The Defector (21 page)

“You’re looking very well,” he said.

“I expected to see signs of strain, being shut up in that dreary little place for so long. I expect it has been a strain.”

“It has, but not for me,” Davina said.

“That’s why I’m afraid I insisted upon breaking cover and seeing you. Sasanov can’t take any more. There must be an answer from Moscow by now.” She stared hard at him, challenging. He thought to himself that Grant’s information hadn’t gone far enough in assessing the change in Davina Graham. The very position she took up, sitting forward, stiff-backed with her hands gripped into fists, portrayed the antagonist instead of the colleague.

“Could you explain that more clearly?” Grant interposed.

“What exactly docs it mean?” She turned to look at him, and the Department’s cruelly apt nickname flashed into her mind. The Sea-Green Incorruptible. He had the skull-like face of Robespierre, with that ghastly colourless skin. He wouldn’t waste any pity on Sasanov; he’d never been known to see a human dilemma except in terms of advantage or otherwise. To him, Sasanov was like one of his own chess pieces to be used in the game of East-West political warfare.

“I mean that he is giving up hope,” she said.

“He’s getting more and more apathetic, more unhappy. Before, he was restless and difficult. Now, I feel he’s dying inside. ” There was a moment of silence, and the Brigadier coughed gently.

“Aren’t you being a little dramatic?” Grant asked.

“Ivan Sasanov’s record in the KGB doesn’t accord with the man you’re describing. What did you say dying inside? As far as he was concerned, other people did the dying.” Davina turned right round to face him and do battle.

“Yes,” she said.

“People like the dissident Jacob Belezky, who was his childhood friend. His death brought Sasanov over to the West. He could have asked any price he wanted for his cooperation with you. I can think of some of them who wanted a half-million in a New York bank account just for a start. All he’s demanded is his wife and daughter.

I stand by what I said, and I ought to know, Humphrey;

I’ve been with him day and night for so many months now. “

“Yes,” the Brigadier interposed quietly, ‘day and night. Why didn’t you report that you were sleeping with him? That was very irregular. and foolish. ” She faced him coolly; she had expected an attack as soon as she came into the office and sensed the atmosphere.

“You were the person who first mentioned the possibility. Only you didn’t think it very likely, did you, sir? I didn’t put my personal sex-life into the report because I didn’t see it had any relevance. It didn’t affect Sasanov’s decision to cooperate; it was just something that happened between him and me. It certainly hasn’t changed his feelings towards his own family. If I’ve broken the rules by not telling you, then I’m sorry. That’s all there is to it. Except I’d like to know how you found out. You did promise there wouldn’t be any surveillance, any bugging. “

“I kept the promise,” White said.

“But inquiries were made into everybody after what happened at Halldale. Your intimacy with Sasanov came to light as a result.”

“I see,” she said.

“What did you do, Humphrey, look at the sheets?”

“Miss. Graham! ” James White snapped the two words at her.

“That’s enough. You seem to have lost your sense of perspective over this man. That last remark was most unnecessary. Withdraw it at once. “

“I withdraw it,” she said. She turned so that her back was to Humphrey Grant.

“You will have to be taken off the assignment.” Grant spoke coldly.

“And before you leave here you’ll sign an undertaking never to see him again.” Davina turned towards him; she had become very pale.

“That isn’t necessary,” she said.

“I don’t have to sign anything; I’m not a criminal.”

“I have to remind you,” he said, ‘that, as a member of this department, you are bound by the Official Secrets Act. If you are required to sign this document, you will do so. And you will abide by it. ” She swung away from Grant.

“Brigadier, you gave me this assignment. You trusted me and believed I could manage Sasanov. Well I have managed him. He’s ready to give his full cooperation; all he needs is some news. I’ve told you, he’s losing heart. I know the man; I’ve lived with him in every sense of the word, if you want to consider it like that. If you take me away from him like this, he’ll break. And you won’t get him back. ” James White leaned back and made an arch with his fingertips.

“It so happens that we do have some news to give him,” he said.

