‘Meaning it’s not going to be a matter of conveniently dropping the charges. Not only is the investigating officer one of the country’s leading detectives but the local press have also latched on to the case because of your operative’s film star looks. It makes a great front page story.’
‘Don’t imagine for one second I intend to sacrifice one of my best operatives just to satisfy this country’s gutter press.’
‘She killed a man–’
‘She wounded him, his colleague killed him.’
‘She still shot him. This is Switzerland, not the OK Corral.’
‘He was pointing a semi-automatic at her. What was she supposed to do? Ask him nicely to put it down? It comes back to the same old story: you’ve been opposed to UNACO ever since its inception.’
‘I’ve been opposed to gun-toting foreigners shooting up my country,’ Kuhlmann retorted angrily.
‘I can see your point. After all, your city financiers don’t need guns to launder dirty money.’
Kuhlmann held up his hands. ‘This isn’t getting us anywhere. You’ve got to understand my position, Malcolm. I can’t just wave a magic wand and get her off. Even if I could get Frosser to drop the charges how could I justify it to the public? There’s too much evidence against her. The press would crucify the whole legal system. My hands are tied.’
Philpott glanced at his wristwatch. ‘It’s three o’clock. You’d better have managed to untie them by six.’
Kuhlmann stood up, fury evident in his eyes. ‘Is that a threat?’
‘It is if you feel threatened. You’re the police commissioner, Reinhardt, use some of the authority that’s been vested in you.’
‘This is Switzerland, not Russia. Frosser has quite properly arrested your operative for attempted murder. I can’t overrule his actions without a valid reason and I don’t think you’d want me to tell him about UNACO, would you?’
Philpott took a sip of cognac and rolled it around in his mouth, savouring its smooth taste, then tilted his head back and allowed it to trickle down his throat, its warmth spreading through his body.
‘I see you’re determined to force my hand, Reinhardt. As you’re probably aware I’m answerable only to the Secretary-General and if you and I haven’t come to an acceptable agreement by six o’clock tonight I intend to call him personally and ask him to intervene on my behalf. I doubt he’d even bother consulting your ambassador at the United Nations: he’d be straight on to your President’s, private line to quietly remind him that Switzerland is one of the signatories on the original UNACO Charter. Furthermore, once this assignment’s been successfully completed detailed reports will have to be sent to the leaders of all those countries our operatives have entered. That includes your President. I write the report and I might find myself sorely tempted to highlight the lack of Swiss security if one of my operatives is rotting in one of your jails because she defended herself against a known criminal toting a semi-automatic rifle. It’s up to you how I word my report.’
Kuhlmann moved to the window of his sixth-floor office overlooking Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s financial metropolis, and stared out over the River Limmat running through the heart of the city centre. His voice was bitter when he spoke. ‘Intimidation, blackmail, threats, not to mention your apparent willingness to bend the law to suit your own purposes. You’ve become just like the very criminals UNACO was set up to combat.’
‘It’s not by choice, Reinhardt, but the only way to deal with this new breed of criminal is to fight him at his own game. I’m only sorry I’ve had to resort to some of those tactics today but my operatives are more than just employees to me. Marlene used to say I loved UNACO more than I loved her. She was nearly right. It’s not UNACO as such, it’s the people who work there. Especially my field operatives. They’re like a family to me. Sabrina personifies the kind of daughter I would love to have had and now that she’s in trouble I’ll move heaven and earth to get her back safely into the fold.’
‘Even if it means sacrificing our friendship?’
Philpott got to his feet and reached for his cane. ‘I’ll call you at six tonight.’
‘You never answered my question,’ Kuhlmann said.
‘Didn’t I?’ Philpott replied, then closed the door silently behind him.
Eight
As the train pulled into Milan station Graham had to look twice at the priest standing on the platform to believe who it was. Kolchinsky was holding a bible in one hand and a battered bag in the other. He waited patiently until all those who were disembarking had done so then climbed aboard and headed straight for Sabrina’s former compartment. It seemed to be locked from the inside, the curtains drawn across the window. Already taken. He opened the door of the adjoining compartment and stepped inside, glad to be out of the narrow corridor where passengers were pushing and jostling for the tenancy of the few remaining unoccupied compartments.
‘Is this berth free?’ Kolchinsky indicated the empty couchette.
‘Come in, Father,’ Graham said with a smile as he appraised Kolchinsky’s attire. ‘Haven’t you forgotten your crozier?’
Kolchinsky glanced behind him, then closed the compartment door. ‘I can do without your sarcasm. I was hoping to take the compartment beside you but it’s already been taken.’
‘By me. I thought it might come in handy,’ Graham said and tossed the key to Kolchinsky. ‘If this were a movie I’d say you’d been horribly miscast. A KGB priest?’
‘Ex-KGB,’ Kolchinsky retorted.
‘And what happens if you’re asked to bless someone? You know how religious these Italians can be.’
‘Then I’ll do it. This used to be my main KGB cover and they made sure I was prepared for any eventuality.’
‘You’re full of surprises,’ Graham said, then leaned forward, his face serious. ‘What’s happening about Sabrina?’
Kolchinsky told him of the latest developments, including Philpott’s ultimatum to Kuhlmann.
‘What if Kuhlmann refuses to back down?’
‘The Secretary-General could bring pressure on the Swiss Federal Assembly to make him back down but I can’t see it coming to that. He’s too much of a professional. That’s why he’s Europe’s longest-serving police commissioner. He’s just in a tight spot right now. How to secure her release without incurring the wrath of the international press.’
Graham caught sight of a familiar face out of the corner of his eye. ‘What the hell’s he doing here?’
‘Who?’ Kolchinsky asked.
‘The policeman who arrested Sabrina.’
‘Gun and holster,’ Kolchinsky said and held out his hand.
‘What?’
‘It’s fair to assume he’s here to see you. All we need is for him to find your gun and holster. Now give them to me.’
Graham handed his gun and holster to Kolchinsky who deposited them in his black leather bag.
‘Do whatever he asks, even if it means accompanying him to the station for further questioning. We’ll get you out soon enough and I’ll be here meantime to keep an eye on the other two.’
‘You don’t even know what they look like,’ Graham said.
‘I know what Werner looks like.’ Kolchinsky opened the bible in his lap. ‘From now on we don’t know each other.’
When the sergeant knocked on the door Kolchinsky looked up and gestured for him to enter.
The sergeant doffed his cap. ‘Sorry to disturb you, Father, please carry on with your reading. I’m here to see this gentleman.’
‘What now?’ Graham snapped.
‘Would you please stand up?’ the sergeant said.
Graham got to his feet and the sergeant frisked him expertly then pulled his arms behind his back and handcuffed him. A second uniformed policeman removed Graham’s two holdalls from the overhead rack and left with them.