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"What, Otto?"
"An unnamed source in the Vienna police, whose name Willi always spells correctly, with two s's, said that while they were waiting for the police heavyweights and the Russians to show up, he happened to notice that the victim's face was not contorted and blue, as is common in strangulations, and that what he described as the 'metal noose' was not embedded in the victim's neck, but just sort of hanging there. He did notice, however, that there was a mark on the neck, below the ear, that could perhaps have been made with a needle.
"Willi thinks it's possible the victim did not die of strangulation, but of some other cause. But we'll never know, as any autopsy will be conducted in Moscow."
"That's interesting. They have any idea who did this to Mr. Demidov?"
"Not according to Willi. Willi was told, however, that the taxi was wiped clean; no fingerprints. Suggesting, possibly, that this terrible act was done by someone who knew what he was doing."
"That's all? What's the second little tidbit?"
"Well, one little thing, which probably means absolutely nothing. As the police wrecker was hauling the taxicab away, Willi's friend noticed a calling card at the curbside. It could have simply been dropped there prior to all this, but it also could have been in the taxi and dislodged when the police initially examined the cadaver."
"What was the name on the calling card?"
"It was an American diplomat's, a woman named Eleanor Dillworth. She's the consul."
"Oh, I do love a man who can really hold a grudge," Davidson said.
"Goddamn it," Castillo said.
"That mean something to you, Karl?" Gorner asked.
Castillo avoided the question. "Otto, please send me whatever else your man Dusse comes up with, will you?"
"Of course, Karl."
"Does Darby know about this?"
"I showed it to him when it came in. He's just about finished here, he said, and is moving to Budapest."
"Is he there now?"
"No. Alex said he was going to his hotel to pack."
"If you see him, have him call me, please."
"I suppose if you knew anything about those two Russian defectors, you'd tell me, right?"
"Absolutely."
"You don't suppose somebody stuck needles in their necks, do you? Or hung a garrote around their necks and they just haven't found the bodies yet? That's a story I'd love to write myself. And give to Friedler's widow."
"I'm going back to bed, Otto," Castillo said. "End transmission."
Berezovsky then said, "Carlos, you seem to be genuinely surprised by this."
'"And you're not?"
Berezovsk
y didn't immediately reply.
"You knew about this?" Castillo asked, then thought: Of course you did! "You knew Edgar was going to whack this guy and you didn't tell me?"
"Why do you think he did this?" Berezovsky asked.
Castillo said: "He wants to go out in style, be remembered when the other dinosaurs gather as the dinosaur who whacked the Vienna rezident the week before he retired."
