unsure at the risk but then recalling Filitov’s blatant entrapment “is to protect it.” They had to commit themselves- from their own mouths-if she was going to turn their maneuvre back upon them. She needed a response-any response-she could use.
“Protect it!” demanded Karelin. He always had an escape, to keephis service inviolable, but he was intrigued by their even imagining such an intrusion was possible. Not “their” imagining, he corrected, the woman who’d once been in the service. It was as difficult to understand as Okulov appointing an investigating commission in the first place, with her as its chairman.
Good enough; very good, in fact. Natalia was conscious of Filitov and Trishin twisting sideways towards her, matching Karelin’s bewilderment, and just as obviously turned herself to the chief of staff. “You would agree, wouldn’t you Yuri Fedorovich, that one of the essential remits of this Commission is to ensure
Trishin sat trying to anticipate towards which abyss he was being prodded. Unable to, he reluctantly said, “Yes.”
“And there’s also the undertaking, personally announced by the acting president, to make public the findings of this enquiry?”
“Yes,” agreed Trishin again, even more entangled.
It was going better than she’d hoped but it would be wrong for her to read too much too soon into their confusion. She went back to Karelin. “One of your first remarks to us was to deny emphatically any FSB part in an assassination conspiracy?” Natalia thought some of the stiffness had gone from the nondescript man.
Karelin said, “Which I just as emphatically repeat.”
“And which will be set out very specifically in our conclusions, all of which are to be made fully public,” said Natalia. That hadn’t been agreed-discussed even-and she waited for Trishin’s challenge, but it didn’t come. Having allowed the wait, Natalia went on, “Aren’t we limiting ourselves by
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” complained Karelin.
Natalia could see her way now-actually realizing there was something positive to learn-and was not in a hurry, the longer she strung it out the further Filitov and Trishin would be stranded. “Public, international perception,” said Natalia.
“I still don’t understand,” protested Karelin, who believed he did but was unwilling to risk a mistake.
“There has been considerable ill feeling between us and the Americans over some aspects of the overall investigation,” reminded Natalia. “It’s reflected-clearly through informed and official leaksin the highly critical media attacks in the American press. You have been remarkably open with us, conceding that the FSB has been seriously embarrassed. Wouldn’t you agree, Viktor Ivanovich, that such an honest admission exposes you and your service to international media accusation-speculation at the very least-of complicity?”
“An accusation I am totally refuting!” insisted Karelin. She was right, he admitted to himself.
Natalia abruptly switched back to Trishin, intercepting as she did so the look of concern passing between the men on either side of her. “Denied or not, it is the sort of hostile analysis the international media will make and against which it is necessary for the FSB to guard, wouldn’t you agree, Yuri Fedorovich?”
“Not if the denials were made strongly enough,” tried the politician.
“Are you, Viktor Ivanovich, prepared to take that chance with the reputation of your organisation at stake?” demanded Natalia, moving between the intelligence chairman and the chief of staff before switching to the prosecutor. “Are you, Yuri Fedorvich?” She had them! Boxed and tied with ribbon.
“Isn’t this escalating out of proportion?” said Filitov, recognizing how totally their intended isolation of Natalia had been thrown back at them.
“Answer your own question,” Natalia returned at once. “Outside militia participation will show the FSB and its chairman willing to be totally transparent, to international opinion and judgment.
“It’s a convincing argument,” said Karelin. “I’m glad it’s been made.”
“And I’m personally glad you’ve acknowledged it,” said Natalia.Neither Filitov nor Trishin would be so happy with the secretariat transcripts now. She wondered how much more benefit there was to be achieved.
Karelin lifted and let drop the no longer agitated hand that still held the proposal for militia involvement. “And I appreciate the courtesy. And the consideration.” There was even, finally, a fleeting smile.
“You have no problem with the idea?”
“I need to consider it further. Which I will do keeping your arguments very much in mind, Natalia Fedova.”
“You said one of the uncovered problems has already been dealt with?” prompted Natalia.
“Colonel Spassky was held responsible for the internal security breach,” disclosed Karelin. “He has been dismissed and a new directorate chairman appointed to instigate an entirely redesigned system. It is conceivable that during that reorganization there might emerge some further information on the interference itself.”
Natalia acknowledged that Spassky had to be the most likely and available scapegoat. That had been the ineffectual man’s role from the very beginning. “You left yesterday to carry out a Registry search for us?”
“None of the names from the Ministry of Defense with which I was supplied appear on any Registry or Archive documents of the current FSB or the KGB which preceded it,” said Karelin, formally.
“That would seem to bring to an end any further assistance you might be able to give us?” said Trishin.
“Does it?” came in Natalia, sharply. “The identity of any who might be involved could be among material intentionally removed as part of the conspiracy, couldn’t it?”
“Most certainly, if any of them were part of it,” agreed Karelin.
Everything had to end on her personal terms, decided Natalia, or perhaps more essentially to her personal benefit. “We’ve no other witnesses, unless you can suggest anyone else.”
“There’s no one,” confirmed Karelin, at once.
“At the moment the FSB is inextricably-and inescapably-linked with a very carefully planned treason because of which it can only be discredited,” Natalia spelled out.
“Until we prove otherwise,” said Karelin.
There it was, the top-to-bottom investigations Karelin hadn’t d closed and into which he wouldn’t for a moment admit outside in vestigators! “Such very careful planning wouldn’t have been possible by disaffected personnel abruptly dismissed your service?”
“I don’t think so,” agreed Karelin.
“Could there be factions still
“If there are, they will be discovered,” insisted Karelin, in further confirmation of the undisclosed purge.
“Can you suggest to us who-or what-else might be responsible?” asked Trishin, anxious to restore himself.
“Not at this moment,” said Karelin. “I’m discounting a foreign intelligence service. One could not have infiltrated to this degree.”
“I’ve used the word discredit,” reminded Natalia. “If this conspiracy isn’t totally explained and the conspirators-
“All of these difficulties have been realized and are being acted upon,” assured Karelin.
The unbreachable confidence was wavering, thought Natalia. “They are also difficulties that we will necessarily have to recognize, in our report to the acting president.”
“Are you warning me you believe the FSB is actively connected with this outrage!” demanded Karelin.
“I’m certainly not!” said Filitov.
“I am advising you of the evidence-and the observations-with which we have to work,” said Natalia. “With the hope of further contact and cooperation between us.”
