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Kerikov blew out a heavy sigh “God, I miss the Cold War You’re Chechen, aren’t you?”

“If it appeases whatever remains of your conscience, I am not Chechen, and the weapon won’t be used anywhere within the for that the weapon wouldn’t be used at all

“The codes are locked in the safe behind that painting” He nodded toward a nude hanging on one wall

Juan used the barrel of his pistol to swing the painting back on its long hinge in case it was booby-trapped The safe was about two feet square, with a ten-digit electronic pad “Combination?”

“Two-five, one-zero, one-nine-one-seven”

It took Juan a second to recognize the nu dates “The date of Russia’s October Revolution Nice touch”

He punched in the numbers, and made Kerikov stand directly in front of the safe when he threw the handle Juan had recognized the safe renade would detonate The code was legitimate

Inside were stacks of currency, a pistol, which Juan stuffed in his pocket, and countless folders and files

“Should be near the bottoet this ordeal over with quicker

Juan scanned some of the documents as he searched The Russian was involved in so Saddale trade of Afghan opium for Russian weapons for African conflict diamonds

Near the bottom was a file with the label Novees, satisfying himself that it hat he was after Once the colish, he assuon

He slid the docu and turned to Kerikov As ht of hiue “When you find al-Asiht is unrelated to your business together Tell hi back to haunt you, but the situation is now resolved Now please turn around and drop to your knees”

For the first tiun on hied to keep it out of his voice “You got what you wanted”

“I a to kill you” Juan withdrew the hypoder I gave al-Asi more”

“I hate needles I’d rather have you hit me over the head”