"And then, the second problem was that General Sirinov was naturally distracted by world events. You will recall that your President somehow got the idea that the Iranians were operating a biological warfare laboratory in the Congo and rather than bring his suspicions to the United Nations, as he was clearly obligated to do, instead launched a unilateral attack and brought the world dangerously close to a nuclear exchange."
Do I let him get away with that?
What good would arguing with him do?
"Are you going to tell me what happened to Colonel Whatsisname and his sister?"
"That is the real question," Murov said. "Eventually, General Sirinov learned that within hours of their scheduled arrival in Vienna, they were flown out of Schwechat on Lieutenant Colonel Carlos G. Castillo's Gulfstream airplane. That was the last time anyone has seen them."
"How did Castillo get involved?"
Murov shrugged.
"General Sirinov's intention had been to present the arrest of Dmitri and Svetlana to Putin as a fait accompli. Now he had to report that not only were they not under arrest, but no one had any idea where they might be, although of course the CIA was presumed to be somehow involved.
"Putin-who, as I said, has known Dmitri and Svetlana for years-thought there was something fishy about the embezzlement charges and ordered Sirinov to have another look. Sirinov discovered Evgeny's little scheme. Putin was furious, both personally and professionally."
"What does that mean?" Whelan asked.
"In addition to his personal feelings about the injustice done to Colonel Berezovsky and Lieutenant Colonel Alekseeva, Putin knew that SVR officers all over the world were thinking, That could happen to me."
"Including you, Sergei?"
"Well, since I'm not an SVR officer, no. But to answer what I think you're asking, 'Was the Washington rezident thinking that what happened to two fine SVR officers like Berezovsky and Alekseeva could happen to him?' I happen to know he was. And Putin, knowing this, ordered that things be made right. If he could get through to Berezovsky and Alekseeva and get them to come home, and they were promoted… If the injustice done to them…"
"I get the point," Whelan said.
Why am I starting to believe him?
"So Putin went to Vladlen Solomatin and told him what he wanted to do. And that letter was written. The problem then became how to get the letter to Berezovsky and his sister. The decision was made-by Putin personally-to go right to the top. So the Washington rezident invited Frank Lammelle to our dacha on the Eastern Shore-you know where I mean?"
Whelan nodded.
"And explained the situation, gave him the letter from Solomatin, and asked that he deliver it, and made it clear that his cooperation in the matter would not be forgotten.
"Lammelle, however, said he was sorry, but he didn't think he could help, as much as he would like to. Then he related an incredible story. Castillo had had no authority to take Berezovsky and Alekseeva from Vienna. Castillo had never been in the CIA, but had been in charge of a private CIA-called the Office of Organizational Analysis, OOA-that your late President had been running. OOA was disbanded, and its members been ordered to disappear the day before you bombed the Congo. Lammelle said he had no idea where Castillo or Berezovsky and Alekseeva could be."
"You're right. That's incredible," Whelan said.
"What's really incredible, Harry, is that the rezident believed Lammelle. They had over the years developed a relationship. In other words, they might say 'No comment' to one another, but they would not lie to one another. Over time, that has worked to their mutual advantage."
Murov topped off their wineglasses.
"That's why I asked you to dinner, Harry," Murov said. "To propose something I think will be mutually advantageous."
Whelan said, "'And what would that be?' Harry Whelan, suspicious journalist, asked, as he put one hand on his wallet and the other on his crotch."
Murov chuckled.
"Your wallet, maybe, Harry. But I am really not interested in your crotch. Would you like me to go on, or should we just forget we ever had this conversation?"
"I'm all ears."
"Putin wants this problem resolved. There is great pressure on the rezident to solve it. He came to me and said he thought the greatest obstacle to solving it is President Clendennen…"
"Clendennen? He's the obstacle? How's that?"
"The rezident thinks the President just wants the problem to go away, and he thinks the President believes the best way to do that is to do nothing. His predecessor never told him a thing about the OOA. He has no idea what it is, or was. He's never heard of Lieutenant Colonel Castillo, and therefore knows nothing of Castillo taking two Russian defectors away from the CIA, and if he did, he has no idea why, or what Castillo has done with the defectors. Getting the idea?"
"Yeah," Whelan said. "So, what am I supposed to do about it?"
"Start looking for Castillo and the OOA… at the White House. Ask Clendennen to tell you about his secret private CIA, and the man who runs it for him. When he tells you he knows nothing about it, ask him why you can't find Castillo. Tell him you suspect he's hiding Castillo, and that unless you can talk to Castillo and get a denial from him, that's the story you're going to write: 'President Denies Knowledge of Secret Special Operations Organization.'"
"And he says, 'Go ahead, write it. I don't know what you're talking about.' Then what?"
"Then you tell him that after you write it, and he denies it, you're going to write another story: 'Former CIA Station Chief Confirms That Rogue Special Operator Stole Russian Defectors from CIA.' And that the only way you're not going to write the story is if Castillo tells you it's not true."
"And who is this former CIA station chief? And why would he tell me this?"
"It's a she. Her name is Eleanor Dillworth. The day after Kiril Demidov was found in the taxicab outside the American embassy with Dillworth's calling card on his chest, she was fired. She feels she has been treated unfairly."
"Why should I believe her?"
"Roscoe J. Danton does. She went to him with this story. He's now in Buenos Aires looking for Castillo."
"How do you know that?"
"The rezident there told me. He's actually very good at what he does."
He wouldn't tell me that if it wasn't true.
It's too easy to check out.
"Just for the sake of argument, Sergei: Say I believe you. Say I do all this-I'd start by talking to this Dillworth woman-what's in it for me?"
"Well, Harry, it would be a hell of a story. Especially once we get Colonel Berezovsky and his sister out in the open, if they told their story to you, and only to you. And of course I would be very grateful to you. And so would the rezident. That might be very useful in the future, wouldn't you agree?"
"I can see that," Whelan said. "But I can't help but wonder why you're being so good to me."
"Because you are not only a very nice fellow, Harry, but the most important journalist I know."
"Oh, bullshit!" Whelan said modestly.
But I probably am the most important journalist you know.
Murov took his cell phone from the breast pocket of his suit, opened it, punched buttons, and then put it on the table.
"What's this?" Whelan asked.
"It's what they call a cell phone, Harry."
Whelan took a closer look, and then picked it up.
The telephone was ready to call a party identified as DILLWORTH, E.
"You said you'd want to start by talking to Miss Dillworth," Murov said.
If I push the CALL button, I'll probably wind up talking to some female Russian spy.
But what good would that do him?
He pushed the CALL button.
A female voice answered on the third buzz.
"Miss Eleanor Dillworth, please."
"May I ask who's calling?"
"My name is C. Harry Whelan."
"What can I do for you, Mr. Whelan?"
"Do you know who I am, Miss Dillworth?"
"If this is the talking head I see on Wolf News, yes, I do."