Bourne turned his laser gaze on her. -Why didn‘t you tell me this in the first place?
— I thought you were a rival. I was under strict orders to avoid a bidding war at all costs. So you can see why I didn‘t want to reveal anything that would drive up the price.
— And later?
She sighed again, taking the sheets back and stowing them carefully away.
— Later, it was already too late. I didn‘t want to admit that I‘d lied to you, especially after you‘d saved us both at the
— That was my fault, he said. -I should never have involved you in my dealings.
— It makes no difference now. As it turns out, I am involved.
That was hard to argue with. Still, he didn‘t like her traveling with him to Khartoum, to the heart of Nikolai Yevsen‘s arms empire, into what must certainly be the center of the web he‘d been thrust into by the bullet that almost killed him. Khartoum was where Yevsen‘s headquarters lay, at 779 El Gamhuria Avenue. According to Tracy, that was where Noah Perlis was going to accept the Goya. From what Don Hererra said it was also likely that Boris Karpov was there; last month, he‘d told Bourne he‘d just come back from Timbuktu, in Mali, and now Bourne had seen the photos, had heard the tape of Boris bartering a deal with Bud Halliday. Bourne still hadn‘t figured out how he would handle a situation where a trusted friend was the man who was trying to kill him. The question of the Torturer still nagged at him. Why would Boris hire someone else when he could go after Bourne himself?
— But speaking of lying, Tracy said now, — why did you lie to me about why you really wanted to see Don Hererra?
— Would you have taken me to see him if I‘d told you the truth?
— Probably not. She smiled. -So now that we‘ve admitted our mistakes, why don‘t we start fresh?
— If you wish.
She gave him a pensive look. -Would you rather not?
He laughed. -All I meant was that lying comes easily to both of us.
It took a moment but color rose to her cheeks. -My line of work-and clearly yours-is infested with unscrupulous people, con men, swindlers, even violent criminals. Hardly surprising since, these days especially, artwork commands such astronomical prices. I‘ve had to learn methods of protection against these dangers, one of which is becoming a convincing liar.
— I couldn‘t have said it better myself, Bourne said.
They broke off the conversation as a flight attendant approached to ask them what they‘d like to drink.
When she‘d brought what they‘d ordered, Bourne said, — I have to wonder why you‘re working for Noah Perlis.
She shrugged and sipped at her champagne. -He‘s a paying client like any other.
— I wonder whether that‘s the truth or a lie?
— It‘s the truth. At this stage, I have nothing to gain by lying to you.
— Noah Perlis is a very dangerous individual who works for an ethically unsound company.
— Perhaps, but his money is as good as the next person‘s. What Noah does is none of my business.
— It is if it brings you into the line of fire.
Tracy‘s frown deepened. -But why should it? This is a straightforward job, pure and simple. I think you‘re reacting to shadows that aren‘t there.
When it came to Noah Perlis, no job was straightforward. Bourne had learned that from Moira. But he felt nothing would be served in continuing this topic with Tracy. If Noah was playing her, he‘d find out soon enough. He was disturbed by the insertion of Noah Perlis‘s name in the mix. Nikolai Yevsen was a top arms dealer, Dimitri Maslov, the head of the Kazanskaya mob; he could explain away even Boris‘s tangential involvement. But what was Noah Perlis, a high-level operative of Black River, doing with these unsavory Russian criminals?
— What is it, Adam, you look perplexed?
— I had no idea, Bourne said, — that Noah Perlis was an art collector.
Tracy frowned. -Do you think I‘m lying?
— Not necessarily, he said. -But I‘m willing to bet someone is.
Arkadin received the call from Triton right on schedule. The pestilential Noah might be arrogant, patronizing, disrespectful, possessive of his power and his influence, but at least he was punctual. A sad victory, really, because it was so minuscule to everyone but himself. He was a man for whom mystery was important enough that it had taken on mythic proportions. In the way Arkadin was a physical chameleon, having learned to remake his face, his gait, his very mien, depending on the role he was playing, so Noah was a vocal chameleon. He could be social and hearty, convincing and ingratiating, anything and everything in between, depending on the role he was playing. It took an actor, Arkadin thought, to mark another actor.
— The president‘s UN address had the desired effect, Noah told Arkadin. Rather than listening, he was always telling Arkadin something. -Not only are the American allies on board, but most of the neutrals and even a couple of the normally antagonistic nations. You have eight hours to finalize the squad‘s training. By then the plane will be on the landing strip, ready to take you to your drop point in the red zone. Are we clear?
— Never clearer, Arkadin said automatically.
He was no longer interested in the drivel Noah was spouting. He had his own plans to go over for the ten thousandth time, the crucial alteration to the joint American-Russian foray into Iran. He knew he‘d only have one shot at victory, only one brief window while the chaos was at its height to implement his plan. Failure never entered his mind, because it would spell certain death for him and for every one of his men.
He was fully prepared, unlike Mischa and Oserov when, on the fly, they‘d created their straw man in an
