The Russian Lieutenant

by Peter Marshall

  “Now, this is the latest,” continued DS Maggs. “MI5 has insisted that we keep the girl Marina under wraps. They think the Russians probably know the farmhouse address by now, so MI5 say that we should drive her to London as soon as possible and they will take care of her there for the time being. So it will be out of our hands.”

  David then told Maggs two things that were surprises for him. Firstly, that Marina and her friend Betty were now at his house in Old Portsmouth, and secondly, that Marina’s father had arrived by train from London and was now with her. And he explained that Admiral Mann had brought them into town from his house near Rowlands Castle.

  “At the moment, Mr. Peters is telling his daughter about the contacts he has had from someone at the Russian Embassy asking to meet with Marina. I will catch up with them both in a few minutes. So as things stand,” continued David, “Mr. Peters will be on the late evening train back to London, and Marina is going back to the Manns’ house in the country until we know what happens next.”

  Maggs thought quickly and said, “This is getting serious. In these circumstances, I think MI5 will probably want us to take father and daughter to Thameside in London together as soon as possible, and then they can decide what to do next. So hold on and I’ll call you back.”

  15.

  A MAN NAMED JACK

  Marina and her father were both tense as they sat together in the Mann’s sitting room with their tray of tea and biscuits, brought to them stylishly by the lady of the house. Neither knew quite where to start the conversation, and the initial small talk while the tea was poured by Mrs. Mann did not last very long.

  As soon as she left the room, Victor Peters asked: “What are you involved in, Marina?” And he did not really believe her when she tried to explain her the online meeting with the Russian and his arrival on the ship in Portsmouth a couple of days earlier. He knew his daughter well enough to realise that she was not telling him the whole story. As they skirted around the matter, she, in turn, began to suspect, for the first time, that there was something more to her father’s contact with the Russian Embassy.

  “This is not just a budding romance then, is it?” he asked.

  “I had never actually spoken to the man before he arrived here,” she replied insistently. “And then we were picked up by the police just a few hours later after I had shown him around Portsmouth. I haven’t seen him since. What did the Russian embassy say to you?”

  “They asked me if I had seen the newspaper story and whether I had talked to you about it.”

  “So how did they know where to find you? The paper did not mention you at all.”

  “Well, I expect I am on their records somewhere because of our Russian connections. The man who called said his name was Jack and he just wanted to talk to me about what they had read and then he offered to drive me to Portsmouth to see you.”

  “Why would you be on their records, Dad? You’ve never had any reason to be in touch with them over the years, have you?”

  “No, of course not,” he replied – rather unconvincingly, Marina thought, just as David and Admiral Mann came into the room.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but there seems to have been a change of plans,” said David. “The Russian Embassy people are very anxious to talk to you, Marina, and they have even sent a couple of their spooks to Portsmouth today to find you. The press are still looking for you, as well, and the local police say this is now out of their hands and that the MI5 people in London are calling the shots. They want to keep you both under wraps for the time being and I understand that the police are now arranging cars to drive you both back to London, maybe even later this evening, and they will then look after you both. I am waiting for another call with more details.”

  Marina and her father looked at each other, saying nothing for a while. Then Mr. Peters suddenly broke the silence. “But I’ve got a return train ticket,” he protested.

  “That’s being silly, Dad,” said Marina. “This all sounds a bit more serious than I thought… I think we really have no alternative but to go along with it.”

  “That would be my advice, too,” said David. “But remember that we are here to help you and we also have good contacts with lawyers in London who can be briefed to meet you there if you need them.”

  Admiral Mann looked bewildered by all that he had just heard and asked how he could help. The answer was “not much, but thanks anyway.” And a few minutes later, Jeremy arrived with the much-travelled cardboard box, and Marina was reunited at last with her laptop and her mobile phone – but was unsure what to do with them. Also, if she was going to London, she said she would need to collect some further belongings from her Southsea flat.

  When DS Maggs called David again, he had more information about the logistics. It had now been decided to send the two police cars to London at about 8 pm – one would pick up Mr. Peters and take him back to his home, and the other would take Marina, with an escort, direct to MI5 HQ. He added that they were also finding her a room in London for the night.

  The two police cars created a little interest for the neighbours as they arrived at the Barclay-Smith home in Old Portsmouth. But there was not much to see as they quickly loaded their respective passengers after Marina and her father had exchanged a parting hug – but no further words. They all thanked the Admiral Mann rather hurriedly for all his help and Marina also had a hug for a somewhat bewildered Betty. David was as positive as ever and reassured the group that everything would be fine. Jeremy offered to drive Betty back to her home, just a mile away – and within a couple of minutes, all the cars had driven away and a quiet evening descended on Old Portsmouth again.

