Launch Code

by Michael Ridpath

  ‘Hey. You spent the whole of the eighties claiming that the Russians were funding the peace movement and it was all bullshit. You knew it was all bullshit, and now we know. So why don’t you give up? It’s yesterday’s news.’

  Agent Watkins smiled politely. ‘You are correct we got that wrong. The KGB and the GRU were trying to fund the peace movement, but the peace activists managed to avoid taking their money. Mostly.’

  ‘Mostly? Are you saying that Pat Greenwald took Russian money?’

  ‘We think that Pat Greenwald may have been an agent for the KGB.’

  ‘That’s absurd!’ said Donna.

  ‘It may be. But that’s what we are investigating. And that’s why we need to speak with you. Now, how did you know Pat Greenwald?’

  Donna glanced at me in frustration.

  ‘Tell them, Donna,’ I said. ‘If she was a spy, we need to help them. And if she wasn’t, then maybe we can help them see that.’

  Donna scowled. ‘OK. Pat was an assistant professor at Hunter College. She was also one of the foremost peace activists in New York. She was an organizer of that big Freeze anti-nuclear rally in Central Park in 1982 where a million people showed up. And she was a member of WAND – that’s Women’s Action for Nuclear Disarmament. I met her at the peace camp outside the Seneca nuclear weapons depot in upstate New York, and I stayed in touch with her when I got back to the city.’

  ‘Did she show any signs of communist sympathies? Or sympathies toward the Soviet Union?’

  ‘No!’ said Donna. ‘You guys should get this by now. We were opposed to nuclear weapons whoever had them. We were not opposed to the United States. And we certainly didn’t like Brezhnev – or Andropov I think it was then. I forget, they all died so quickly.’

  ‘What about the Gorky Trust Group?’ said Agent Watkins. ‘Did she ever mention that?’

  ‘Yes, she did,’ said Donna. ‘I remember her speaking about them. But they weren’t communists. The whole point about them was they were dissidents. They were a bunch of scientists mostly from the city of Gorky. I think it was a closed city then, no westerners could go there. The point is that they were against nuclear weapons just like we were.’

  ‘Did you ever meet them?’

  ‘Pat dealt with them mostly. But a physicist came to speak to us all once. What was her name? Boyarova?’

  ‘That’s correct. Irena Boyarova,’ Watkins said.

  ‘OK. Yeah, she spoke to us. She was inspiring, actually.’

  ‘She worked for the KGB,’ the other, shorter agent said. Agent Macdonald.

  Donna just snorted.

  ‘We suspected it at the time,’ said Macdonald. ‘The KGB archive backs that up.’

  ‘But you just heard that Donna only met her once, and that was as part of a crowd,’ I protested.

  Agent Watkins ignored my comment. ‘That wasn’t all the files said about Dr Greenwald. Mr Guth: did you ever meet Greenwald?’

  ‘Me? No.’

  ‘Or Irena Boyarova?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘I see.’ Watkins paused. ‘Did you ever tell your wife about what happened aboard the USS Alexander Hamilton in November 1983?’

  I hate lying. I might lie for my country; I had no desire to lie to my country. But I had no choice. I had known when I had decided to tell Donna everything that the day might come when a FBI agent might sit me down and ask me the kind of questions he was asking me now.

  And I had decided then that if that happened, I would lie.

  ‘No, I didn’t. I mean, I told her that Lieutenant Naylor died in an accident. She knew Craig; she went to college with his sister. But I didn’t tell her anything else.’

  The agent turned to Donna. ‘Mrs Guth. Did your husband tell you what happened on the submarine on that patrol?’

  ‘Er. I thought he had. He said Craig fell down a ladder and hit his head, but he didn’t die for several days. Was there something else?’

  Donna glanced at me, with a look of puzzlement. Her face hardened. ‘Was there a radiation leak?’

  I had never realized that my wife was such a good liar.

  ‘Not that kind of leak,’ said Watkins. ‘Everything that happened on board the USS Alexander Hamilton on that patrol is in the KGB’s files. And it came via Irena Boyarova.’

  ‘So where did she get it?’ I asked.

  ‘From an officer on the submarine. An officer who was there.’

