In the Name of a Killer cad-1

by Brian Freemantle

  Danilov looked back up to his assistant. ‘What about phone calls?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Have you tried direct, using Militia authority?’

  Pavin nodded. ‘The supervisor said dialled calls weren’t recorded, by specific numbers. Only those connected by an operator. Or if someone asks for operator assistance, because of dialling problems.’

  ‘Get back to …’ began Danilov but stopped. With the inflated ego of a Lieutenant-Colonel, Gugin probably wouldn’t even take a telephone call from as lowly a figure as Yuri Mikhailovich Pavin, a mere Major. He’d have to do it himself: maybe Gugin would refuse to talk to him, too.

  ‘Yes?’ queried the assistant.

  ‘Nothing. Have you got the evidence list?’

  ‘With a copy for the Americans,’ Pavin confirmed. ‘And Novikov called. He wanted to know if you needed his written report sent or whether we would collect it. I said we’d collect it.’

  Reminded of the appointment, Danilov stood, shrugging into his coat. Today he remembered to bring a hat: he carefully smoothed his crewcut, which was showing a tendency to regrow spikily, before putting it on as they walked down the corridor. He said: ‘It’s only five days until another Tuesday.’

  Pavin frowned sideways. ‘What’s that mean?’

  ‘Nothing, I hope.’

  There was nothing that could not have been discussed in minutes by telephone but Burden insisted on a personal meeting, so the politically conscious Secretary of State agreed. He announced at once that the FBI had a man on standby.

  ‘What’s his name? Is he good? I want the best. I’ll need to speak to him before he goes, of course.’

  Hartz smothered the sigh. ‘I didn’t get a name. Obviously the Director thinks he’s the best. He’d hardly send a second-team player, would he?’

  Burden frowned, as if suspecting impatience. ‘I’m going to call the ambassador in Moscow again. The child’s got to be brought back from there, for a Christian burial …’ He paused and then, fervently, said: ‘The bastards!’

  ‘I’ve already cabled the embassy, asking for an early release and return here,’ said the Secretary of State, glad he had done so in advance of the demand.

  ‘When the hell are you going to stop asking and start telling?’

  ‘When I think it will achieve some worthwhile purpose,’ said Hartz, curtly. He knew he would never be Secretary of State under this man.

  There were round-the-clock demands on every possible Russian ministry from every possible media outlet with staff representation in Moscow. That was multiplied by some organizations, European as well as American, assigning correspondents to Moscow specifically to cover the murder of Ann Harris. Russian embassies throughout the West, not just in Washington, DC, were inundated. There was another responsibility-avoiding conference at the Foreign Ministry. There it was reaffirmed that the Federal Prosecutor, the man who would present an eventual charge against the murderer, should be the news source. This time, however, Nikolai Smolin successfully argued that the Militia chief, whose office would provide the convicting evidence, should share the burden.

  ‘There will have to be a press conference,’ said Smolin.

  ‘Not yet,’ cautioned the coughing Lapinsk. ‘There’s nothing to tell anyone.’ He took a pill to subdue the turmoil in his stomach.

  Chapter Nine

  The pathologist’s office, two-windowed and spacious compared to Danilov’s hutch, was neater than Danilov could recall from any previous, hostile visit and he recognized at once the obvious preparation. We’re all anxious to impress America, he thought: or avoid offence, at least. Was he personally anxious? It would be important, however this unfolded, not to let that dismissive nonsense at the American embassy bother him: he’d won the exchange, after all, belatedly revealing his understanding of the language.

  Viktor Novikov wore a subdued check suit and an attempted air of neither an inferior awe nor patronizing superiority at the prospect of an American presence. The effort was too much either way and the man’s demeanour see-sawed awkwardly from one attitude to the other, like the uncertain light on Danilov’s desk.

  Danilov was courteously a few minutes ahead of the scheduled appointment. Novikov hovered around the half-circle of chairs, further obvious preparation, so he was ready when the Americans arrived, opening the door for them expansively.

