“So what are you saying?”
Malloy shrugged. “All I’m saying is—don’t see Aarons as a pushover. He isn’t. Sure he cares about the masses, the human condition, but he’s a very successful spy, operating here undetected for years. He’ll realise straight away that my meeting with him in the nightclub was a set-up. He won’t like that. He won’t like Serov or me for doing it. We’ve got to do something to counter that.”
“What do you suggest?”
“I think there’s only one way we can do it. Give him some piece of information that’s top secret that Moscow really wants.”
“Such as?”
Malloy shook his head and looked at Serov. “I don’t know, maybe Igor could test the water.” He paused. “What do you think, Igor?”
Serov shrugged. “Let me fish around and see what I can come up with.”
Hancox said quietly, “OK. You do that Mr. Serov, but a word of warning. If he takes the bait and we give him what he wants then it’s part of a deal. We don’t put the deal forward afterwards. He says what he wants and it’s a test of our good faith. If we deliver then he goes with our suggestion.”
Serov spoke up. “But we are not suggesting an exchange of espionage material—just he tells us of current Kremlin thinking and we put him in the picture on Washington thinking.”
“Yeah. That’s what it is,” Hancox said. “Both camps get a window on the other side. What they do about it is up to them.”
Malloy looked at Serov. “When are you going to approach him?”
“As soon as I can. Tomorrow if it’s possible.”
As Malloy and Serov went down together in the elevator Malloy put his arm around Serov’s shoulders. “Are you still feeling guilty, Igor?”
“Not really. I’ve got your word that Andrei will not be betrayed to the CIA or the FBI. The rest is a genuine attempt to do good for both sides.”
It was two days before Serov was able to contact Aarons and as Aarons poured him a cup of coffee Serov was torn with doubts and fears of the consequences if Aarons turned on him as a betrayer. His hand trembled as he took the cup.
“You OK, Igor?”
“Yeah. I think maybe I’m starting the ’flu.”
“You said on the phone that there was something urgent.”
“Do you count me as a friend, Andrei?”
Aarons looked surprised. “Of course.”
“Do you trust me?”
Aarons was silent for a moment. “Igor, you know my work. I can’t afford to trust anyone entirely.”
“I understand, but do you see me as a man who would deliberately do you harm?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Do you remember some time back saying that you were tired of finding excuses for some of the things that Moscow does?”
“Yes.”
“You felt that you gave them an honest picture as to what is going on in the States. At least with Lensky you could be frank.”
“You’re beginning to worry me, Igor.”
“Just listen to me, Andrei, I swear I only want to help.”
“Help who, the CIA?”
“This has nothing to do with my work.” He sighed. “You know how closely I worked with Bill Malloy in France. I trust him like I trust you. I want you to talk to him.”
“What about?”
“He thinks that the Soviets and the Americans are heading for a war because neither side is getting a true picture of the other side’s real intentions.”
“Go on.”
“Do you agree with what I’ve just said?”
“It’s possible.”
“Malloy thinks that you could provide a balance. You know what the people in the Kremlin are really thinking and if you were given access to the top of the US government you could understand what they are thinking.”
“Or what they tell me they’re thinking.”
“I’m talking about one-to-one contact between you and the President.”
“You’re out of your mind, my friend.” Aarons laughed sharply. “Can you imagine me even getting inside the White House?” He shook his head. “You mean well, Igor, but you’re dreaming wild dreams.”
“But if it wasn’t a dream?”
“Go home, Igor, have a whiskey and lemon and a good long sleep.”
“Andrei …” Serov said quietly, “… it’s not a dream. It’s already been arranged.”
“Is this some sort of trap?”
“I swear to you, Andrei. It is exactly what I have said. Malloy’s boss has arranged it because he trusts Malloy’s judgement. The President has agreed.”
“Do they know what I do here in the States?”
“Yes. But only four people know apart from me. They have no intention of using that as leverage. If you refuse, things will go on just as they are now. Nobody in the FBI or CIA will be any the wiser.”
“How long have you been working on this?”
“I guess about two months. From the day when I felt you were tired of seeing both sides making stupid mistakes.”
“Who suggested you should talk to me about all this?”
“Nobody. Malloy spoke as if he was as unhappy about what was happening between the Soviets and America as you were. You both used almost the same words, it was like listening to an echo. I thought about it many times and then I spoke to him about you. No name or anything. Gave him your background and suggested this idea of mine. He spoke to a man he trusted, his boss, a top attorney. At first he said what you said—that we were out of our minds. Then he thought about it and he quizzed me for hours about you. And did you know about the idea? It took about two months and then I made it so you could meet Malloy. He liked you and it was back up the line. Right to President Truman.” He shrugged, “And here I am.”
“And I’m supposed to become a double-agent. Spying on the Kremlin
