Blood Makes Noise (16 page)

The plan had been to retrieve Evita from the substation and hand her over to Hector. Well, not now. Lying in a Seconal haze
those nights after Karen’s death, he’d considered storage lockers or freezers and finally settled on something more traditional: a grave.

It was a five-mile drive out to the gray industrial gates of Musocco Cemetery. Lining the entrance were the storefronts of gravestone cutters, groundskeepers, and coffin makers. Michael had telegrammed ahead to one, ordering the construction of two caskets: one of galvanized steel that she would actually rest in, and a simple pine coffin that would fit over it.

He arrived now to collect them, had the owner help transfer his “aunt’s” body from one container to another, overpaid him, drove to the grounds, and went to the offices of the Catholic order that administered the cemetery. His telegram had explained that he was bringing the remains of his aunt María Maggi, an Italian Carmelite nun who’d died in Argentina and was now returning for burial in Italy. María Maggi was an actual nun from Michael’s childhood and was, he assumed, still perfectly healthy.

The local nuns accepted the simple pine coffin of their sister and held a small service that afternoon. She was buried in the quiet, poor section of the cemetery, where the seeds of flowers still jumped the earthen walls and bloomed uncut in forgotten corners.

It was a good place for sleep. Away from Hector and politics, away soon even from Michael. He stood as they filled the grave in, watched pine disappear under Lombard clay. Watched a box holding a general’s wife, Ara’s masterpiece, and Hector’s obsession, become, simply, in that instant…

His.

OFFICE OF SECURITY
Investigation report
October 10, 1956

CONFIDENTIAL to:

Alan Dulles, DCI

Frank Wisner, DDP

J.C. King, chief WH Div

Number of pages in this report, including cover: 37

Investigating officers: R. Bonnet, V.R. Howe

SUBJECT:
Shooting death of case officer Michael Suslov’s wife, Karen Rutledge Suslov, on September 17, 1956.

REPORT SUMMARY:
Case officer Michael Suslov has reported that during the early hours of September 17, his home was invaded by person or persons unknown. A struggle ensued, during which Karen Suslov was accidentally shot.

Recovered footprints indicates that likely a single individual gained entry to Suslov’s home, and fired one M1951 .380 round that struck the west wall. Blood tracked throughout the main floor of the house indicates same male likely conducted a brief search after the shooting.

Karen Suslov was killed by a .45 round fired from a Ballester Molina that struck her in the womb, passing
through the fetus and severing the umbilical cord, causing her to bleed to death in approximately ten minutes (see autopsy attachments). The round matches the Molina semi-automatic Michael Suslov was still holding when BAPD arrived. Suslov has reported that the gun was bought second-hand in Buenos Aires.

No known problems existed between husband and wife and no obvious motive for a murder scenario exists.

Despite continued inquiries, no probable suspect has been identified in this incident. Suggestions have been made of possible Peronist guerilla activity, but this cannot be proved. Likewise, there is no credible evidence at this time of involvement by a hostile intelligence service or elements of the Argentine government, though this possibility will continue to be investigated.

Signed, Robert Bonnet, Office of Security

January 9, 1957

CONFIDENTIAL to:

Frank Wisner, Deputy Director Operations

1956 Year End Fitness
Report for Michael Suslov

Dear Sir,

In writing an evaluation for case officer Michael Suslov, I am somewhat handicapped since only being appointed station chief since Robert Norris’ death from a heart attack in November. Case Officer Robert Lofton went to the FBI after Norris’ death, and John Miller and Esther Thomas both took immediate retirement in December, all before or directly after my appointment. This has left the unusual situation of an entire changeover in staff, with no one remaining who had personally dealt with Suslov’s work performance.

The problem is further complicated by the legacy of inner-station conflict stemming from the FBI/CIA Western Hemisphere consolidation. As the first postconsolidation officer assigned to Buenos Aires, Suslov was routinely harassed by his superiors. As a result, previous fitness reports, in my opinion, must be viewed with skepticism.

However, despite these limitations, and my brief association with Suslov, I feel secure in saying that Michael
Suslov is, as of this writing, a deeply troubled man and a problematic case officer in Clandestine Intelligence.

During daily routine operations, I am confronted by a remote, hostile young man who’s job performance is increasingly sloppy and error prone. Embassy officers on the State side recall Suslov as a generally outgoing, positive, and committed personality who changed dramatically after the accidental shooting of his wife.

I am well aware of Suslov’s popularity in the DOP for his former quality intelligence gathering on SB activities here and his contacts in both the Peron and successor regimes. But in the last six months, all these sources seemed to have completely dried up. Suslov himself has become unable to take serious direction and often appears in public under the influence of alcohol; a man disliked by the local police, bumbling in his contacts with the East Bloc missions, frozen out of Casa Rosada and not trusted by his coworkers.

Clearly we must take into account Suslov’s previous work, but we must also face the reality of a case officer who is a drain on station resources and patience. I think, at the least, serious consideration should be given to removing him from field duty and placing him on administrative rotation, till it can be determined if his decline is permanent.

On a personal note, I enjoyed our dinner last month in Lima and I believe you’re exactly right: while this much change at a station can be disruptive, it is also an opportunity to clear the deadwood and get on with the quality work I know Buenos Aires operations is capable of. I look optimistically forward to the challenge.

Fraternally,

George Pompian
Acting Station Chief, Buenos Aires

cc: Alan Dulles, DCI

February 28, 1957

Michael Suslov
Buenos Aires Station

This letter is to notify you that the attached reprimand has been placed in your service folder for conduct unbecoming of an operational officer.

On the evening of February 18, 1957, during an embassy cocktail party welcoming the Mexican ambassador, you arrived an hour and a half late and in a clear state of intoxication. After showing gross inattention to the Ambassador’s remarks, you, within clear earshot of several foreign missions, referred to several of your coworkers as CIA case officers. You then spilled a drink on the Mexican Ambassador before abruptly leaving.

Such behavior is a clear violation of both the letter and spirit of operational conduct and a gross abuse of your position as an officer in clandestine intelligence.

This letter will remain in your folder. A copy will be forwarded to the DDP’s office for any additional action.

Fraternally,

George Pompian

Station Chief, Buenos Aires

February 22, 1957

CONFIDENTIAL TO:
Office of Security, CIA

FROM:
Dr. Allen Silver, Department of Psychology

Psychological Exam of Michael Suslov

Please find enclosed my full evaluation. To summarize, subject is an individual under severe psychological trauma, manifesting in anti-social and paranoid behavior.

Though such traits are not completely uncommon in clandestine operations officers, it appears to have advanced to such a degree in subject that it’s difficult to imagine how, at this juncture, subject could continue to be considered a functional personality for such work. Recommendation is removal from all field operations and reassignment to Washington staff during aggressive treatment options listed within.

March 3, 1957

Michael Suslov
2801 Davis Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia

Allen Dulles
Director, Central Intelligence Agency
2430 E Street
Washington DC

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to tender my resignation from the Central Intelligence Agency, effective March 15, 1957. This seems to be the best solution for everyone involved, including, perhaps, even myself.

Fraternally,

Michael Suslov