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“You go along,” Alex says “I’ll be right there”

I stare after hior and Leonid enter with our parcels, carrying theuards since we arrived in Russia They stay in the barracks and don’t talk toloves When they co in the closet

Leonid exits first Just before Igor steps through the door, I put a hand on his ar him back

He frees hi I can do for you, Kate?”

“Alex has been very tense this afternoon,” I say, keepinghappened?”

He glances at the top of the stairs “Nothing’s happened He’s just taking the necessary measures to make sure it stays that way”

“It went all right today, didn’t it?”

“Surprisingly”

I s “Did you expect trouble?”

“It would’ve been foolish not to”

“Then why did Alex risk going out?”

“It was a calculated risk,” he says in a level voice “If soone down, you would’ve been well protected”

“But you didn’t like the idea,” I say, trying to read him

“It’sany risks, no ed”

“What are you really saying, Igor?”

“This house is the best-protected place you can be If I were you, I wouldn’t ask Alex to go on another adventure”

“I didn’t ask,” I exclaim in a whisper “It was Alex’s idea”

“Yeah, well, maybe you should dissuade him of those ideas I’ him here”

I pull ht “That was an inappropriate remark”

“If you don’t want my opinion, don’t ask”

He nods at the guard, who opens the door