‘What information do you have?’
‘Well, I’ll start with Ratna, who called me on Sunday and requested an urgent meeting. I of course did not know what was going on or understand the urgency, but she sounded very troubled, so I agreed. She came to the residence and told me how she assisted Prism by giving them information about Robert’s movements. She told me everything – the route plans, the messages she left for them and how they rewarded her.’ Legault turned to Amelia. ‘How she could have endangered him like that is incomprehensible; how she could have convinced herself that it was the right thing to do, I simply do not know.’
‘When money is at play, people can convince themselves of almost anything,’ Amelia said. ‘What will happen to her?’
‘Well,’ Legault said after considering the question for a moment, ‘while her actions were unethical, it may be hard to prove that she meant Robert harm. I don’t think she was involved any deeper than she claims to have been. It remains to be confirmed, but I don’t think she was aware of Patrick’s involvement or that she helped him in any direct way. Of course that does not mean she will get off lightly. At the very least, she will receive immediate disciplinary termination from the diplomatic service, but it is up to the authorities in Canada to decide.’
‘And the money she received?’ Amelia asked.
‘Presumably it will be taken away, that is, if it can be recovered.’
‘And given back to a corrupt company?’
‘No, no, Amelia, there will be repercussions. There will be serious legal implications for both Ratna and Prism,’ he said, his voice firm. ‘It’s too early to say, but it might be difficult to determine who exactly was responsible for what aspect of this whole débâcle. We don’t know who initiated the contact with her or paid her the money, but every attempt will be made to uncover the truth. I believe Ratna will cooperate.’ Legault grimaced. ‘Prism is another story.’
Amelia considered his words, emotion burning in her chest. It sounded like Legault didn’t expect the evidence to emerge easily, if at all. The thought of Jennings getting off lightly was too much to bear. ‘I will testify as many times as I need to,’ she said. ‘Please convey that message to the prosecutor.’
Legault nodded and for a moment everyone was silent.
It was Nick who asked the question she couldn’t bring herself to ask. ‘And Patrick? What happened to him?’
‘Mr Sanford, thank you again for calling us directly, and so quickly. As you may know, our security personnel took him away on Sunday after you contacted us and he is now being held at the embassy. He is being guarded closely, do not worry. Once we can sort out some of this, he will be leaving the country.’
Amelia hesitated, but Legault seemed to need prompting, as if the whole subject was too distasteful for him.
‘Has he told you anything?’ she asked.
Legault nodded. ‘He has. I think he realises that there are too many witnesses to his actions and confessions now. I also think that he feels guilty, at last.’ Legault took a deep breath before he continued. ‘From what I can tell, Patrick handled some trade negotiations rather poorly about a year and a half ago. He didn’t honour confidentiality clauses and Robert felt he was out of control. What made matters worse is that Patrick may have become involved with another woman in the process.’ Legault caught Amelia’s eye. ‘I know, I was as shocked as you are. It’s hard to believe and I’m not sure how much truth there is to it or if it played a significant role in all of this. The more relevant matter is that there were actually questions about whether he gained personally from the negotiations. They had several meetings and, as you can imagine, Patrick wasn’t too happy when Robert decided to pull him back from certain talks and deals. Patrick is adamant that Robert was unreasonable and that he was threatening to put the incidents in Patrick’s service record so that his career plans would have been delayed or possibly even ruined.’ Legault sighed. ‘In actual fact, I believe Robert made a concession and agreed to involve Patrick in the later stages of the Prism-Sibraz negotiations so that Patrick could prove himself again and clear his record in the process. But instead of doing that, he did quite the opposite, didn’t he?’
‘Quite.’
‘We have also determined that the other blood that was found in Robert’s car was the same type as Patrick’s blood, but it will take a little more time to match it exactly.’
Of course! The thought hit Amelia like a lightning bolt. The volleyball photo of Patrick wearing a bandana in the weeks after Robert went missing obviously had more significance. He was hiding an injury.
They waited as Legault appeared to consider his next words carefully.
‘Patrick insists that he didn’t kill Robert. He says he simply handed him and the driver over to Prism’s men and that he doesn’t know what else happened to them.’
