Tarnished Icons by Kaminsky Stuart M

Author:Kaminsky, Stuart M. [Kaminsky, Stuart M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Detective
ISBN: 9780804112895
Publisher: MysteriousPress
Published: 1996-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

NINE

THE CALL ANNOUNCING PORFIRY PETROVICH’S visitor came exactly on the hour. State Security Agent Leo Horv showed his identification card at the Petrovka guard station, where the young uniformed officer with pink cold cheeks looked at it and called the lobby check-in desk. Sergeant Sismikov answered in a bored, deep voice that let the guard know that the sergeant was warm enough to be bored. Sismikov checked his appointment log and told the guard to send Agent Horv in.

Since the State Security agent wasn’t carrying anything, there was nothing to be searched. Nonetheless, Sismikov, who was the size of the Kremlin cannon, asked if Agent Horv would please pass through the metal detector.

Horv smiled and readily agreed. The machine was extremely sensitive. Still, it did not screech.

Horv made his way up the stairs, found Rostnikov’s office, and stepped in.

He hadn’t been prepared for what he saw.

The box of a man behind the desk rose awkwardly with a smile of greeting and held out his hand. Horv took it and looked at the other two men in the room. The unkempt one seated to his right wearing a blue smock examined the guest as if he were a specimen. He was introduced as Technician Paulinin, and the gaunt man in black was introduced as Inspector Karpo. The newcomer recognized him as one of the two men who had entered his apartment the day before. He had carefully removed all photographs of himself, but had she kept one somewhere? Did this blank-faced, erect man recognize him?

There was an empty seat between Paulinin and Karpo. Rostnikov, sitting awkwardly, held out his hand, palm up, to suggest that the State Security agent have a seat.

He sat and said, “I suppose you want to get straight to business. All right. I’ll tell you why I am here.”

“I think that first Citizen Paulinin would like to see the bomb,” said Rostnikov conversationally, folding his hands on the desk in front of him. “Would you like some tea, Alexi Monochov?”

Alexi sat back, trying to hide his confusion.

“I recognized your voice from our telephone conversations,” said Rostnikov, “but, even more compelling, was the fact that Inspector Karpo has been to your apartment. He has seen your photograph, an old photograph, but it is you. Your mother gave it to him. Well?”

“I’m here to …” Alexi began.

“No, I’m sorry. I was asking about the tea,” said Rostnikov.

“No tea,” said Alexi eyeing the men.

The two flanking him looked like variations of madness. Karpo sat rigidly, unblinkingly examining him. Paulinin looked as if he were suffering from some slight malady that made it difficult for him to sit still.

“Then, may we see the bomb?” asked Rostnikov. “I don’t know much about bombs, but I do know that making one with the use of almost no metal, particularly for the detonator, is quite an achievement.”

Confused, trying to regain his determination, Alexi opened his coat to reveal the deep-pocketed black nylon belt strapped to his stomach. There was only one wire coming from it.

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