Page 76 of The Collector
“Complete immunity in exchange for information leading to the recovery ofThe Concertby Johannes Vermeer. I can show you the letter, if you like.”
“Not to put too fine a point on it, but we were never able to actuallyrecoverthe Vermeer.”
They were approaching Potsdam on the B1. Gabriel drove with one hand balanced atop the steering wheel, his eyes checking the mirrors for evidence of German or Russian surveillance. Ingrid was staring out her window.
“I’m a thief, Mr. Allon. I steal jewelry and cash, and once upon a time I pinched the occasional rare book for my friend Peter Nielsen. But I don’t steal secret Russian government documents.”
“Actually, we just want you to photograph it.”
“In Nikolai Petrov’s office? While he’s downstairs?”
“Not long ago, you broke into a hidden vault room protected bya cipher-and-biometric lock and calmly removed the world’s most valuable missing painting from its stretcher.”
“I had a Glock 26 in my handbag, and the owner of the property was sleeping soundly. And if he had somehow managed to walk in on me, he would have been in no position to report me to the Italian authorities. It was a rather low-risk job.”
“With potentially cataclysmic consequences.”
“But I didn’t know that when I accepted the commission, Mr. Allon. I thought—”
“That it would be an easy way to make ten million euros.”
She frowned. “In case you’re wondering, I kept exactly one million of the up-front money that Peter gave me. The remaining four million I gave anonymously to charity.”
“So why do you do it?”
“Steal? Because I enjoy it.”
“You’re one of those, are you?”
“I suppose I am.”
“How did you get your start?”
“The usual. Candy from the local market. Money from my mother’s purse.”
“She never noticed?”
“Yes, of course. Unfortunately, she locked me in my room with nothing but my laptop computer. She thought I was doing my homework. In a way, I was.”
“I’m offering you a way out, Ingrid.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Allon. But I’m not asking for one.”
Gabriel turned onto the E51 motorway and headed south. “Perhaps I’m going about this the wrong way.”
“I’m certain you are.”
“And what would be the right way?”
She gave him a sidelong look. “Explain to me how I would communicate with you without the Russians knowing.”
“Genesis.”
“What is it?”
“It was created by the same Israeli firm that designed Proteus. The current version looks and functions much like an ordinary iPhone 14 Pro Max. But the Genesis also acts as a secure clandestine satellite transmitter.”
“How?”
