Vagabond (64 page)

She would be another hour in her room and expected George to drift down and take a small glass with her: he usually did when an operation went so flawlessly.

An aircraft flew from Germany into the Netherlands as a prisoner was brought to the jurisdiction of a court. The man sat hunched, aware of his surroundings and their implications. He was handcuffed, unable to smoke and could drink only water. He would be disowned by the morning and his territory would be scrapped over by predators. They were in turbulence, an autumn storm tossing them. He felt fear, and could remember as a child seeing that same fear on the features of new men brought to Perm 35.

He was surprised at how considerably Henry Carter had aged. But still, so many years after his formal retirement, he was reputed to be ‘an officer of thorough integrity’. The man stooped but had a pleasant smile. Must have been at least eighty. The good thing about Henry Carter, an archivist of quality used on both sides of the river, was that he had long before lost sight of the personalities of the day. He wrote reports. They were without bias because he was unaffected by factions on the rise and those losing influence, and seemed to have retained the ability to cut to the quick. He professed to admire birds more than people, and could be feisty but usually held it in check. A good man, useful, but seemed frail in his suit. His eyebrows needed a trim.

The hand the director general shook was thin, the veins prominent and the skin discoloured, but the grip was firm. From a briefcase, scuffed but with the old EIIR symbol still visible below the lock, a folder was taken and handed over. Carter was a veteran, had done time on that ghastly fence dividing the Germanys and had run an agent across, waiting through the night for him. He understood the work in the building, regardless of the passage of time and changed operating procedures. The director general took the folder. He would read typed pages because Carter still eschewed the keyboard and screen. He glanced discreetly at his watch. He was due to lunch at the American embassy – their man was up for rotation and would be happy to get the hell out of London in the grip of November. He thanked Carter and escorted him to the outer office; a probationer would take him down to the canteen for a sandwich.

He went back into his office and buzzed his PA: he didn’t want to be disturbed before the car came to ferry him to Grosvenor Square.

The folder was titled ‘Vagabond’. The director general imagined he would enjoy reading it: the operation had engendered satisfaction. He lingered on the word.
Vagabond
. He opened the file. There was a précis on top, then the full version below. He took the briefer one. There were to be contributions by principal players, then Carter’s remarks, and there was space in the margins for him to add his comments.

Quiet settled in the room, and he read the first page.

Statement of
Gabrielle Davies
, Security Service Officer

It was a good operation throughout and I was able to maintain positive levels of control at all times. My team worked well under my leadership. The ‘rendition’ of Timofey Simonov, listed as a Target of Value (our sole priority), met no obstructions at the Czech/German frontier, where the new personnel awaited us and we dropped the Czech policeman. The flight was uneventful and I have no record of any significant remark by TS. On the ground, TS was read his rights by local officials and they signed for his custody. I then returned to London. It has been put to me that it was ‘poor procedure’ to leave Daniel Curnow (increment) and Ralph Exton (covert human intelligence source) on site at the former military base of Milovice. They should have kept close to me, followed my instructions, and not permitted themselves to be separated. I accept no blame for their being split from the main party of us at a time of some confusion as we engaged ruthless and experienced criminals. Digitalised images of TS and Malachy Riordan with weapons have now been transferred to local prosecutors, and will augment earlier images of TS at his residence with the CHIS. My conclusion: the recruitment of the ‘increment’ was an unnecessary expense and he added little to the outcome of the operation.

Ambitious, able, but lacking verve or imagination and unlikely to think outside the loop. I believe she has a good future in the Service and will go far.

Promote her, let her rip, then find her level behind a desk. Watch her and look to advance her career.

Statement of Karol Pilar, detective UOOZ team, Prague

Following the transfer of the accused to a foreign jurisdiction I drove across country to Karlovy Vary and gained a vantage-point looking at the villa on Krale Jiriho, residence of Timofey Simonov. The prized dogs were left in the yard for the night – the king is dead, long live the king – and Brigadier (ret’d) Nikolai Denisov slept with his wife in the main first-floor front bedroom (formerly occupied by TS). I was not present the following evening but Denisov and wife used TS’s invitation to attend a charity gala at Hotel Pupp. (Relevant or not relevant?) My seniors dictate no further action will be taken against this Russian national and believe dust should be permitted to settle. It was a pleasure, and good experience, to work alongside Daniel Curnow. I was privileged.

A good officer whose modesty should not be allowed to mask his talents and input into the success of the operation. He should be cultivated and used where appropriate . . . I fear his hatred of organised crime groups (Russian ethnic origin) will stunt his promotion prospects in Prague.

An important catch, and worth serious remuneration. Buy him and own him.

