Page 119 of The Cellist

“He doesn’t strike me as someone who lets bygones be bygones.” She placed the cello in its case. “Have you determined who he was talking to when I entered that room?”

“The British signals intelligence service has concluded the call came from a secure phone in Washington, but there’s no intercept of the conversation.”

“Arkady was a different person after that call. I had them, Gabriel. And then they had me.” Rising, she moved to the window. “Where’s your office?”

“Its location is officially a secret.”

“And unofficially?”

Gabriel pointed to the southwest.

“Very close.”

“Everything is close in Israel.”

“Do you live here in Tel Aviv?”

“Jerusalem.”

“You were born there?”

Gabriel shook his head. “A small agricultural settlement in the Valley of Jezreel. Most of the people who lived there were German-Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. Quite a few were musicians.”

“Can you ever forgive us?” she asked.

“I’ve never subscribed to the notion of collective guilt. But the Holocaust proved once and for all that we could not depend on others to look after our security. We needed a home of our own. And now we have one. You’re welcome to stay, if you like.”

“Here?”

“Our economy is thriving, our democracy is stable, and we will be vaccinated long before the rest of the world. We also have an extraordinary philharmonic orchestra.”

“I’m German.”

“So were my parents.”

“And I oppose the occupation.”

“Many Israelis do. We must find a just solution to the Palestinian question. Permanent occupation is not the answer.” Noticing the surprise on her face, he added, “It’s a somewhat common affliction among those who have spent their lives killing to defend this country. In the end, we all become liberals.”

“It’s tempting,” said Isabel after a moment. “But I think I would prefer to go back to Europe.”

“Our loss.”

“Is Germany safe?”

“If that is your wish, I’ll arrange it with the head of the BfV.The Swiss have also agreed to resettle you, as have the British. But if I were you, I’d be inclined to accept Anna Rolfe’s offer.”

“What’s that?”

“Her villa on the Costa de Prata.”

“Who will provide the security?”

“Mr. Big.”

Isabel stared at him in disbelief.

“There are several billion dollars in uninvested funds sitting in Martin’s account at Credit Suisse.”