False Impression

“By posing as an Aeroflot stewardess, it would seem,” said Tom. “My contact at the Russian embassy called to warn me that a woman had entered Britain using a fake passport under the name of Sasha Prestakavich.”

“But why should they assume Prestakavich is Krantz?” asked Jack.

“They didn’t,” said Tom. “They had no idea who she was. All they could tell me was that the suspect befriended Aeroflot’s chief stewardess while on their daily flight to London. She then fooled her into accompanying her through passport control. That’s how we got to hear of it. It turns out that the copilot asked who the woman was, and when he was told that her name was Sasha Prestakavich, he said that wasn’t possible because he traveled with her regularly, and it certainly wasn’t Prestakavich.”

“That still doesn’t prove it’s Krantz,” pressed Macy.

“I’ll get there, sir, just give me time.”

Jack was glad his friend couldn’t see the look of impatience on the boss’s face.

&nbsp

; “The copilot,” continued Tom, “reported to his captain, who immediately alerted Aeroflot’s security. It didn’t take them long to discover that Sasha Prestakavich was on a three-day layover, and her passport had been stolen, along with her uniform. That set alarm bells ringing.” Macy began tapping his fingers on the desk. “My contact at the Russian embassy called me in the new entente-cordiale spirit of post-9/11,” said Tom, “having already briefed Interpol.”

“We are going to get there, aren’t we, Tom?”

“Any moment, sir.” He paused. “Where was I?”

“Taking calls from your contact in the Russian embassy,” said Jack.

“Oh, yes,” said Tom. “It was after I’d given him a description of Krantz, about five foot, around a hundred pounds, crew cut, that they asked me to fax over a photograph of her, which I did. He then forwarded a copy of the photograph to the copilot at his London hotel, who confirmed that it was Krantz.”

“Good work, Tom,” said Macy, “thorough as always, but have you come up with any theory as to why Krantz would chance going to England at this particular time?”

“To kill Petrescu would be my bet,” said Tom.

“What do you think?” asked Macy, looking across his desk at Jack.

“I agree with Tom” replied Jack. “Anna has to be the obvious target.” He hesitated. “But what I can’t work out is why Krantz would take such a risk right now.”

“I agree,” said Macy, but I’m not willing to put Petrescu’s life at risk while we try to second-guess Krantz’s motives.” Macy leant forward. “Now listen carefully, Tom, because I’m only going to tell you this once.” He quickly began to turn the pages of his Fenston file. “I need you to get in touch with—just give me a moment,” said Macy, as he turned over even more pages. “Ah, yes, here it is, Chief Superintendent Renton of the Surrey CID. After reading Jack’s report, I got a clear impression that Renton is a man used to making tough decisions, even taking responsibility when one of his subordinates has screwed up. I know you’ve already briefed him on Krantz, but warn him that we think she’s about to strike again, and the target could well be someone else at Wentworth Hall. He won’t want that to happen twice on his watch, and rub in that the last time Krantz was captured, she escaped. That will keep him awake at night. And if he wants to have a word with me at any time, I’m always on the end of a line.”

“And do pass on my best wishes,” added Jack.

“That should settle it,” said Macy. “So, Tom, step it up a notch.”

“Yes, sir,” came back the reply from London.

Macy flicked off the speaker phone. “And, Jack, I want you to take the next flight to London. If Krantz is even thinking about harming Petrescu, let’s make sure we’re waiting for her, because if she were to escape a second time, I’ll be pensioned off and you can forget any thoughts of promotion.”

Jack frowned but didn’t respond.

“You look apprehensive,” said Macy.

“I can’t see why a photo of Fenston shaking hands with the president is all the evidence you need—” he paused “—although I think I’ve worked out why Krantz is willing to risk returning to Wentworth Hall a second time.”

“And why’s that?” asked Macy.

“She’s going to steal the Van Gogh,” said Jack, “then somehow get it to Fenston.”

“So Petrescu isn’t the reason Krantz has returned to England.”

“No, she isn’t,” said Jack, “but once Krantz discovers she’s there, you can assume that she’ll consider killing Anna a bonus.”

55

LIGHTING-UP TIME WAS 7:41 P.M. on September 25th. Krantz didn’t appear on the outskirts of Wentworth until just after eight.