The Rembrandt Affair

Allon. You can’t lay a finger on me.”
    “That might be true when it comes to Iran, but there’s one thing that hasn’t changed. You can still be torn to shreds by the class-action lawyers in America. And I have the evidence to bring you down.”
    “You have nothing.”
    “Are you really willing to take that chance?”
    Landesmann made no reply.
    “I have a hidden child in Amsterdam, a remorseful son in Argentina, contemporaneous diplomatic cables from Carlos Weber, and a list of names and numbers of accounts from your father’s bank. And if you don’t agree to cooperate, I’m going to take everything I have to New York City and give it to the most prominent law firm in town. They’ll file suit against you in federal court for unjust enrichment and spend years picking through every aspect of your business. I doubt your saintly reputation will hold up under scrutiny like that. I also suspect your friends and protectors in Bern might resent you for reopening the most scandalous chapter in Swiss history.”
    “Allow me to impart a sad truth to you, Allon. If I wasn’t doing business with the Iranians, one of my competitors would be. Yes, we make all the appropriate noises. But do you think we Europeans truly care whether Iran has a nuclear weapon? Of course not. We need Iranian oil. And we need access to the Iranian market. Even your so-called friends in America are doing a brisk business with the Iranians through their foreign subsidiaries. Face facts, Allon. You are alone. Again.”
    “We’re not alone anymore, Martin. We have you .”
    Though Martin’s eyes were concealed by sunglasses, he was now having difficulty maintaining his veneer of confidence. Martin was wrestling, thought Gabriel. Wrestling with his father’s sins. Wrestling with the illusion of his own life. Wrestling with the fact that, for all his money and power, Saint Martin had been bested on this morning by the child of a survivor. For a moment, Gabriel considered appealing to Martin’s sense of decency. But Martin had none. Martin had only an instinct for self-preservation. And Martin had his greed. Greed had compelled Martin to conceal the truth about the source of his wealth. And greed would make Martin realize he had no choice but to reach for the lifeline Gabriel was offering him.
    “What exactly are you proposing?” Landesmann said at last.
    “A partnership,” said Gabriel.
    “What sort of partnership?”
    “A business partnership, Martin. You and me. Together, we’re going to do business with Iran. You will get to keep your money and your reputation. Your life will go on as though nothing has changed. But with one important difference. You work for me now, Martin. I own you. You’ve just been recruited by Israeli intelligence. Welcome to our family.”
    “And how long will this partnership last?”
    “As long as we deem necessary. And if you step out of line, I’ll throw you to the wolves.”
    “And the profits?”
    “Couldn’t resist, could you?”
    “This is a business deal, Allon.”
    Gabriel looked toward the sky. “I think fifty-fifty sounds fair.”
    Landesmann frowned. “Do you see no ethical issue in the intelligence service of the State of Israel profiting from the sale of gas centrifuges to the Islamic Republic of Iran?”
    “Actually, I think I rather like it.”
    “How long do I have to consider your offer?”
    “About ten seconds.”
    Landesmann raised his sunglasses and looked at Gabriel for a moment in silence. “Your two agents will be dropped off at the base of Les Diablerets in one hour. Call me when you wish to finalize the details of our relationship.” He paused. “I assume you have my numbers?”
    “ All of them, Martin.”
    Landesmann headed toward the door of the helicopter, then stopped.
    “One last question.”
    “What’s that?”
    “How long was Zoe working for you?”
    Gabriel smiled. “We’ll be in touch, Martin.”
    Landesmann turned without another word and boarded the helicopter, followed by Müller and Brunner. The cabin door closed, the twin turbines whined, and within seconds Gabriel was awash in a cloud of blowing snow. Martin Landesmann stared at him through the window as if enjoying this one small measure of revenge. Then he ascended into the pale blue sky and vanished into the sun.

76
    LES DIABLERETS, SWITZERLAND
    G abriel left Martin’s Mercedes SUV in a tow-away zone in central Gstaad and drove to Les Diablerets in the Audi. He parked near the base of