On the instant, boss.
Always the clown, Igor. Luhzkov shook his head. Greta Novikova is still gainfully employed, I trust?
I wouldnt ask, Boris, I really wouldnt.
When Ferguson was admitted to Number Ten Downing Street, a waiting aide took him upstairs past the pictures of every past Prime Minister and along the corridor.
Five minutes only, General. Hes due at Northolt to greet Putin, but he did want a word with you.
He opened the door, Ferguson went in and there was the Prime Minister behind his desk. Sit down, General.
Thank you, Prime Minister.
I just want to reassure myself about certain, shall we say, unfortunate aspects of present events. Things are in order at the Dorchester, I take it?
I believe so, but Im visiting personally after our meeting.
Let me be plain, General Ferguson. I know I find it prudent on many occasions where matters of intelligence are concerned to look the other way, but aspects of my meeting today, this Belov Protocol? It cant be allowed to happen.
It wont, Prime Minister. Everything will be resolved within the next two days to your satisfaction. He smiled. Or you can have my resignation.
Oh, I wouldnt want that, so Ill just have to take your word for it. Now I must go. Northolt awaits.
The door behind was eased open as if by magic and Ferguson was eased out.
When the Daimler picked him up, Dillon and Billy were in the back and Ferguson climbed in. The Daimler pulled away and Dillon said, Where to?
The Dorchester. I want to check security.
Did the PM have much to say?
In five minutes? Hardly. Of course, he did tell me the Belov Protocol cant be allowed to happen, and I told him it would be resolved to his satisfaction over the next two days.
Charles, your confidence is breathtaking.
Youve got it wrong, Dillon. Its a sign of my total faith in your ability to achieve miracles.
Igor Levin made contact with his security colleagues at the hotel. The President, of course, was in the most exclusive suite at the very top of the hotel, members of his entourage on lower floors, Belov on floor five in a park suite. Everything seemed in order, so he went down to the Piano Bar and ordered a vodka in crushed ice, the special way they did it, the Dorchester way, got a couple of newspapers and went and sat by the piano and worked his way through them.
Someone brushed past him to the piano. He didnt look up, engrossed in what the Times was saying about Putin and Belov. The pianist started to play a song popular with soldiers during the war in Chechnya. Levin remembered it well, they all did, those young soldiers. Moscow Nights.
He looked up, and Sean Dillon, seated at the piano, said, We just wanted to make you feel at home, Igor, my old son, me and Billy here.
Billy was standing by the piano, arms crossed. That was quite a gig you played in Khufra, Captain. It was you who knocked off Tomac, we presume?
He annoyed me.
A right bastard. Screwed up our floatplane. We went in nose first for the deep six.
Levin stopped smiling. That was nothing to do with me. He hesitated. And Greta was with you in that plane?
Dillon said, I held her hand all the way up from the bottom.
Levin smiled again. How romantic. Shes well, I trust?
In excellent accommodation. Oh, here comes the boss.
Ferguson came down the steps from the bar. My dear chap, we keep missing each other. Tried to catch up again at Drumore Place yesterday, but you werent at home.
And neither was Ashimov. Dublin, I understand. Dillon shook his head. Liam Bell did a runner, but we depleted the ranks of the IRA.
You must be feeling pleased. Levin stood up.
Ferguson said, Dont go, join us in a drink.
Levin smiled. Now, that would really be too much. Im sure Ill see enough of you tonight.
He went out. Ferguson said, Pity, I rather liked him. Still, we can have something while were here, and he waved to Guiliano.
In the ballroom later that night, all London was there. Politicians by the score, big business, the media, anybody who was anybody and lots of men in black suits, ever watchful as waiters passed through the crowd with trays loaded with champagne, vodka, canapés.
They stand out a mile, dont they? Billy said to Dillon as they stood by a temporary bar.
Who do you mean?
The security men. Its the black suits.
Ferguson was away, glad-handing a few people. Dillon said, Just because Ferguson made us wear black tie for tonight, dont let it go to your head. Theres Igor Levin over there. Keep him in view and let him keep you in view. Im going up now to try and play Ropers trump card. He eased out of the crowd by the rear lift, pushed open a side door and ran up the stairs to the fifth floor. The room adjacent to Max Zubins suite was just around a bend in the corridor opposite. He produced his passkey and entered.
It was small, comfortably furnished, the door giving access to the living room of Zubins suite locked. Dillon slipped in an earpiece and listened. There was a sound of movement, but no voices.
