The Rembrandt Affair

Martin’s hard drive. It was an encrypted e-mail sent to him by someone named Ulrich Müller.”
    Carter chewed silently on the tip of his pipe. “Müller?” he asked finally. “Are you sure?”
    “Positive,” Navot said. “Why?”
    “Because we first came across Herr Müller during our investigation into Zentrum Security. Müller is former DAP, the Swiss security service, and a first-class shit. Martin and Müller go way back. Müller does Martin’s dirty work.”
    “Like managing a nuclear-smuggling network that stretches from Western Europe to southern China and back to Iran?”
    “It would make sense for someone like Müller to act as Martin’s front man in all this. Martin wouldn’t want the Iran portfolio anywhere near GVI. Better to let someone like Müller handle the details.”
    Carter lapsed into silence, his gaze moving between Navot and Shamron. Gabriel was still prowling the perimeter of the room.
    “Rimona’s final remarks indicate that you gentlemen have an idea of how to proceed next,” Carter said. “As your partners in this endeavor, Graham and I would like to know what you’re thinking.”
    Navot glanced at Gabriel, who finally ceased pacing. “The material we gathered from Martin’s laptop was helpful but limited. There’s still a great deal we don’t know. The number of units involved. The delivery dates. The method of payment. The shipping companies.”
    “I assume you have an idea where you might be able to find this information.”
    “On a computer located on the western shore of Lake Geneva,” said Gabriel. “Twelve hundred thirty-eight feet above sea level.”
    “Villa Elma?”
    Gabriel nodded.
    “A break-in?” Carter asked incredulously. “Is that what you’re suggesting? A second-story job at one of the most highly guarded private residences in Switzerland, a country notorious for the unusual vigilance of its citizenry?”
    Greeted by silence, Carter’s gaze moved from Gabriel to Shamron.
    “I don’t have to remind you of the pitfalls of operating in Switzerland, do I, Ari? In fact, I seem to recall an incident about ten years ago when an entire Office team was arrested while trying to tap the phone line of a suspected terrorist.”
    “No one is talking about breaking into Villa Elma, Adrian.”
    “So what do you have in mind?”
    It was Gabriel who answered. “In four days, Martin Landesmann is throwing a lavish fund-raiser for three hundred of his closest and richest friends. We plan to attend.”
    “Really? And how do you plan on getting in? Are you going to pose as waiters and sneak in with canapés and caviar or just go for a good old-fashioned gate crash?”
    “We’re going as guests, Adrian.”
    “And how do you plan to get an invitation?”
    Gabriel smiled. “We already have one.”
    “Z oe ?” asked Graham Seymour.
    Gabriel nodded.
    “Do you happen to recall the words limited in scope and short in duration?”
    “I was there, Graham.”
    “Good,” said Seymour. “Then you might also recall we made a promise. We asked Zoe to perform one simple task. And that upon completion of that task she would go on her merry way with the expectation we would never darken her door again.”
    “The situation has changed.”
    “So you want her to break into a well-guarded office in the middle of a lavish party? An assignment like that would be extremely difficult and dangerous for a seasoned agent. For a novice recruit with no experience…impossible.”
    “I’m not asking Zoe to break into Martin’s office, Graham. All she has to do is show up at the party.” Gabriel paused, then added, “With a date on her arm, of course.”
    “A date you intend to provide for her?”
    Gabriel nodded.
    “Any candidates?” asked Adrian Carter.
    “Just one.”
    “Since I assume you’re not planning to fix her up with Ari or Eli Lavon, that leaves Mikhail.”
    “He looks excellent in a tux.”
    “I’m sure he does. But he also went through hell in Russia. Is he ready for something like this?”
    Gabriel nodded. “He’s ready.”
    Carter’s pipe had gone dead. He immediately reloaded it and struck a match. “May I point out that right now we are seeing everything Martin does on his phone and laptop computer? If your proposed operation in Geneva goes bad, we stand to lose everything.”
    “And what if Martin decides to switch phones, or his security does a sweep of his laptop and discovers software that’s not supposed to be there?”
    “Your