Fane said, ‘So, now Andy Bokus thinks it’s his job to dictate to us who should go where.’ Fane had never got on with Bokus during the years when he was Head of the CIA Station in London. ‘I suppose he doesn’t think it important that Europe is being threatened by Illegals. Now he’s left London, we’ve become far less important than his precious Station in the Baltics. And what about the Illegal in the US? What has the Bureau to say about that?’
Miles replied levelly, ‘Of course it’s of major importance. We all accept that. There is no suggestion that we should ignore Mischa’s request for a meeting, only that someone other than myself should go. It seemed to me, and I suggested it, that the ideal person – the person who was least likely to arouse any suspicion in Tallinn – was Liz.’
‘I would be happy to go,’ she said, judging that the time had come to stick her oar in. ‘That’s if you agree, Geoffrey.’
‘I should add,’ said Miles, ‘that our new Director of Counter-Intelligence, Sandy Gunderson, chaired the meeting. He asked me to say that he would be very grateful if Liz would do this. I don’t think you have met Sandy yet, Geoffrey. He particularly asked me to send his regards and say that he was looking forward to meeting you.’
‘Hmm,’ replied Fane. ‘Well, I have no objection in principle to Elizabeth going. I have every confidence in her good sense. But I continue to feel it’s rather high-handed of Langley to choose between our case officers. But please give the Director my regards. I would like to host him in London when he has time to pay us a visit.’
‘Of course. But I know he’s hoping to see you in Washington soon. He particularly asked me to extend an invitation.’
‘Thank you,’ replied Fane, slightly mollified by this flattery, obvious though it was. ‘But now, as to the matter of who should go to Tallinn, what is your opinion, Bruno?’
‘Well,’ he replied, ‘I think Liz would do an excellent job and she is probably the best person to go.’
Liz could hardly believe her ears. This was not the Bruno she had known several years ago. Whatever it was that had happened to him in Libya, it seemed to have made him a changed man. Bruno went on, ‘I am as well known to the Russians as Miles is, and offhand I can’t suggest anyone with the appropriate background knowledge whom the Russians wouldn’t recognise. And after all, we have to remember that Mischa is offering information on a security threat to the UK – that’s right up Liz’s street.’ He turned to her. ‘Of course we’ll be ready to provide assistance with cover identity and any other back-up that you may need. We’ll let our Station in Riga know you’re coming and they’ll be ready to help if you get into any difficulty.’
‘Thanks, Bruno,’ said Liz. ‘I really appreciate that. It should be pretty straightforward – unless Mischa is under suspicion by his own side. But I take it there’s no reason to think that?’ She turned to Miles.
‘No. I think it’s fairly clear that he isn’t – and obviously we want to keep it that way. He will be making the contact arrangement and he’s probably the best one to judge what’s safe for him in Tallinn. He’s been there for several weeks already and must have a pretty good idea of the lie of the land.’
‘Miles mentioned to me a couple of days ago the possibility that I might go,’ began Liz.
‘I see,’ broke in Fane. ‘It’s all been squared between you.’
‘Not at all, Geoffrey,’ said Liz. ‘It depends on your agreement, as I’ve made clear.’
Fane was scowling. He said grudgingly, ‘Very well. Let’s hear what you propose.’
‘Peggy has been doing some research into possible covers. Peggy, why don’t you tell us what you think?’
She leaned forward, looking pleased to have a chance to speak at last. ‘It seems to me that it would be best for Liz to go as part of a group. I’ve found a cultural tour leaving next week that still has a couple of vacancies. It’s run by a company based in Cambridge that organises study tours to different parts of the world, led by experts of various kinds. This one is led by a professor who’s an expert on the Baltic States. It’s called “Historic Estonia” and it’s just three days based in Tallinn.’
‘That sounds ideal.’ It was Miles speaking. ‘But what would your cover be, Liz? And what’s your reason for signing up so late?’
Peggy said, ‘I thought Liz could be a single woman, who gave up work a year or so ago, as a schoolteacher or a librarian or something, to look after her widowed mother, who has just now died. So she’s taking a break to recover from that before looking for a new job.’
‘You mean she’s a dotty spinster,’ said Bruno with a grin, suddenly reverting to his old form. ‘I like that.’
Fane seemed to like this too, and the meeting broke up with a general agreement to go ahead along these lines. Peggy stayed behind with Liz after the others left. She said, ‘I’d like to go with you. I could be your niece or cousin or something. I’m sure it would be helpful to have someone else there.’
Liz thought for a moment. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think I’d feel more comfortable knowing you were here looking after this end.’
Peggy’s face fell but she said nothing.
Liz said, ‘What’s up? You don’t look too good. Is something the matter?’
Peggy’s lips tightened, and for a moment Liz feared that she’d said the wrong thing. But then Peggy gave a big sigh and said, ‘It’s Tim.’
‘What’s happened to him?’ asked Liz. Tim wouldn’t have been her type, with his pale, languid air and attachment to vegetarian food, but he’d seemed to make Peggy happy, which had been enough for Liz.
‘Oh, nothing substantial,’ said Peggy. ‘He’s just acting so… weirdly.’
‘What’s he doing?’ The likeable thing about Tim, as far as Liz was concerned, was his mild eccentricity – lover of John Donne and also the Grateful Dead; never seen in anything smarter than jeans and an anorak.
‘He spends more time on the internet than with me. I wouldn’t mind – at least he isn’t texting all the time – but I happened to see what he is looking at, and it scares me.’
Porn, was Liz’s first thought – it seemed to be the bane of males using the Net. But Peggy said, ‘He spends his time in chat rooms, discussing Government surveillance, the need for full disclosure, and the iniquities of the Western intelligence services.’
‘You mentioned that before. I’m surprised; I didn’t realise he was interested in politics,’ said Liz mildly.
‘He didn’t used to be. He’s changed, Liz.’ Peggy looked baffled, and very upset. ‘He used to admire Dante. Now Edward Snowden is his hero.’ She added bitterly, ‘A bit rich, considering the job of the woman he lives with.’
‘Oh, dear,’ was all Liz could think of to say.
Peggy hesitated, and Liz waited patiently. She didn’t want to push her friend into confidences she might regret, but she could see something more was preying on Peggy’s mind. Finally Peggy said, ‘The thing is, I opened up his laptop.’ She looked embarrassed. ‘It was very peculiar. He’d sent an email that suggested he’s set up another email account – or is about to. It was almost as if someone had told him what to do. He hasn’t mentioned it to me, but that’s definitely what it looks like.’
‘You mean, it’s so he can communicate with someone else?’ asked Liz. It did sound odd; if Tim wanted privacy why would he need someone else to help him arrange it?