the syndicates. Apparently he traded some information on your connection with his client in exchange for favorable treatment.”
Ivankov and his lieutenant exchanged another look.
“Did he, really?” Ivankov reflected. “And what sort of investigation does the FSB’s Office of Economic Counter-Intelligence have in mind to pursue?”
Stephasin shrugged. “Nothing specific, really, as I understand it. Just one of those let’s see how things develop exercises. They have some new young rising star by the name of Nikolai Aven who’s been making a name for himself recently with these sorts of things. He was responsible for arresting the banker and so now he wants to go after you.”
Vari managed to draw his eyes away from the screen just long enough to trade a sober glance with Nikolai.
“Really,” Ivankov nodded. “How interesting. And tell me, Aleksey, how did you find out about this… this Aven , is it? And his investigation.”
Stephasin smiled again. “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to share that with you, Marat. Let’s just say that it was someone senior in this Aven’s department who knew something of our…” He cast around for the right expression. “Shall we say, former relationship , and who thought that, for old times’ sake, I may want to let you know.” He grimaced with what appeared to be a hint of frustration. “Unfortunately things are a little different these days, as you know. This new FSB thing is a bit of a worry, really. It’s not at all like the old KGB. I can’t help thinking some of our people may have seen too many of those awful moralistic American police movies… you know, Serpico and such. Some of these ideas actually seem to be spreading upwards to the extent that there are now quite a number of senior people who feel they shouldn’t get in the way of this sort of thing in case things turn bad for them.”
Ivankov rocked in his chair, considering Stephasin’s observation. “So, Aleksey,” he remarked finally, “with your experience in these matters, might I ask whether you have any particular advice as to how we should deal with this situation?”
Stephasin took another sip of cognac. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much, Marat. I know how you operate, so I doubt there will be any loose ends for this young fellow to grab hold of and start unravelling.”
Kolbasov leaned forward, looking between Stephasin and his boss, venturing his own contribution. “This man, Aven. Should we perhaps consider investing in him?”
Stephasin gave a tight smile followed by an equally tight shake of the head. “A nice expression, Vitaly, but since this young fellow is apparently one of our new crusaders I don’t think that would work at all. No, I think you should just sit it out and see what happens. The people in his department will need to humor him for a while, let him ferret around a bit. Then, when he comes up with nothing tangible, they’ll be able to justify moving him on to something else. Somewhere else.”
The three men exchanged glances.
“And of course,” Stephasin set his glass down and cast his hands apart. “If he does happen to stumble onto something, I’ll be able to let you know and then there’s always… What was that elegant expression the Germans used? That’s right,” he smiled. “The final solution.”
5
The two men sat side by side, staring at the empty screen. Finally Vari reached across and took the remote from his partner’s hand.
He hit the stop button, rose to his feet and crossed to the window, throwing the partly open curtains aside and staring down into the street.
Nikolai remained seated behind him, speaking quietly, without emotion. “So,” he said, “what do you think?”
Vari swung around, his eyes alight with an intensity beyond rage.
“I think what you think. That we’ve been fucked grandly from above!”
His gaze shifted from Nikolai to the scattered transcripts. “We need to put this stuff somewhere
Ivankov and his lieutenant exchanged another look.
“Did he, really?” Ivankov reflected. “And what sort of investigation does the FSB’s Office of Economic Counter-Intelligence have in mind to pursue?”
Stephasin shrugged. “Nothing specific, really, as I understand it. Just one of those let’s see how things develop exercises. They have some new young rising star by the name of Nikolai Aven who’s been making a name for himself recently with these sorts of things. He was responsible for arresting the banker and so now he wants to go after you.”
Vari managed to draw his eyes away from the screen just long enough to trade a sober glance with Nikolai.
“Really,” Ivankov nodded. “How interesting. And tell me, Aleksey, how did you find out about this… this Aven , is it? And his investigation.”
Stephasin smiled again. “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to share that with you, Marat. Let’s just say that it was someone senior in this Aven’s department who knew something of our…” He cast around for the right expression. “Shall we say, former relationship , and who thought that, for old times’ sake, I may want to let you know.” He grimaced with what appeared to be a hint of frustration. “Unfortunately things are a little different these days, as you know. This new FSB thing is a bit of a worry, really. It’s not at all like the old KGB. I can’t help thinking some of our people may have seen too many of those awful moralistic American police movies… you know, Serpico and such. Some of these ideas actually seem to be spreading upwards to the extent that there are now quite a number of senior people who feel they shouldn’t get in the way of this sort of thing in case things turn bad for them.”
Ivankov rocked in his chair, considering Stephasin’s observation. “So, Aleksey,” he remarked finally, “with your experience in these matters, might I ask whether you have any particular advice as to how we should deal with this situation?”
Stephasin took another sip of cognac. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much, Marat. I know how you operate, so I doubt there will be any loose ends for this young fellow to grab hold of and start unravelling.”
Kolbasov leaned forward, looking between Stephasin and his boss, venturing his own contribution. “This man, Aven. Should we perhaps consider investing in him?”
Stephasin gave a tight smile followed by an equally tight shake of the head. “A nice expression, Vitaly, but since this young fellow is apparently one of our new crusaders I don’t think that would work at all. No, I think you should just sit it out and see what happens. The people in his department will need to humor him for a while, let him ferret around a bit. Then, when he comes up with nothing tangible, they’ll be able to justify moving him on to something else. Somewhere else.”
The three men exchanged glances.
“And of course,” Stephasin set his glass down and cast his hands apart. “If he does happen to stumble onto something, I’ll be able to let you know and then there’s always… What was that elegant expression the Germans used? That’s right,” he smiled. “The final solution.”
5
The two men sat side by side, staring at the empty screen. Finally Vari reached across and took the remote from his partner’s hand.
He hit the stop button, rose to his feet and crossed to the window, throwing the partly open curtains aside and staring down into the street.
Nikolai remained seated behind him, speaking quietly, without emotion. “So,” he said, “what do you think?”
Vari swung around, his eyes alight with an intensity beyond rage.
“I think what you think. That we’ve been fucked grandly from above!”
His gaze shifted from Nikolai to the scattered transcripts. “We need to put this stuff somewhere
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