Camden took her place at his side. “Don’t let it bother you, Ziv. They lambasted me for months, accusing me of every crime under the sun. Between the admiral and the truth, it’ll all be put to rest.”

“I appreciate your support.” He did. But still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a bit different from the accusations Camden had faced. He’d been an English subject with a known record, whereas no one really knew Zivon. Not really. He could have lied about everything, and how would they know? Which meant, how could he prove he hadn’t?

When he neared the admiral’s office, he found Hall waiting for him at the door, face grim. He ushered him in and then clicked the door shut. “It’s bad,” he said without preamble. “I’ve contacts at the newspaper—not good enough ones, apparently, to keep them from printing this entirely, but they agreed to show me the material they received. Some of it I’d already seen, other parts I hadn’t. I would show you now, but they didn’t leave it with me.”

Zivon stood before the desk, not taking a seat since his superior didn’t. He kept his back straight and his hands clasped behind him. “May I at least know what this supposed evidence is, sir? Because I assure you, it cannot be true. Not if it is trying to prove me associated with the Bolsheviks.”

Hall leaned against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest. “Photographs. Newspaper articles in Russian. All of which claim you are here under false pretenses, which then, of course, would beg the question of why.” He waved a hand toward the window. “Half of the reporters out there are opposed to socialism and insist your presence here is part of a dastardly plot to undermine order. The other half are in favor of it and claim you’re a disgrace to the cause, a murderer who may have started on the correct side but who has clearly been corrupted by capitalism.”

“No friends either way, I see.”

Hall smirked. “Enmity sells more newspapers than amity.” His lips turned down again. “It’s like this, Marin. I’ve already asked my questions, and I believe you’re exactly who you say you are. But I have those I answer to who are not keen on this division receiving attention from the press, and we’ve had more of it lately than we should have. I’ve already fielded calls that demand an official investigation.”

Zivon forced a swallow down his dry throat. “You will have trouble finding out anything. Communicating with Russia is difficult these days.”

“And the government currently in power isn’t exactly forthcoming about answering anyone’s questions. But the truth can always be discovered, given time and energy enough.”