Colonel Alexei Kulan was heading the investigation into the assassination of Alphonso Martinelli, International Financier and known Money launderer for half the cartels and most of the arms dealers on the planet; also a heavy campaign supporter of the current Russian president. The Russian President, who was wanting conclusive results and a suspect yesterday.
The initial pathology and forensics reports were on the table, as was the on site interviews and analysis.
The CIA had passed on intel that the assassination method was a type used by Yassen Gregorovich in 1998 on the Haitian Head of Police. Simple capsule design, hand crafted in a coating that dissolved on contact with skin, containing a Russian made toxin which absorbs on skin contact. The capsule was delivered into the back of the Bankers hand by close proximity. Projected time of contamination was within the previous 12 hours, more likely within four hours of death. No known assassins were in Moscow, only one with possible similarities on file was an associate of Gregorovich, Mikhail Brezkin, whose whereabouts since 2003 were unknown.
The fund raising event had been attended by over 600 guests, supported by 300 security and 150 staff, all vetted.
"Brezkin has a connection with that dancer Makarov. Wasn't he brought in for an interview? Can we do a follow up?"
The analyst started with a review of the facts. "We have Makarov leaving the Kremlin with his lover, Maxim Lukov at 21:37; 55 minutes before Martinelli collapsed. Lukov spoke to Martinelli, a brief introduction. Makarov did not. He spoke to two journalists, and concentrated on meeting and greeting the Bolshoi board and sponsors. The affair between Makarov and Lukov has been on going for six months. In that time period, Makarov has danced at various guest appearances all over the globe after he left Novosibirsk Ballet last October. We asked if he had seen or heard from Brezkin since 2003 and Aleksandr confessed to looking for him over the past three years and that he would continue their association if Misha was on the scene. After 9 years, I can say Aleksandr Makarov is very emotionally compromised by what that man did to him."
The analyst had genuinely been surprised by the transcript in the interrogation file, the twenty five year old had queried 'So, you're asking about Misha. I can only conclude there was an incident at the Kremlin last night. Considering my past history, I can discount megalomaniacs posturing about either ending or ruling the world, which leaves terrorist threat,unexplained death and/or assassination and finally and most disturbing, because Grief's abomination has escaped. I can positively state it was the real Dimitry Ivanov at the soiree last night. 100%.' Suspect clearly distressed about the doppelgänger possibility. "Not a clone then. Now I get the whole getting dragged in by Igg and Ook. Well, "Hello, Scorpia trained Assassin/ known foreign intelligence operative" here. Fuck, right. Can I request you leave off the waterboarding and skip straight to drugging the hell out of me to get your answers? Or am I here for the full works.. sleep depravation, stress positions etc etc etc up to full electro shock, mock executions and murdering my nearest and dearest. Been there done that. Are you formally charging me or am I about to disappear? Do you need me to write a suicide note or a full confession? Get me a pen and paper. Whatever, get on with it'
"Makarov gave verbal consent for more aggressive interrogation techniques to be used. SP-117 was administered, so all responses from this point are under the influence of a strong de-inhibitor. We questioned him again, all answers showed no change in response. He confirmed he has not met or conversed with Brezkin nor Martinelli. He was aware of Martinelli's connections to Dieter Sprintz from an article in the Guardian newspaper printed last December (cross reference to the Point Blanc Academy file); but was unaware of Martinelli's connections with General Alexei Sarov. He does have a long standing close friendship with Paul McAlastor, his former pimp in London. That is how Makarov described their relationship. Confirmed it was not sexual in nature, when asked specifically. We then questioned him about Yassen Gregorovich and the interviewee stated MI6 SO confirmed him as liquidating Ian Rider, uncle of Makarov, then described witnessing Gregorovich kill an operative at Port Tallon, the attempted assassination of his former foster father in Spain and the assassin's death in 2001 in London. No training with this type of assassination given at Malagosto, only a very basic overview of poisons nothing specific, no detailed knowledge of neurotoxins, and no knowledge of the death of Hernado Valez in Haiti. When directly asked if he killed Martinelli, he said who, but shook his head. Unprompted he described killing Julius Grief, before falling asleep. A second dose of SP-117 was not administered on the recommendation of the doctor. The doctor kept him under observation for three hours here until he came around and then he was transferred to hospital for further observation."
"Why hospital? Did he have a reaction to the serum?"
"No, Lukov beat the crap out of him as part of their supposed consensual sexual relationship. Captain Ivanov and Grennady Titov both viewed the relationship as destructive, with an escalation in violence as the affair went on. Lukov confirmed as a sadist and has in the past been under surveillance for anti-social behaviour, dating to 1983-1992." The younger intelligence officer then broke the bad news. "The doctor believes Makarov is of high risk of self harm or regressing into self medication. He is also due to fly to London the day after tomorrow."
"Has a detailed analysis of Makarov been done? Do we have a suspected known assassin?"
