He sat down at his desk and pressed a speed-dial button on the phone. Immediately, a male voice answered: “Da?”

Tirov switched to his native tongue. “This is Boris Tirov. I wish to speak to him.”

“One moment.”

It was a long moment. “Mr. Tirov, he is unable to take your call at this moment, having guests for breakfast.”

“Please ask him to call me. He has the number.”

“I shall do so. He did ask me to tell you that he has read the International New York Times.”

“Good, that will save us both time.”

“That is what he said.” The man hung up.

Tirov went to the bar and poured himself a stiff brandy, then sat down at his desk again to wait for the call, if indeed it would ever come.

Another two hours passed before the phone rang.

30

Tirov picked up the phone with trepidation. “Hello?”

A male voice. “The president will speak to you now.”

There was a loud click, followed by another male voice. “Boris? Are you there?”

“I am here. I hope you are well, Viktor.”

“Better than you, I expect. I read the article in the International New York Times.”

“That, of course, is why I am calling.”

“Of course.”

“Although I am very reluctant to ask for your help, I must do so.”

“I see. And how would you like me to help you?”

“If the warrant against me is still open, that will put me in a very difficult position.”

“I can see how it would. Make your request.”

“Will you quash the warrant?”

“It would be illegal for me to do so. Do you wish me to commit a crime on your behalf?”

“No, Viktor, I do not.”

“Then what is it, exactly, you wish me to do?”

“It is my hope that there might be a way to make the warrant go away without doing anything illegal.” Silence. “Or improper.”

“Perhaps.”

“That is all I ask.”

“If the warrant were . . . shall we say, withdrawn, that would make it possible for you to return to Mother Russia, would it not?”

“Yes, I suppose it would.”

“And if I do this for you, what, Boris, will you do for me?”

“Whatever is in my power. You have only to ask.”

“Perhaps there is something.”

“Please name it.”

“There are two things you can do for me, Boris.”

“Gladly.”

“There is an American actress called Nathalie Dumont.”

“Yes, I know her.”

“I read in the newspaper that she is arriving in Moscow soon in conjunction with the release of her new film.”

“Yes.” He had not read the newspaper, and he didn’t know.

“I would like to invite her to dinner at my home. When I issue the invitation I would like to know that she will accept. It would embarrass me if she did not.”

“I will be very glad to speak with her.”

“You will ensure that she will accept?”