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Hurley shook his head.
"He threatened the bank's president about some missing funds." Kennedy searched his face for some recognition. "And if your answer is still no, I won't bother playing you the tape of your old friend Ivanov talking to a certain terrorist that we've been looking for."
Hurley frowned. He didn't like being forced to answer this kind of question by someone so junior.
"Thomas told me," Kennedy said, "that you would be reluctant to talk about this, but nonetheless, I have been ordered to get an answer from you."
"What kind of answer?"
"How many people did you piss off yesterday, other than the ones we know about?"
"It was a thick file." Hurley shrugged. "Some accounts had names attached to them ... others were just numbers."
"So your earlier estimate might be a little light?"
"Get to your point."
"It looks like you've pissed off some people in Moscow, and you know how they can be when they're upset. The don't play nice. If they get so much as an inkling that we were behind any of this..." She shook her head. "We'll be in serious trouble."
"So you want me to confirm what you don't want to hear?"
"I just want to know the facts so I can go back and brief Thomas. He needs to tell our embassy people, if they are in danger of reprisals, and anyone else who might get stuck in Ivanov's crosshairs."
Hurley swore under his breath and finally said, "Yes, I took some of the bastard's money, and with any luck it'll be the beginning of the end of him."
Kennedy took the news without comment and placed a small tape player between them. "Now ... you will be very interested to hear this brief conversation."
Kennedy pressed play and the slurred voice of Mikhail Ivanov could be heard asking, "My package ... Is it ready? You haven't decided to negotiate with the Persians, have you?"
"I am standing by our deal."
Kennedy pressed the stop button. "You recognize the first voice?"
Hurley nodded. "Ivanov."
"Correct. The second voice?"
"No."
"Colonel Assef Sayyed."
Hurley was impressed. "What the hell are they doing talking on an open line?"
"They weren't, but you didn't hear that from me."
"Then how'd you get it?"
"I can't say." Kennedy pressed play again.
"When can I expect it to be retrieved? I assume you are still sending someone."
"Yes ... although I am considering coming myself. ... You did offer ... didn't you."
"Absolutely."
"Good. I will be there in three days. Maybe sooner."
Kennedy hit stop. "There's more. Tapes of Ivanov and Sayyed and others as well. You'll want to listen to all of them, but Thomas does not want you bringing the tapes into Beirut."