  ‘And it’s not just the order to launch nuclear missiles,’ said Agent MacDonald. ‘There was other information too. About the organization of the submarine fleet in the North Atlantic. About targets. And technical details about the Poseidon missiles themselves.’

  ‘Do the files say which officer?’

  ‘No,’ Watkins replied. ‘But given Mrs Guth was then your girlfriend, and she knew Greenwald at the time, and Greenwald knew Boyarova, it seems natural for us to consider that it might be you.’

  Donna looked at me in something close to panic.

  I paused to think. ‘OK,’ I said. ‘I see that. Let me start by saying it wasn’t me. I never divulged what happened to anyone, let alone a Russian.’

  ‘OK,’ said Watkins. ‘If you aren’t responsible, do you know who is?’

  I had no clue. No clue at all. I could see how I was the most likely spy. So likely, I was surprised they hadn’t already arrested me and bundled me off to some cell in the FBI building in Washington.

  I immediately wondered whether I should start by coming clean about what I had told Donna. That she knew about the near-launch. But would that get her into trouble?

  For a second I thought that maybe she had given the information to the KGB after all, or maybe just to Pat Greenwald in an innocent discussion about nuclear accidents. That was the most likely explanation.

  But even that would be enough to place us both in deep trouble.

  I exchanged glances with Donna. She was a smart woman. And by that stage we had been married for ten years. We knew each other very well. She knew what I was thinking.

  And I knew there was something she wasn’t telling me.

  That scared me.

  She leaned back in the armchair. The three of us, me and the two FBI agents, watched her.

  She spoke. ‘I told someone about Pat. About her contact with the Gorky Group. One of Bill’s fellow officers.’ She sighed. ‘Through Bill, he knew my politics. He wanted me to put him in touch with a peace activist who had contacts with Russia. I thought he just wanted to join the cause. It never occurred to me he would want to give away secrets.’

  ‘Who?’ Agent Watkins asked.

  ‘Commander Driscoll.’

  Thirty-Six

  Saturday 30 November 2019, Norfolk

  ‘So that’s who Pat Greenwald was,’ said Bill. He took a last spoonful of soup, which was cold by now, and sat back in his chair.

  ‘Wait,’ said Megan. ‘Wasn’t Commander Driscoll the captain?’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Bill. ‘It’s confusing. The captain of a nuclear submarine usually has the rank of commander.’

  ‘Didn’t he kill himself?’ said Toby.

  Bill breathed in deeply and nodded. ‘Yes, he did. A few months after the near-launch incident. We all thought it was because he couldn’t get over what happened then. But maybe it was because he told the Russians stuff he shouldn’t have. Who knows? It’s very sad.’

  ‘Did the FBI investigate him?’ said Megan.

  ‘Probably,’ said Bill. ‘I don’t know. I never heard any more about it. I didn’t ask, and they didn’t tell me. My guess is they dropped it. Nobody wanted to bring up the near-launch, even after the Cold War was over.’

  ‘What about Pat Greenwald?’ said Megan. ‘Did the FBI investigate her?’

  Bill shrugged. ‘No idea.’

  ‘Does Admiral Robinson know all this?’ Toby asked.

  ‘Yes he does. I told him at the time. He told me to forget it.’

  ‘Part of the great cover-up?’


  ‘What can I say?’ said Bill.

  ‘Does Prestwitch know?’ said Toby.

  ‘I’m not sure.’ Bill frowned. ‘Probably not. I doubt that US intelligence would like to share that kind of screw-up with their allies. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Because I told the police I would tell Prestwitch everything I knew about Craig’s death.’

  ‘Why would you do that?’ said Bill.

  ‘To help them find who killed Sam Bowen,’ Toby said. ‘And now Lars. And to get Alice out of jail.’

  ‘But I told you all about the Hamilton’s last patrol on condition you would keep it quiet.’

  ‘You made me sign the Official Secrets Act. Which is why I told the police I would talk to MI5. Then they can decide what to tell them.’

  ‘No, Toby. Don’t do that. I’m warning you. I trusted you.’

  ‘No, Bill. Someone’s got to help the police. Someone’s got to help Alice.’

  ‘If all this becomes public, Donna will be accused of being a spy.’

