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period of comparative well-being, referred to as the “walking ghost” phase, when the body’s cells, devoid of functioning DNA, continue running by inertia, until all organs and systems start failing one by one. The worst possible way to die.

And yet, for all I know, it is hard to imagine a more meaningful and “rewarding” end, if one can apply these notions to death at all. Sasha, an oper par excellence, solved his murder by naming the perpetrators and the man who sent them on the job, even before the critical evidence arrived or the murder weapon was recovered. A consummate conspiracy theorist, not only did he offer one of the most incredible theories of all, but in his death he managed to offer the most compelling proof. By doing so he gave credence to all his previous theories, delivering justice for the tenants of the bombed apartment blocks, the Moscow theater-goers, Yushenkov, Schekochihin, and Anna Politkovskaya, and the half-exterminated nation of Chechnya, exposing their killers for the whole world to see.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not have been possible without the enthusiasm, acumen, and diligent help of Bruce Nichols of Free Press, who gave his heart and wisdom to our frenzied endeavor and nursed it chapter by chapter, making it a truly collaborative effort. Others at Simon & Schuster on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly Judith Hoover, our liaison with the English language, and everyone else on the production team have done their utmost to bring this project to completion against a deadline that many said was impossible to meet. Our agent and steward in the unfamiliar undertaking of authorship, the magnificent Ed Victor, proved every bit true to his reputation as a legend in the industry. There are several sources and friends who opted for not being mentioned by name, for obvious reasons. We are indebted to them all and, of course, to all those who provided information and are quoted in the book.

We are blessed with wonderful friends—the Zakayev and Berezovsky families, George Menzies and Jane, Olga Konskaya and Andrei Nekrasov, Nikolai Glushkov and Yuli Dubov, Lord Tim Bell and Jennifer Morgan—who stood by Sasha in his final fight and who helped and looked after Marina during these arduous times. Oleg Gordievsky and Vladimir Bukovsky deserve special praise for their friendship and insight.

Valter and Zinaida were there for Marina when she needed them most, and Valentina was her true friend in need. Alex would not have survived these months if not for shelter and amenities provided by Anukampa and Timosha.

Marina is especially thankful to Jay and Colin of the Metropolitan Police and Giacomo Croci for being her guardian angels.

Most of all we are grateful to Svetlana, who was there all the way from Antalya to Highgate, and to Tolik, for being his mother’s source of comfort, strength, and hope.

INDEX

Abramovich, Roman (Roma), 56, 143, 155, 171, 182, 202, 236

Aeroflot, 38, 110, 141-43, 144, 154, 161-62, 181, 232-34, 237

Akhmadov, Ilyas, 288, 311

Akimov, Vladimir, 246

Aksionenko, Nikolai, 164

Alfa Bank, 172

alpha radiation, 327, 336

Ames, Aldrich, 243

Amnesty International, 201, 293

Andava, 142, 155, 161

Andropov, Yuri, 163, 179

Ankara, Turkey, 5, 7-13, 21

U.S. embassy in, 8-9, 13-14

Annan, Kofi, 290

anthrax, 343

Anti-Terrorist Center (ATC), 23, 24, 26, 118, 119, 122, 124

Arafat, Yasir, 320-21

Argumenty i Fakti (Arguments and Facts), 61, 158

Aristotle, 205

Armenia, 213

Assassination of Russia, 249-52, 253, 254, 255, 257-59

Associated Press, 289, 297

asylum, 299

Atlantic Monthly, 117

Atomic Weapons Establishment, British, 330-31

Atta, Mohammed, 152

automobile industry, 30-31, 54, 56

Aven, Peter, 172

aviation industry, 38, 62

Azerbaijan, 113, 152

Bagraev, Yuri, 160

Baltimore Sun, 196

Bank of England, 47, 50

banking industry:

Russian economic crisis and, 51, 139-40

Russian privatization and, 53, 60-61, 62-63, 65, 110-11, 123, 172

Soros and, 47, 50

Barayev, Arbi, 151, 216, 271