You certainly did.
The thing is, what happens now?
Oh, thats easy. President Vladimir Putin visits the European Unions Paris conference tomorrow, then he intends to divert to London, have a chat with the Prime Minister, stay at the Dorchester and fly back to Moscow in the morning.
What for?
Oh, a remarkable story of greed, corruption and politics, which has only unfolded within the past hour on my screens. Ive tried Ferguson, but he isnt replying.
Flat on his back below, they all are.
Not surprising. How far to Oban?
Id have said two hours, but theres quite a sea running. Its going to get worse. You could do me a favor and alert Lacey and Parry.
Will do. Ill leave the juiciest details of the Putin visit until I see you, except to say hell have an interesting guest with him at the Dorchester Josef Belov.
Dillon was stunned. How can that be? and then he saw it. Max Zubins going to do Belov again in London?
Something like that. Well talk again.
Dillon thought about it, then put the boat on automatic pilot and went below to tell Ferguson the extraordinary news.
In Moscow at the Kremlin, Max Zubin, bundled out of bed at Station Gorky, ordered to be dressed and ready in an hour, then flown at what had seemed like express speed, stood in front of Volkovs desk.
You have a wonderful opportunity to serve your country. Your finest hour. You will visit Paris as part of the Presidents entourage, travel to London to perform the same service at the Dorchester Hotel, and then return to Moscow.
But what is the service I perform, Comrade?
Just your role as Josef Belov. There will even be appearances on television. Im sure youll do very well.
Yes, but in the theater were expected to know our lines.
Thats really very good. Theres a press release here. Have a quick look.
Zubin scanned it and handed it back. I see.
So now you know what its about if anyone talks to you, but well keep conversation to a minimum. Just remember you are Josef Belov.
Except to my captors.
Dont be silly, those who guard you at Station Gorky call you Belov because thats who they think you are. Of course, your controller listening to your phone calls knows.
Can I see my mother while Im here?
If you introduce yourself as a friend. After all, you couldnt possibly be her son, if you follow me. You were bearded thats who Mikhail, her chauffeur, knew.
Zubin shook his head. So my driver, Ivan Kurbsky, thinks Im the real Belov?
Of course.
Im just like the King in The Prisoner of Zenda.
What on earth are you talking about?
Im sorry, I got confused. May I go?
Right now.
Zubin got out fast, and was escorted to his limousine. He gave Ivan, the driver, his mothers address and sat back, brooding. When they reached the destination, Zubin put on his sternest voice.
You will wait here. I am visiting a friend. One hour and then we go to the hotel.
It was his mother who answered the door, and her face lit up. How handsome you look, and she drew him in.
Wheres Sonia?
Very ill. Shes gone to stay with her sister. Come and sit down. Why didnt you let me know you were coming?
I didnt know myself. Things are moving very fast.
She gave him a vodka and sat beside him, holding his hand. So tell me about it.
My performance, Mama? He swallowed the vodka. The greatest of my life. He handed her his glass. Give me another.
Sitting in Ropers computer room at Holland Park, they were all there. Ferguson said, Any trouble with the girl?
Not particularly. She thinks shes being held illegally, of course.
Tough luck. After some of the stunts shes pulled, shes lucky not to be in a cell. Now lets get down to it. Whats going on?
Before I start, can I ask you if the Prime Minister knows about the playacting over Belov?
Yes, President Cazalet discussed it with him. Its one of those things where they prefer not to know officially, if you follow me, but I keep him informed. Anyway, whats it all about?
Putin has a meeting in Paris with the EU, then he visits London, spends a night at the Dorchester trade delegation stuff then dinner with the Prime Minister.
Go on.
Lurking amongst his staff will be one Josef Belov.
Whats the purpose of his presence?
To be seen, to have him on television close to Putin, with any luck close to the Prime Minister. He wont have a lot to say, if anything. Theyll keep tight control.
Any interviews?
No, but there will be a press release.
What about?
The Belov Protocol.
And what in the hell is that?
Well, excuse me if it sounds like a lecture, but here goes. Some years ago, the old Soviet government was going through economic crisis after crisis, always short of the almighty dollar, so they started selling off government utilities at knockdown prices oil fields, gas, the wealth of Siberia. The oligarchs came along, men like the robber barons in the old days in the USA, men like Belov. He started with a billion, and the word is he got it from Saddam. In oil alone, his wealth can only be measured in billions.
Yes, I know that, Ferguson said.
