Andre was behind the counter enjoying an espresso and a scone.
“Taking a break, Andre?” Teddy said. “I hope that means you’re done.”
“Of course I’m done. When have I ever not been done? I do what I say.”
Andre moved his expresso aside and put the passports on the counter.
“How do they look?” Teddy said.
Andre shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about the ugly man in the photo, but they’ll get you in and out of the country.”
Teddy picked up a passport and flipped it open. It was for Arnold Mycroft. He flipped open another one. It was an equally convincing forgery for Daniel Remington. He looked at the other passports, just for show, but they were perfect. He’d known they would be.
“Great,” Teddy said. “I believe we’re all square, then.”
Andre coughed apologetically. “I realize you are kidding. Anyone else I would have to kill. There is a balance, as you well know.”
“And well deserved,” Teddy said, handing over a roll of cash.
“Will I see you again on this trip?” Andre said.
“Don’t take this personally, but I hope not.”
“I understand.”
* * *
• • •
TEDDY CAME OUT of the shop. Once again, he made sure he was alone. He hailed a taxi and took it to the Gare de Lyon Railway Station. He made his way around the tracks on the main level, and took the stairs to the concourse below. The bank of long-term lockers was right where he remembered. He rented six of them, one right after another. In each he put a passport and ten thousand dollars in cash. He took the six keys, left the station, hailed a cab, and returned to l’Arrington.
The shadow was waiting for him. He was inconspicuous, but not to a man of Teddy’s talent. It was all Teddy could do not to wave to him.
27.
TEDDY JOINED HIS friends in the hotel dining room for breakfast.
“Okay,” Teddy said. “Here’s the plan.”
He was wasting his breath. At the moment, Dino’s plan involved getting a second helping of crêpe suzette. Stone’s plan involved making his way through every English-language newspaper available at the hotel.
Teddy smiled indulgently, then went and stood in line for his own individually prepared, made-to-order omelet. He opted for scallions and peppers. Returning to the table, he applauded his choice.
Finishing his omelet, he pushed his plate back with an air of finality. “Okay,” he said, “it’s time for me to check in with the CIA. That should be interesting. They won’t be expecting me. Except for the mole, of course.”
“Who is the station head?” Stone said.
“A guy named Norton. I don’t know him, which is good. He doesn’t know me, either, but he’s going to hate me a lot.”
“What for?” Dino asked.
“Aside from just on general principles: for pulling rank, giving orders, and not letting him into the loop. He’ll fall all over himself to cooperate with me while hoping I get hit by a truck.”
“What’s your cover story?” Dino asked.
“Sorry, that’s above your pay grade.”
“Is that what you’re going to tell him?”
“See why he’ll hate me a lot? I have no cover story, and it saves me having to make one up. And because my identity is marked as top secret in the system, he won’t be able to call my bluff or do anything about it.”
Teddy passed over a fat envelope. “Okay, Dino, you’re up. Here’s some Monopoly money, a burner phone, and a list of what I need. You’re renting an apartment in the name of Fenton Towne.”
“Should I claim to be Fenton Towne?”
“Certainly not. You’re Fenton Towne’s manservant.”
“Fuck you, too.” Dino grinned. “You’re loving this, aren’t you?”
“Welcome to the world of espionage. A lot of espionage is hiding in plain sight. I’m going to do what I have to do, and my tail is going to know some of it—and some of it he’s not. Controlling what he knows, doling out only the information I want him to have, gives me the upper hand.”
Dino grumbled good-naturedly. “I thought this spy stuff would be a little more exciting.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you some action.”
* * *
• • •
TEDDY WENT UP to the suite and packed his clothes in the secondhand suitcase he’d bought the night before. He called the front desk and had a bellboy take the suitcase down and get him a cab. As he climbed in, he spotted his shadow watching.
Teddy had the cab take him in the opposite direction from the apartment he’d rented over the phone the night before. After about a mile, he had the driver pull over and let him out. He stood on the street corner with his suitcase for a few minutes, then hailed a cab going the other way. He got out three blocks from his apartment and walked the rest of the way. The suitcase wasn’t heavy. It held only his clothes, and not all of them at that.
The super who lived in the basement apartment had his keys, as promised. He surrendered them gladly, impressed with Teddy’s CIA credentials.
The apartment was what Teddy expected. A kitchen the size of a closet, a small living room, and a bedroom not much bigger. Teddy didn’t mind. It was perfect for his purpose.
Teddy flopped his suitcase on the bed and unpacked. It didn’t take long. He put his toiletries in the bathroom, hung up his jacket, and put his clothes in the dresser. When he was done, he closed the suitcase and stashed it under the bed.
He locked the apartment, went out, and hailed a cab.
As expected, his shadow was right on his tail.
28.
GLENVILLE REPORTED IN. “This morning Billy Barnett checked out of the hotel and moved his things into an apartment. I followed him there and got his address.” Glenville didn’t mention losing him at the café. Indeed, his main reason for calling about the apartment was to head off any inquiry into what he’d done earlier in the day.
“He’s there now?” Fahd said.
“No, sir. He came right back out and went straight to the U.S. embassy.”
“He’s there now?”
“Yes. So he is who we thought he was.”
“Good. Then our mole can take over. Back off and let things develop. I can’t have you tripping over each other’s feet.”