“It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“You sure went to enough trouble,” she said. “If you had just called, we could have met you at a cafe.”
“I apologize.” The spy made a slight bow and then gently released her hand. “This is what you call abundance of caution. It is how, in my line of work, one lives to be sixty years old.”
She said, “You mean as an importer and exporter?”
“Ah,” he said with a laugh, pointing at her. “I like this one, Boy-O. She has some stones, yes?”
“Oh, yes.”
Anatoly checked his watch and made a quick survey of the woods. “Tell me, Jameson, so we don’t press our welcome here tonight. What did you need to discuss with me? Another article you will get a prize for and I get nothing?” He laughed.
Rook said, “I’m looking to verify some details about an old network that may have been run here in Paris. Now, you know my rules, Anatoly. I won’t compromise national secrets or jeopardize anyone’s life, but that shouldn’t be a problem because I believe this particular operation is inactive.”
“Let me make a guess.” He smiled at Heat as he spoke to Rook. “That it might have something to do with the work done by the mother of your friend here.”
“Wow. Clairvoyant,” Rook said.
“I had some idea. And why waste time dancing when we can get right to business.” There was a noise in the woods, probably just a branch falling, but Kije caught the eye of one of his bodyguards, and a pair of them slipped into the night to investigate.
“So my mother was involved in clandestine work of some kind,” said Nikki, trying to bring him back to the subject.
“Most definitely. I first became aware of her when I was stationed here in ‘72 as an agricultural liaison at the Soviet embassy.”
Rook fake-coughed, “KGB.”
“Always a wise guy, this one. I love it.” He shadowboxed at Rook’s gut, then turned back to her. “Does that answer what you wanted to know?”
“Depends. On how much you’re willing to tell me.” She held his gaze in a way that said I want more and you know it. “And seeing what you put us through getting here …”
“Everything’s a trade-off, isn’t it? The price of my peace of mind is to help you find yours. What else would you like to know?”
“My mother was murdered.”
“I am truly sorry.”
“It was ten years ago in the USA. But you already know that, don’t you?” He didn’t reply. She said, “I’m trying to find out if it was connected to her spying.”
“Nikki Heat, let us not insult each other’s intelligence. You already believe it is connected. What you want from me is to tell you how.” He paused and said, “I honestly don’t know.”
“Anatoly Kije?” she said. “Boy-O? Please do not insult my intelligence. You know.”
“I know rumors. That’s all. And, if true—if,” he said, pointing a finger in the air for emphasis, “it could have come back upon her in a very unfortunate way.”
Rook said, “Come on, what did you hear?”
Anatoly became distracted momentarily as the two bodyguards returned from their perimeter check and signaled all clear. Slightly more relaxed, he said to Nikki, “There were rumors that your mother became a double agent.”
Heat was already shaking her head emphatically. “No. She would never do that.”
“Well, she wouldn’t do it for me, and believe me, I tried.” A twinkle shined in his roguish eyes. “But people do turn. Some for ideology, some for revenge, some are blackmailed. Most, I find, simply do it for the money. The real answer is always found not in the heart but in the bank.” Heat still shook her head in denial, but he pressed on. “You asked the question, dorogaya moya. The perception, true or not, about your mother hinted that she had some ‘extracurricular’ contacts and activities.”