“Yes.”
“But he never touches you? He never beckons you over to him?”
“I would never . . .” Her fist was bunched now, her face screwed up with pain. “Whatever you think, I would never . . .”
Field leaned back again, breathing out heavily.
“You think I have a choice,” she said. “About him, about my life. You think I have a choice.”
“And it hurts you that I think that?”
She did not answer.
Field fought to believe her. She only took her clothes off. There was nothing more involved. “Lena hid those notes for someone,” he said. “The ones we showed you.”
Natasha didn’t react.
“Did she leave them for you?”
Natasha shook her head but without meeting his eyes. Field thought there was a hint of color in her cheek.
“She discussed the notes with you.”
Natasha looked at him. “I don’t know anything about it.”
Field did not want to accuse her of lying, though he was certain that she was. “The notes refer to a second ledger,” he said. “Lu keeps a complete record of all his accounts, including transactions, payments, and shipments, somewhere in the private quarters of his house.”
“I do not know.”
“Have you ever seen anything like a ledger—probably a series of them? Does he have a study? They must be somewhere Lena could get to them. Have you ever seen ledgers that could be accounting books anywhere near his bedroom?”
“No.”
“Nowhere in the house?”
Natasha shook her head, but the more she denied knowledge of the ledgers, the more certain he was that she knew exactly what he was talking about.
“Did Lena ever talk about them?”
“No.” Natasha stared at him. “When I go there, this is what you want?”
Field leaned closer. “I would like you to establish that these books exist and find out where they are kept.”
Her face betrayed nothing. “This is what you want me to do?”
“Yes.”
“When I go, this is what you want me to do?”
“Yes.”
She tilted her head. “If I am seen, then I will be executed, of course.”
Field didn’t answer.
Natasha sighed. “So this is why you slept with me?”
“Natasha, I—”
“You are a hard man. Perhaps like your father.”
“I don’t have a choice. And nor do you. My superiors will send you to prison if you don’t cooperate. It will be out of my hands.”
She stared at him. “So when I am vulnerable, you seek to punish me.”
Field shook his head.
“You have caught me in your net and you will watch me until I die.”
“I—”
“I hope you enjoy it, Richard.”
“It is not my decision.”
“A coward blames others for the work that he does.” Natasha shook her head. “I’m glad I was able to give you something before—”
“It’s not for them.”
“Not for who?”
Field stared at her. “What kind of life are you going to have?”
She frowned. “I do not understand.”
“It has nothing to do with my superiors. I want to break you free of Lu and this is the only way I know
