Page 115 of The Collector
He did, however, inform them of the encouraging development—with a clandestine satellite message sent to Ingrid’s Genesis secure communications device. Her reply was instant.
“Well?” asked Eli Lavon.
“She wants to know whether she should try to carry the directive across the border.”
“Could be a deal breaker.”
“It would be nice to have the real thing, though—don’t you think?”
“Too risky,” said Lavon.
Gabriel sent the message. His phone pinged with a reply a moment later. “She’s inclined to keep it.”
“What a surprise.”
Another ping.
“What is it now?” asked Lavon.
“Apparently, she also has a half million dollars in cash.”
“Really? Where do you suppose she got it?”
Gabriel slipped the phone into his pocket. “I’m afraid to ask.”
McNeil had the private cell number for the director of Finland’s security and intelligence service. He dialed it when they were about an hour from the border and informed the director that two blown CIA assets were headed his way.
“They’re Russians, these assets of yours?”
“Danes, actually.”
“Names?”
“I’d rather not identify them over an insecure connection.”
“Since they’re blown, Mr. McNeil, I don’t think it’s a problem.”
McNeil recited the two names.
“TheMagnus Larsen.”
“In all his glory.”
The Finnish intelligence chief, whose name was Teppo Vasala, wished to be accommodating. But he was also eager to keep his country out of a shooting war with the Russians. These days it was his primary obsession. “And you’re certain they’ve been granted safe passage?” he asked.
“As certain as we can be.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it. But if the Russian Border Service allows them to pass through the checkpoints on their side of the border, we will of course allow them to enter Finland.”
“You have our gratitude,” said McNeil.
“How close are Larsen and the woman to Finland?”
“Ninety minutes.”
“I assume you’d like to greet them when they make the crossing?”
“They’ve had a long and difficult night.”