‘Do you believe him?’ Amelia asked.
‘I’m afraid I do, in part at least. I believe that he did not commit the final act of murder himself.’ Legault shuddered visibly. ‘I think he was ambitious, narcissistic and increasingly desperate, but I don’t think he would’ve had the ability to carry it out all by himself. Or perhaps he knew somehow that he would only be able to believe in his own blamelessness if he stopped short of killing Robert. What I do not believe, is his claim that he knows nothing else. I eh, I believe he made very sure Prism’s thugs were going to get rid of Robert before he released him to them. I think he knows about Robert’s fate, but he is holding out, unfortunately. We will get it out of him, but it will probably take time.’ Legault looked at Amelia as he spoke the last words. She felt her throat constrict.
‘What will happen to him?’ Nick asked.
‘There will be many investigations and interrogations, but I’m afraid I can’t predict the exact outcome at this point.’
‘Will he be given diplomatic immunity?’ Amelia couldn’t stop herself from asking.
‘I don’t think the Russians will ask us to lift the immunity, since his crime was not against a Russian or a Russian entity, but against a fellow-Canadian. From our side, I can only guess at this stage, but I would say he will face stiff charges back in Canada. The exact charges will depend on what we uncover.’ He looked from Amelia to Nick. ‘We would of course appreciate your help in obtaining all the necessary information.’
For a few moments they digested in silence all Legault had told them.
‘What will happen to Cathy and the children?’ Amelia asked, wondering fleetingly if Cathy had any knowledge of what Patrick had been up to.
‘Most likely nothing,’ Legault answered. ‘We will question her, but I do not believe that she was involved.’ He sighed. ‘They will go back to Canada. I imagine there are some tough times ahead for them.’
‘She must hate me,’ Amelia murmured. Like Legault, she didn’t believe that good, kind Cathy had any prior knowledge of Patrick’s scheming.
‘No, she won’t,’ Mara said. ‘If there is anyone she’ll hate, it will be Patrick.’
Amelia shook her head. ‘I don’t know, Mara. People react in unexpected ways when they’re going through a crisis. It must have come as such a shock to her. You know, she confided in me that Patrick had changed and that their relationship was in trouble, but of course I thought it was just the hardship of living in Moscow and the normal ups and downs of a marriage.’
Mara shook her head. ‘So many lives are affected by this.’
‘Too many.’ Amelia turned to Legault again. ‘And Ravi, Ratna’s son?’
‘He will go home with Ratna immediately. And depending on what happens to her, he will probably stay with his father or maybe with other family members.’
‘Poor kid,’ Mara voiced the thought on all their minds.
They talked for a while longer, but soon Legault stood up to leave.
‘I’m afraid I have to go, but please call me if there is anything else I can help you with. As we continue interviewing Patrick, I will make sure to get all new information to you. I promise. And, one last thing. I know I have no right to ask this after everything you’ve been through, but for the sake of the embassy and the investigation, I would appreciate it tremendously if you could keep the information to yourselves. Please. Just for the moment.’
Amelia nodded, stood up and let him take her hands. For a moment he held them gently, pressed them, dipped his head and then turned away to follow Mara to the front door.
Amelia and Nick sat in silence. A million thoughts raced through her mind. She couldn’t believe how many people had been affected. So many victims, so many families torn apart. Robert was gone, Cathy and her children have lost the husband and father they worshipped, and Ravi would lose his only protector.
‘This place is so damned terrible,’ she said.
Nick raised his eyebrows and waited for her to continue.
‘It really does make it possible for the bad in people to come out. Whether it’s crime, ambition, fear or jealousy that drives them, people seem to act on their worst instincts here.’
Nick didn’t reply.
She suddenly felt overcome by such anger and heartache that she couldn’t stop from continuing. ‘And things fall apart. Relationships, trust, cooperation, business deals, you name it, and everyone is left with only half of what they could have and should have had.’
He nodded solemnly, but said nothing.
‘I know what you want to say,’ Amelia said, her anger undiminished.
‘What?’