  ‘Mom’s dead, Dad,’ said Megan.

  ‘Yes. And I want her to rest in peace.’

  ‘Are you concerned that you might be prosecuted?’ Megan said.

  ‘Maybe,’ said Bill.

  ‘I don’t understand why. You didn’t know anything about it,’ said Toby.

  ‘If you are telling us the whole truth,’ said Megan.

  Bill’s shoulders slumped and he poured himself another glass of wine.

  ‘Don’t either of you see the real reason why I don’t want the cops to find out any of this?’

  Megan and Toby were silent.

  ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

  It wasn’t to Toby and Megan.

  ‘Because I think Alice killed Sam Bowen.’

  Thirty-Seven

  Megan looked at Toby and then her father. ‘You’re crazy. Why would she do that?’

  ‘To protect me.’

  ‘From what?’

  ‘From Sam Bowen publishing his book and accusing me and your mom of being spies. From me being charged with treason.’

  ‘But that wasn’t ever going to happen, was it?’

  ‘I think Alice thought it might,’ said Bill. ‘It’s the only thing that makes sense. I know Donna told her a lot before she died, a lot more than she told the rest of you girls. I saw her talking to Sam Bowen at the dinner table, and then she went to see him at the pub. She must have thought I was in danger of being unmasked.’

  ‘And so she killed him?’ said Megan. ‘That’s absurd. I can’t believe Alice would kill anyone. Can you, Toby?’

  ‘No, of course not,’ Toby replied loyally. But actually he thought it was just possible that Alice could kill someone to protect her father. Not to protect herself, not to protect Toby, but to protect Bill? Maybe.

  Bill could see Toby’s doubt. ‘You know I’m right,’ he said. ‘I’ve tried to hide from this myself. I don’t want to think my daughter killed anyone. And I still hope to God I’m wrong. But whatever she’s done, she’s still my daughter. Your wife. Your sister. We still have to do all we can to protect her.’

  ‘Have you spoken to her about it?’ Toby said.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘At first I didn’t want to believe it. And then when the police arrested her, I didn’t have the chance. Besides, I don’t know what I’d say to her.’

  Toby snorted. But, actually, he sympathized with Bill. He didn’t want to admit to himself that he suspected Alice of murder, let alone to her.

  ‘Look, I only told you all this because I thought you both had a right to understand what happened,’ Bill said. ‘And because I wanted you to realize that you shouldn’t talk about any of this to the cops.’

  ‘And Prestwitch?’

  ‘And Prestwitch. You can maybe tell him that it was actually me who killed Craig – the admiral probably told him that already – but nothing about Greenwald. You owe it to Alice.’

  ‘No. I don’t believe she killed anyone.’

  Bill stared at Toby. ‘All right. Even if you don’t think she killed anyone, surely you can see that the police might suspect she did. And if you tell them about Pat Greenwald, they will think she had a motive. You can’t take that risk.’

  Toby drained his glass. ‘What about Lars? We know Alice can’t possibly have killed him. So who do you think shot him?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Bill.

  ‘Did he know about the FBI investigation?’

  ‘Yes. They interviewed him after me. Went all the way to the Caribbean to do it.’

  ‘Could that be why he was killed?’

  ‘Who knows?’ said Bill. ‘I certainly don’t. Doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s Alice I’m worried about.’

  Megan cleared soup bowls from the kitchen table. Bill and Toby sat opposite each other, a quarter-full bottle of red wine between them. Toby didn’t know what to believe. If Alice thought that her parents were at risk of being exposed as spies, she would take action to protect them. But she wouldn’t go as far as killing anyone, surely?

  And how come he had had no inkling of all of this?

  That was easier to believe. This was exactly the kind of secret that Alice would want to keep from him.

  He was damn sure Alice wouldn’t kill anyone to protect him. It occurred to Toby that Alice loved her father more than him. It had always been obvious, but he had never admitted it to himself. And it made him feel kind of jealous. Which was really stupid.

  He didn’t know what to do. Should he just trust Bill and do as he asked? How would he feel if the police used information he had given them via Prestwitch to build a stronger case against Alice?