Then, when the Rashid Empire was up for grabs, he took over.
So where is this getting us? Dillon asked.
To the United Nations Common Policy Division. Belov International has become so enormous, its tentacles reach every developing country in the world. Its truly global. Can you imagine the effect all that could have if it was controlled by a single government?
The Russian Federation? Ferguson asked.
Many Russian politicians think it was a mistake to allow the States assets to pass into private ownership in the first place. Times have changed, Putin is a hard man, the Russians like strength. Things are getting more like the Cold War every day. Now is the time for a truly magnificent gesture from a Russian hero, Josef Belov. Hell sign an item called the Belov Protocol, transferring all of Belov International into the hands of the government of the Russian Federation.
Just a minute, Harry said. If this United Nations outfit was worried about Belov International putting things out of balance, being too powerful, they arent going to be too happy about Russia taking over.
Neither will the United States nor the UK nor Europe, Ferguson put in.
Harry said, When I was young, under the Labor government after the war, we used to nationalize things, didnt we? Well, this would be something similar. Putting things back into government control.
And an incredible boost in power and prestige for Russia, Ferguson said.
Dillon nodded. All performed in front of cameras, Max Zubin standing in for Belov.
I hope hes practiced how to do Belovs signature, Harry said.
Oh, that will be taken care of, no problem, Roper said.
And the beautiful thing from their point of view is that we cant stand up and say, That isnt Josef Belov, Ferguson said. Because we blew him up.
So there it is. Roper shook his head. A wonderful confidence trick. I dont know about Putin, but Volkov must be laughing up his sleeve.
And theres nothing we can do about it? Billy asked.
Im not so sure. Dillon turned to Ferguson. Tomorrow night at the Dorchester, the Russian Embassyll have a reception. Putin will be there, the Prime Minister and Josef Belov.
What are you suggesting?
I think we should go. Billy and I got into Igor Levins room when he was there. I dont see why I couldnt manage the same thing where Max Zubin is concerned.
To what purpose?
I havent the slightest idea, but he might have things to say, some personal suggestions.
You know, I think you could be right. Ferguson nodded. Well go. You, me and Billy.
Excellent. Dillon turned to Roper. Youve often boasted in the past that if its out there in cyberspace, you can find it.
So what do you want me to do?
Go through the entire story from the beginning, access all Russian sources, check out whos going to be at the Dorchester function, what kind of security the Putin delegation will have. Something might be there, lurking in the woodwork. Everything in life has a flaw.
Well, if theres one to this whole affair, Ill find it.
12
And work at it Roper did. There wasnt an aspect of the entire affair that wasnt covered. All relevant traffic out and in at the Russian Embassy in London, traffic from the Kremlin, dealings with the IRA. It was never-ending.
Another interminable night, then, of sandwiches and whiskey and constant smoking, and Doyle, on the duty shift, bringing innumerable cups of tea.
At five oclock, Doyle pulled up the blinds. Dirty morning, raining away. He turned. Look, sir, dont you think youre overdoing it a bit?
You always are when youre looking for the little things, Sergeant, so it pays to take care. I learned that lesson with my last bomb in Londonderry. It was just a Mini car with a shopping bag on the rear seat, so I didnt treat it seriously.
Bad luck, sir.
Sheer carelessness, so it pays to take care. Check everything. At that precise moment, he was proved right.
The intercept was one of many relevant to Station Gorky, mainly messages to do with administration, work structure, now and then commands from Volkov himself. Roper was reviewing them, when he stopped, then frowned and reversed the screen listings. The message that had caught his eye referred to transportation for Belovs flight from Station Gorky, but not to Moscow Airport. Some little distance from it was the Belov Complex, which specialized in private planes, executive jets and the like, even courier aircraft from foreign countries, making their regular pilgrimages in and out with Embassy material.
The particular message made the point that Colonel Josef Belovs chauffeur, one Ivan Kurbsky, would meet the plane and transfer the Colonel straight to the Kremlin before Belov moved on to the Excelsior Hotel to his usual suite.
It hadnt struck Roper before, the reference to Belovs old KGB rank, and he went back to the beginning of the traffic from Moscow to Station Gorky. No reference to Max Zubin. Well, of course there wouldnt be. The whole emphasis was on Belov, even in the most trivial matters.
Perhaps he was tired, or slightly out of his mind by that stage, but a wild idea had formed in his head. Crazy, obvious and simple. What if everyone dealing with Max Zubin at Station Gorky actually believed he was Josef Belov?