Chapter Twenty-four. Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-four

THE MAN STEPPED into view – it was the bellhop. Unaware he was being watched, he pushed an envelope under the door.

I waited until he had left before I put the pistol down and picked it up. Watched by Ben – heart racing, my thoughts veering between hope and ruthless restraint – I opened the flap and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

I read it, felt the wall of anxiety collapse, and shook my head in wonder.

‘What is it? ’ said Ben.

‘I’m a fool, ’ I replied. ‘There was never going to be any message that Echelon could hear. Cumali didn’t need to go to the phone box – the man is already here. ’

‘In Bodrum? How do you know? ’

I indicated the letter. ‘She wants to pick me up at eleven in the morning – she’s invited me to go on a picnic with her supposed son. ’

‘No, you’re wrong, ’ Ben responded. ‘What can happen if the boy’s there? ’

I laughed. ‘He won’t be, ’ I said. ‘She’ll make an excuse. Why else would she suddenly invite me to a picnic? She can’t stand me. No, her brother’s here, Ben. Tomorrow, I’m going to meet him. ’

Bradley’s doubts died under the weight of my certainty, and I saw the look on his face – I could tell he was dreading the role he would now have to play. To be honest, I wasn’t looking forward to mine either.

I unbolted the door for him. ‘Call Whisperer fast. Just tell him: Buddy, we’re live. ’

Chapter Twenty-five

I HAD COME to turkey as a pathfinder and ended up as a lure. Consequently, I had made no effort to put my affairs in order before I left and now I found I had to do it fast.

As soon as Bradley had left to call Whisperer, I sat down at the small desk, pulled out a piece of paper and, late as it was, started to write my will. In normal circumstances – with just a government pension, the annuity from Grace and a small collection of paintings – I wouldn’t have bothered.

But things had become more complicated. When Ben and Marcie had blown my cover and forced me to leave Paris, one of the few things I had thrown into my bag were the two letters from the New York lawyer about the deaths of both Bill and Grace.

The elderly lawyer’s name was Finbar Hanrahan, the son of penniless Irish immigrants, a man of such integrity that he threatened single-handedly to give lawyers a good name. He had been Bill’s lawyer since before he had married Grace, and I had met him many times over the years.

With the two letters in hand and back in New York, I had made an appointment to see him. So it was, late one afternoon, that he rose from behind the desk in his spectacular office and greeted me warmly. He led me to a sofa in the corner from which there was a view all the way up Central Park and introduced me to the other two men in attendance, one of whom I recognized as a former secretary of commerce. Finbar said that they were lawyers but neither of them was associated with his firm.

‘They have read certain documents and I have asked them to be here as impartial observers. Their job is to ensure that everything I do is by the book and cannot be misconstrued or questioned later. I want to be scrupulous about this. ’

It seemed strange, but I let it ride – I figured Finbar knew what he was doing. ‘You said in your letter there was a small matter of Bill’s estate that had to be finalized, ’ I said. ‘Is that what we’re dealing with? ’

‘Yes, ’ he said, ‘but there’s an important issue we have to resolve first. ’ He looked at the two wise men, and they nodded. Let’s do it, they seemed to be saying.

‘You may not know this, ’ Finbar said, ‘but Bill cared about you very much. More than that, he believed that in some way you were special – he thought you were destined to do something very important. ’

I grinned. ‘Yeah, one of Grace’s friends told me that. Obviously, he’d become unhinged. ’

Finbar smiled. ‘Not unhinged, no – although he did become increasingly concerned about you. Especially after you left Harvard and went to live in Europe. Frankly, he didn’t believe you were involved in the art business at all. ’

The news didn’t surprise me – Bill had been not only intelligent but also highly intuitive. I didn’t reply – I just looked at the elderly lawyer, poker-faced.

‘Bill had no idea how you earned money, ’ he continued, ‘and was worried that you had become involved in a business that was either illegal or, at least, immoral. ’

He waited for a reply, but I nodded and made no comment.

‘He said that on several occasions when he tried to talk to you about it, you were not what he called “forthcoming”. ’

Again, I just nodded.

‘So, this is my question, Scott: what exactly do you do? ’

‘Nothing right now, ’ I replied. ‘I’m back in New York to see if I can find something that might grab my interest. ’ I didn’t think it was a good idea to tell him I was looking for cover, running from my past.

‘Yes, but before that? ’

‘I worked for the government, ’ I said after a pause.

‘Well, it seems like half the country does that – although I use the term “work” loosely. ’ He had a pretty wry sense of humour, old Finbar. ‘What exactly did you do for the government? ’

‘I’m sorry, ’ I said. ‘I’ve been told not to talk about it. ’ I saw the two wise men exchange a glance – they obviously didn’t believe it.

‘Told by whom? ’ Finbar said, ignoring them. I felt sorry for him – it was clear he really wanted it to work out.

‘By executive order, ’ I replied quietly.

The former secretary of commerce raised his eyes – it was getting too much for him. ‘You worked in Europe, but the White House won’t allow you to discuss it, is that right? ’

‘That’s correct, Mr Secretary. ’

‘There’s got to be somebody – a superior or someone – we can talk to about it, even in general terms, ’ Finbar said.

‘I don’t think that’s possible, ’ I replied. ‘I’ve probably gone too far already. ’ And anyway, The Division – which had never officially existed – had already been buried.

Finbar sighed. ‘Bill was very clear, Scott – we can’t go forward unless I’m satisfied about your integrity and honesty. You’ll have to help us—’

‘I can’t – I’ve given my word not to speak about any of it. I signed undertakings. ’ I think they were surprised at the harshness and finality of my tone.

‘Then I’m afraid …’ Sadly, the lawyer looked at the other two men for confirmation, and they nodded. ‘I’m afraid we have to terminate this meeting. ’

I stood up, and the others did the same. I was disappointed that I would never know what Bill had intended, but I didn’t know what else to do. The former secretary of commerce was putting out his hand in farewell when a thought occurred to me.

‘I have a letter of commendation which might help. It concerns an event I was involved in some years ago. ’

‘An event? What sort of event? A charity run or something? ’ the former secretary asked.

‘Not exactly, ’ I replied. ‘Some parts of the letter would have to be blacked out, but I think you could see it. ’

‘Who’s it from? ’ Finbar asked eagerly.

‘From the president. It’s handwritten on White House stationery. ’

The three men didn’t say anything. Finbar looked as if he’d have to bend down and pick his jaw up off the floor. The former secretary was the first to recover, still sceptical.

‘Which president? ’ he asked.

‘Your old boss, ’ I said coldly. I didn’t like the guy much.

‘Anyway, call him, ’ I continued. ‘I’m sure you have a number. Ask him for permission to read the letter. Tell him it concerns a young man and a terrible event in Red Square – I’m sure he’ll remember. ’

The former secretary had no response, and Finbar filled the silence. ‘We should stop here, ’ he said. ‘I think we’ve stumbled into an area concerning national security—’

‘You sure have, ’ I replied.

Finbar looked at the other two lawyers, addressing the former secretary. ‘Jim, if you wouldn’t mind – could you make that phone call later, just as a formality? ’

He nodded.

‘In the meantime, we’re in agreement then? ’ Finbar continued. ‘We’re satisfied – we can move forward? ’

The two men nodded, but I could tell from the way the former secretary was looking at me that he had been in the Cabinet meeting when the death of the Rider of the Blue had been discussed. He had probably never thought he would come face to face with the man who killed him.