“We’ve been watching and listening to you,” he said. “But your agents inside China do the same to us.” He shrugged. “It’s the way of the world.”
No real surprise, so she said, “Once you left Virginia last night, you knew I’d be running the show from this end. Of course, China would never risk an international incident. We are, after all, supposedly friends. But North Korea is a friend, too, whom you were talking to long before you came and spoke to me and the president.”
“They rely on us for help. Which we provide—”
“In exchange for those mining concessions the president mentioned. North Korea, for all its problems, does have a lot of minerals in those mountains.”
“That it does. But let’s not be so sanctimonious. Your country has allies that it helps, too. Some, I’m sure, occasionally to the detriment of others. You will admit this current situation is, to say the least, extraordinary.”
The ambassador held out his hand for the envelope.
She hesitated, then handed it over.
“You’re just going to give it to him?” Levy asked.
She faced the secretary. “Please tell me my choices.”
His silence confirmed that there weren’t any.
But she wanted to know more so she said to the ambassador, “You obviously had me followed today. There were eyes and ears in the National Gallery?”
The ambassador nodded. “One of the people in the garden court, when you spoke to Ms. Williams, then to the Treasury agent, monitored it all. Quite amazing what technology can do.”
That it was. Remote listening equipment was standard issue. No need to place a device near anybody. Just get within fifty yards, point the laser receiver, and listen away.
“And from that conversation you learned exactly where Kim was in Croatia.”
“Precisely. The North Koreans are there. They even tried to kill him, but failed. I’m told, though, that they now have Kim cornered on a train.”
She pointed at the envelope and asked, “Will the North Koreans actually get to see what’s inside?”
“That was the bargain.”
“You’re taking an extraordinary risk accosting two federal officials on the National Mall.”
“I don’t think it’s such a problem. Nobody seems to care. But after all, it had to be done.”
Which she understood. “There’s no way you were going to allow Pyongyang to take the lead here. They could just as easy double-cross you. So you had to get this for yourself, while they did the heavy lifting overseas.”
“Which they are much more suited to accomplish. And I do this as much for you as for us. At least now we can contain things, which you would have never been able to accomplish. I came to the president last night to find out if this was real. I left there knowing that it was.”
“And there’s no telling what Dear Leader might have done, is there?”
“He can be a bit … unpredictable.”
“Were you inside the Smithsonian?” Levy asked. “Watching us?”
He nodded. “I was able to see thanks to a covert video feed from an agent we had there in the exhibit hall. That desk is quite amazing. We have pieces like it in China, from long ago. Andrew Mellon apparently went to a lot of trouble to torment your President Roosevelt.”
“Does your premier really know of this operation?” she asked.
“He does. And he remains your friend, grateful for all the help you provided him. But this is a matter of national concern. The potential destruction of the American economy could cripple us, too.”
“So you plan to hold on to what’s in that envelope, and hope that it’s enough of a stick to keep us in line.”
“What did your President Reagan say. Trust but verify. We believe the same thing. You can be assured that if the potential here is catastrophic, we would be the last to utilize that. As I’ve said, your interests and ours are similar. As are North Korea’s, by the way. Dear Leader has no interest in seeing his half brother succeed.”
“Though he wouldn’t mind being the one who actually takes us down,” she said.
“I assure you, that is not going to happen.”
“And we have your word to make us feel better,” Levy added with sarcasm.
The ambassador smiled. “I understand your pessimism. But all Dear Leader wants at the moment is his half brother dead. Since he just annihilated his other half brother’s entire family, that should consolidate his power. No threats would remain to him. He can go back to his isolation and continue his bravado, which no one pays much heed to. So you see, our taking control of this envelope will not be a problem for the United States.”
“Except that our dirty little secret won’t be a secret anymore.”
The ambassador slipped the envelope inside his coat. “That is the price to be paid, but it could have been much worse. The North Koreans themselves could have taken command of the situation and acquired this information. Lucky for you, we decided to make sure that did not happen.”
Officially, the United States maintained no diplomatic relations with Pyongyang. In the past all necessary communications were funneled through the Swedes. But that had not been an option here.
She decided to allow the conversation to end.
She doubted the ambassador planned to linger much longer anyway. The Mall was quiet, and there were security cameras everywhere.
“I’m going to leave,” he said. “The men behind you will linger a few moments, then leave, too. After that, let us consider this matter closed.”
The ambassador bowed slightly, then turned and walked away, heading toward the American history museum and a car that waited on the street before it. She watched as he climbed inside and the vehicle drove away. After another minute, the men behind them left.
She and Levy sat on the bench.
The day was fading away, the air turning cooler.
She faced Levy and smiled.
He smiled back.
It worked.
FIFTY-NINE