  It had been agreed that Marina’s driver and the accompanying escort would stop first at her flat in Southsea and that together they would be able to safely ignore any press or even Russians who might still be hanging around. When they arrived at the flat, all was quiet apart from one reporter sitting in his car outside. He watched a police officer follow Marina into the block with her overnight bag and her cardboard box. Once inside, she put her laptop back on her desk and the mobile phone in her handbag, pleased to be reunited with it again. Then she quickly packed a small wheelie suitcase with some additional clothes and toiletries, locked her door and then knocked on her neighbour’s door to say she would be gone for a few days. They were soon speeding up the A3 to London, quickly losing the one press car which tried to follow.

  16.

  THE “SAFE” FLAT

  As the first of the two police cars sped up the A3 and M3 towards London, Victor Peters called his wife Shona to reassure her that all was well and that he was returning by car. He gave her an approximate time of arrival, and as she watched for the car, she was alarmed to see him being dropped off by the police. She wanted to know the whole story, but firstly told him: “Before I forget, that Russian fellow from the embassy rang again, and he wants you to call him back as soon as possible.”

  Victor told her that the Russian could wait, and over a late supper, he described his day – or as much of it as he thought necessary. Shona had already seen most of the details in the newspaper and on the TV news, and the most important thing for her was to know that Marina’s part in the story was entirely innocent. Victor explained that she was being kept away from the press until she was able to give evidence against the Russian spy. He told his wife that Marina had also travelled to London separately that evening in another police car and was being looked after safely.

  “That Russian must have taken advantage of her friendly nature,” said Shona after thinking about the situation. “But it was a bit careless of her to get involved with him, anyway. There must be lots of nice men out there looking for friendship without getting mixed up in all this. Do you think she knew she was taking a chance?”

  “Well,” said her father, sadly, “I think it was the Russian thing that got her interest – you know, my family links and all that, which are quite important to her. But she’s a big girl now, making her way in
the world, doing an important job and looking after herself. Now, what number do I ring to speak to that Russian?”

  It was a mobile number, written by Shona on the message pad, so Victor went to his desk in the study and made the call, which was answered immediately

  “Sorry to call you so late,” he began. “This is Victor Peters. I understand you have been in touch again, and I thought it might be urgent.”

  “Yes, where are you?” came the reply.

  “At home. Why are you calling me?”

  “We have been reading about your daughter Marina in the newspapers and I thought we had better have a chat. Do you know where she is? We would very much like to contact her.”

  “No, not really. I have been to Portsmouth today to see her. She’s fine but just a bit involved in this incident with one of your navy people. What’s your name, and can I call you again on this number if I get any further news?”

  “Just call me Jack. I am at the Russian embassy, and I think we should meet up as soon as possible. When can we get together?”

  “Leave it with me – I’ll call you again in a day or two.” Victor hung up and told his wife, “I just spoke to that Russian who rang earlier. He is at the embassy and taking an interest in this business about the Russian officer and Marina, and he wants to meet me for a chat. I think it will wait until after the weekend. I’m very tired. Let’s get some sleep.”

  Meanwhile, Marina had arrived at the MI5 headquarters by the Thames, where she was met in the entrance lobby by a female officer who introduced herself as Patricia and said she would be taking care of her for a few days.

  “We have some comfortable digs for you just around the corner,” she said, picking up Marina’s bags and setting off along the road and then turning right into a modern apartment block. They took the lift to the eighth floor and found number 83, which turned out to be a quite luxurious two-bedroomed apartment with a view out across the river and the lights of London at night.

  Patricia was about the same age as Marina and dressed in casual jeans and jacket. She was warm and friendly as she took Marina into one of the bedrooms and showed her all the facilities of the flat, including a kitchen with a well-stocked refrigerator and freezer.

  “This is where I stay when work keeps me here late at night. I will be in the other bedroom tonight, and we each have our own bathrooms, so we should be okay,” she explained. “As it’s quite late, why don’t you get what you need to eat from the fridge, and we’ll call it a night. We can have a chat over breakfast at about 8.30? Sleep well.”

  Marina made a cheese sandwich, sat on her bed and collected her thoughts. She felt her whole being had suddenly been taken over by the police, the press and the events of the last 48 hours. But at least she was safe and comfortable for the night, and maybe she would discover more in the morning. She prepared herself a hot drink, went quickly to bed and slept soundly.

  17.

  ALDANOV IN COURT

  The news story remained in the headlines over the weekend. The reports were mostly speculation about Russian spying activities, with Marina as the “mystery woman”. A few more “facts” had been obtained from neighbours and co-workers in the Dockyard. However, Marina’s whereabouts remained unknown until early on the Sunday morning, when there was another tip-off. Mike Morrissey was reading the results of his handiwork in the Sunday papers when his police CID contact who rang him again.

  “You’re probably still working on the Russian officer story,” he said. “Well, when I came in this morning, I heard that we sent two cars off on Friday evening to drive to MI5 in London, and one of them was supposed to be picking up the woman in the case, Marina Peters. That’s all I know at the moment, but I’ll let you know if I hear any more.”

