Death Echo

sure to bring that up around bonus time,” Harley said mildly. “Do you want your tie back?”
    Steele straightened the collar of his dress shirt. “No. Just a sweater. It’s a bit chill tonight.”
    Dwayne and Harley exchanged a glance that Steele didn’t see. Harley went to the closet, took a soft charcoal pullover from the top shelf, and handed it to Steele.
    A few moments later, Steele rolled his chair out to meet Alara.
    â€œIt would be terribly convenient to communicate by phone,” he said by way of greeting.
    â€œAs I told you the first time you brought it up, for some communications I don’t trust phones or computers,” Alara said crisply. “They’re too easily compromised. My hotel room has been bugged four separate times in the past few days.”
    Steele made a sound of disgust, then shifted to ease the legs he wasn’t supposed to feel. “If only our various government agencies would stop fighting one another and concentrate on the designated enemy.”
    â€œThat will happen about the time lions become vegans.”
    Steele would have smiled if he wasn’t so tired.
    â€œWe agree with the ID of Taras Demidov as a Russian shooter,” Alara continued. “The woman, Galina Federova, is one of the many abandoned sleepers gone to earth beyond the shores of former empire. She was a minor player. Demidov ran her along with his other numerous agents. The files are so old, they should be classified as historic rather than active.”
    â€œSo should we, but we live on anyway.”
    Alara’s smile was swift and real. “Demidov may or may not know what Temuri is smuggling.”
    â€œI hope you didn’t leave your hotel just to tell me what I already know.”
    â€œTemuri’s family is Georgian and Ukrainian, raised in Russia. He works for whichever side pays him best.”
    â€œDid you learn anything new?” Steele asked bluntly.
    â€œAh, old friend, you are in pain.”
    â€œThat’s how I know I’m alive. Answer my question.”
    â€œThe sum of fifteen thousand dollars has been transferred from an account funded by one of the many arms of Russian intelligence to a St. Kilda Consulting account. Demidov has the connections to move very quickly, as apparently the order came through barely an hour ago.”
    Steele’s black eyebrows rose. “Impressive. Your connections, as well as his.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œSo Demidov is indeed working for some aspect of the Russian government.”
    â€œThey are paying him,” Alara said. “It isn’t always the same thing. You will tell me immediately if your agent calls about contact by or from Shurik Temuri.”
    Steele waited for several beats, then nodded. “As we agreed. Speaking of which…”
    Alara waited, poised like a falcon ready to fly.
    â€œSince when are Russia and the United States working the same side of the street?” Steele asked. “Did I miss the memo? Or is it the usual case of politics making ridiculous bedmates?”
    â€œWe have cooperated with Russia in the past, when both parties had the same goal.”
    â€œDo you trust Demidov?”
    Alara laughed in genuine amusement. “Do you?”
    Steele rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Have Demidov and Temuri ever worked together in the past?”
    She looked thoughtful. “Possible, but unlikely. Demidov is of another generation, political not criminal. Temuri came up through the mafiya . His family is rabidly against Russia. Temuri is simply rabid.”
    â€œHe has a lot of competition,” Steele said.
    â€œThat is the nature of life among the ruins. It suits Temuri. The most recent intel we have puts him with Chechen separatists, many of whom draw support from Wahabbi fundamentalists in the Middle East. Money, to be precise. A great deal of petro dollars.”
    â€œIs Temuri selling them nukes?” Steele asked.
    â€œNot the finished product. Not yet. Fissionable materials only. More suited to blackmail than to bombs. He is the middleman for more ordinary weapons, as well. We also believe he is responsible for at least one of the outbreaks of bubonic plague that have occurred on the fringes of former empire. One instance of plague served to keep the Russians out of a strategic area.”
    â€œWhat if we take Temuri alive?”
    â€œThe Russians have offered a million dollars American to anyonewho