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“Stefanov clai to him, Pavlov is a traitor and Besov a blackmailer”

“This dra by the minute”

It doesn’t take much to connect the dots Stefanov and Pavlov were in cahoots One or both of the Besov for the job Stefanov has already killed Pavlov Now he’s putting a target on the assassin’s back If the price is high enough, someone will eventually find Besov and deliver his head on a platter Stefanov is silencing everyone as involved in his scheet rid of me The only loose end left isready to come after me

“Tell thebefore Stefanov strikes”

Igor nods and leaves briskly

I unlock my laptop screen with my thumbprint and pull up my emails A call comes in from Nelsky Since I’m back from the States, he reports to me on a daily basis

I take the call from my laptop, which is connected tofor me”

“As a matter of fact, I do, sir”

I freeze with ers over the keyboard “Did you crack the code?”

“Ten seconds ago, sir”

My body tenses with anticipation “Did you have a look at the contents?”

“No, sir I’ an encrypted file to you now”

A e from Nelsky pops up in my inbox “Got it I’ll call you back if I have further instructions”

I end the call and download the e in the encryption application that descra of a man tied up in a chair, his face beaten to a bloody pulp I barely recognize the synize the round table with the checkered tablecloth and the wooden boith fruit

Our kitchen

My father

An unti ho blini I can see her smile as she told me to wash my hands

“An orange first,” she said, ruffling my hair as I stuffed a blin with honey into es for, malysh?”

“For not catching a cold,” I replied dutifully with a fulla seat at the table

The lines around her blue eyes softened “And why is that?”

I rolled my eyes Could these questions have been any more basic? “Because they have vitamin C”