Dan Fesperman - Lie in the Dark

Kasic looked as stunned as Vlado had hoped, though signs of anger quickly began moving across his features.

“Surely you don’t consider it to be in the ministry’s interest to be left in the dark on this matter. And surely you have no trouble sharing your findings with me,” Kasic said, his tone mildly incredulous.

“None whatsoever, if it were merely a matter of trust,” Vlado said. “It is more of a matter for your own protection, and for that of the ministry in general.” Kasic started to interrupt, but Vlado raised a hand and plunged on. “Please. Let me finish. Vitas was killed because of something he found out. Either he was trying to use the information to his own financial advantage or against someone else, but either way it got him killed. That being the case, I see no reason at this point to jeopardize further senior members of the ministry or the department in the same way, especially when, officially, your role in this case is only one of assistance.”

Then, before Kasic could break in, Vlado played his one and only bluff. “But more to the point is the matter of the independence of this investigation,” Vlado said. “You should be aware, sir, that certain people in the U.N. command have made it known to me that they are watching me closely to see that I maintain my ‘objectivity’-their word, not mine-and that I don’t cozy up to the ministry. I wouldn’t want to do anything that would damage the U.N.’s trust in the department, which, I can tell you on good authority, is quite high at the moment. I even considered canceling this appointment simply so I wouldn’t be seen entering or leaving the building. But I suppose one visit won’t be out of bounds as long as I don’t say too much.”

Vlado wondered for a moment if he’d laid it on too thick, but Kasic seemed more befuddled than skeptical. He’d clearly expected a full briefing without resistance. He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a fresh pack of Marlboros, this time not offering one to Vlado but absently lighting one for himself.

“As for your first reason,” Kasic said. “Your concern for members of the department is misplaced, not to mention unwise. For one thing, the more of us you keep informed-within reason, of course-the more you’ll guarantee your own security. The way I see it, working the case alone is what got Vitas killed, whether his motives were good or evil. A lone hunter is always an easier target.

“As for your worries about my safety, don’t be ridiculous. Part of my job is knowing how to take care of myself. We’re not some bunch of civilians who happened to have witnessed a crime and need protection. We are the law, and the more we know, the stronger our position.

“It’s your latter point that’s the sticky one, I suppose. Although I doubt that even the most exacting official from the U.N. command would interpret your ‘independence’ as precluding an informal debriefing from time to time.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that,” Vlado said, and decided to stop at that, to let the idea simmer a while longer. As the silence lengthened it was clear he’d put Kasic in a position he hadn’t been prepared to defend. How, indeed, could he force Vlado’s hand? Even if he suspected Vlado was exaggerating, he couldn’t be sure. His only alternative was to shut down Vlado’s investigation, and that would play poorly, not only in Sarajevo but probably in Washington, London, and Paris as well. He’d be able to deal with Vlado later, of course, but Vlado could worry about that some other time.

Vlado watched the emotions play out across Kasic’s face, and reflected once again that perhaps Kasic was in over his head in this new job. In years of following orders to the letter he’d had few chances to develop the right touch for leadership. Ruthless efficiency was sometimes a poor substitute for agility and flexibility, although sometimes it triumphed anyway from its own brute inertia.

Finally Kasic fell back on his standard opener. “So, then … Obviously you’re not budging. And where does that leave us, besides in the dark?”

“It leaves us, I hope, only a few days from getting results.”

“And you’ll have names for us then?”

“A few, probably. Or at the very least a general outline of the operation.” As Kasic digested this he appeared to be engaged in some inner debate. He hesitated a moment, then began haltingly. “Vlado. It might well … It might just behoove you to not rule out internal suspects. Within the ministry, I mean. Or perhaps that’s the reason for your hesitation at providing a briefing.”

It was hardly what Vlado had expected, but it was a relief, though he still had to tread lightly. “Do you have suspicions along these lines?” he asked Kasic.

“Vaguely. Nothing specific. Just talk, really. Old, loose talk within the ministry from weeks ago that, in light of what happened to Vitas, now takes on a different meaning. But nothing I can go into with you, at least, not until I know a few more specifics about what you’ve come up with.”

Vlado was tempted then and there to tell Kasic all he’d learned. The brown fatherly eyes now seemed more tragic than welcoming. It obviously pained Kasic to admit he might be at the helm of a corrupted ship, and once again he seemed overwhelmed by his new responsibilities.

But the urge passed. For one thing, offering a full briefing now would blow his cover story of U.N. scrutiny. For another, he still wasn’t sure who he could trust. Besides, if he changed his mind he could always contact Kasic tomorrow, or the day after. He did wonder what this “loose talk” must have been about, although it was clear he wasn’t going to get anything further without giving something in return. But there were other ways of getting information from the ministry, and that, too, would require some finesse.

“In the meantime,” Vlado said, “there is some help you could give me.”

“By all means,” said Kasic, brightening a bit.

“Your files.”

The frown returned.

“Nothing I haven’t seen already,” Vlado quickly added. “Just a few things in Vitas’s personnel folder I wanted to double-check, in light of what I’ve learned since.”

Kasic looked relieved. “No problem,” he said. “I’ve got some business out of the building to attend to, a meeting at the presidency building, so I’ll escort you there. Besides, we have a visitor in records right now who I wouldn’t mind impressing.” He added the latter archly, as if Vlado knew quite well what he was talking about, though he hadn’t a clue.

He led Vlado down a flight of stairs with a hand lightly on Vlado’s back, as if sheperding a son to the library with overdue books. They entered the double doors of the records department, its vast file room painted in several peeling layers of industrial green. Recent shelling aimed at the nearby presidential building had begun to knock loose some of the ceiling plaster, and a fine white dust coated the tops of the metal file cabinets, arranged in long, dreary rows.

Facing them across a wide counter was a fidgety-looking clerk who motioned over his shoulder as he leaned toward Kasic, whispering, “It’s Morris from the U.N., sir.”

“Quite all right,” Kasic whispered back. “I was notified.”

So, Vlado thought, the resident U.N. watchdog was here to poke around, although it was an open secret that in its guise of cooperation the government heavily sanitized anything the U.N. asked to see. Not that the U.N. ever asked for anything particularly recent or relevant, seeming just as out of touch with reality as any other of the world’s lumbering bureaucracies. Vlado knew it was the weak point in his cover story, although so far it seemed to be holding.

Kasic placed a hand firmly on Vlado’s right shoulder and leaned closer, whispering, “You’ll forgive me for a moment, Vlado, if I use you for a brief object lesson.”