his ear. It’s covered by a substantial dressing and surgical tape, so you can’t see how much damage has been done, but it must be considerable.”
“I meant it to be.”
“I’m surprised he isn’t still in his bed in the sick bay, but he’s up and round and glaring at everyone like the Devil himself. I saw him in the canteen with Kerimov, who has dressing taped across his left hand and wears a black sling. It’s the only time I’ve visited the Embassy in the past few days.”
“Not that you’d tell me, but has he said anything about me?” Daniel asked.
“As I said, I stick to the plan and stay away from the Embassy as much as possible, which was the order. He hasn’t phoned me since the confrontation. But, Daniel, this is why I phoned you—I wanted to let you know that Lermov’s been in touch.”
“When was this?”
“An hour or so ago. He’s arrived in New York. He asked after Ivanov and suggested I should call you.”
“Concerned about my welfare, no doubt?” Holley laughed.
“Keeping tabs on me, more like. He spoke to me yesterday just before they left Moscow. Asked me to stop shooting people and inquired about how things were going, but I assume he would know anyway because I’ve kept you informed. It did occur to me that you might have passed it along to him.”
“But, my dear Daniel, what is one to do?”
“That’s for you to decide. Survival’s the name of the game where you’re concerned, I can see that, and I don’t hold it against you. You can’t harm me because I don’t trust you for a minute, Max, not even for a little bit.”
“Now, that’s hard, Daniel,” Chekhov told him.
“Yes, isn’t it?”
Daniel cut him off, and Selim appeared in a robe. “Just checking. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Get back to work,” Holley told him. “You’ve got to think of those pounds.”
He waited for the next call, but it was an hour before it came. Lermov said, “I won’t ask you where you are. A man of secrets, I think. Is everything still in place?”
“Absolutely. I’m standing back while Caitlin Daly savors her hour of glory.”
“No problems, then?”
“One change of plan. I decided to abort the attack on Monica Starling.”
“Yes, I heard about that. Did it cause any problem?”
“It wasn’t well received, but it’s my decision.”
“Very noble of you. So now we wait. I wish you luck, Daniel. If you can bring this off, it will be the coup of a lifetime.”
Holley sat there, thinking about it. So Chekhov must have been in touch with Lermov the minute he’d put the phone down, which explained Lermov knowing about the Monica Starling business. Well, that was all right. He was reminded of the old Mafia saying: “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
He closed his eyes, dozing, and after a while there was a tap on his shoulder, and he opened his eyes and found Harry standing there in his white uniform.
“We’re ready for you in the pool now, Mr. Grimshaw, all those special exercises. Lots to do.”
Holley got up and followed meekly, for it was filling the time admirably until the final act of the drama.
And so time wore on and the evening came, and then it was time for bed. He slept lightly, too much on his mind, braced for the calls, until finally he was fetched awake by his Codex. He glanced at the bedside clock and saw it was two in the morning. “Daniel,” Chekhov said. “I’ve had a call from Potanin in New York. It’s not good.”
“Tell me.”
“The business at Quogue, Ivan Bulganin was observing from a clump of trees. He saw Flynn shoot Johnson as the boat came in, but Johnson managed to shoot him in return. Flynn went into the water. Bulganin couldn’t do anything about it except get the hell out of there, and, as he left, he heard the sound of emergency vehicles arriving.”
“And Frank Barry?”
“Miller left the Plaza to go for a walk in Central Park. Barry followed him, and Potanin stalked them. Barry tried to jump Miller, and Miller had what looked like an ankle holster. He shot Barry in the knee and walked away. Potanin couldn’t risk any involvement and cleared off.”
“Christ, what a bloody cock-up.”
“I haven’t finished. Barry called in on his mobile from Mercy Hospital. He told Potanin he’d better get him out or else.”
“And what did Potanin do?”
“Sent Bulganin round dressed as a doctor and stuck a hypo in