  An appreciative Mike was quickly in action and he drove to the Southsea flat again, and on getting no response from Marina’s number, he tried the neighbour he had spoken to a couple of days earlier. “Yes, she popped in last night to say she would be away for a few days,” he was told by Mrs. Watkins. “She had a suitcase, and when I looked out, I am sure I saw a police car outside.”

  That was all that Mike needed by way of confirmation, and he was able to prepare a new story for the Monday papers to say that Marina Peters was now being questioned by MI5 in London about her rendezvous with the Russian Lieutenant. The news editors in London tried to check this news, but no further statements were forthcoming from Scotland Yard, the Home Office or the Foreign Office during the day. This did not stop further speculation as the new story evolved into a major security inquiry. In Monday’s papers, it was illustrated with front-page pictures and there was TV coverage of the three Russian frigates leaving Portsmouth Harbour – but without Lieutenant Aldanov on board. It was speculated by the press that he and Marina would shortly appear in court on charges relating to the information exchanged between them in their online conversations..

  Meanwhile, MI5 officers continued to question Aldanov through Sunday, with an attaché from the Russian embassy present, and by the end of the day, he was charged with a breach of national security by attempting to obtain confidential information from a civilian working for the Royal Navy. He appeared briefly at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning and was remanded to a high-security prison pending trial.

  After the hearing, there was another statement from the Foreign Office:

  “Further to the statement issued on Friday, investigations carried out by the security services have confirmed that Nikolai Aldanov, who was detained in Portsmouth last week, is an experienced agent employed by the Russian secret service known as the GRU. After questioning by MI5, he appeared in court in London today charged with offences relating to national security, and he was remanded in custody to stand trial on a date to be arranged. The Russian embassy is being kept fully informed. The British woman who was detained at the same time is helping MI5 with their enquiries but has not been charged at this stage.”

  Meanwhile, Tom Spencer and his investigative team at MI5, together with an MI6 representative, met again early on Monday morning. They began by reconsidering their view of Marina’s involvement with Aldanov by discussing a new, detailed analysis of the 100-plus page transcript of their online exchanges. Also, they now had to consider the possible role of her father. They now knew that he had maintained his contacts with other Russian emigres in London and that he was obviously known to the Russian embassy, who had been trying to make contact with him since the story appeared about his daughter. They recognised that following his return from Portsmouth on Friday evening, it was likely that Russian agents had, in fact, already made contact, and it was quickly decided to place him under surveillance. But they would not yet try to formally interview him as part of the current operation.

  The meeting went on for more than an hour and ranged over various possibilities. Were either Victor Peters or Marina already operating as Russian informants? It was agreed that a joint evidence-gathering operation should begin at once. They also began to speculate whether there was now an opportunity for either of the Peters to become MI5 informants – or even double agents? Or if they were not willing to risk their British citizenship in that way, did their Russian contacts provide a basis to develop their value as MI6 operatives? It was also noted that among Marina’s exchanges with Aldanov, she had said she was eager to visit her ancestral roots in Russia. How could this be exploited?

  As these creative ideas were explored, Spencer was pensive for a few moments and then said, “How do you think Moscow sees this? Their guy goes fishing and comes up with an online date with an English girl who just happens to be working inside the Royal Navy comms office – and also just happens to have Russian ancestry. Was that a lucky coincidence? They probably got their London station to investigate the woman and discovered that her family was already in their records, or at least her father was. I wonder why? Did they know she was working in a sensitive section of the British navy in Portsmouth? They certainly went to all the trouble o
f getting their man on an operational navy ship as a Lieutenant which could be routed via Portsmouth to drop him off and meet his contact. There’s obviously much more in this than we know at the moment. For example, they knew that all the exchanges between the couple were on an open website, so they must have guessed that we knew all about his arrival and would probably follow him. Let’s all go away and think about all this some more ….”

  He then paused and, as an aside, added, “You know, this Marina is a rather interesting lady – smart, intelligent and with a Russian interest. She could be a useful asset to us.”

  In conclusion, Spencer emphasised to the meeting that they must also not lose sight of their primary objective – now that they held Aldanov, they needed to build a strong case against him and secure a conviction, based on Marina Peters’ testimony. Members of the team were given their assignments, and the next stage was for MI5 interrogators to further question Marina as a potential key witness, but at the same time to weigh up these further questions and longer-term possibilities.

  18.

  AN MI5 RECRUIT?

  Marina’s “minder”, Patricia, was assigned to ensure that they had a quiet weekend, and although they could not resist getting the Sunday papers when they walked out along the Embankment in the morning, they avoided talking too much about the Russian situation. They had lunch at a riverside restaurant and chatted about their careers to date, their families and their boyfriends. Later on, they ordered pizzas to be delivered in the evening while they watched TV.