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Back Dishonorable Intentions Save as PDF
Chapters (65)
  1. Cover
  2. Books by Stuart Woods
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. 57
  61. 58
  62. 59
  63. 60
  64. Author’s Note
  65. About the Author

“Fine. Tomorrow either you or Nathalie may expect a phone call from the Kremlin, extending the invitation. You must accept immediately. If you have her booked for that time, you must cancel it. There can be no variation, clear?”

“I think that’s reasonable.”

“It is mandatory. He is not a person who wishes to negotiate his schedule.”

“All right, agreed. Now, Boris, what do you want from me?”

“Only that you guarantee her appearance on schedule. He will, no doubt, send a car for her. For her, alone.”

“All right, I guarantee her appearance.”

“And you should not mention my name to Nathalie. You may take all the credit for this coup yourself.”

“I have no problem with that,” Fine replied with a chuckle.

“Oh, and there is one other thing, Howard.”

“What’s that?”

“Nathalie should be prepared to accommodate all of Viktor’s wishes. I’m sure you take my meaning.”

“What? I can’t tell her that.”

“I’m not suggesting that you tell her, merely that you prepare her for the eventuality. I think you can handle that, Howard—Nathalie is hardly a virgin, and you’re an old pro. You know how these things work. After all, the dinner will be the most important event of her trip, the crown jewel of a junket that the studio has paid dearly for and that is crucial to the success of the film in that market, and if she does not accept the invitation, or if she does not perform as expected—and enjoy the experience—things could go terribly wrong for her and for you in Moscow. You understand.”

Fine sighed deeply. “Yes.”

Tirov hung up.

—

Tirov had just gotten into bed when his phone rang. “Hello?”

“I have him for you.”

“Of course.” His breathing quickened.

“Boris?”

“Yes, Viktor?”

“The prosecutor who filed the warrant against you is now an important judge, by my appointment. He has canceled the warrant, with a letter postdated twenty-four hours after the original filing, citing a lack of any supporting evidence. Anyone wishing confirmation of this may contact our ambassador in Washington, who is holding a regularly scheduled press conference tomorrow at two, Eastern time, at which a question will be asked about this and definitively answered.”

“Thank you, Viktor. And Nathalie Dumont will be thrilled to accept your invitation to dinner at any time during her stay in Moscow that you may wish.” He gave him Howard Fine’s number. “He will arrange everything, and I am very sure that you will find her prepared to be excellent company.”

“Thank you, Boris, and if that turns out to be true, perhaps you may visit Moscow sometime after all.” He hung up.

Boris lay back in bed, taking deep breaths, trying to slow his heartbeat and his breathing.

31

Stone was having lunch alone, and Gala was out riding alone. Geoffrey entered the room. “A Ms. Holly Barker on the phone for you, Mr. Barrington.”