“But I don’t think he’ll be very happy when he hears it. Humphrey, pass Miss. Graham Swallow’s report, will you?” Neither spoke while she read it. She put it down on her knee and said slowly, “Oh my God.”

“His wife has been arrested, and his daughter wants to come over to the West. As you know him so well, what will his reaction be?” She got up and put the report back on the desk.

“He’ll go back to Moscow to get his wife released. And he won’t do anything for you unless you agree to send him back. That’s what will happen.”

“He can’t go back,” the Brigadier said.

“Not now. Other people’s lives are at stake, and a network that’s taken more than a year of patient work to build up. Sasanov is not going back to wreck everything for us. His daughter can’t be left in Russia because she knows one of the principal contacts. We’ll have to bring her out. He stays here, willing or not. You’d better put the case to him, Miss. Graham, and make it stick.”

“You gave your promise to him,” she said slowly.

“Your solemn promise. He could go back if he wanted to. You never meant to keep it, did you? “

“My dear,” the Brigadier said quietly, ‘my duty to my service and my country takes precedence over my personal word to any man, Woman or child. He could have gone back before this happened. He can’t leave now. It’s up to you to persuade him to help us, even if it’s just to revenge what’s happened to his wife. You say you have a very deep relationship with him. You must make him listen. ” She moved round the room and stood looking out of his window, over the panorama of St. James’s Park.

“He won’t trust me after this,” she said.

“But I’ve got an idea. I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a long time, ever since he asked for his family.” Grant hadn’t spoken for some minutes, he was watching her, assessing her.

“What idea is this?” James White asked.

“It was rather vague at first,” she said.

“I hadn’t any details worked out, or any time in mind. But it’s getting clearer now. You want Sasanov to work with you; you want him to commit himself totally to life in the West. Then let me tell him you’ll try and get his wife exchanged. And to prove my good faith to him, let me go to Russia and help bring his daughter out.”

“And that was your idea?” Grant asked her.

“To take part in this rescue yourself? Good God, I’ve never heard such nonsense! You’ve no training or experience of anything like this. Absolutely impossible!”

“I know,” she said.

“I’d need back-up. But I could pass for an East German; my German is good enough. And a woman can get in and out of places easier than a man. I’d even picked out someone to go with me from here.”

“Oh?” the Brigadier said.

“Really who?”

“Peter Harrington.” She saw the surprise on his face and heard Grant snort with contempt.

“You can’t be serious, Miss. Graham. Harrington made such a mess of his job in New York he had to be recalled. He’s permanently on the shelf.”

“I know about that,” she said.

“He got into heavy drinking in the States and generally let himself slide. I talked to him about it;

about pulling himself together. I hinted I might get him a second chance. I had this thing in mind and I wanted to have him with me. I’m seeing him after I leave you. ” She came round to the Brigadier’s chair.

“I need to do this,” she said.

“Not just for Sasanov, but for myself too. I’ve got to get his daughter out.”

“As Grant said, why you?” the Brigadier asked.

“Because I’ve allowed myself to get emotionally involved with him,” Davina said slowly.

“Not just sexually, that wouldn’t matter. But emotionally. And the best way to get out of it is to reunite him with his family. Then I can step out of the picture.” She hesitated.

“I’ll sign the undertaking before I leave the office, if only you’ll let me go. I’ll never see him again when this is over.”

“Perhaps you’d be better just to resign your job with Sasanov,” Grant suggested drily, ‘instead of dashing off on some fool’s errand to Russia. “

“I’m not so sure,” James White said.

“I don’t think we should dismiss the idea out of hand. Miss. Graham has been very honest with us. And she might be useful in putting our original plan into operation.” He looked back to Davina.

“Go and keep your appointment with Harrington, but don’t discuss this. Grant and I will talk it over. Come back to the office before you go home to Shepherds Bush. “

“Thank you,” she said.

“I’ll be back after lunch.” When she had gone Grant said, “Good Heavens, Chief, why did you say we’d think about it? We’ve got our man lined up to go in for Sasanov’s family. You’re not really considering Davina Graham, are you?”

