“I understand quite well, Major.”
“Then you’ll not be offended when I remind you your brother was on duty at unit four when the so-called accident occurred. Shall I go on?”
“If you wish,” said Lazlo.
Komarov put out his cigarette but did not light another. “It’s a matter of logic, Detective Horvath. Unit four was in the process of shutting down and was especially vulnerable. A saboteur, aware of its vulnerability, would have chosen this moment to act.”
Komarov stood, walked to the window, split the ornate window curtains with his fingers, and looked out. When he came back to the desk, he lit another cigarette and sat down. “You see, Detective Horvath, the saboteur had everything planned. On Friday afternoon, since there were other experienced technical personnel about, he would have been able to make up an excuse to leave the building and go to another part of the site. He might have gone to the low-level laboratory and joined his accomplice in the sub-basement.
She would have hidden him there and stayed with him while everyone else…”
Komarov waved his hand dismissively. “I’m not saying any of this has to do with your brother, Detective Horvath. However, his intimacy with both unit four and Juli Popovics-who, as a dosimetrist, was supposed to report for duty in the event of an accident-is of interest. Other names in the mix come to mind. A cousin named Andrew Zukor, and also a close friend of Juli Popovics named Aleksandra Yasinsky, a known counterrevolutionary.”
Komarov smashed out his cigarette and stood. He laughed.
“Oh well, it’s simply speculation. Right, Detective Horvath? Chief Investigator Chkalov?”
“It sounds serious,” said Chkalov.
Komarov emptied the film can in Chkalov’s wastebasket. “A reactor explosion is serious. We all need to think about the details leading up to it. You’ll think about the details, won’t you, Detective Horvath?”
“I will,” said Lazlo.
When Komarov walked past to leave the office, Lazlo imagined dragging Komarov to the floor and strangling him. Instead he said,
“Good morning, Major,” and Komarov was gone.
Chkalov stared at Lazlo for a moment, and finally said, “You’re due back on duty at three. Everyone is working sixteen-hour shifts until further notice. You are no exception. This time make sure you stay until six.”
On his way out, Lazlo saw Komarov waiting in the reception area outside Chkalov’s office. Komarov stood at the window looking out. There was a cloud of smoke about him, and the receptionist was coughing.
Lazlo sat in the Zhiguli in front of militia headquarters. Down the block he saw the construction collective van, which had alternated with a gray Moskvich for the past two days. He needed sleep, but he needed to see Juli more. If Komarov believed what he said, they would pick Juli up for questioning.
He had no other choice but to go to Juli. He would sleep there, perhaps in her arms. But first he would go to his apartment and appear to run errands to cover the only real errand necessary. He would stop at the bank to get out all his money, or however many rubles they would allow. He needed to be free, like a Gypsy, ready for anything.
Komarov waited until Detective Horvath was gone before confront-ing the chief investigator at his office door.
“Why not speak with me about Detective Horvath?” asked Chkalov in a harsh whisper.
“Because I’ve already spoken with you,” said Komarov. “So, if I may speak with the deputy chief investigator… what was his name?”
“Lysenko,” growled Chkalov. “I’ll show you to his office.”
Deputy Chief Investigator Lysenko’s office was smaller than Chkalov’s, his desk stacked with papers, indicating Lysenko was busier than his boss. Lysenko was trim and dressed in a tailored suit.
“How may I help you, Major?”
“I’ll come right to the point,” said Komarov. “It’s about Detective Horvath. I’m afraid I must inform you he is being investigated by the KGB in regard to events leading up to the incident at Chernobyl.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Lysenko looked serious but not overly surprised. Komarov decided he might be able to use Lysenko later as well as now.
“Yes. If you can observe Detective Horvath when he’s here at headquarters, I would appreciate it.”
“By all means,” said Lysenko.
“And one other thing,” said Komarov. “Leaving one’s post at such a critical time is a serious matter, is it not?”
“It is, Major.”
“I’m afraid I might have to file an official KGB report unless…”
“Unless what?”
“If the report came from the militia’s own office, it might be much better… for the militia. To put it bluntly, Deputy Chief, I think you should file an official report to your chief immediately.
Otherwise, like I said, I’d have to file a report from my men who were watching Detective Horvath last night. It wouldn’t gain me or the KGB anything, but it would be our duty. You, on the other hand… well, I’ll let you decide. I understand leaving one’s militia post is often disciplined by at least a temporary suspension.”
“Certainly,” said Lysenko.
“Copy me on your report.” Komarov turned to leave. “If I don’t hear from you by five this afternoon, I’ll file my report.”
“I’ll file a report immediately and have a copy sent to you by messenger,” said Lysenko.
Back in his car, when Captain Azef asked what had gone on in militia headquarters, Komarov answered with an exhale of smoke.
“Drive me back to the office, Captain. I have a meeting with Captain Brovko.”
Komarov stood at his office window, smoking a cigarette and looking out at the evening lights of Kiev. It had been a busy day. This morning’s visit to militia headquarters had put Horvath firmly in his grasp. Later in the morning, Captain Brovko filled him in on the interrogation of Tamara Petrov. Although there was nothing specific concerning the Chernobyl incident, Brovko’s list of incidental factors could be pieced together to discredit Horvath’s character.
Brovko was an intelligent young officer; someone to be careful of should he try to position himself for promotion at Komarov’s expense. Keep Brovko busy. Keep Brovko out of the way while his own plan reaches its climax.
By tomorrow the connection between the Horvath cousin and possible sabotage at Chernobyl would have a life of its own. Especially after tonight’s final meeting, the final link in the chain.
Komarov went to the outer office where Nikolai Nikolskaia’s partner had been waiting to see him for over an hour.
The former PK agent was light-skinned and effeminate, reminding him of Dmitry. After leading him into his office and closing the door, Komarov sat across from the agent, making a show of examining his KGB personnel file.
“Pavel. May I call you Pavel?”
“Of course, Major.”
“Good. After speaking with your fellow PK agent, I wanted a chance to meet you. Nikolskaia is an interesting character, unmarried.” Komarov flipped through the file. “I see you are married.
Was your wife able to leave Pripyat safely?”
“She came to Kiev after the accident. She’s staying with her sister.”
Komarov put the file down and lit a cigarette. “How would you like to be permanently stationed here?”
“And not return to the PK in Pripyat?”
“Both, Pavel. I wish to permanently assign you as one of my agents here in Kiev.”
“I don’t know what to say, Major. I’m honored.”
“Good. I’ll need to provide you with more detailed information concerning the Chernobyl case and Detective Horvath.”
“We’ve watched him visiting Juli Popovics.”
“I’ve admired your thorough reports, Pavel. It is also convenient you learned Hungarian in KGB language
