Kokonin came out of the bathroom. Im okay now.
Ivanov said to Burlaka, Get your raincoats and meet me at the elevator. They went out obediently. He pulled Olga over. I suppose well always have the linen room to remember. He kissed her, then went into his bedroom and found his coat and old slouch hat. She followed him, and he said, Well leave everything in our rooms. The Embassy will see to them, and if I were you, Id keep my mouth shut.
She followed him out into the corridor. You dont have to tell me. Do you really think you can get him back?
Im not sure, but if we can get close enough to kill the bastard, that would be just as good.
He turned and ran to the elevator, where Kokonin was holding the door, and it closed on him. Olga stood there, thinking about him. A nice boy and shed liked him, but so what? Life could be cruel sometimes, but the last thing she needed was any kind of trouble with Russian intelligence. She turned and went into the linen cupboard and got on with her work.
KURBSKY FOUND THEM waiting outside the gate, the sight of Monica like an old friend. She came toward him, glowing, hands reaching out. Alex, this is wonderful. She kissed him on both cheeks and hugged him fiercely. Are you all right?
Never better. Introduce me to your friends.
Which she did. Dillon said, We have plenty of time, forty minutes. Lets have you straight on board and well get you a drink. I think youve earned it. Was it difficult?
Not at all. Astonishingly simple.
They walked along the platform, station noises echoing, peoples voices sounding strangely distorted, a whistle in the distance, a train across the platform starting up and moving forward.
Everybody seems to be going somewhere, Kurbsky said.
Well, you certainly are. Just follow me. She got in the coach, and he went after her.
Billy paused as Dillon made a call on his mobile, which Roper received in Holland Park. Our package has arrived safely. Just under half an hour or so, and well be off.
Did he kill anybody? Roper asked.
Not that he mentioned.
IVANOV HAD PROMISED the taxi driver double fare, which worked in spite of the night and rain. They reached Gare du Nord with fifteen minutes to spare, and Ivanov led the way to the nearest ticket window and slapped his credit card down.
The train is quite full, gentlemen, the young woman said. All first class has gone.
Thats okay, Ivanov told her. Anything will do.
I can manage three club car seats, so you can at least have refreshments, but youll have to sit up for the night.
Within five minutes, they were passing through the gate and starting along the platform. Ivanov pulled his black hat down over his eyes. You two keep to the other side of the platform, Ill scan the windows of the train. Ill join you farther along.
It was actually easier than he thought it would be. The three first-class coaches were at the front behind the engine, with a fourth that was a bar and restaurant. Walking past, his head slightly averted, Ivanov found Kurbsky sitting opposite a good-looking woman, two men on the other side of them at a bar table. It was enough. He hurried back along the platform to Kokonin and Burlaka at the rear of the train.
Hes there, sitting with a woman and two men in the bar in first class. Well board, find our seats, and think this thing out.
OVER THE CHAMPAGNE, Kurbsky went over the events of the evening with the others. He even found the Legion of Honor in its box and offered it to Monica for a look.
A remarkable souvenir of today, she said. What was it like, the award ceremony?
Crowded and noisy and bizarre. A very old white-haired nuclear physicist sitting next to me asked me what I did, and when I told him, he said hed never heard of me, which brought me down to earth considerably. So much so that I found myself asking what in the hell was I doing there.
What about the Ritz? Dillon asked. You said it was astonishingly simple.
Well, I didnt have to kill anyone. I had young Kokonin sitting on guard. I knocked him cold, an old unarmed combat trick, grabbed my coat, and quite simply ran for it. I was being handed into a taxi by the doorman about four minutes later. He smiled. The rest you know.
The train was moving, gliding along, picking up a little speed as it left the station, a melancholy whistle echoing into the gloom.
I love trains, especially at night, Kurbsky said. I once did the Trans-Siberian all the way to Vladivostok. An amazing experience. I got some interesting poetry out of it.
I didnt know you wrote poetry, Monica said.
Bad poetry, I think, so I dont advertise it. As if to prevent any further discussion of the matter, he said, Id like to freshen up. Can we return to the compartment?
Of course, Monica said. It has a pull-down basin to wash your face or shave, but no toilet. Those are at each end of the corridor.
Im sure well get by.
Dillon and Billy went first, Monica next, and Kurbsky followed, and Ivanov and his friends watched through the glass door at the other end. Back to our seats now, Ivanov said, and led the way to the club car at the rear of the train.
Dillon and Billy went first, Monica next, and Kurbsky followed, and Ivanov and his friends watched through the glass door at the other end. Back to our seats now, Ivanov said, and led the way to the club car at the rear of the train.
