Page 74 of The Collector
“Did you listen to his interrogation?”
“Very carefully. And I heard a man who would say anything to save his skin.”
“I heard a drowning man who was looking for a lifeline. And I intend to toss him one.”
“What makes you think he’ll grab it?”
“Kompromat,” said Gabriel.
“And if he agrees?”
“All his sins will be forgiven.”
“I think I’d take a deal like that.”
“I’d kill for a deal like that.”
“Poor choice of words.” Lavon followed the exit for the Spandauer Damm. “The question is, will the Danes go for it?”
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“A dead girl, a dead antiquarian, and a prominent energy executive who has been working for the Russians for twenty years.”
“You forgot to mention the Russian that I killed in Kandestederne.”
“Outside the home of the professional thief you intend to send into Russia.”
“Your point, Eli?”
“There are some scandals that are too big to sweep under the rug.”
“Name one.”
“A dead Danish energy executive.”
“It’s one thing to bump off a dissident oligarch, quite another to kill the CEO of a Western oil-and-gas company.”
“But why is the CEO going to make a sudden trip to Russia?”
“Because he has a seat on the board of the state-owned Russian oil company RuzNeft. At least for the moment.”
“And the pretty young woman at his side?”
“These things happen, Eli.”
“What do we say to Mrs. Larsen?”
“As little as possible.”
Lavon sailed past the turn for the Branitzer Platz. “There is one serious flaw to the plan, you realize.”
“Only one?”
“Komarovsky.”
“The Americans seem to think he walks on water,” said Gabriel.
“Surely you must have some idea who he is.”
