The Russian's Greed

the riot gun only inches beside her. “Did I do what? Kill him?Or get back friend?”
“Both.”
“I did not kill him,but he died later in night. And yes, my friend is alive and safe.”
“This friend of yours. . . Would her name happen to be Elizabeth Woodley?”
Anya stared at theshotgun as her fingers glided across the forearm, and she shook herhead.
Ray lowered his chin.“Now I think you’re lying. I think her name is Elizabeth Woodley,but you call her Skipper.”
Anya tried to hide thesurprise. “You will now tell me something about you that others donot know.”
“I can’t,” hesaid. “It’s against the rules.”
Anya laughed. “Youare now lying. I do not believe there are rules about what you are totell Russian assassin in front seat of car with weapons everywhere. Iwill make with you bet. I believe you cannot put handcuffs on me. Ifyes, I will do for you all missions your Department of Justicewishes. If no, you will tell to me something about you. This is bet,no?”
Ray slid the revolveracross the center console. “Put this back where you found it.”
She took the weaponfrom his palm, reloaded it, and returned it to its place in the glovecompartment. “Is not wise to let me have loaded gun. I could—”
Ray held up a hand.“We’ve covered this already. You could, but you won’t.”
They pulled up in frontof his brownstone, locked the Suburban, and climbed the stairs.
Anya gazed into thedarkened sky. “Yes, this is place with very good tea.”
Ray held open the door.“You said ‘great tea’ back at the diner.’”
“So, I did,” shesaid. “I like when you listen closely to me.”
He closed and lockedthe door and headed for the kitchen.
Anya watched him movethrough the room with the confidence of a man who is comfortable andunafraid. “You did not answer my question.”
“What question?”
The whistling kettlehalted conversation, and Ray produced a pair of mugs with the JusticeDepartment seal emblazoned on them. He pulled a jar from thecupboard. “I seem to remember you like honey in your tea.”
She took the jar fromhim and covered the bottom of her cup with the golden honey, then ontiptoes, she replaced it and closed the cupboard.
He poured the steamingwater over teabags in each mug and motioned toward the living room.“Shall we?”
Without a word, Anyaled the way into the next room and nestled onto the sofa.
Ray chose his reclinerand lifted the mug to his lips. He blew across the steaming surfaceand took a tentative sip. “You were right. This place does havegreat tea.”
Anya sipped hers andnodded a silent agreement. After several swallows, she looked up.“You are now stalling. I want to hear of next mission.”
“I wasn’t stalling.I was just going through the briefing in my head to make sure I don’tleave out anything important.”
“So, you are nowready to give briefing. I will keep questions until end.”
“Articles,” hesaid.
She frowned. “Whatarticles?”
“The, a,and an. We had this talk in Miami, and you said you wouldstart using English articles.”
She looked away. “Isnot easy for me, but I will try.”
She repositioned toface him. “I am ready for the briefing.”
He nodded his approval.“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” Anya’s blank stare madehim pause, and finally, he said, “That’s an old advertisingslogan, I think.”
Her expression didn’tchange.
He held up his thumband index finger, indicating a small object. “You know . . .diamonds, precious gems.”
“Yes, I know what isdiamond, but I do not think they are girl’s best friend.”
He waved both hands insurrender. “Okay, forget the best friend thing. We’re talkingabout diamonds. Hundreds of millions, maybe billions of dollars’worth of diamonds. You have been to New York City, right?”
She nodded. “I havebeen to city once, but only to Queens and Belmont Park.”
“That’s about tochange very soon. You’re going to Manhattan. More specifically,Forty-Seventh Street between Fifth and Sixth. That’s known as theDiamond District.” He paused, expecting some reaction, but shedidn’t flinch. “You do know what the Diamond District is, right?”
“Yes, I have heard ofthis. Is place with many jewelry shops and diamond brokers.”
He took another sip ofhis cooling tea. “What do you know about diamonds?”
She shook her head. “Iam not typical girl. I have never had diamond—a diamond—butI have seen them, and they are beautiful.”
He placed his mug onthe table beside the recliner. “You’ve never had a diamond?Really?”
She appeared to findthe question ridiculous. “I told you this. I would not lie abouthaving diamond.”
“I wasn’t accusingyou of lying. It’s just surprising that a thirty-two-year-old womanhas never had a diamond.”
“I have never neededdiamond. Does Gwynn have one?”
He shrugged. “I don’tknow. I’ve never seen her wear one, but I would think she at leasthas some earrings or a tennis bracelet.”
Anya pinched hereyebrows together. “I did not know she plays tennis.”
Ray shook his head.“We’re getting off track. We’ll get back to Gwynn later.There’s a guy in the city. His name is Viktor Volkov, but he’sknown as Yuvelir.”
Anya’s eyes widened.“This means the jeweler.”
Ray sighed. “Pomnit'?YA tozhe govoryu po Russki.”
“Yes, I remember youspeak Russian, but do you know this word volkov?”
Ray nodded, an ominouslook on his face. “Yes, it means hawk.”
Anya returned the look.“Yes, it sometimes means this, but also any bird of prey is volkov.It is bird that kills to stay alive. Is this also true of ViktorVolkov?”
Ray stared into hisempty cup. “Probably, but that’s not why we want him. We don’tknow how, but Viktor has devised a way to plant diamonds grown in alaboratory into the inventories of legitimate diamond dealers.”
Anya’s expressionsaid she was trying to hold her question, but Ray needed to know whatshe was thinking.
“What is it?” heasked.
“I am sorry. I saidto you I would save questions for end, but this is not possible.”
“What’s notpossible?”
“It is not possiblefor . . . ah, I do not know word, but it is person who studiesdiamonds and other stones.”
Ray leaned in.“Gemologist.”
“Yes, gemologist. Itis not possible Viktor Volkov can put into jewelry store fakediamonds and this person, the gemologist, will not know.”
“That’s the kickeron this one. The diamonds you call fake are real diamonds, chemicallyidentical to a natural diamond that took millions of years to form.”
“I have heard word. Ithink is cubic zirconia. This looks like diamond but is not.”
“So, you do