The men around the table all knew the unwritten rule of the intelligence business: no sanctioned killing of other service"s officers, no matter how tempting it might be on occasion. They were professionals and after all such a lunatic action was only one step away from all out warfare. The Cold War was already at fever pitch and it wouldn"t take much to tip the balance.
C turned to Porter. “Anyone you know, Bernie?”
Porter considered this. “Well, Sir, the Russian intelligence officer that runs several of the Constellation agents, sort of my opposite number if you like, has a reputation for being ruthless. Perhaps the Americans have tired of having to play against him. Of course it could be a dozen other KGB officers of equal experience, but without further information it"s only guesswork