‘Not always. You want to say that it’s not always the case.’
Nick looked at her silently. His face was gentle and his next words surprised her. ‘Once upon a time, east of the sun, west of the moon, there was a different place, but not too different . . .’
Amelia frowned.
‘It’s the first words of some old Russian and European fairy tales.’ Nick paused. ‘I’m saying you’re right, Amelia, it’s true that Russia is different and messed up and that, for a multitude of reasons, it has the ability to enable people to act on their worst instincts.’
‘But?’
‘I have to agree with some of Sudakov’s beliefs. This is not the only place that corrupts and it isn’t the only place that corrupts as badly as in this case. Recent history has shown us that many other places and circumstances can do to people what Russia does.’
Amelia felt unable to answer, the rawness of the events making it too difficult to agree with him. She sat back and wordlessly looked at the weary sadness she could see on his face.
Much later, after a subdued dinner during which everyone had reflected on the discoveries of the previous few days, Amelia and Nick sat in the lounge while Mara briefed the residence staff on the next day’s schedule.
‘I know you haven’t told me everything that happened between you and Patrick on the bridge, Nick. I’m sure you will, but it can wait a while, because, frankly, I don’t think either of us has the stomach for it right now. There is one thing I’m curious about, though.’ She watched his face, but his expression revealed nothing. ‘Earlier today you said that Sudakov called you and said two things. Two things that helped you put it all together. The first was that we shouldn’t trust Patrick, but you never told me about the second thing. What was it?’
Nick looked down, rubbing his thumb over the back of his hand for several moments before he looked up. ‘Do you remember that we asked him about “white water”, the words the driver at the mental hospital repeated so feverishly?’
Amelia nodded, not sure where he was going with the conversation. ‘I remember, but he said that it didn’t mean anything to him.’
‘At the time, it didn’t, no. When he called me back, though, he said that he’d had a thought about its meaning. And I think that thought will lead us to Robert.’
‘Y
ou could still change your mind, you know.’ It was an option Nick had brought up more than once since they’d left Moscow the previous evening.
At first he’d cited his concern about their flight in a very rickety aeroplane, a remnant of hard times long forgotten in the present, more prosperous Russia. After everything they’d been through, she’d been somewhat surprised, and touched, by his uncharacteristic anxiety, but hadn’t been tempted to change her mind. The hour-long flight to Vologda she’d endured willingly, knowing that the end destination was more important than any temporary discomfort.
All the while Nick had watched her closely.
The night had brought more temporary discomfort. She’d slept on and off, kept up by her sore body and the reason behind the trip. Over a breakfast of
kasha
and strong tea in their Soviet-style hotel, Nick had again expressed worry. Now, as they were nearing their destination, after a bumpy three-hour trip in an ancient Lada, he looked over at her again.
‘I know we’ve come far, but it isn’t too late to turn back.’
‘I know I can, Nick, but why would I? Your concern for my well-being is kind, but we’re almost there now.’
He was silent, but she knew he was thinking about the effect their destination might have on her. In truth, she was considering the same thing and had done so since he’d told her about Sudakov’s theory about ‘white water.’
‘Are you sure?’ he asked at last.
‘Yes . . . no,’ she said, ‘but we’ve come all this way and I think I’d regret it if I didn’t do this.’
‘Everything is okay?’ the driver of the old Lada asked, his smile still wide after the windfall of getting hired by two foreigners paying rates locals could never afford.
‘Everything is okay,’ Nick replied, glancing at Amelia as he did so.
‘This must be a pretty landscape in summer,’ Amelia said as they drove past yet another old wooden church.
Nick nodded. ‘I’m sure it is. I’ve only been here once. It was on one of my very first Russian trips and it was autumn. Imagine sun on the water, the golds and reds of the autumn leaves. It was spectacular.’
The stark winter landscape wasn’t exactly charming now, but possessed a raw, brooding beauty that couldn’t leave the observer untouched. Bare trees lined the road and there wasn’t much to see, but having driven through part of the Vologda
oblast
, and having seen the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and several other old churches in the distance, she could imagine the landscape during a more forgiving season.