They had the end table, four chairs grouped around it, but the fourth was vacant. When the steward came with a drinks cart, they ordered half a bottle of vodka and ice. Ivanov heavily overtipped the man.
We prefer privacy, my friends and I.
I take your point, Monsieur. The steward produced a Reserved notice, smiled, and moved on with his cart.
What are we going to do? Kokonin demanded.
Lets assess the situation. Weve no idea who these three people with Kurbsky are, Ivanov said. But they dont know who we are. Only Kurbsky does.
Kokonin said, I dont see how we could do anything much on the train anyway. As long as Kurbsky stays up there in first class and we stay down here, well get by. Were armed, all three of us. Thats in our favor. We can wait until they get off.
Ivanov held up a timetable. Ive found this in the seat pocket. The train doesnt go nonstop to Brest, it drops off at several places. Rennes, for example. They could get off anywhere.
Exactly, and maybe we wait for that, Ivanov said. But Im going to speak to Colonel Luzhkov and discuss it with him. He gave me his mobile number. Ill go in the toilet so no one can hear.
Which he did, going to the one at the end of the coach and locking himself in.
IN LONDON, Luzhkov was in his quarters in Kensington Palace Gardens, preparing for bed, when he received the call. He listened intently as Ivanov explained the situation.
It pains me to say this, Ivanov said, but Kurbsky seems to have defected. He knocked Kokonin unconscious and fled the hotel. It was only by chance that the chambermaid servicing our rooms saw him getting into a taxi as she came on shift, and heard his destination. That led us to the midnight express to Brest. Were on the train now, and Kurbskys in first class drinking with a woman and two men. He doesnt look like a prisoner. Which Luzhkov could have confirmed, since he knew who the woman and the two men were.
There was no way he could pull Ivanovs coals out of the fire. He and his friends should have been left high and dry at the Ritz while Kurbsky disappeared into the night. The British, of course, would expect Russian security to try to recover him, and they would take appropriate action. Knowing Dillon and Billy Salter as he did, Luzhkov knew the reckoning would be harsh.
He remembered Putins words in Moscow: His defection must appear genuine at all times. His GRU minders in Paris should not be informed of the real facts. If they fall by the wayside, so be it.
He took a deep breath and said to Ivanov, When they get off, follow them. That is all I can suggest. See where it leads you, then contact Major Gregorovich at the GRU safe house outside Moscow. Take care.
He sat there, thinking about it. Starling, Salter, and Dillon did not know Ivanov and the boys by sight, only Kurbsky did, so only he could alert the others of their presence on the train. But if Ivanov and the other two sat at the end of the train for the entire journey, keeping out of the way, theyd be able to follow Kurbsky at leisure when their quarry left the train.
He had to alert Kurbsky, had no choice.
Kurbsky had his phone in his right pants pocket on vibrate. Monica was reading a book. Dillon was reading Paris-Soir on the other side of the table, and Billy was dozing, his head back against a pillow by the open door to the connecting apartment.
Kurbsky smiled at Monica, excused himself, got up and went to the lavatory at the end of the corridor, entered, and locked the door. He answered the phone, and Luzhkov said, Thank God you answered.
What is this? I told you I didnt want to speak to you every five minutes.
Shut up and listen. Luzhkov explained quickly what had happened. So you see, my friend, Ivanov and his two chums are on the train with you, and they now think you a defector and a traitor to the Motherland.
Holy Mother of God, Kurbsky said.
What are you going to do?
I dont know. If I tell the others, theyd need an explanation as to how I knew.
You could say youd taken a walk along the train and seen them.
And they hadnt seen me? Come on, get real, Boris.
Well, youd better think of something, because if this screws up the whole operation, youll not only be in deep shit, but your sister will be condemned to live out the rest of her days in the far north of Siberia.
Kurbsky fought hard to control himself and kept his voice low. Damn you, dont threaten me.
Alex, Im not. Hes got me by the balls, too, our glorious Prime Minister. Theres no either/or here. The great man hates being disappointed. He always gets his way. So whats it to be?
I dont seem to have much choice, Kurbsky said. Ill speak to you again. Dont call me, Ill call you.
He left the lavatory, moved along the corridor through the dining room and the coaches behind, where most passengers were curled up in sleep. He was careful, paused at each connecting door and scanned the passengers inside, looking for his quarry, and finally reached the club car, and there they were at the far end. He withdrew and was approached by the headwaiter as he went back through the restaurant car. There were only about a dozen people eating.