"The doctor has recommended that Makarov be hospitalised for psychiatric evaluation. The affair follows patterns of self destructive behaviour noted from his past relationships with Brezkin and Manfred Schnagel. Possibly in need to personality modification due to severe psycho-sexual programming by Brezkin. Nothing to suggest that Makarov has killed since Cairo. Initial analysis of movement around the target at the party was not helped by the limited amount of video and the vast amount of contacts and mingling. The puncture wound on the back of the hand meant a hand shake or brush past was most likely method of delivery. In a room where at least sixty individuals who had a past history with the late banker and are all suspects. The closest Makarov had been to the target was two people away, when his attention at that time had been focused on his lover. A waiter's statement had noted Makarov had briefly knelt down to tie his shoe lace, behind another guest." The analyst shook his head as recalled the detail of the ex-MI6 operative's file, which had revealed the horror story of a teenager who had broken under torture and had continued to have sado-masochist relationships with dominant partners, both male and female, all reflecting that pain was the man's means of control over his deep psychological issues. "No, the conclusion of initial analysis is that he is not our assassin. Intelligence from the French has highlighted an unknown operative for the assassination of Mohammed Khan in Alacon last December. Completely different MO, Khan was tortured and mutilated while still alive, and then dismembered post-mortem. His six member security team all shot. Ballistics showed no known matches. Not enough information for cross-comparisons to even suggest this is the same contractor. Both Khan and Martinelli had considerable security as high risk targets. The contract on Khan was for one million dollars US. There has been no intel on an open contract on Martinelli, though he has allegedly double-dealed both the North Koreans and the Shanghai Triads."
"I take it Makarov was the only person interviewed with truth serum?"
The analyst nodded. "We are due to re-interview Lukov this afternoon. He has contacted a lawyer. His initial statement was supplied this morning, stating he felt unwell and that he was alone at home. No mention of he and Makarov leaving together, sharing the limousine or having a sexual relationship. We searched his apartment and found used condoms, took semen swabs from three rooms and the bedding had blood and semen confirmed. Awaiting a cross match to Aleksandr Makarov."
"Boris Kiriyenko and General Alexandrov will both have our blood if this gets into the press. Put a security black out on Makarov's arrest. Unofficially, make Lukov a suspect in a pedophile investigation, what's the current Interpol one called? Get his home computers checked out, if you haven't already confiscated them, do it as a matter of priority."
….
Alex woke up in a private bed at Moscow Central Clinical Hospital. There was a drip in his arm and he felt the familiar aftereffects of truth serum. Not bothering to call the attendants, he sat up to leave but promptly vomited over himself and his bedding. Boris Kiriyanko was stood in the doorway and bellowed "Room 213 needs attention." Before looking closely at his ill friend. "The paramedics say you have been under the influence of drugs unknown, only you were admitted here after a five hour visit at Lubiyanka Square. I understand vomiting is common after effect from questioning using SP-117." The old man shrugged and smiled "Our esteemed current president is looking for the bogeyman. I have bet my friend General Alexandrov, it was the Israeli's who ordered the hit. They have top class assassins at all levels, in all cities and an open policy of removing all threats to their national security in the most efficient of ways. I also tried to bet that publicly, the report will state Martinelli died of a heart attack. Few if any will mourn that sharks passing. Alexandrov would not take any money for that observation."
The nurses stripped their patient and all the upper vomit covered bedding and then washed the patient before fully changing the bedding. Boris noted the bruises and scab covered welts littering the dancer's body with resignation. When they were alone again, the ex-president sat down to continue his one sided conversation, "I take it you agreed to the injection administered by those fine interrogators at State Security." After Alex gave a terse nod of confirmation, the old man poured out a glass of water for the invalid. "I will call Stravenkov to tell him you are not at fault for being here. Although you have been a fool. That TV producer was not worthy of your affections. I fear that if you are fond of him, it would be better to cut all contact. The FSB do not take well to being lied to so blatantly. He will be raked over the coals for his stupidity."
The young man in the bed covered his face and croaked "Who told you and how long have you known about my gross stupidity."
"Your friends at the Bolshoi worry about you, little thief. I worry about you. Be thankful, you show some sense and are going back to London for a while. Move on, move forward, do not let a woman's fickleness drive you to self-destruction. I fear she may have put you off the fairer sex altogether."
Alex sipped the water before trying to explain his unfortunate habit of shitty relationships to a man still in love with his wife who had died in 1998. "I cannot blame Talia. Her biological clock was ticking… she was planning to retire next season. I still have a great relationship with Alia and thought Talia and I would remain friends. Alas she has been a nightmare. We had two years of mischievous fun. Do not be under the impression that I was either good nor dutiful in Siberia. We had fantastic parties and I am a very decedent westerner, born and bred. I was getting restless anyway. She would have insisted we stay there even without the problem over my sterility. This business with Maxim was never about love.. or happiness … or anything positive. It wasn't even good sex. I know you read my admission papers. It was about pain… sometimes it's easier to make the pain a physical thing. Do you understand that?"
"No I have never liked pain, physical nor emotional; but I have never suffered to the extent you have." The old man held the young man's hand for comfort, for company and for understanding that after being broken by Rahzim, there was no possibility of understanding how this young man kept on living with the pain he carried. "You must rest. 48 hours is recommended. I will change your flights, call the Royal Ballet to say you have stomach flu and I promise to tell Stravenkov or his child-bride the truth. It will be an interesting conversation as that man hates state security with a passion." Boris stood and kissed the young man in parting so like and yet so different from Vladimir Sarov. "I will get Kolya to pack your belongings. Rest, no distractions for two days. Try to be good."
Alex was not surprised that Dima did not visit. The American dancer knew that visitors would need clearance as he was still under investigation. As he lay in the darkened room, he wondered what would happen to Maxim. Even billionaires had reason to fear Russian Federal State Security and until he got on that plane, Alex could well end up in a gulag, if he was lucky or a state psychiatric clinic if he was not. Thank God, for his training to deal with truth serums and lie detectors.