Read Someone Else's War: A Novel of Russia and America Page 87

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  General Schwartz required twice-daily reports from Raduyev, who delivered them personally. He read that one and shook his head. “Why Boris? Why Natasha? And what is this ‘It’s an American thing?’”

  “Shall I pursue the matter?” he asked dourly. “It could be our first big break in this case.”

  Schwartz looked at him, chin in one hand, drumming the fingers of the other on the table. “I think not, Colonel. She’s clean.”

  “Yes, she’s clean. We resolved that in the first fifteen minutes. Of course, there’s the matter of this Japanese knitting magazine—Nihon Vogue?”

  “I will ask Madame Getmanova. I will ask General Getmanov about this Boris and Natasha. Of course, he will probably have to ask his wife, so maybe I’ll just ask her. In the meantime, let the men continue the questions and conversations, some occasional pressure, not much, unless she changes and becomes difficult.”

  “She’s difficult now.”

  “Yes, but…how can a woman be so intimidating and so charming at the same time?”

  “I’d call it interesting, comrade General.”

  “Yes, of course. Interesting. It is hard to keep pressing for something that you know isn’t there. But I want you all to continue.”

  “Each and every Boris?”

  “All the Borises. For now.”

  “You know we have scum here who need our attention. You might let us attend to them before every Boris in the building falls in love with her.”

  “How many Borises have we?”

  “In the whole building? The entire complex? Do you wish me to check the rosters?”

  “It might make more sense than what we’re doing. No. Just continue. I may decide to send in a new interrogator for a final attempt.”

  “May I ask who, comrade General?”

  “Major Kristinich.”

  Raduyev suddenly felt very faint. “General…” Kristinich was a possible witness against her, although his reports and debriefing had turned up nothing more than baseless innuendo. To allow a witness to participate in an interrogation was something well outside the bounds of acceptable practice. It virtually guaranteed tainted information. And then there were Kristinich’s methods.

  “Don’t worry, Colonel. His interrogation will be, shall we say, well-supervised,” Schwartz said blandly. “Many outcomes are possible. Or so I’m beginning to think. And oh, yes, have you read that Washington Post story?”

  “Yes, the minute you sent it down. Doctor Tolchinskaya has not been made aware of it, per your orders. May I inquire if the reporter has been arrested or deported yet?”

  “Not yet. I have learned that the reporter has some sort of acquaintance with one of our best people. I’ve asked Colonel Suslova to contact her and learn what she can.”

  “I hope this works. May I say, the general is taking the latest events very calmly.”

  “Only on the outside, Colonel. However, there may be some chance that we can turn this to our advantage.”

  “In what manner?”

  “Perhaps by demonstrating how stupid our relations with the Americans have become. As General Getmanov put it: smart countries, foolish choices. For another, it may help us not to make quite so many foolish choices in the near future. We shall see.”