—They told me you’d defected? That seems normal for a Communist. In my experience, Communists generally end up betraying their country. You Reds can’t stay faithful for long. Loyalty is a virtue I prize. I’m certain the United States has the most loyal citizens in the world, which is one of the reasons why we’re going to win the Cold War. Take me, for example: I looked after my wife right up until the day she died, long after she stopped loving me. It didn’t matter that she didn’t love me. It didn’t matter that I didn’t love her. I never left her. I knew her every need. I designed this house around her needs. Hard as it might be for some people to accept but I knew my country’s needs too – she needed strength against her enemies. I gave her strength. I never compromised. I never pulled my punches. I did whatever it took and I’d do the same again.

Leo listened as Nara translated. Yates interrupted:

—You’re here to kill me?

Leo understood the English. Before he could reply, Yates laughed:

—Don’t be shy!

Leo used a phrase he’d practised.

—I wish to find out who killed my wife.

—And you wish to kill them? I see it in your eyes. You and me, we’re not so different – we do whatever it takes.

Yates slipped a hand into his pocket, taking out a small revolver and putting it on the arm of his chair. He studied Leo’s reaction to the gun carefully, then continued speaking as if the gun weren’t there.

—You’ve travelled a long way, so I want to be as helpful as I can. Who killed your wife? Who killed your pretty Russian wife? She was pretty, wasn’t she? She was a beauty. No wonder you’re sore about losing her. I bet you couldn’t believe your luck, marrying a pretty woman like that. Hard to understand why she was a teacher. Seems a waste to me. She could have had a real career in America – a model, an actress, her face in all the magazines.

Leo said:

—Who shot her?

Yates swirled the remains of his beer, as if mixing a potion.

—It wasn’t me.

Leo had heard thousands of denials in his career. To his disappointment he was certain that Yates was telling the truth.

Same Day

Yates raised three fingers.