Part 12 (2/2)

”Obviously, his record had been wiped clean,” Lermov said. ”As if he never existed.”

”He existed all right,” Chelek said. ”Apparently, he had relatives in Afghanistan who helped with the poppy trade, and he was into the drug business and made big money.”

”Was he interested in the Islamic movement?”

”Not at all. He drank very heavily and made strange remarks when he was drunk, deriding Islam, and mocking such things as the bombing attacks in London by British-born Muslims, saying that he'd done far more that they ever could imagine. He once said to Hussein that they should have come to Belfast with him in the old days and seen some real action.”

”Did he indeed?” Lermov said. ”So we've established that he was a thoroughly frightening individual who would appear to have some sort of terrorist links in his past, and that's if he is to be believed. Is that it, then?”

”Not quite. Ali Selim lived in a barge anch.o.r.ed in the basin here. He also had an orange motorboat with a huge outboard motor. It was called Running Dog, Running Dog, and he boasted it could do forty knots. Both vessels have disappeared.” and he boasted it could do forty knots. Both vessels have disappeared.”

”Has Hussein got any explanations for that?” Lermov asked.

”Yes, he sometimes looks after an old greyhound for his son. On the Monday that the meeting was taking place on the Garden of Eden, Garden of Eden, he locked up his shop at one o'clock and walked the dog down the street, leading to the wharf. As he got to the end of the wharf, he drew back because he saw two men in fluorescent-yellow-and-black jackets being urged off the barge by Ali and pushed towards the he locked up his shop at one o'clock and walked the dog down the street, leading to the wharf. As he got to the end of the wharf, he drew back because he saw two men in fluorescent-yellow-and-black jackets being urged off the barge by Ali and pushed towards the Running Dog. Running Dog. The thing is, their hands were tied. Ali was wearing a similar jacket and carrying a large canvas bag.” The thing is, their hands were tied. Ali was wearing a similar jacket and carrying a large canvas bag.”

”Were they talking?”

”It looked like it, but Hussein couldn't hear a thing. He said the weather was terrible, pouring rain, and mist so thick that the Running Dog Running Dog disappeared as it roared away.” disappeared as it roared away.”

Ivanov said, ”And Hussein turned right round and went straight back to the shop and minded his own business.”

”I'd say a sensible thing to do, considering his experience of the kind of man Ali Selim was,” Lermov told him.

”So what does all this say to us?” Chelek asked.

Lermov said to Ivanov, ”I recall you telling me about a small riverboat exploding, an overheated gas tank or something.”

Chelek said, ”You think that was the Running Dog Running Dog?”

”I've never been so certain of anything in my life,” Lermov said. ”This is how I write the story. Ali Selim sets out in the Running Dog Running Dog to attack the to attack the Garden of Eden, Garden of Eden, probably with a bomb of some kind. I feel that his two prisoners were Kurbsky and Bounine.” probably with a bomb of some kind. I feel that his two prisoners were Kurbsky and Bounine.”

”But what happened to Luzhkov?” Ivanov demanded.

”I cannot answer that.”

”But what do you feel most probable?”

”Ali Selim is the person most likely to have had the answer. His barge has obviously been spirited away by Charles Ferguson, who has also had his criminal file at Scotland Yard wiped clean. It's as if he never existed. The crematorium at Grafton Street Morgue has taken care of that, reducing him to six pounds of gray ash. It was possibly an oversight on Ferguson's part not to have the morgue records wiped out, too.”

”So it's all over?” Chelek said.

”Not at all,” Lermov replied. ”I must make my report to the Prime Minister, but what do I tell him? That Alexander Kurbsky is alive and well and safe in the hands of a most bitter enemy of Russia, and that Charles Ferguson has won again?”

”When can I expect to see you in London?” Chelek asked.

”I'll only know that when I've seen him and he confirms my task. Then I'll need time to work out a plan of action. In the meantime, you must continue to run things over there, Ivan. How did you end things with Hussein?”

”I told him that I had it on good authority that Ali Selim was dead.”

”And what did he say to that?”

”He shrugged, and said in Arabic it was his time.”

”I suppose it was. Take care, old friend.”

Ivanov switched off his mobile. ”So what now, the Prime Minister?”

”No avoiding it.” Lermov patted him on the shoulder. ”You've done well, and I definitely intend to take you with me to London when I go, but there's still work to be done here, so let's get started. I'll summarize what's happened, and you can take it down on your laptop.”

”Then what?”

”Forward it to the Prime Minister's Office and request an i nterview.”

It was lightly snowing on the way to the Kremlin but pleasantly warm in what had once been Volkov's office. They'd presented themselves in good time for the interview, but were still waiting an hour after the designated time. on the way to the Kremlin but pleasantly warm in what had once been Volkov's office. They'd presented themselves in good time for the interview, but were still waiting an hour after the designated time.

”Do you think he's making us wait deliberately?”

”We're not important enough, Peter.”

”Well, I believe that we are still one of the greatest nations on earth,” Ivanov said. ”And considering the state of the world today, that he has time for us at all surprises me.”

”I agree, but I think it only proves how pa.s.sionately he is involved with events in London.”

The door in the paneled wall swung open, and Vladimir Putin entered, immaculate in the black suit and white s.h.i.+rt he favored.

”My apologies, gentlemen, one economic crisis after another seems to be the norm for the world we live in. I did find time to read your resume of the Kurbsky affair. Succinct and to the point, Colonel.”

”Captain Ivanov's help has been invaluable, and I intend to take him with me when I take up my duties in London.”

”Excellent.” He sat down at the desk. ”I agree with the conclusions in your report, Colonel. Luzhkov was foolish and stupid, and, like you, I believe he has paid the ultimate price. Kurbsky and possibly Bounine are alive and well and in the care of Charles Ferguson and his people. They have all been a thorn in our side for too long. One attempt after another to eliminate them has failed, and it's time we do it right.”

”So what do you want me to do?”

”As I said before, Colonel, destroy them, Charles Ferguson and all his people. Finish them off, Colonel, once and for all. The British are not our friends, they grant asylum to dissidents, traitors to our country. The British Government allows their territory to be used as a launching pad to fight Russia. This will send them a message.”

”If I may, there are still many Russians living in London, many of them oligarchs and friends,” Lermov said. ”But the world financial crisis has altered things. Many who had billions have lost billions. They're keeping their heads down and trying to recoup. They wouldn't like an ill wind blowing in from the Motherland.”

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