  The man accompanying Ralph Baxter was the patrician-featured diplomat in the second photograph Danilov had seen that morning, the person upon whose arm Ann Harris’s hand had been lightly resting. The hair was pure white, combed forward Roman statesman fashion, to hide the fact that it was receding, the face beak-nosed and close to being unnaturally grey, putty-coloured. The man wore a black suit and a completely black tie: a dead man mourning the dead.

  Danilov waited, expectantly. It was not until Novikov said: ‘Pazhalsta’ — which in the circumstances was a clumsy welcome — that the pathologist realized a difficulty for which he had not prepared.

  ‘I’ll translate,’ Danilov offered, first in Russian, then in English. At least, he thought, I’m achieving that long ago ambition.

  Baxter nodded acceptance, without speaking. Novikov’s face darkened. Danilov wondered why he had to bother with all this: it was practically a hindrance in trying to catch a mentally deranged killer. Determined on names this time, Danilov thrust out a hand, forcing the unknown American to accept the gesture and by so doing to identify himself. The reluctant hand was soft and moist. The man said: ‘Paul Hughes, senior economist at the embassy.’ He paused before adding: ‘Ann worked in my department.’

  An address-book name to which to put a face, thought Danilov. He politely completed the introduction to Novikov and took over the pathologist’s role, offering them seats.

  ‘We don’t expect this to take long,’ said Baxter, as if he were already late for something else.

  ‘A necessary formality,’ insisted Danilov.

  As Danilov translated the exchange for Novikov’s benefit, the diplomat said, in Russian: ‘I understand the language.’

  In English Danilov said: ‘I know. But there won’t be the unfortunate misunderstanding there was yesterday.’

  Baxter’s face blazed and the economist looked curiously between the two of them. The ill-feeling came down like a lowered curtain.

  ‘What is this?’ queried Hughes. He had a clipped way of speaking, shortening the end of his words.

  ‘Nothing important,’ Baxter dismissed. Returning the other American’s look he said, expectantly: ‘Shouldn’t we get on?’

  Hughes took the cue. From his briefcase he extracted a batch of legally bundled documents, secured with pink tape, and extended them towards Danilov. The Russian made no attempt to accept them. Hughes said: ‘These are legal demands for the return to American custody of the body of Ann Harris, the opening and return to American jurisdiction of Ann Harris’s apartment at Ulitza Pushkinskaya 397, and a return to American custody of each and every article taken by the Russian authorities from that apartment.’

  Danilov remained with his hands beside him, taking his time to repeat to Novikov what the American had said: towards the end, imagining trouble for Danilov, the pathologist’s face relaxed just short of a smile. To the white-haired man Danilov said: ‘Legal demands under whose law? American or Russian? I am unfamiliar with any Russian legislation that would be open to you.’ This was another hindering distraction. He wouldn’t let himself become involved.

  Now it was Hughes who coloured, although not so fully as Baxter. So whey-faced was the man, however, that the effect was more marked, two patches of bright red on either cheek like rouge badly applied. The man said: ‘I would suggest you accept these writs. My authority is as Ann Harris’s superior: head of the section.’

  ‘And I would suggest you present them to the appropriate legal department of the appropriate Russian ministry,’ replied Danilov. ‘This isn’t a matter for me.’ He thought men with flamboyant face whiskers that wobbled as Ba
xter’s did shouldn’t get angry.

  Baxter swung sideways to his embassy colleague and said: ‘I told you …’ before jerking to a stop.

  ‘Identical demands have today been served upon both your Foreign and Interior Ministries,’ said Hughes. The man’s anger made the threat sound slightly too artificial.

  ‘Then there is no need whatsoever for me to have copies, is there?’ said Danilov, in further rejection. He hesitated, then said: ‘Although I appreciate your courtesy, in making it available to me …’ There was another pause, while he went to his briefcase. ‘… In return for which I need to give you this. It is the complete list of every article and possible piece of evidence removed from Ulitza Pushkinskaya …’ He thrust it towards Baxter, who regarded the list uncertainly, then took it. More rapidly than before, Danilov relayed the complete exchange to the pathologist. ‘You prepared a duplicate of your examination, I hope?’

