The Russian's Greed

That fall looked like it hurt.”
She nodded, and theexcess skin of her chin continued to move after the rest of her headhad stopped. “Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t know what I tripped over.Enjoy your pie.”
Anya ignored the womanand forked a bite of apple pie into her mouth. “Mmm. Is good, butnot like coulibiac.”
Ray scowled. “I can’twrap my head around the idea of a fish pie.”
“Maybe when we watchtogether Princess Bride movie, I will make for you coulibiac.”
Ray couldn’t holdback the coming smile, so he tried to mask it behind the mug as hesipped his second drink of steaming coffee. Instantly, he spat theliquid back into the mug and stared into the black abyss of his cup.
“What is wrong,Gentleman Ray White? Did you not see Captain Burinkova slip poisoninto drink while you were saving damsel in distress? Is maybe youwho is slipping, no?”
“Okay, you made yourpoint, but I’m not the one who fell for it while on an undercoverop.”
“No, that was me,”she said. “You were not on undercover operation. This was mebecause your Justice Department says I am better for this operation.”
He pushed his saltycoffee away and lifted Anya’s mug to his lips. A battle of wits atone a.m. against Anya was a terrible choice, so he said, “If you’llstay with me for another field assignment, you can call your friendsand tell them you are all right.”
“They are looking forme, no? And you are afraid they will find me, yes? This is why yougive to me token gift of calling them. I will do this for you, butnot because of meager gift. And I have demand.”
Ray pushed up hissleeves. “You don’t get to make demands. That’s not how thisworks.”
Anya pressed her wriststogether and held them toward him. “Okay, in this case, you willarrest me, and I will tell judge about deal you made with me and howI did everything you wanted.”
Ray sighed and pushedher hands away. “What’s your demand?”
Anya made a show ofseparating her wrists. “You will give to me Special Agent GuinevereDavis for assignment so I can continue her training.”
“That’s yourdemand? You want Gwynn to come with you? That’s it?”
Anya lifted the saltedcoffee to her lips and pretended to enjoy the taste. “Yes, this ismy demand because, like me, she will soon be immune to poison.”
Ray shuddered at thethought of swallowing the rancid coffee. “Fine, you can have Gwynn,but don’t you want to know what the assignment is?”

3
LUCHSHIYDRUG DEVUSHKI
(A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND)
With the pie platesempty but only one empty coffee cup, Anya stood from the table andextended her hand. “Is now time for me to make decision of where wego.”
Ray wiped his mouthwith the corner of his napkin and slid from his chair. He steppedaround the Russian to put her on his left side, where he carried hisshoulder holster and Glock 17. From that side, it would be moredifficult for most people to draw his weapon from him. Anya couldlikely still pull off the feat, but it would require her leavingherself vulnerable with her arms crossed. Ray had no illusions thathe was faster or craftier than the woman who was more than a decadehis junior and who had thousands more hours of intensive trainingthan the U.S. government would ever provide for an officer of theJustice Department.
“So, where are wegoing now that it’s two a.m.?”
With her right handlaced through his left arm, she smiled up at him. “I was hoping youwould maybe take me someplace having great tea and is quiet enoughfor mission brief.”
He didn’t want tosmile, but suppressing it wouldn’t be easy. “I think I know justthe place.”
“Then, this is placeI wish to go.”
He thumbed the key fob,unlocking his government-issue Suburban, and opened thepassenger-side door. Anya climbed inside and eyed the M4 rifle wedgedbetween the driver’s seat and center console. The stack of radiosmounted beneath the dash looked like enough commo gear to launch aspaceship. A PR-24 baton rested neatly in its friction lock cradle.And finally, a Mossberg riot gun stood in a locking rack to the rightof the radios.
When Ray slid into thedriver’s seat, Anya said, “Did you think you would need all ofthis to capture me again? If yes, I am flattered.” She let herfingertips lightly trace the barrel of the shotgun. “Are you afraidof me, Special Agent White?”
He slid his key intothe ignition. “I didn’t need any of my toys to catch you tonight,but a few of these things might have come in handy if you’d causeda scene.”
“But I did not causescene . . . Well, maybe salt into coffee was a small scene, but noneed for striking stick or shotgun.”
“That reminds me,”he said. “Open the glove compartment and hand me my cuffs.”
She pressed the button,and the compartment door opened as the light illuminated theinterior. Two pairs of Smith & Wesson stainless steel handcuffsrested beside a snub-nosed .38 revolver. “Was wise of you to leavebehind handcuffs. I think you could not put them on my wrists withoutbeing badly hurt.”
He eyed the Russian.“Maybe we’ll have to try that. My money’s on the cop withsuperior size and weight.”
“Perhaps we will, butbeing fat is not benefit when handcuffing someone like me.”
“I know you didn’tjust call me fat.”
Anya pressed the tip ofher index finger into the flesh of his stomach. “You are too old tohave pie in middle of night. You are soft in middle.”
He groaned. “I’llhave you know I can still do two miles in twelve minutes and ahundred sit-ups in two.”
She ignored him andpulled the .38 revolver from its holster, then emptied the shellsinto her palm. “Last time I saw revolver like this one, I made itto blow up in a bad man’s hand while he was trying to kill me instrip club in Key West Island.”
Ray rolled his eyes andyanked the gun from her hand. “It’s just called Key West—notKey West Island. And what were you doing in a strip club?”
“I was there to findman who was holding friend of mine and kill him. This is whatfriendship means to me.”
He licked his lips, ashis mouth suddenly felt like sandpaper. “Did you do it?”
She stroked the barrelof