He took off his coat, then removed a small suitcase from the wardrobe and pulled out a white waiters coat, which he put on. On the sideboard tray, champagne stood ready in an ice bucket with two glasses. He took a deep breath, picked up the tray and went out. Just a few yards down the corridor was all it took. He paused at the door, then pressed the bell.
It opened surprisingly quickly, and there stood Zubin in shirtsleeves adjusting his black tie.
Champagne, sir? Dillon asked.
I dont think I ordered that, Zubin said.
Its on the house, sir, Dorchester champagne.
Okay, bring it in, but dont open it.
He turned away into the living room and Dillon put the tray on the table. Id better open it just in case somebody comes, he said in fluent and rapid Russian.
Strangely, Zubin didnt look alarmed, but there was an instant frown. What in the hell is this?
Nobody here is what they seem. My name is Sean Dillon and I work for British intelligence. Youre Max Zubin pretending to be Josef Belov, and not liking it very much. However, they have your mother in Moscow, so you have to play ball, you have to go back to her.
Zubin adjusted his tie and reached for his jacket. If any of this were true, what could I do about it?
Go back tomorrow, youd have to do that, then wed bring you out, you and your mother.
You could do that?
Yes. Ill explain after dinner.
Im not doing dinner. From what I know, Ill be back up here at around nine to nine-thirty.
Ive got the room next door. Well talk later. If youre on your own, knock on the door. Hed finished uncorking and pouring a glass. Youre taking this remarkably well.
Zubin took the glass. I was a paratrooper in Chechnya. You sound like the real thing. Unless theyre employing raving lunatics here who start off with an Irish accent and move into fluent Russian.
The doorbell sounded.
Shower stall, Dillon whispered. I know these suites.
He moved into the small hall bathroom, left the door partly open and stepped into the shower.
Outside, Zubin opened the door. Ah, Levin, there you are. Are they ready for me? He was obviously in his Belov role, voice measured.
No need to take that tone with me, Levin said. Now, remember the cameras. Be nice and forbidding, so people will feel it better not to speak to you.
I could frighten them to death. I can do an excellent Hamlets father. He was a ghost, you know.
Come on, its showtime.
The door closed, Dillon waited, then went out and returned next door.
Round the bend at the far end of the corridor, Levin and Zubin waited for the lift. Youre feeling good? Levin said.
Of course. I always do on an opening night, and the lift doors parted and he and Levin joined four other people.
Inside himself, Zubin felt only tremendous excitement. Could it be true, could he really confound all of them, bring the whole house of cards tottering down? Well, as far as he was concerned, it wouldnt be from want of trying.
When Dillon returned, Ferguson had joined Billy. You look excited, he said. How did it go?
Couldnt have been better. He told them what had happened. The important thing is he isnt doing the dinner. That gives me a great chance of accessing him from the room next door later and really laying it on the line.
The Putin plane is leaving at eleven from Northolt. The Citation X perhaps an hour later. The courier flight will be logged in and out again, all perfectly legitimate. He handed Dillon an envelope. Times and so forth, the whole schedule. Discuss it with him, then destroy it.
Of course.
There was a sudden disturbance at the far end of the room, a great deal of clapping as Putin moved through the crowd, the Prime Minister taking another section.
Hes there, Dillon said, moving close to the President, Levin behind him.
There was Zubin, pausing while the TV cameras did their work and press cameras flashed, turning closer to the President so they were tied together, as it were. The President nodded to him and moved on, and Zubin walked into the crowd, Levin behind him, pausing to greet people who spoke to him. Finally, he accepted a glass of champagne and stood by the wall, as if holding court, a number of guests obviously hanging on to his every word, and Levin was checking his watch.
I bet that isnt in the script, Ferguson said.
Hes an actor, Dillon said. Cant resist making the most of his role. I was one myself.
Yes, we do know about that, Ferguson said. The one person who appears to be missing is Volkov.
Hes an actor, Dillon said. Cant resist making the most of his role. I was one myself.
Yes, we do know about that, Ferguson said. The one person who appears to be missing is Volkov.
Not any longer, Dillon said, as Volkov moved through the crowd, taking two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and pausing beside Putin and handing him one. He murmured something to Putin and they turned and looked across at Ferguson, Dillon and Billy. And then Putin did a strange thing. He raised his glass toward them, and Ferguson raised his.
Old adversaries from the Cold War, a long time ago, he said.
A voice echoed over the speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served.
Volkov moved across to Zubin and Levin and spoke to them, and Levin nodded, touched Zubin on the arm and they made for the door. Those going on to the dinner flooded out. Quite a number who obviously were not stood around finishing their drinks.
Ferguson said, Ill get off home and leave you to it. Good luck upstairs and let me know instantly how its gone.