Matthew Dunn - Spycatcher

Will nodded slowly. He kept his eyes locked on Lana. When he next spoke, it was with a firm and deliberate voice. “I can give you your life back.”

She frowned. “How?”

He rose from his chair and picked up his overcoat, then turned and looked down at Lana. “I’m going to try to lure him out into the open. And when he’s there, you can watch me steal his life.”

Sixty minutes later Will was in a taxi heading back to Charles de Gaulle International Airport. He took out his medication and popped pills into his mouth. He then realized that today was the first day he’d been without pain; his body was starting to feel strong and confident again. He reached into another pocket and pulled out Ewan’s cell phone. He knew that MI6’s European Controllerate would conduct a full analysis of all data within the phone, but right now he needed only one number. He found it and dialed.

On the fourth ring, a man answered. “Ewan, I was just thinking about you. Let’s meet soon. But nothing serious this time-just a few drinks.”

The man’s voice belonged to Harry, and he sounded jocular.

“Harry, this is Charles Reed. I’m with Ewan right now, and he’s lent me his phone to speak to you.”

“Ah, Charles. The messenger boy who does not like small talk. What can I do for you?”

Will smiled a little. “Ewan thought we had a good meeting last night. So did I. Listen, there have been some positive developments since we met, and I wondered if we could get together again. . just so I can run some ideas by you?”

There was a pause before Harry spoke. “Sure. Is Ewan going to join us?”

“Normally he would, but on this occasion it will just be me, I’m afraid.”

“Okay.” Harry sounded unfazed. “There’s one thing, though. After our meeting I had to dash straight off and catch a flight to Munich. I had some business problems to attend to in Germany. I thought I’d be back in Bosnia tonight, but it looks like I might be stuck here for a couple of days. Can our meeting wait?”

Will thought for a moment and then said, “It’s probably best that we meet sooner rather than later. I can be with you by early evening.”

“Great.” Harry sounded very upbeat. “It means that this old man will have some company tonight. Meet me at my hotel room in the Konigshof-it will be a bit more private. Say seven P.M.?”

“Done.” Will closed the cell phone and looked out the taxi window beside him. His car was pulling up at the airport. He checked his watch. He had just enough time to get his luggage out of storage and buy a business-class Lufthansa ticket for the early-afternoon flight.

Will walked through the grand lobby area of Munich’s finest five-star hotel and approached the concierge. He gave the name Charles Reed and said that he was expected by Harry Solberg, a guest of the hotel. The concierge checked a computer screen, nodded, and gave Will a room number and directions to see Harry.

Within two minutes Will was standing outside Harry’s room. He pulled out the purchase he’d made at a small shop on Rosenheimer Strasse during his journey from Munich’s airport to this hotel. He cupped the purchase in his left hand so that it was held flush against the back of his forearm, out of sight. He pressed the door’s buzzer.

“Charles, good to see you.” Harry was dressed in cream slacks and a pale pink shirt. He looked energized and extended a hand, which Will shook. He grinned, baring his white teeth. “Come and have a look at my room. It’s incredible.”

Will followed Harry into the room graded superior by the hotel. It was clear that Harry was a man of means who sought luxury. The place was as big as a reasonably large apartment.

“What do you think?” Harry stood with his back to Will, his arms outstretched.

Will stepped forward rapidly. He punched a knee into the small of Harry’s back and swept a leg around the man’s ankles, throwing his right arm around his throat. Harry fell to his knees. Will brought his left hand up before Harry’s face. He placed the tip of the German hunting knife against Harry’s right eye. He said nothing, holding the man in his frozen grip.

Harry remained absolutely still. “What in God’s name are you doing?”

Will did not reply.

“What have I done wrong?” Harry wheezed the words.

Will did not answer.

“What have I done wrong?” Harry repeated.

Will brought his mouth close to Harry’s ear. “Who else knew about our meeting last night?”

“If you mean did I tell anyone else that I was meeting you and Ewan, then the answer is no, I did not.”

“A lover? A business associate? Anyone?”

“Nobody.”

“Somebody knew.” Will tightened his grip. “Because after you left, a professional shot my colleague dead.”

“Ewan’s dead?”

“Yes.”

Harry wheezed again. “Mr. Reed, I’ve had to live my entire life being suspicious of people, and that includes people who might think they are friends or colleagues of mine. I would never have let slip to anyone that I was going to the Inat Kuca restaurant, let alone that I was meeting members of British Intelligence there. I have far too much to lose by being careless.”

“Someone could have followed you.”

“Could have, yes, but to what end? In any case, someone could have followed Ewan. Or you, for that matter.”

“We’re trained to spot surveillance. You’re not.”

“I thought you said Ewan was killed by a professional.”

Will moved his mouth away from Harry’s ear. He thought for a moment and leaned in again. “You were officially retired from service to MI6 over fifteen years ago. Why did you reapproach us after all of that time?”

Harry said nothing, and Will heard him breathe in deeply before exhaling.

“It is not a difficult question.” Will slightly adjusted his hold on the hunting knife while keeping its tip exactly in place against Harry’s eye.

Harry breathed again. “I know. But now that you have posed the question, I realize that my response will sound foolish.”

“Under the circumstances, sounding foolish should be of little concern to you.”

Harry groaned before speaking. “Lovers? Friends? I have none. For every million dollars that I have made, I have also made a hundred enemies. And that has suited me just fine. But enemies don’t give you adulation.”

“But you decided that MI6 could,” Will whispered into Harry’s ear. “Because we spend time with our agents, listen to them, tell them how vital their work is, and make them feel special.”

Harry seemed offended. “Certainly that’s what Ewan did for me. You’re obviously different.”

“Adulation?”

“I said it would sound foolish.”

Will moved the blade to Harry’s other eye. “Well, here I am, spending quality time with you and hanging on your every word.”

He could feel Harry’s heart pumping faster through his carotid artery.

Harry sighed. “Charles, you have to understand. I need this. I did nothing to compromise Ewan’s safety. I would never do anything to jeopardize my work for you guys.”

“And what exactly is that work?”

“I gave you a name. The woman Lana. You can use her to identify your target.”

“That means you are now redundant.”

“Only if you fail to realize my potential. You can use me in other ways: my knowledge, my contacts-God, you can even use my money if you need to.”

Will tightened his hand around the knife’s hilt. He knew that he would have to move the blade only a few millimeters to permanently blind Harry. He frowned as an idea came to him. “I have no need for your money. But I am prepared to test you and your contacts.” He smiled. “I want you to find out if there are any other IRGC officers working in Central Europe. I require only one name. And it is crucial that the person is working in an official capacity rather than covertly, maybe someone attached to an Iranian embassy or working as a military observer. Can you do that for me?”