Brian Freemantle - No Time for Heroes

There were expressions of satisfaction from both men. Yerin said: ‘You’re talking of satisfying American opinion. Does Cowley know about your meeting us? About this conversation?’

Definitely the cleverer, thought Danilov. This was probably going to be the most difficult part. ‘You have some photographs of him, with the dead woman. And of my wife with her, as well.’

The smiles went, replaced by expressions of wariness. Gusovsky said: ‘So that’s the exchange? The photographs – and the negatives, of course – for selectively presenting Antipov’s evidence?’

‘No,’ said Danilov, causing the confusion he wanted.

‘What then?’ frowned Gusovsky.

‘We haven’t talked yet of Switzerland,’ reminded Danilov.

‘We were going to,’ promised Yerin.

‘Let’s do it now,’ suggested Danilov. Already knowing the answer but having to ask the question, he said: ‘Did you try to access the account?’

‘It’s blocked,’ said Gusovsky.

‘With thirty million dollars in it,’ enticed Danilov.

‘At your last meeting you said you controlled it,’ said Yerin.

‘It becomes unfrozen the moment I officially inform the Swiss government the investigation is complete. Which it is,’ said Danilov.

‘Go on,’ urged Gusovsky, beginning to smile again.

‘The government are going to recover it. The bureaucracy will take time. I’m involved at every stage, but not directly responsible, if that bureaucracy goes wrong. Which bureaucracy often does… So I can orchestrate everything. I’ll trigger the release the day after tomorrow. You’ve got the replacement Founder’s Certificate: present it at the opening of financial trading that day. It will take a further day to be formally registered…’ He paused, wanting the announcement to be dramatic. ‘… Four days from now, at the opening of trading in Switzerland, you’ll have unrestricted control of thirty million dollars, maybe for as long as a week. It won’t take you more than a week to move it all somewhere else, will it?’

Again – although more briefly this time – the Mafia leaders didn’t speak. But again it was Yerin who did break the silence. ‘I think we could probably do it in under a day.’

‘So what’s the deal you want?’ persisted Gusovsky.

‘I can’t suppress or edit the evidence alone. Or by myself create the untraceable delay in recovering the money. There’ll have to be substantial payments to others,’ declared Danilov. ‘I want a very substantial payment, for myself and for the others involved, a week from now…’ He allowed the brief silence, although it was obvious he had not finished speaking. ‘… And I want, before I do anything about the money in Switzerland or about adjusting the statements that incriminate you, all the photographs and all the negatives…’ He allowed himself to smile at last. ‘It’ll be payment in two parts: photographs first, then money. How does that seem?’

‘I think that’s very fair,’ said Gusovsky, without bothering to consult the other man.

‘We haven’t decided what substantial means,’ said Danilov.

‘What’s your figure?’ asked Yerin.

‘What’s yours?’ bargained Danilov.

‘Our relationship is to be ongoing?’ said Yerin.

‘That’s what we both want, isn’t it?’ said Danilov.

‘How about a clear million dollars from the Swiss money?’ sugested Yerin. ‘We’ll fix a permanent weekly retainer: no need to hurry about that, we’ll decide the figure when all this is settled. But it’ll be good; very good. You name the Western car you want and you get it. Anything, in fact – clothes for your wife, whatever you want for your home. You’re never going to have to worry about anything for the rest of your life…’

Was this the sort of arrangement Kosov, cringing outside, enjoyed? He had the car, and there was always the wad of dollars. ‘A clear million?’ qualified Danilov. It would be wrong to appear overwhelmed, although he was. ‘Deposited in Switzerland, I think.’

Gusovsky nodded. ‘How much, for the others?’

‘Two-hundred-and-fifty thousand.’

‘Is Cowley one of those others?’

‘Additional.’

‘So he knows?’ said Yerin.

‘How could he not know?’

‘What does he say?’ asked Gusovsky.

‘All that is necessary for America is a conviction for the two Washington murders. He has no interest in anything else: anything in Russia. Unless, of course, it’s forced upon him.’

Yerin gave a hunch of his shoulders at the threat, as if he were laughing, although he didn’t. ‘What does he want?’

Danilov smiled. ‘To hear the outcome of my meeting with you today.’

‘Suggest half a million,’ said Gusovsky. He stretched across the table, offering his hand. ‘This is going to be a very good arrangement.’

Danilov completed the handshake. Yerin extended his hand, sensing his partner’s gesture, and Danilov shook that as well, then said: ‘There is one problem, of course. Antipov will know his statement has been tampered with, when he gets to court. He’s made it as full as he has, to get a prosecuting deal.’

‘ His problem,’ said Gusovsky at once. ‘You’ve got access to him: remind him we forgive him, so far. But just this far. He’s to take things the way they’re presented, to the prosecutor and then in court. He’ll have to serve some time, after the sentencing, until he’s forgotten in the system. Then we’ll get him out and he’ll be looked after very well. He knows it’s possible, because he’s helped us do it before…’ The thin man stopped and Yerin took over, almost as if they had prepared themselves, which Danilov accepted wouldn’t have been possible.

Yerin said: ‘If he doesn’t – if he argues or thinks he can get a better deal from the authorities – you tell him we will have him killed. Not at once. For as long as it pleases us there won’t be a moment when he’ll be safe from attack: not even if he goes into solitary confinement. And he will be attacked. Badly. He’ll be crippled and he’ll be blinded and then he’ll be killed. You tell him all those things, just like I’ve told you. He’ll believe it because he knows we can do it.’

Danilov certainly believed it. Antipov would be tortured and killed: so would Maksim Zimin, when they learned the man was being brought back from Italy after his trial there. Danilov didn’t think any precaution or protection he tried to evolve would prevent it happening. ‘I’ll make sure he understands.’

‘A very good arrangement,’ repeated Gusovsky.

‘I want it even better,’ said Danilov. ‘I don’t see any reason to go on arranging our meetings through Yevgennie Kosov. You’ll have my direct line. I want always to be able to contact you quickly…’ Danilov finished the demand by offering the card with his Petrovka number.

Gusovsky at once responded with the number Danilov already had, of the house at Kutbysevskij Prospekt.

‘And I’d like the photographs and negatives. Tomorrow. They’re no further use to you, now we’ve reached this understanding.’

‘None at all,’ agreed Yerin. ‘Best got out of the way. Forgotten.’

‘Be our guests for lunch here,’ suggested Gusovsky.

‘I’d like that,’ accepted Danilov.

‘Will the American join us?’ invited Gusovsky.

‘I’m sure he’ll be delighted.’

‘It could be a really good arrangement,’ said Gusovsky.

‘The best,’ agreed Yerin. ‘By releasing the photographs, we get the money. From it we can easily pay out less than two million dollars to get not just one but two investigators on the payroll. Once we create an account for Danilov in Switzerland, he’s ours. We can bargain the details of wherever we pay Cowley his money to the Genovese in New York, which gives them a senior executive in the FBI. It’s perfect! And it doesn’t cost us a single kopek!’