The New Girl (Gabriel Allon #19)(78)

“I remember it fondly from my youth,” said Lancaster. “I take it the Russian is under surveillance.”

“Total,” answered Seymour. “Four MI6 watchers have checked into the hotel next door, the East Anglia Inn, along with two highly experienced Israeli field officers. Tech-Ops have planted transmitters in the Russian’s room, audio and video. They’ve also hacked into the Bedford’s internal network of security cameras. We’re watching his every move.”

“Do we have anyone inside the Bedford?”

“Christopher Keller. He’s the one who—”

“I know who he is,” interjected Lancaster. Then he asked, “Do we know the Russian’s target?”

“We can’t say for certain, Prime Minister, but we believe the Russians are planning to assassinate Crown Prince Abdullah during his visit to London.”

Lancaster absorbed the news with admirable calm. “Why would the Russians want to kill the future king of Saudi Arabia?”

“Because the future king is a Russian agent. And if he ever reaches the throne, he will tilt Saudi Arabia toward the Kremlin and do irreparable harm to British and American interests in the Gulf.”

Lancaster stared at Seymour, bewildered. “If that’s the case, why on earth would the Russians want to eliminate him?”

“Because they’re probably under the impression Abdullah is working for us.”

“Us?”

“The Secret Intelligence Service.”

“And just how did they come to that conclusion?”

“We told them.”

“How?”

Seymour smiled coldly. “Rebecca Manning.”

Lancaster reached for the phone. “I’m afraid we’re going to be a while, Geoffrey. Please extend my apologies to our guests.” He replaced the receiver and looked at Seymour. “You have my full attention. Keep talking.”



But it was Gabriel, not the director-general of the Secret Intelligence Service, who explained to the prime minister why it appeared the Russians intended to assassinate the future king of Saudi Arabia while he was on British soil. The briefing was identical to the one Gabriel had given to Graham Seymour several weeks earlier in the safe house in St. Luke’s Mews, though now it contained details of the deception operation targeted at Rebecca Manning, the former MI6 officer and daughter of Kim Philby. Lancaster listened in silence, his jaw clenched. Before Russia’s intervention in America’s politics, they had meddled in Great Britain’s, and Lancaster was the victim. There was also ample evidence to suggest the Kremlin had covertly supported Brexit, which had thrown Britain into turmoil and left his career in ruins. If there was anyone who wanted to punish the Russians as much as Gabriel, it was Prime Minister Jonathan Lancaster.

“And you’re sure this man Bennett is working for the Russians?”

Gabriel deferred to Seymour, who explained that Bennett had twice been observed meeting with his SVR handler, Yevgeny Teplov, in Epping Forest.

“Another spy scandal,” said Lancaster. “Just what the country needs.”

“We always knew there would be others, Prime Minister. Rebecca was in the perfect position to spot officers who might be vulnerable to a Russian approach.”

“How did Bennett escape detection until now?”

“He went dormant after Rebecca’s capture. We took a hard look at him but—”

“You failed to notice another Russian spy staring you in the face.”

“No, Prime Minister. I left a suspected Russian spy in place so I might use him later to destroy the woman who destroyed my service.”

“Rebecca Manning.”

Seymour nodded.

“Explain.”

“If we arrest the members of an SVR hit team on the eve of your meeting with Abdullah, the Russians will suffer enormous international damage, and Rebecca will come under suspicion as the source of the leak.”

“The Russians will think she’s a triple agent—is that what you’re suggesting?”

“Indeed.”

The prime minister made a show of thought. “You said if we arrest the Russian hit team. What other option do we have?”

“We can allow the plot to go forward.”

“If we do that, the Russians—”

“Will kill their own asset, Crown Prince Abdullah, the future king of Saudi Arabia. And with a bit of luck,” added Seymour, “they might kill Rebecca, too.”

Lancaster looked at Gabriel. “Surely, this is your idea.”

“Which answer would you prefer?”

Lancaster frowned. “What happens if Abdullah is . . .”

“Removed from the line of succession?”

“Yes.”

“Khalid’s father will likely see that his son is reinstalled as crown prince, especially when he finds out that Abdullah conspired with the Russians to kidnap and murder Khalid’s daughter.”

“Is that what we want? A precocious man-child with impulse-control problems running Saudi Arabia?”

“He’ll be different this time. He’ll be the KBM we all hoped he would be.”

Lancaster’s smile was condescending. “You never struck me as the naive type.” He looked at Seymour. “I don’t suppose you’ve spoken to Amanda.”