“As a matter of fact,” James White said pleasantly, “I am. I think she might be a very good foil for Spencer Barr in Russia. Look at the time; I’m going to be late for lunch. I’m seeing an old friend at the Garrick. Be here by three, will you, Humphrey? We’ll need to go over the plan with Miss. Graham, before we say anything to Spencer Barr And get that official undertaking drawn up.”

“Well,” Peter Harrington said, “What do you think of the new me? Six pounds lighter and not a drop of juice since we last met!”

“It shows,” Davina said. She smiled at him.

“You’re looking very trim, Peter. And about ten years younger.” His gratification was so obvious, she laughed. He had a relaxing effect on her, even when her nerves were strung like cat-gut after the morning’s interview. He did look well;

his clothes were brushed and clean, his skin had a healthy colour; the loss of flabby weight had made him look his proper age.

“I can say the same to you, Davy sorry, Davina. Country air seems to suit you.” The local pub was full; they had managed to get a table in the little snack-bar upstairs. He ordered wine for her and drank water himself. She didn’t feel hungry; when the steak came it looked coarse and unappetizing. She left most of it.

“What’s the matter?” Harrington asked.

“You’re not eating anything. Something go wrong this morning? Don’t tell me that old SGI has been on your back too. “

“What do you mean, too? Has he been on yours?” She glanced quickly at him.

“Certainly has,” he said cheerfully.

“He had me into his office and wanted to know exactly when I’d seen you last. God knows how he knew I’d seen you at all, as it was out of school wanted to know where we went and what we talked about, and how friendly we were.”

“And what did you tell him?” Davina asked.

“Oh, just that you were madly in love with me, and I didn’t know how to fend you off,” he said.

“He didn’t think it was funny.”

“I’m sure he didn’t. This was after the fire, I suppose.”

“Yes; they ran quite a witch-hunt, including the families of the poor sods who got burnt. You were there, weren’t you, with Ivan the Terrible?” Davina shook her head.

“No comment, Peter. Can’t you stop playing the idiot for a minute? I want to talk seriously to you.”

“Not another lecture?” he raised his eyebrows and made a face.

“No, no lecture. You asked me about my promise, remember?”

“I know I did,” he said.

“Actually, I was very low that night. My iron will and mighty self-confidence were strangely wobbly. I wanted a drink. And then you rang, and I got all emotional about a second chance.” He glanced quickly at her, apologetic and hopeful at the same time.

“There isn’t one, is there? Any chance of anything” There could be,” she said.

“I can’t talk about it in any detail yet. But if something did come up, involving both of us, something quite difficult how would you feel? ” He leaned towards her. His expression was very serious.

“I’d feel on top of the world,” he said.

“And whatever it was, I wouldn’t let you down. What do you mean by difficult? “

“Not easy,” she said gently.

“That’s all I can tell you for now. But I can definitely put your name forward for this business. Is that right?”

“Only if it’s dangerous,” he said lightly.

“It is,” she said.

“Make no mistake about that.”

“Oh, Christ.” He feigned alarm.

“Can’t stand the sight of blood, especially if it’s my own. What are we going to do, Davina - kidnap the Politburo?”

“You’ve guessed it,” she said.

“I shouldn’t have tried to fool you. Just to change the subject, tell me about Grant asking questions. Why should he ask you anything about me, and what exactly was the line he was taking? “

“He was looking for a lead on who tipped the Opposition off about Halldale.

I know you can’t say anything, but it was known to be a top-security safe house. But only known to people like myself who’d been in the active field. They realized that the fire was no accident but an attempt to silence your friend. So they were worried about who might have connected you with him. They knew I knew you were his minder, so naturally they came to find out what, if anything, you’d told me and who else I’d talked to. I was able to tell old Robespierre you never gave a clue to anything. So he went away disconsolate. I think he was quite sorry it wasn’t me. I’m not his favourite type of employee.”

“I’m not either.”

“He doesn’t like women,” Peter Harrington said.

“He doesn’t like anybody,” she corrected him.

“When would you know about this job we might do together?” he asked her.

“In a day or two,” she said. She looked at her watch.

“It’s nearly three I’ve got to get back.”

“You going to the country?”

“I’m going to the office,” she said.