  Novikov was aware of the tension in the room, but despite the complete explanation did not fully understand what it was about. He said: ‘Yes … I … of course. It’s here … fingerprints I promised, too …’ and took several sheets of paper from a folder on his desk.

  Danilov reached forward and the pathologist dutifully handed it over. It was not until Danilov was passing it on to the Americans that Novikov realized the policeman had taken from him the opportunity he considered rightfully his. He’d even rehearsed a brief explanation.

  Baxter took the offered document. Unthinkingly he began to open it, as if it had to be studied and questioned. Beside him Hughes pulled back the hand holding the legal demands. Baxter said: ‘I will report this obstruction, to the ambassador.’

  ‘Then please report it accurately,’ said Danilov. ‘In no way and at no time are you being obstructed.’

  ‘Are you going to release the apartment and the items taken from it?’ demanded Hughes. Without seeking approval from the man whose office it was, he fumbled to light a cigarette, a strongsmelling French Gitane.

  ‘When I am ordered to do so by my superiors,’ said Danilov.

  ‘You will be,’ said Baxter, positively.

  ‘We’re here for a purpose,’ said Danilov, briskly, not wanting another trouble-making argument. ‘Let’s get it over.’

  Novikov led along the corridor but stood back, herding them into the elevator ahead of him. They descended unspeaking. The muscles stood out on Baxter’s cheeks, where he was clenching his jaws in determination. Hughes’s grey face had a sheen of perspiration.

  Danilov detected the smell before they reached the examination room. When Novikov paused at the door, Hughes said: ‘I don’t have to make the actual identification. I’ll wait out here.’

  Baxter frowned at his colleague, denied support, but said nothing. He nodded his readiness to the two Russians. Novikov led again; Danilov was the last to go into the room. The formaldehyde and disinfectant stench was as strong as before, but Danilov was not as upset this time. At their entry an assistant withdrew the coffin-sized drawer from the refrigerated bank in a wall to the left: there were puffs of whiteness from the freezing air inside colliding with the warmer, outside atmosphere. Novikov was careful to pull back the covering only to expose Ann Harris’s face and shorn scalp. The face was grey, like the American economist’s in the corridor outside: the death snarl had almost completely melted away.

  ‘Oh dear God!’ said Baxter, his familiar phrase. He swayed and then retched, so badly that Danilov thought the man was going to vomit. He put a handkerchief to his mouth, coughed, and then wiped his eyes. He said: ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Is this the body of Ann Harris?’ demanded Danilov, formally.

  ‘Of course it is,’ said Baxter. ‘Oh my God! Poor Ann.’ Weteyed he looked to Danilov for guidance. ‘What must I do now?’

  ‘Nothing. That’s all,’ said Danilov. He stopped just short of taking the man’s arm, gesturing him instead towards the door. Immediately outside Baxter leaned back against the wall, ignoring Hughes for several minutes. Once he almost retched again, at the last minute turning the distress into a cough, behind his bunched-up handkerchief. Hughes was smoking a fresh cigarette.

  ‘Awful,’ said Baxter, talking to no one. ‘It was awful.’

  Denied translation for a long time, Novikov said: ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘He’s not accustomed to dead bodies of people he knows,’ said Danilov. ‘Few are.’

  Baxter remained indifferent to an exchange in Russian, still slumped against the wall.

  ‘Are there any other formalities?’ demanded the economist.

  ‘No,’ said Danilov.

  ‘Let’s go,’ said Hughes, taking control of the other American. Baxter obediently fell into step as the Russians saw them to the elevator. The exit was just one floor up. There was uncertainty at the door: Hughes made as if to offer his hand but then quickly withdrew it. Baxter, making a conscious effort to recover, said in a strained voice: ‘We expect to be hearing from you, very shortly.’