  The front door opened and Brooke appeared. Her cheeks were pale and lined, and her hair hung lank about her face. She caught the atmosphere around the kitchen table immediately.

  ‘Hello,’ she said, tentatively.

  ‘Hi, Brooke,’ said Megan.

  ‘Have you heard the news?’ said Bill.

  ‘Have they caught the murderer?’

  ‘Uncle Lars has been shot,’ said Megan. ‘Killed.’

  ‘Oh, God,’ said Brooke. Her hand flew to her mouth and she dropped into one of the chairs around the table. ‘What happened?’

  ‘It was just this afternoon,’ said Toby. ‘I was walking with him out there on the beach and he was shot. Like by a sniper. He almost got me too.’

  ‘Oh my God,’ said Brooke. ‘Do they know who it was?’

  ‘No,’ said Bill. ‘Or not yet. The police are looking for him.’

  ‘Did you see him?’ Brooke asked Toby.

  ‘Not really. I saw a figure from a distance, but I couldn’t catch his face.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad you’re all right.’

  ‘Do you want some wine?’ Megan asked.

  ‘I’d better not,’ said Brooke. ‘I’m driving. We’re staying at a hotel in Hunstanton. Justin is back there now.’

  ‘Thanks for coming,’ Bill said to his daughter, summoning up a weak smile.

  ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, Dad!’ said Brooke. ‘About earlier. But you know how important Craig is to Justin. He’s become this mythical figure: his father, the hero who saved the world. With you. So when he heard Lars had killed Craig, he found it hard to take.’

  ‘So I noticed.’

  ‘He’s been obsessing over it ever since,’ said Brooke. ‘He’s gotten it into his head that Lars killed Craig on the submarine and then he killed the historian to stop him from telling anyone. He went right over to the police station today to say that, in fact, he is not sure what time he saw Lars in the Cottage on Thursday night. We both told the police we stayed up in the Cottage living room with jet lag that evening, and heard Lars going to the bathroom just before midnight. In other words, Justin is now saying that Lars might have had time to kill Sam Bowen.’

  ‘What did the police say?’ said Bill.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Brooke. ‘Justin says they listened but he got the impression they wer
en’t going to do anything. And, frankly, whatever Justin says, I know he and I were in that living room reading until at least one a.m., and we would have noticed if Lars left the Cottage. Have they released Alice yet?’

  ‘Not yet,’ said Bill. ‘And we don’t know whether they will.’

  Brooke’s gloomy face brightened a little. ‘But Alice can’t have killed Lars. So doesn’t that mean she didn’t kill Sam Bowen?’

  Bill winced and scratched his head. ‘I don’t know what it means.’

  ‘Were you with Justin this afternoon?’ Megan asked.

  ‘No. Right after we checked in to the hotel this morning, he went to the police in King’s Lynn. He tried to make me change my story as well to implicate Lars, but I wouldn’t do it. He had the rental car, so I’ve been cooped up in a tiny hotel room all day.’

  ‘Did Justin go straight back to you from King’s Lynn police station?’ Megan asked.

  ‘Oh my God! You think Justin killed Lars!’

  ‘He knows how to use a gun, doesn’t he?’

  ‘He goes deer hunting sometimes with his cousin. That doesn’t mean he shot Lars.’

  ‘No, I know,’ said Megan. ‘I’m just saying.’

  ‘Saying what?’

  Megan shrugged.

  Bill cleared his throat. ‘Brooke. You should tell your husband that Lars lied when he said it was him who killed Craig Naylor. It wasn’t him, it was me. Lars was just covering for me.’

  ‘Dad! Why didn’t you say anything?’

  ‘I don’t know. I should have.’

  ‘Can I tell Justin why you killed Craig?’

  Bill shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. You can’t.’

  ‘Oh, because it’s Classified. I’m getting bored with that excuse.’

  ‘You’re not the only one,’ said Megan.

  Tears flowed from Brooke’s eyes. ‘You know what this means? Justin will never forgive you.’

  The rest she left unsaid. That it would become very difficult for Brooke to see her father in future, or any of the rest of the family.

  ‘I hope one day he will,’ Bill said.

  ‘This must have something to do with that order to launch missiles,’ said Brooke. ‘It must.’