Brian Freemantle - The Watchmen

“What can you tell us?” demanded Pavin.

“About what?”

“Nikov’s murder. And about Valeri Karpov.”

“Nothing. There’ll have been things stolen from my apartment, too. I’ll sue for that, as well!”

“I told you to stop being ridiculous,” said Pavin.

“The arrest sheet lists four handguns-two American Smith and Wessons-found in your apartment,” said Danilov.

“Not an offense,” said Lasin.

“Nikov and Karpov were shot. You think we might find the bullets came from one of your guns if we did a ballistics test?”

“Wasting your time.” The man sneered.

“Maybe we should extend the tests: compare the bullets recovered in other murders and shootings? There was a lot when the Osipov brigade fought for control of the Vnukovo Airport area.” Pavin spoke to Danilov, not the gangster.

“That’s a good idea,” accepted Danilov. “We’ll do that.”

“All right!” said Lasin with impatient bravado. “What do you want? However much it is, call Vladimir Leonidovich and he’ll pay you.”

“Shouldn’t we negotiate through someone here in the building?” Danilov asked casually.

For the first time Lasin regarded them warily. “Who are you?”

The recognition was obvious when Pavin identified them. Lasin sat down. He said, “I want a lawyer.”

“You’ve been seeing too many American films,” said Pavin. “The only rights you have are those we allow you, and we’re not allowing you any.”

“What am I being held for?”

“Suspicion of murder, until we complete all the ballistics tests on those guns,” said Pavin. “Could take a long time.”

“Weeks,” agreed Danilov. “Not safe, leaving your apartment empty for weeks. Not in a place like Moscow.”

“I don’t know anything about Viktor Nikolaevich’s killing,” said the slightly built man.

“But you knew he was in Moscow?”

“He was often in Moscow. He dealt in cars. So do I.”

“Cars stolen in the West?” said Pavin. “We’ll check out the ones you’ve got, see if there’s anything we can make a case on. That’ll take even longer.”

“I don’t know anything!” protested the man. “Viktor Nikolaevich arrived two weeks ago. We did a bit of business-car business. I thought he’d gone back. I haven’t seen him for more than a week.”

“What did he tell you he was doing?”

“Looking at cars.”

“What else?”

“He said he had some people to see. He didn’t say about what.”

“Selling weapons?” pressed Pavin.

“I don’t know anything about selling weapons.”

“You knew he did. You alibied him before.”

“I didn’t do anything with him.”

“How did you know him?”

“We grew up together in Gorki.”

“You got a resident’s permit to be here in Moscow?” said Pavin. “You could be sent back if you haven’t. You could have a lot of problems, one way and another.”

“The only dealings I had with Viktor Nikolaevich were about cars.”

“What about Igor Baratov?” demanded Danilov.

“I don’t know. Ask him.”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.”

“He do business with you?”

“Sometimes.”

“Dealing in cars?”

“Yes.”

“What else?”

“Nothing.”

“Not weapons?”

“No.”

“Osipov deal in weapons?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you know?” Pavin cut in. “You work for him.”

“I don’t know all of what Mikhail Vasilevich does.”

“But you do work for him?”

“I look after-service and maintain-the cars he uses in his businesses.” All the bombast had gone. Lasin was sweating, even though it wasn’t hot in the cell.

“So you must know what his other businesses are?” Danilov came back into the questioning.

“No! People come to me, say they work for Mikhail Vasilevich and he’s told them to bring their car to me. I check and if Mikhail Vasilevich says he knows them, I do the car.”

“You must see a lot of people,” encouraged Pavin.

“A few.”

“Hear a lot of interesting things?”

Lasin didn’t reply.

“You ever hear about other brigades dealing in weapons?”

“There’s a lot of weapons around, now the army’s been reduced.”

“Special weapons? Like germ warheads?”

Lasin shook his head. “Don’t know about special weapons. Warheads.”

“What about ordinary weapons?”

“No.”

“How long have you and Vladimir been together?” demanded Danilov, nodding toward the adjoining cell.

Lasin blinked at the abrupt change of direction. “None of your business.”

“You choose him that young so he wouldn’t have AIDS?”

“That’s nothing to do with you, either.”

“I don’t like you,” Danilov said conversationally. “I don’t like your attitude, and I think there’s a lot more you could tell us that you think you don’t have to. So here’s how I see it. We’ll hold you while we check out those guns against the Nikov and Karpov murders. And the other killings during the turf wars. I’m sure we’ll be able to make a case against Osipov for having some stolen cars in that fleet you look after for him. No need to hold your boyfriend, though. We’ll let Vladimir go. Tell him why we’re keeping you, so he’ll know you’re being cooperative. Won’t have to worry you’re being roughed up in here at least.”

“I haven’t helped you with information about stolen cars!”

“You ever been to Lefortovo?” Pavin broke in. “Hell of a prison. That’s where you’ll be held while we’re checking all this out. They don’t use condoms. That’s how AIDS got so bad there in the first place. You watch yourself, Anatoli Sergeevich. It won’t be easy but try to choose your partners. Whatever happens, don’t get gang raped.”

“No,” pleaded the man in a soft voice. “Please, no. You can’t. You do this I’m dead, either way.”

“You recognized our name,” said Danilov. “So you know about us. Know we do our jobs properly, mean what we say. Have to check out information we get. I don’t see any other way ….”

“Osipov has got someone here, someone inside. I don’t know who but I’ll find out-tell you.”

“I’m not investigating internal corruption.” Danilov dismissed his offer. “This is more important.”

“Outside!” blurted the man. “Outside bulls. That’s the story going around. Brought in specially to make the hit on Nikov and the other man.”

“Brought in from where?” asked Pavin.

“I don’t know . I honestly, genuinely don’t know. What I’ve told you is all I know. About the killing, I mean.”

“What did Nikov tell you?” demanded Danilov.

“He was meeting people. Setting up a deal.”

“With a germ warhead?”

“I think so.”

“Did he have one when he was here?” Danilov asked urgently.

The man shook his head. “I’m not sure. I don’t think so. He said there was a lot of money involved and that he’d cut me in for that alibi. That all I’d have to do was drive up and down to Gorki a few times. I assumed he meant to transport something.”

“Did he see Baratov while he was here?”

“He said he was going to. I don’t know if he did.”

“Where’s Baratov live?” said Pavin.

“Ulitza Krasina 28. Third floor.”

“Where did Nikov live, when he was here in Moscow?”

“This time at the Metropole. Said he wanted to impress the people he was going to meet.”

“You sure you don’t know who they were?” said Pavin.

“No!”

“Who do you think they might have been?” pressed Danilov.