Private Moscow

Chapter 52

Adrenalin was still surging through my system when we joined the highway and headed toward the city center.

“That was unexpected,” Leonid said.

“It was your idea to go there,” Dinara responded.

“To ask questions. Maybe encourage one of them to talk,” Leonid said. He glanced in the rear-view mirror. “V tihom omute cherti vodyatsa.”

I looked at Dinara, who smiled.

“In quiet lagoons, devils dwell,” she translated. “He thinks you’re dangerous. Unpredictable.”

“They strike you as the kind of people who talk?” I asked Leonid.

He shrugged. “I guess not. So what now? The soft approach is dead.”

“This is about much more than fixing fights,” I replied. “Erik Utkin looked like I’d hit him with a cattle prod when I said they were covering up something big. I want you to stay on the gym,” I said to Leonid. “Follow Utkin. See if you can find out where he goes, what he does.”

“Alone?” Leonid asked.

“Dinara and I will take the other strands, Ernie Fisher’s death and Maxim Yenen.”

I could see Leonid consider the suggestion as he slowed to join a line of rush-hour traffic.

“Maybe we have some budget for support?” he suggested.

I looked at Dinara.

“Yenen’s given us a blank check,” she said.

“Good. Then I can buy some help,” Leonid responded.

“Who?” I asked.

“Our new housemates,” he said. “My old police friends.”

We had a pool of experienced police officers at our disposal, many of whom were time rich and cash poor. It made sense, as long as they could be trusted.

“OK,” I said, “but choose your people carefully.”

“Of course,” Leonid agreed.

Dinara’s phone rang and she answered. She listened for a moment and hung up without saying a word.

“Maxim Yenen will meet us tonight,” she said. “Eleven p.m., Bolshoy Moskvoretskiy Bridge.”

“Is he crazy?” Leonid asked. “That’s by Red Square. Not exactly a private spot.”

“He said it’s there or nowhere,” Dinara replied.

Leonid shook his head disapprovingly.

“We’ll be careful,” I assured him. I turned to Dinara. “That gives us time.”

“For what?” she asked.

“I want to take a look at Ernie Fisher’s apartment. See what we can learn about the man.”