The Old Enemy by Henry Porter (read with me .TXT) 📕

‘Yeah, you do that. His name is Matthew Corner. I could send the plane, but it’s going to be as quick for you to fly from Tallinn to Helsinki on the early flight, then to DC. There’s a seat for you. I’ll send details.’

‘Did Marty Reid get in touch?’

‘As a matter of fact, he did. He heard some rumour that Denis was out of his coma and he came to the hospital, only to find that Denis was in surgery. He wants to talk to you, but I stalled. Didn’t tell him where you were. He’s very anxious to help. Believes he has something new on the TangKi business; says he’s identified the ultimate source of where the money came from to support European fascists.’

‘Does that matter?’

‘He seems to think so.’

‘Do you trust him?’

‘Denis has always had his doubts about Marty.’

Her phone was on speaker and Samson heard all this. He went to the desk he had dragged in front of the door and found some hotel notepaper in a folder. He wrote, ‘Can you bring evidence to the committee?’ And handed the paper to her.

She asked the question. Tulliver replied, ‘I see no reason why not. You can respond to questions how you see fit, and you can support what you’re saying by the submission of documents.’

‘Okay. I’m going to speak with Matthew Corner, and I’ll take that plane you booked.’

She hung up. ‘Are you thinking what I am?’

‘We can be ready by then. There is the very large issue of proof. We have to show that the woman now known as Mila Gaspar is the Mila Daus, and there’s only one way of doing that, and besides, the only thing I have seen is a colour chart with names – some of them well known, others not. But there’s no proof attached to them. It’s nothing more than a list.’

‘Naji has it all.’

‘Yes, but there was a reason that Denis didn’t use it. They weren’t ready. Mila Daus knew this and moved to head them off. I don’t believe she thought there was anything in that briefcase, and we know Denis’s case had nothing important in it. Bobby was out painting. If he thought Denis was going to reveal everything in Congress, he would have wanted to be near a TV to watch it. There’s nothing like that at the cabin.’

‘Why use nerve agent? Why not shoot Denis on the way to Congress? We had no protection.’

‘That’s a very good question, and I’ve been thinking about it, because it seems too downright crazy for her. Also, as I keep on saying, the people contracted to kill me, Bobby and, I guess, you and Naji are all amateurs and gangsters. The Mila Daus that we know about would have made sure of the hit every time. There’s so much that doesn’t make sense. I repeat, we don’t have a case against her.’

‘You’re forgetting about Naji.’

That didn’t give Samson a lot of confidence, although it was true that Harland had trusted him. ‘Yes, but I don’t yet know what he has.’

She dialled Matthew Corner in Speight’s office, put him on speaker and started explaining that she was out of the country attending a funeral of her husband’s dear friend.

The staffer said, ‘Hold it right there, I have Congressman Speight for you.’

Speight came on. Concern was expressed for Denis, pleasantries were exchanged, and a particularly hot spring day was commented upon. ‘Mrs Hisami, I have spoken with my good friend Harry Lucas, who, you may recall, is the chair of our committee, and he is in agreement with me that we need to clear up one or two matters of detail. Then, I feel, we could put the matter to rest.’

‘What detail? I cannot answer for my husband.’

‘These would be matters that directly relate to you, Mrs Hisami, and I think we both know it’s important for those around the globe who witnessed the shameful events of last week to understand that American democracy will not be cowed by an act of terrorism. Our flame will not be doused, if you follow my drift.’

She looked at Samson, who had certainly picked up on the use of the word ‘douse’ – a homophone for Daus. He thought it might be intentional and nodded to her. ‘I understand you, Congressman. It will not be doused, but why the rush?’

‘I knew you would grasp what I was saying. I hope that I can take this as your acceptance of our invitation. But we do need to expedite these matters. Much depends on it. My staff will be calling with the arrangements but, in the meantime, I’d like to leave you with this quotation, from a law enacted in the year of our Lord 1954. It concerns the evidence of witnesses to a congressional committee in respect of investigations concerned with national security subjects. And the matter in hand does seem to me, Mrs Hisami, to be one that falls into the remit of the Foreign Affairs Committee.’ He cleared his throat and read, ‘“No witness shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he or she is so compelled, after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, nor shall testimony so compelled be used as evidence in any criminal proceeding . . . against him or her in any court.”’ He paused, ‘I want you to be clear on the import of this passage, Mrs Hisami – it means you have protection.’ After more silky reassurance, he bid her good day and rang off.

‘Has he just offered me a platform to expose Mila Daus and her networks?’

‘Can you trust him?’

‘Shit, no.’

‘Then we go ahead and assume he is part of her network and is trying to draw you out. But it’s still an opportunity, if we can prove who she is.’

‘Wouldn’t it be something to get her there? I mean, actually in Congress. Get