JК
The English Assassin :: Silva Daniel
Страница: 141 из 209”
“Then please accept it, along with the deepest apologies of the Rolfe family.” Then she kissed his cheek and said, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Isherwood.”
Shamron looked at Gabriel. “Why don’t you walk me through it one more time.”
THEY went downstairs to Isherwood’s office. Gabriel sat behind Isherwood’s desk, but Shamron prowled the room as he listened to Gabriel’s plan again.
“And what shall I tell the prime minister?”
“Listen to Anna. Tell him nothing.”
“And if it blows up in my face?”
“It won’t.”
“Things like this always blow up in my face, Gabriel, and I have the scars to prove it. So do you. Tell me something. Is it my imagination, or is there a little more spring in your step tonight?”
“You want to ask me a question?”
“I don’t wish to sound indelicate.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
“Are you and this woman more than just accomplices in the search for her father’s killer?” When silence greeted his question, Shamron smiled and shook his head. “Do you remember what you said to me about Anna Rolfe on the Piazza Navona?”
“I told you that, given a choice, we would never use a woman like her.”
“And now you want to involve her more deeply?”
“She can handle it.”
“I have no doubts about her, but can you handle it, Gabriel?”
“I wouldn’t suggest it if I felt otherwise.”
“Two weeks ago, I had to beg you to look into Rolfe’s death. Now you want to wage war against Switzerland.”
“Rolfe wanted those paintings to come to us. Someone took them, and now I want them back.”
“But your motivation goes beyond the paintings, Gabriel. I turned you into a killer, but in your heart, you’re the restorer. I think you’re doing this because you want to restore Anna Rolfe. If that’s the case, then the next logical question is this: Why does he want to restore Anna Rolfe? And there’s only one logical answer. He has feelings for the woman.” Shamron hesitated. “And that’s the best news I’ve heard in a very long time.”
“I care for her.”
“If you care for her, you’ll convince her to cancel her appearance in Venice.”
“She won’t cancel.”
“If that’s the case, then perhaps we can use it to our advantage.”
“How so?”
“I’ve always found deception and misdirection to be useful tactics in a situation like this. Let her give her concert.
“Then please accept it, along with the deepest apologies of the Rolfe family.” Then she kissed his cheek and said, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Isherwood.”
Shamron looked at Gabriel. “Why don’t you walk me through it one more time.”
THEY went downstairs to Isherwood’s office. Gabriel sat behind Isherwood’s desk, but Shamron prowled the room as he listened to Gabriel’s plan again.
“And what shall I tell the prime minister?”
“Listen to Anna. Tell him nothing.”
“And if it blows up in my face?”
“It won’t.”
“Things like this always blow up in my face, Gabriel, and I have the scars to prove it. So do you. Tell me something. Is it my imagination, or is there a little more spring in your step tonight?”
“You want to ask me a question?”
“I don’t wish to sound indelicate.”
“That’s never stopped you before.”
“Are you and this woman more than just accomplices in the search for her father’s killer?” When silence greeted his question, Shamron smiled and shook his head. “Do you remember what you said to me about Anna Rolfe on the Piazza Navona?”
“I told you that, given a choice, we would never use a woman like her.”
“And now you want to involve her more deeply?”
“She can handle it.”
“I have no doubts about her, but can you handle it, Gabriel?”
“I wouldn’t suggest it if I felt otherwise.”
“Two weeks ago, I had to beg you to look into Rolfe’s death. Now you want to wage war against Switzerland.”
“Rolfe wanted those paintings to come to us. Someone took them, and now I want them back.”
“But your motivation goes beyond the paintings, Gabriel. I turned you into a killer, but in your heart, you’re the restorer. I think you’re doing this because you want to restore Anna Rolfe. If that’s the case, then the next logical question is this: Why does he want to restore Anna Rolfe? And there’s only one logical answer. He has feelings for the woman.” Shamron hesitated. “And that’s the best news I’ve heard in a very long time.”
“I care for her.”
“If you care for her, you’ll convince her to cancel her appearance in Venice.”
“She won’t cancel.”
“If that’s the case, then perhaps we can use it to our advantage.”
“How so?”
“I’ve always found deception and misdirection to be useful tactics in a situation like this. Let her give her concert.