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I could get used to this,” Sa into the fire

“I’ll second that,” Remi replied

They’d decided to accept their host’s invitation to spend the night at the hut As the sun dipped toward the horizon Saathered burnable drifthile Re a trio of snapper froainst a log before a crackling campfire, their stoht was clear and black, with dia the sky Aside fro of palm fronds, all was quiet

Their host hadn’t been joking about the wine cellar, which, though barely larger than a closet, sported two dozen bottles They’d chosen a Jordan Chardonnay to complement Remi’s catch

They sat and sipped and watched the stars until finally Remi said, “You think they’ll find us?”

“Who, Arkhipov and Kholkov? Not likely”

For the airline tickets, the hotel, and the rental car they’d used a credit card attached to a twice-reo Foundation expense account While Sam had no doubt Bondaruk’s hatchet men had the resources to eventually unravel the financial trail, it wouldn’t happen, he hoped, before they were gone

“Unless,” he added, “they already have a lead that points them here”

“There’s a cheery notion Sa about Ted That Russian—Arkhipov—he was going to kill him, wasn’t he?”

“I suspect so”

“Over wine What kind of ht, Bondaruk’s filthy rich What he’d gain froe Why is he

willing to kill for it?”

“Remi, for him murder comes naturally It’s not a last resort; it’s a ready option”

“I suppose”

“But you’re not convinced”