Statement of Jocelyn Ferguson, Security Service

A good operation, well performed at all stages by Five staff. I think, already, a significant message has been sent. My latest information is that the prosecutors in the criminal case against Simonov (Timofey), to be brought to trial early next year, are very confident that allegations of illegal weapons transfers, using transport based in Belgium, will be proven. The evidence submitted will cause, hopefully, maximum embarrassment in Moscow’s
siloviki
circles. Without the drive of Matthew Bentinick, nothing would have been achieved.

A formidable administrator, lacking in morality, with a compulsion for hard work, and a devotion to MB that is not entirely appropriate.

Should be separated in the building. Right for the jihadist teams.

Statement of DS Conor Williams, MPS Special Branch.

The arrest of an unidentified marksman in south-west London when staking a safe-house where a Russian national lived under our protection will have severely unsettled FSB operatives at the Kensington Palace Gardens embassy. The subsequent suicide is not important: the damage is done to them and they will sweat on it.

An excellent result. Where would we be without the help of dog walkers and mums on the way to and from the school gate? The best eyes and ears we have.

Letter of thanks, oil the cogs, to commissioner, Metropolitan Police Service.

Statement of Matthew Bentinick, Security Service officer

I led a dedicated team and am delighted to report success in all areas of the operation. It was a job well done. I was particularly pleased with the efforts of Gabrielle Davies. I congratulate her and am happy to say she exceeded my expectations in leadership and performance. I pay tribute to those in less substantial roles, including former sergeant, Intelligence Corps, Daniel Curnow, Vagabond from days of old, but regret that in the final stages his actions fell outside his immediate brief. We hurt our opponents and cannot ask for much more. There may be some who suggest my rigour in pursuing this case is governed by a personal situation – quite untrue and an unworthy accusation. I regret what happened to Curnow but we are in a grown-up world – as he well knew. He would have accepted that only the breaking of eggs leads to the making of an omelette.

A warrior from a bygone age, finding it difficult, I assume, to conjure up sufficient worthwhile enemies. To resurrect something of Cold War times and to have linkage with the present stuttering campaign of the Republican ‘left-behinds’ in the Province would have brought a rare opportunity for his talents to be showcased. Amusing, likeable and utterly vulnerable, he is idiosyncratic in taste and style but remains a welcome and refreshing breath of air from the ‘by-numbers’ box-tickers that I occasionally feel have taken ownership of the twin Services. However, his treatment of Curnow is unsatisfactory by current risk assessment and duty of care requirements. Does the end justify the means? Others must decide whether this ‘end’ was worth the high price paid.

Devious beggar, but effective, and who among us can appreciate the torment of his daughter’s situation? Sometimes crass, but utterly incisive in decision-taking. Ruthless, but should not more personnel in the Service demonstrate that trait?

Statement of Ralph Exton, covert human intelligence source

I did what I could, thought I did it quite well. I make my own bed and I lie in it, so, I left myself open to pressure from your lot and have only myself to blame. As I always say when life gets fruity, ‘Fuck me . . . Another day at the office . . . Fuck me’, and usually the sentiment tides me over. Everyone I dealt with from Thames House was an utter shit, with neither manners nor concern for me, like I was some mid-European slapper brought in to scrub the toilets. I wouldn’t give them, again, the time of day. An exception? There’s always one. Danny. Hold a bloke in your arms – when all the others have buggered off to collect their medals and hero-grams – while he’s slipping and bleeding, and when you’ve been abandoned, and you get kind of fond of him. He’d been tough on me. No question. But he was honest. Never dealt with anyone else who had that honesty, real truthfulness, told it like it was. Brilliant guy. The whole history of what happened is in the safe-deposit box of a solicitor who practises human rights, state abuses, all that crap, so don’t come after me and expect me not to scratch your bloody eyes out.

And me? Not too bad, thank you. My wife found out, painfully, that her dentist friend was putting himself around and had done a bunk, sharpish, because the husband turned up with a weighty wrench. We had a chat, her and me. We go back a long way, good times and awful ones. We’re selling up in the leafy lanes, and think we’re getting a good price. We’re looking at an opening for an antiques business on the coast at Torbay. Our daughter’s coming with us. I hate all of you, which is rare for me, and despise you, too. I’m quite sorry about poor old Timofey S: pompous but not altogether bad, and probably not deserving the twenty years’ gaol he’ll get. The exception? I can’t and won’t ever hate Danny Curnow, a first-class guy. You’d have been bare-arsed without him.

A lovely man, and great fun to be with. Deprecating about his personal courage but as brave as a lion. The story about the drill, not making a drama from a crisis, is apposite. He made me laugh. Torbay is a good choice: all those trawlers floating about and reeling in fish and so much else that’s been dropped off in the high seas – many opportunities for scratching a living. Antiques, brand new or recently new, should be right for his entrepreneurial skills. I think he’ll come through well, and has the resilience. I hope the Service will take responsibility for his and his family’s safety. In the forest, before that hung-over stag group showed up to drive a tank, alone with Curnow, he displayed great tenderness when others had bolted. The Service should take the responsibility seriously.