M. Forsythe - While Rome Was Sleeping

His face and voice were expressionless as Ramsey looked at Andrew and Jim. He then pressed the intercom button saying slowly, “Ms. Porter will see you out.”

Jim looked at Ramsey, “Remember what I said, I will be back.”

Connie Porter had appeared as if by magic; a frozen smile on her face, she stood by the door waiting to close it as the two men passed her on their way out. Andrew already in the corridor stopped and stepping back through the doorway looked at Ramsey, “I’ll be calling about that GCI interview, Mr. Ramsey. You might want to talk it over with Mr. Carr.”

Outside Jim rendered surprise, “GCI? What was that about, Andy,” Jim quizzed Andrew as they returned to the car. “What is all this stuff about GCI International? Is that what you wanted to talk with Klein about? If so I think you may have tipped your hand.”

Andrew laughed, “Yeah, well don’t complain… I certainly didn’t expect you to accuse Ramsey of murder… twice! Wow! Did you see his face? I figured that I’d push him a little farther after you set him up. “He is very, very uncomfortable about our visit today and with any luck some of his associates won’t be happy either. “Now it’s our turn to watch. Yes, in answer to your question, Jim, GCI may well be a key to help sink Mr. Ramsey and some of his friends.”

Washington D.C.

Fred Wellman and Neil Klein looked at each other in surprise at hearing Nancy’s announcement that Lu Chan was waiting to see them.

“He’s here?” Fred asked.

Nancy responded, “Yes, he is in Mr. Klein’s office.”

“We’ll be right there,” Neil said excitedly.

A well dressed Chinese man was seated thumbing through the Washington Post which he folded and laid aside as Fred and Neil strode into the office.

The two men greeted Lu Chan with warm handshakes both expressing pleasure and surprise.

“What brings you to Washington?” Neil inquired.

“I had orders to report to Langley…” Lu Chan looked at Fred, “Something about a new assignment. I thought I would try to see you and perhaps answer any questions that you might have. You see, I learned that George Kelshaw was killed in Seattle and I wanted to make certain that the information he was carrying reached you.”

Neil was the first to speak and nodded affirmation, saying, “Yes, it’s true about George. With the help of a friend of Jack Hubbard’s, a newspaperman named Andrew Kincaid, the packet with the information is in our hands. Fred and I have been deciphering some of the material from the packet.”

Fred spoke, “We know most of the pieces of what happened to Paul Thayer and General Chernakov, except for the time between Nanning and your last contact with Chernakov.”

Lu Chan nodded, “I will fill in some of the details for you,” he said remembering the last times he had interacted with Chernakov.

“After our meeting in Nanning and learning that I was his contact, Chernakov went on to Hanoi to complete his mission for the Defense Ministry to obtain the captured American air navigation equipment and arrange for its delivery to the Soviet Union.”

Lu Chan went on, “As he expected, it took approximately seven months to complete the negotiations for the equipment and arrange for its transport. I was in Hanoi again shortly before.

“We were not in contact until immediately before he left for Moscow. He indicated that there would be another assignment to Hanoi and it would be his last before he could escape. I assured him he would be provided with weather updates on his return.”

Fred and Neil were listening intently as Lu Chan quietly told the story of Chernakov’s preparations to defect.

“When he came back to Hanoi in January, we met briefly at China’s military Headquarters to discuss some matters regarding U.S. prisoners. The General was very cautious in our meeting. He told me he had had a conversation with GRU Chief, Yuri Karpov before leaving Moscow, Karpov told him of a suspected defection of a very important high level person. Chernakov said the information had been given Karpov by a contact in a cell group he had been working with in Paris. His contact was a woman from Saigon.”

“Lia Duprè,” Neil interrupted; her name was Lia Duprè.”

Nodding, Lu Chan continued, “Two days later, Chernakov contacted me—it was brief. He told me Karpov was at the Soviet Embassy in Hanoi. He was to meet him that afternoon.

“I gave him the information and the location where he would rendezvous with Thayer and he committed it to memory. He would be picked up the next morning by a Chinese supply truck, I would be the driver. The destination was an abandoned airfield in Laos.”

The embassy was quiet when Chernakov arrived and was escorted into an office where Yuri Karpov waited. “Good afternoon, Comrade General,” Karpov smiled, “You are surprised to see me here so soon after we last talked; yes?”

Thoughtfully, Chernakov nodded, “Yes, Colonel; I find it surprising that you are here, considering the topic of conversation at our last meeting. Either the reason you are here is more important or you found the defector or perhaps you found that the information was incorrect. In any case, you wanted to meet with me today; how can I be of service?” Chernakov asked calmly.

The GRU chief studied Chernakov a moment before answering, “Yes, Chernakov, it is important; the information is correct. The defector is the reason I am here.”

Chernakov winced internally at Karpov’s announcement, though outwardly he remained reserved and business-like. “I am very interested in your discovery, Comrade,” he said.

“You should be General; you will find it very interesting. It was a process of elimination that led me to my conclusion. There are a few in our country that would cause some concern should they decide to leave; artists particularly make good propaganda for the West. They are often used by the American press and Hollywood. Naturally they cause embarrassment. We have been very watchful of our performers—they are not allowed to travel easily.

“Then, there are those who work in embassies and the United Nations in the U.S., but they have no reason to defect. They are able to enjoy the decadent capitalist lifestyle in their assignments. Besides, many of them have much to hold them in USSR, families, spouses and children.

“So I asked myself who is well known; what kind of person would be a large coup for America…? Who would stand out on the world stage as a great loss for USSR? Who has no one to hold him? Then I know, Chernakov, it is you!

“For all the reasons we send you here to Hanoi and to Bejing and Havana to negotiate; and to state our interests to the West and NATO countries. You who are a hero to our people… of all possibilities, Chernakov, it is you.”

Karpov had stood with his back toward Chernakov and whirled around pointing his finger in Pyotr’s face he stated again, loudly this time, “It is you!”

Also standing now, Chernakov inhaled deeply and looked down into the watery eyes of the GRU chief, speaking slowly and with restrained anger, “You know Colonel, some situations can withstand the strain of false accusations, however, I will tell you this is not one of them.

“Although I consider myself to be a somewhat modest man, I believe my service to my country speaks for itself and let me assure you that this accusation will not be forgiven by me and certainly not by the Politburo or I doubt by Brezhnev himself.

“I want you to know, Karpov, you have overstepped your authority and it will not be forgotten!” Chernakov saw a moment of doubt register on Karpov’s face.

“I am leaving now, Colonel; I have some military business to attend to with some of our Chinese and North Vietnamese Comrades, that will take me on another journey into Laos regarding some American prisoners; this meeting is over.