The Cardinal of the Kremlin - Tom Clancy [96]
A car was waiting and drove off at once. She was surprised at the route, but it wasn't until they drove past Khokhlovskaya Square that she was sure.
"We're not going to the Ministry of Justice?" she asked.
"No, we're going to Lefortovo," Vatutin replied offhandedly.
"But-"
"I didn't want to alarm you in the office, you see. I am actually Colonel Vatutin of the Second Chief Directorate." There was a reaction to that, but Vaneyeva recovered her composure in an instant.
"And what is it that I am to help you with, then?"
She was good, Vatutin saw. This one would be a challenge.
The Colonel was loyal to the Party, but not necessarily to its officials. He was a man who hated corruption almost as much as treason. "A small matter-you'll doubtless be home for dinner."
"My daughter-"
"One of my people will pick her up. If things run a little late, your father will not be upset to see her, will he?"
She actually smiled at that. "No, Father loves to spoil her."
"It probably won't take that long anyway," Vatutin said, looking out the window. The car pulled through the gates into the prison. He helped her out of the car, and a sergeant held the door open for both of them. Give them hope, then take it away. He took her gently by the arm. "My office is this way. You travel to the West often, I understand."
"It is part of my work." She was on guard now, but no more than anyone would be here.
"Yes, I know. Your desk deals with textiles." Vatutin opened his door and waved her in.
"That's her!" a voice called. Svetlana Vaneyeva stopped dead, as though frozen in time. Vatutin took her arm again and directed her to a chair.
"Please sit down."
"What is this!" she said, finally in alarm.
"This man here was caught carrying copies of secret State documents. He has told us that you gave them to him," Vatutin said as he sat behind his desk.
Vaneyeva turned and stared at the courier. "I have never seen that face in my life! Never!"
"Yes," Vatutin said dryly. "I know that."
"What-" She searched for words. "But this makes no sense."
"You've been very well trained. Our friend here says that his signal to pass on the information is that he runs his hand across your rump."
She turned to face her accuser. "Govnoed! This thing said that! This"-she sputtered for another moment-"worthless person. Rubbish!"
"So you deny the charge?" Vatutin inquired. Breaking this one would really be a pleasure.
"Of course! I am a loyal Soviet citizen. I am a Party member. My father-"
"Yes, I know about your father."
"He will hear of this, Colonel Vatutin, and if you threaten me-"
"We do not threaten you, Comrade Vaneyeva, we ask for information. Why were you on the Metro yesterday? I know that you have your own car."
"I often ride the Metro. It is simpler than driving, and I had to make a stop." She picked her package up off the floor. "Here. I dropped off the coat for cleaning. It is inconvenient to park the car, go in, and then drive on. So I took the underground. Same thing today, when I picked it up. You can check at the cleaners."
"And you did not pass this to our friend here?" Vatutin held up the film cassette.
"I don't even know what that is."
"Of course." Colonel Vatutin shook his head. "Well, there we are." He pressed a button on his intercom set. The office's side door opened a moment later. Three people came in. Vatutin waved to Svetlana. "Prepare her."
Her reaction was not so much panic as disbelief. Svetlana Vaneyeva tried to bolt from the chair, but a pair of men grabbed her by the shoulders and held her in place. The third rolled up the sleeve on her dress and stuck a needle in her arm before she had the presence of mind to shout. "You can't," she said, "you can't "
Vatutin sighed. "Ah, but we can. How long?"
"That'll keep her under for at least two hours," the doctor replied. He and his two orderlies picked her out of the chair. Vatutin came