Sidney Sheldon 3-Book Collection: If Tomorrow Comes, Nothing Lasts Forever, The Best Laid Plans. Sidney Sheldon
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had worked out her plan, but when she telephoned Judge Lawrence’s chambers, she knew, immediately, that she would have to change it.
‘I’d like to speak to Judge Lawrence, please.’
A secretary said, ‘I’m sorry, Judge Lawrence is not in.’
‘When do you expect him?’ Tracy asked.
‘I really couldn’t say.’
‘It’s very important. Will he be in tomorrow morning?’
‘No. Judge Lawrence is out of town.’
‘Oh. Perhaps I can reach him somewhere?’
‘I’m afraid that would be impossible. His Honour is out of the country.’
Tracy carefully kept the disappointment from her voice. ‘I see. May I ask where?’
‘His Honour is in Europe, attending an international judiciary symposium.’
‘What a shame,’ Tracy said.
‘Who’s calling, please?’
Tracy’s mind was racing. ‘This is Elizabeth Rowane Dastin, chairwoman of the southern division of the American Trial Lawyers’ Association. We’re having our annual awards dinner in New Orleans on the twentieth of this month, and we’ve chosen Judge Henry Lawrence to be our man of the year.’
‘That’s lovely,’ the judge’s secretary said, ‘but I’m afraid His Honour won’t be back by then.’
‘What a pity. We were all so looking forward to hearing one of his famous speeches. Judge Lawrence was the unanimous choice of our selection committee.’
‘He’ll be disappointed to miss it.’
‘Yes. I’m sure you know what a great honour this is. Some of our country’s most prominent judges have been chosen in the past. Wait a minute! I have an idea. Do you suppose the judge might tape a brief acceptance speech for us – a few words of thanks, perhaps?’
‘Well, I – I really can’t say. He has a very busy schedule –’
‘There’ll be a great deal of national television and newspaper coverage.’
There was a silence. Judge Lawrence’s secretary knew how much His Honour enjoyed media coverage. In fact, as far as she could see, the tour he was presently on seemed to be mainly for that purpose.
She said, ‘Perhaps he might find time to record a few words for you. I could ask him.’
‘Oh, that would be wonderful,’ Tracy enthused. ‘It would really make the whole evening.’
‘Would you like His Honour to address his remarks towards anything specific?’
‘Oh, definitely. We’d like him to talk about –’ She hesitated. ‘I’m afraid it’s a bit complicated. It would be better if I could explain to him directly.’
There was a momentary silence. The secretary faced a dilemma. She had orders not to reveal her boss’s itinerary. On the other hand, it would be just like him to blame her if he missed receiving an award as important as this.
She said, ‘I’m really not supposed to give out any information, but I’m sure he would want me to make an exception for something as prestigious as this. You can reach him in Moscow, at the Rossia Hotel. He’ll be there for the next five days, and after that –’
‘Wonderful. I’ll get in touch with him right away. Thank you so much.’
‘Thank you, Miss Dastin.’
The cables were addressed to Judge Henry Lawrence, Rossia Hotel, Moscow. The first cable read:
NEXT JUDICIARY COUNCIL MEETING CAN NOW BE ARRANGED. CONFIRM CONVENIENT DATE AS SPACE MUST BE REQUESTED.
BORIS
The second cable, which arrived the next day, read:
ADVISE PROBLEM TRAVEL PLANS. YOUR SISTER’S PLANE ARRIVED LATE BUT LANDED SAFELY. LOST PASSPORT AND MONEY. SHE WILL BE PLACED IN FIRST-CLASS SWISS HOTEL. WILL SETTLE ACCOUNT LATER.
BORIS
The last cable read:
YOUR SISTER WILL TRY AMERICAN EMBASSY TO OBTAIN TEMPORARY PASSPORT. NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE YET ON NEW VISA. SWISS MAKE RUSSIANS SEEM SAINTS. WILL SHIP SISTER TO YOU SOONEST.
BORIS
The NKVD sat back and waited to see if there were any further cables. When no more were forthcoming, they arrested Judge Lawrence.
The interrogation lasted for ten days and nights.
‘To whom did you send the information?’
‘What information? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘We’re talking about plans. Who gave you the plans?’
‘What plans?’
‘The plans for the Soviet atomic submarine.’
‘You must be crazy. What do I know about Soviet submarines?’
‘That’s what we intend to find out. Who were your secret meetings with?’
‘What secret meetings? I have no secrets.’
‘Good. Then you can tell us who Boris is.’
‘Boris, who?’
‘The man who deposited money in your Swiss account.’
‘What Swiss account?’
They were furious. ‘You’re a stubborn fool,’ they told him. ‘We’re going to make an example of you and all the other American spies trying to undermine our great motherland.’
By the time the American ambassador was permitted to visit him, Judge Henry Lawrence had lost fifteen pounds. He could not remember the last time his captors had allowed him to sleep, and he was a trembling wreck of a man.
‘Why are they doing this to me?’ the judge croaked. ‘I’m an American citizen. I’m a judge. For God’s sake, get me out of here!’
‘I’m doing everything I can,’ the ambassador assured him. He was shocked by Lawrence’s appearance. The ambassador had greeted Judge Lawrence and the other members of the Judiciary Committee when they had arrived two weeks earlier. The man the ambassador met then bore no resemblance to the cringing, terrified creature who grovelled before him now.
What the hell are the Russians up to this time? the ambassador wondered. The judge is no more a spy than I am. Then he thought wryly, I suppose I could have chosen a better example.
The ambassador demanded to see the president of the Politburo, and when the request was refused, he settled for one of the ministers.
‘I must make a formal protest,’ the ambassador angrily declared. ‘Your country’s behaviour in the treatment of Judge Henry Lawrence is inexcusable. To call a man of his stature a spy is ridiculous.’
‘If you’re quite finished,’ the minister said coldly, ‘you will please take a look at these.’
He handed copies of the cables to the ambassador.
The ambassador read them and looked up, bewildered. ‘What’s wrong with them? They’re perfectly innocent.’
‘Really? Perhaps you had better read them again. Decoded.’ He handed the ambassador another copy of the cables. Every fourth word had been underlined.
NEXT JUDICIARY COUNCIL MEETING CAN NOW BE ARRANGED. CONFIRM CONVENIENT DATE AS SPACE MUST BE REQUESTED.
BORIS
ADVISE PROBLEM TRAVEL PLANS. YOUR SISTER’S PLANE ARRIVED LATE BUT LANDED SAFELY. LOST PASSPORT AND MONEY.