Page 120 of The New Girl

“Why bother to bring her ashore? Why not lighten their load and make a run for Moscow?”

“I suppose they want to ask her a few questions first. Wouldn’t you if you were in their position?”

“You think they’re going to get rough with her?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Who’s asking the questions.” Gabriel noticed that Keller was suddenly working the keyboard of his BlackBerry. “What’s going on?”

“Apparently, Konstantin Dragunov isn’t feeling well.”

“Imagine that.”

“He just admitted to the Metropolitan Police that he and the woman poisoned the crown prince last night. Lancaster’s making the announcement at Downing Street at ten.”

“Do me a favor, Christopher.”

“What’s that?”

“Tell Graham and Lancaster to announce it now.”

76

10 Downing Street

Graham Seymour was waiting in the entrance hall of Number 10 when Jonathan Lancaster came down the Grand Staircase with Geoffrey Sloane at his side. Sloane was nervously adjusting his necktie, as though he were the one who was about to face the battery of cameras arrayed outside in Downing Street. Lancaster was clutching a few light blue notecards. He led Seymour into the Cabinet Room and solemnly closed the door.

“It worked to perfection. Just like you and Gabriel said it would.”

“With one problem, Prime Minister.”

“The best-laid plans of mice and men...” Lancaster held up the notecards. “Do you think this will be enough to keep the Russians from killing her?”

“Gabriel seems to think it will.”

“Did he really punch Konstantin Dragunov?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Was it a good one?” asked Lancaster mischievously.

“Quite.”

“I hope Konstantin wasn’t too seriously injured.”

“At this point I doubt he even remembers it.”

“He’s ill, is he?”

“The sooner we get him on a plane, the better.”

Lancaster looked down at the first notecard and, lips moving, rehearsed the opening line of his prepared remarks. It was true, thought Seymour. Ithadworked to perfection. He and Gabriel had beaten the Russians at their own game. The Tsar had killed before, recklessly, with weapons of mass destruction. But this time he had been caught in the act. The consequences would be severe—sanctions, expulsions, perhaps even excommunication from the Group of Eight—and the damage was likely to be permanent.

“She has some nerve,” said Lancaster suddenly.

“Sarah Bancroft?”