Elkins emptied the rest into her own glass. She handed him his, then sat down on the visitors’ couch. She had lovely legs. “How long do you think it will hold up?” she asked. “The whole Swiss-identity thing.”
“It’s lasted this long,” said Baker. “They’d have to catch him first. After that I don’t know.”
“Is the passport real?”
“Real enough.”
“From our shop, or did he work a deal with the Swiss?” asked Elkins. She shook her head and said wistfully: “He can be quite persuasive.”
“You know him?” asked Baker. News to him.
“I’ve heard,” said Elkins, fast as a whip.
“I guess he handled it himself,” said Baker. “He has his own contacts.”
“‘He’ being Mac Dekker?”
“That’s correct,” said Baker.
Elkins sipped and nodded. “Just wanted to make sure that the Robert Steinhardt who the entire Paris police department is lookingfor in connection with the murder of two Saudi nationals is, in fact, Mackenzie David Dekker. Mac for short.”
“It’s him,” said Baker. “It’s our Mac.”
“Your Mac,” said Elkins. “I only just got here.” She finished her drink. “Have you talked to him lately?”
“You mean after I visited him in Switzerland? No.”
“You’re sure,” said Elkins, looking at him from beneath her brow. Gone was the polite, self-effacing banter. This was business now. “We can find out.”
“I’m sure,” said Baker, holding his ground.
“I’d like you to tell me, then, Don, as Mac’s oldest friend—his champion, I’m made to believe—exactly what you believe is going on?”
“I can’t say offhand. But if Mac killed anyone, he had a reason. I’d say he was provoked.”
“Provoked? Out of the blue ... just like that. In his hotel room.” She pulled a face. She wasn’t having it. “Remind me, do the Saudis have anything against the Swiss we don’t know about?”
Baker shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Me neither,” said Elkins. “Here’s the rub: When a coin drops with Saudi Arabia on one side, guess who I see on the other?”
“Israel,” said Baker.
“Ten points, Don. Israel. Our staunchest ally in the Middle East; some say the fifty-first state. You see, if the report is correct, it says that Mr. Dekker was at the hotel with a woman.”
“Ava Attal.”
“Ava Marie Attal. Full colonel. Mossad. Before that, Shin Bet. Tell me about her.”
“That’s all I know,” said Baker. “She was at the Farm a while back for a refresher course. I met her once, maybe twice. That’s it.”
“What does she look like? Attractive?”
“Depends on your type.”
“Is she yours?”
“She’s taller than me,” said Baker.
