After the waitress left, Fabrikant wiped a bit of sweat off his forehead and said, “All right, look, some things you said made me believe that a trip to Moscow was in order.”
“What was that?”
“The Russians being at Ben’s place foremost.” He fell silent and tapped his fingers against the table top.
“Oscar, we’re waiting,” prompted Pine.
“David Roth.”
“Who?”
“The man you showed me on your phone. The one who took Ben’s place. I do know him. His name is David Roth.”
“And why didn’t you tell me that before?” said Pine.
“Because I wanted to think it through. In fact, that’s why I’m on my way to Russia.”
“Why? Is Roth Russian?”
“No. But he knows a lot about the country.”
“How do you know him?”
“He’s very well known in specific circles.”
“What circles?”
Fabrikant sat up straight and gazed directly at her. “David Roth is one of the world’s foremost WMD inspectors.”
Pine and Blum exchanged glances. Pine said, “Roth inspects weapons of mass destruction?”
“He has quite the storied past. You see, his father, Herman Roth, was one of the lead inspectors during the START One inspections that this country did with the Soviet Union commencing back in the nineties. Both sides agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenals, and that involved on-the-ground inspections and verifications. The Soviet Union collapsed during that time, but the inspections continued, and the reductions were completed at the end of 2001. And David grew up to eventually do what his father had done.”
“So why would a WMD expert want to ride a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon?” asked Pine.
“I have no idea. But it is worrisome.”
“I’d say that was the understatement of the year. I told you that an overthrow of our government by insiders might be in the works.”
“Are we sure it’s only insiders involved?”
Pine, who had been about to take a swig of her beer, slowly lowered the bottle. “What are you getting at?”
Fabrikant looked around and then said in a low voice, “The Russians tried to sway the last presidential election using a variety of tools: social media, the planting of false stories, voter suppression efforts, etc.”
“That’s been well documented.”
“Yes, but that may have just been step one.”
Pine sat forward. “Meaning their plan contained multiple steps?”
“Everything the Russians do is long-term. In that regard, they’re much like the Chinese. Now, Americans are geared to think shortterm. Look at American business, for example. It exists only on a fiscal quarterly basis, because the powers-that-be on Wall Street say it has to.”
Blum said, “So you’re saying that what happened during the last election might be simply the opening salvo?”
“Look at it this way: They attacked our democratic election process, but in the aftermath of that something else has happened.”
“What?”
“Many Americans have come to distrust our institutions. They don’t trust the Congress or the media.” He pointed a finger at Pine. “Or the FBI.”
“So where does that leave us?”
“History has shown us that when people stop believing in their institutions, the government often gets toppled.”
Blum said, “Surely that could not happen here. Even you said before that we’re not a banana republic.”
“To which I would respond, every other country always says that, until it does happen to them,” rejoined Fabrikant.
“What sort of Russian involvement are we talking about?” asked Pine.
Fabrikant shrugged. “I don’t know precisely. But there are some Americans in high places who admire the Russians. They think their model of governing is better in some important ways. They think the same about the Chinese, who can make decisions and instantly carry them out. Whereas democracy is messy and inefficient and often comes to a complete standstill. That makes an autocracy quite a tempting template of governance.”
“Not for me, because in order to have that, you have to give up your freedom,” retorted Pine. “I’ll take the mess and inefficiency.”
“You give up your freedom in part,” countered Fabrikant. “For benefits you otherwise would never have. I’m not saying I agree with that concept. I don’t, in fact. But it’s not so crazy that others don’t believe in it. I can tell you, quite explicitly, that many in power do.”
“So, you think the Russians have moved on from remote cyber assaults to working with certain parties in America, with the goal of turning our country into something like theirs?” said Blum.
“That’s a succinct way to put it, but accurate in all essential respects,” replied Fabrikant.
Pine and Blum exchanged another glance.
Pine said, “So, your trip to Moscow?”
“To find out if my theory is right. I’ve spent considerable time there and have certain contacts in critical places. I should be able to find things out.”
“And what if you find out your theory is right?” said Blum.
“Then I come back here and work to stop it.”
“But we could be reading about the overthrow of the government in tomorrow’s paper for all I know.”
“We still have to try,” said Fabrikant.
“Oh, I’m not giving up,” said Pine. “I just think we need to speed things up.”
“How do you propose doing so?” asked Fabrikant. “I can’t run over there and start screaming from the heavens about a plot to overthrow the U.S. government with Russian assistance. I’d disappear.”
Pine checked her watch. “Okay, you still have time to catch your flight. You have my number and I have yours. Let’s keep in touch.”
Fabrikant seemed surprised by her acquiescence. He said, “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. We don’t know what tomorrow holds.”
They rose and walked together to the gate, where they ran into two uniformed men.
And then all bets were off.
Chapter 42
Washington Metropolitan Airport Authority.
That was what the emblems on their uniforms and their shiny badges said.
There were a pair of them, lean, muscled, veined forearms, each with dead-eye stares, each with one hand on the gun belt buckle and the other close to the butt of the holstered pistol.
The man on the right looked at Pine. “Special Agent Pine?”
Pine inclined her head, her eyes running from the top of the cop’s head to his feet. She returned her gaze to his face. “What’s up?”
The other cop said, “We’ve got instructions to take you in and hold you.”
“Instructions from whom and hold me for what?”
“We weren’t given those details, ma’am, only to take you in and hold you until persons come for you.”
“Where do you intend to hold me?”
“We have a facility here.” He glanced at Fabrikant and Blum. “And your friends, too.”
Fabrikant said, “I have a flight to catch.”
The first cop shook his head. He took his cap off, revealing his buzz cut, and wiped his face. He replaced his cap. “No can do. Sorry.”
Pine said, “Your instructions said ‘friends and acquaintances, too’? ‘Take and hold’?”
“We just do what we’re told, ma’am. Please come this way.” He pointed to a door to his left. It was a secure door requiring a key card entry.
Pine glanced at it and then looked around the crowded airport. “Okay, let’s go.”
They escorted them to the door where one of the officers swiped his card and opened it. They passed through into an empty hallway.
“Where to now?” asked Pine. “You have a holding cell down here somewhere?”