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don, Berlin? That makes them dangerous, Vincent." |
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The hell with it, Fisk thought. I'd better tell him what else I've got on my mind while I have the chance. We may not be speaking tomorrow. "Security is shitty in this town, Vincent. It worries me. Even in this office." |
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Kellner said softly, "What is it you're trying to say, Charlie?" |
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Fisk's gaze was level. "We are all sworn to protect the interests of the United States. Some of us take risks, run agents, even if we have no authority to do so." There was a tight silence in the room. |
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"You're running Milstein," Fisk said. |
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When Kellner remained stiffly silent, Charlton Fisk went on. "Actually, it is a real coup to have enlisted the minister of finance of Russia as an American agent, even if only as an agent of influence. The whole pantheon of CIA directors must be salivating in their honored graves." His tone hardened. "So don't talk to me about turf. Marsh Gray would go ballistic if he knew." |
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Vincent Kellner regarded Charlton Fisk for a long time before speaking. "How did you find out?" |
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"We were lucky," Fisk said wryly. Then he added, "But others can get lucky, too. David Milstein is an innocent. An honest man, in spite of what he's doing. I think Aleksandr Cherny knows, for instance, and keeps silent. Maybe having a direct pipeline to an adviser to the President of the United States has certain advantages in a country that's falling apart. But Milstein is no professional spook, Vincent. He's going to get badly burned. And so could you, and through you, the President. Good God, man, the Soyuz people in the government won't tolerate him for ten minutes if they find out what you're doing. He's on thin ice now. They'll arrest him just for being a Jew, let alone an American spy." Fisk's frown deepened. "How did you manage it, Vincent? How did you recruit him?" |
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