the risk to Sasha-the upheaval to their daughter more than anything that might happen to her-had been Natalia’s constant, corrosive fear ever since she’d moved into Lesnaya. Still not enough; still unthinkable. There wasn’t even circumstantial evidence.It was circumstantial- very circumstantial-hypotheses at best. Or worse.

It was past nine when he finally got home, going directly to the drink’s tray when he entered the apartment.

Natalia said, “I could have kept something. Waited so we could have eaten together if you’d called to say you were on your way.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“A development?”

Charlie shook his head. “Complete review for tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow’s only a formality, surely?”

It was obvious she’d know that, Charlie accepted. “Lawyers wanting to know we’re prepared for the unexpected.”

“Are you?”

Charlie hesitated, wondering if he were good enough to make their conversation a test, remembering he’d once before been able verbally to trick her. “We don’t know enough to be prepared for anything, expected or otherwise. What happened with you today?”

Natalia said, “I came closer than I ever want to come again to being washed away,” and Charlie’s feet twitched and he wished they hadn’t.

Charlie listened with a divided mind, assessing her account as she wanted him to but at the same time unsuccessfully searching for any nuance that might resolve the doubt created by Anne Abbott. When Natalia finished he said, “Did you think you could manage it?”

“Not at first.”

“Now comes your report,” said Charlie. Would there be any indication now?

“Filitov and Trishin said they needed time to read all the statements, which is ludicrous. There’s only Karelin.”

“What’s your opinion?”

“Serious maladministration within the FSB.”

“But not complicity?”

“Someone with access has to be part of it.”

She’d personally gone to the Lubyanka, supposedly to pressure Spassky, had actually talked to him afterwards about how lapse internal security was. And she’d knew her way around the building. “You going to say that?”

“It’s obvious. We’d make ourselves look stupid not to.”

“What if Filitov and Trishin don’t agree?”

“I don’t see how they can disagree. If they do I can record a dissenting opinion.”

“Will you?”