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ said Danilov, refusing to rekindle the dispute.

  The two Russians watched the other men go towards their embassy car, parked at the kerb with the driver holding the door open. Novikov said: ‘I didn’t need to speak the language to understand. You’ve upset them, haven’t you? They’re annoyed!’

  ‘Let’s hope your post-mortem report is comprehensive enough not to upset them further,’ said Danilov, irritated by the other man.

  The permanently assigned police car was outside, about twenty yards behind where the American vehicle had been. Pavin had remained at the wheel. Danilov opened the passenger door but didn’t get in, leaning through instead. ‘Go back without me,’ he said. ‘I’ll be there in a couple of hours.’ He could get to the Druzhba Hotel just about the time Larissa finished her shift.

  ‘You’d better come with me,’ said Pavin, nodding towards the car phone. ‘Lapinsk called. He wants to see you at once. Says it’s urgent.’

  Just short of the Militia building Danilov pointed to a street kiosk and said: ‘Stop there. I need to phone.’

  Pavin halted, not needing to ask why Danilov didn’t use the car telephone. Calls from the car were recorded and logged.

  The Director was taking a stomach pill as Danilov entered. There was a staccato of nervous coughing as Danilov went further into the room. ‘There’ve been more complaints. Official demands for the release of the body and what you took from the flat.’

  ‘I know. They wanted to serve papers on me at the mortuary: I refused to accept.’

  Lapinsk got up from his desk, going to the window to keep his back to the other man. ‘People are beginning to question if you should be allowed to remain on the case.’

  ‘I don’t think there has been any mistake so far in the investigation.’ At the very moment of speaking Danilov was abruptly seized by the impression that he had missed something that was very important. It was an unsettling, unnerving thought.

  ‘I think you’ve made enough personal protest, for whatever happened at the embassy. Your independence now is becoming idiotic’ Lapinsk turned back into the room, to look directly at Danilov.

  ‘I don’t want to continue any antagonism,’ insisted Danilov. Nor bow to it, from the Americans, he thought.

  ‘Is there any good reason for not releasing the body?’

  ‘I only got Novikov’s full report an hour ago. I haven’t had time to study it.’

  ‘The body could be released, once you’re satisfied with the report?’

  Danilov decided that the man who had always supported him was anxious for concessions. ‘I suppose so.’

  Lapinsk returned to his desk, with the slow walk of a tired man. ‘What about the stuff you took from the flat?’

  ‘I’ve provided a full list. It’s too early yet for me to know what I may or may not want.’

  ‘Why does the apartment have to remain sealed?’

  ‘I might want to examine it again. Something might come up from what I’ve already
got. Or from the forensic report.’

  Lapinsk released a breath, loudly. ‘Why the hell did you go barging in there in the first place?’

  ‘I wouldn’t have got in at all, any other way.’

  ‘I almost wish you hadn’t. It hasn’t achieved anything, has it?’

  ‘I don’t know, not yet.’ Or did he? He’d learned a lot about Ann Harris and was intrigued by a situation which apparently involved pain. And there was the coincidence — which was as high as he was putting it, enticing though it was to invest it with more importance — of a missing kitchen knife. But realistically he had to acknowledge he had found nothing to help him discover a killer. The only surmise he would allow at the moment was that the killer of Ann Harris and Vladimir Suzlev was the same person.

  Lapinsk sighed again. ‘The Americans are insisting upon a progress report. There’s no progress to report, is there?’

  ‘It’s fatuous to expect it so soon,’ said Danilov, defensively.

  ‘What leads?’

  ‘None.’ It sounded pitifully inadequate: there was every reason for irritation and impatience, from everyone.

  ‘What’s the possibility of something emerging soon?’ demanded Lapinsk, the anxiety becoming desperation.

  ‘None,’ conceded the investigator again.

  ‘It’s not very good, is it? Or encouraging?’

  ‘No.’