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“It’s too late to stop now。”
I didn’t like the sound of that； either。
“We don’t actually have anyproof ；” I pointed out。 “We don’t even know for sure thatEmmett was in the CIA； let alone that he recruited Lang。 I mean； how is this relationship supposed to have worked after Lang got into Number Ten？ Did he have a secret radio transmitter hidden in the attic； or what？”
“This isn’t a joke； my friend；” said Rycart。 “I know something of how these things are done from when I was at the Foreign Office。 Contact can be managed easily enough。 For a start； Emmett was always coming to London； because of Arcadia。 It was the perfect front。 In fact； I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole institution wasn’t set up as part of the covert operation to run Lang。 The timing would fit。 They could have used intermediaries。”
“But there’s still noproof ；” I repeated； “and short of Lang confessing； or Emmett confessing； or the CIA opening their files； there never will be。”
“Then you’ll just have to get some proof；” said Rycart flatly。
“What？” My mouth sagged； my everything sagged。
“You’re in the perfect position；” Rycart went on。 “He trusts you。 He lets you ask him whatever you like。 He even allows you to tape his answers。 You can put words in his mouth。 We’ll have to devise a series of questions that gradually entrap him； and then finally you can confront him with the allegation； and let’s see how he reacts。 He’ll deny it； but that won’t matter。 The mere fact you’re laying the evidence in front of him will put the story on the record。”
“No it won’t。 The tapes are his property。”
“Yes it will。 The tapes can be subpoenaed by the war crimes court； as evidence of his direct complicity with the CIA rendition program。”
“What if I don’t make any tapes？”
“In that case； I’ll suggest to the prosecutor that she subpoenasyou 。”
“Ah；” I said craftily； “but what if I deny the whole story？”
“Then I’ll give her this；” said Rycart； and opened his jacket to show a small microphone clipped to the front of his shirt； with a wire trailing into his inside pocket。 “Frank is recording every word down in the lobby； aren’t you； Frank？ Oh； come on！ Don’t look so shocked。 What did you expect？ That I’d come to a meeting with a complete stranger； who’s working for Lang； without taking any precautions？ Except that you’re not working for Lang anymore。” He smiled； showing again that row of teeth； more brilliantly white than anything in nature。 “You’re working for me。”
FIFTEEN
Authors need ghosts who will not challenge them； but will simply listen to what they have to say and understand why they did what they did。
Ghostwritin g
AFTER A FEW SECONDSI started to swear； fluently and indiscriminately。 I was swearing at Rycart and at my own stupidity； at Frank and at whoever would one day transcribe the tape。 I was swearing at the war crimes prosecutor； at the court； the judges； the media。 And I would have gone on for a lot longer if my telephone hadn’t started to ring—not the one I’d been given to contact Rycart but the one I’d brought from London。 Needless to say； I’d forgotten to switch it off。
“Don’t answer it；” warned Rycart。 “It’ll lead them straight to us。”
I looked at the incoming number。 “It’s Amelia Bly；” I said。 “It could be important。”
“Amelia Bly；” repeated Rycart； his voice a blend of awe and lust。 “I haven’t seen her for a while。” He hesitated； it was obvious he was desperate to know what she wanted。 “If they’re monitoring you； they’ll be able to fix your location to within a hundred yards； and this hotel is the only building where you’re likely to be。”
The phone continued to throb in my outstretched palm。 “Well； to hell with you；” I said。 “I’m not taking my orders from you。”
I pressed the green button。 “Hi；” I said。 “Amelia。”
“Good evening；” she said； her voice as crisp as a matron’s uniform。 “I have Adam for you。”
I mouthed； “It’s Adam Lang；” at Rycart and waved my hand at him to warn him against saying anything。 An instant later the familiar； classless voice filled my ear。
“I was just speaking to Ruth；” he said。 “She tells me you’re in New York。”
“That’s right。”
“So am I。 Whereabouts are you？”
“I’m not sure exactly where I am； Adam。” I made a helpless gesture at Rycart。 “I haven’t checked
in anywhere yet。”
“We’re at the Waldorf；” said Lang。 “Why don’t you come over？”
“Hold on a second； Adam。” I pressed Mute。
“You；” said Rycart； “are a fucking idiot。”
“He wants me to go over and see him at the Waldorf。”
Rycart sucked in his cheeks； appraising the options。 “You should go；” he said。
“What if it’s a trap？”
“It’s a risk； but it’ll look odd if you don’t go。 He’ll get suspicious。 Tell him yes； quickly； and then
hang up。”
I pressed Mute again。
“Hi； Adam；” I said； trying to keep the tension out of my voice。 “That’s great。 I’ll be right over。”
Rycart passed his finger across his throat。
“What brings you to New York； in any case？” asked Lang。 “I thought you had plenty to occupy
you at the house。”
“I wanted to see John Maddox。”
“Right。 And how was he？”
“Fine。 Listen； I’ve got to go now。”
Rycart’s throat slashing was becoming ever more urgent。
“We’ve had a great couple of days；” continued Lang； as if he hadn’t heard me。 “The Americans
have been fantastic。 You know； it’s in the tough times that you find out who your real friends are。”
Was it my imagination； or did he freight those words with extra emphasis for my benefit？
“Great。 I’ll be with you as fast as I can； Adam。”
I ended the call。 My hand was shaking。
“Well done；” said Rycart。 He was on his feet； retrieving his coat from the bed。 “We have about
ten minutes to get out of here。 Get your stuff together。” Mechanically； I began gathering up the photographs。 I put them back in the case and fastened it
while Rycart went into the bathroom and peed noisily。
“How did he sound？” called Rycart。
“Cheerful。”
He flushed the lavatory and emerged buttoning his fly。 “Well； we’ll just have to do something
about that； won’t we？”
The elevator down to the lobby was crammed with members of the Church of Latter…Day Online Traders； or whoever the hell they were。 It stopped at every floor。 Rycart grew more and more nervous。
“We mustn’t be seen together；” he muttered as we stepped out at the ground floor。 “You hang back。 We’ll meet you in the car park。”
He quickened his pace； drawing ahead of me。 Frank was already on his feet—presumably he had been listening and knew of our intentions—and the two of them set off without a word： the dapper； silver Rycart and his taciturn and swarthy sidekick。 What a double act； I thought。 I bent and pretended to tie my shoelace； then took my time crossing the lobby； deliberately circling the groups of chattering