"Charley? I was hoping you would call," Aleksandr Pevsner said in Russian.
"Were you? Why?"
"To learn that you're all right. I heard what happened to your driver and agent."
"Well, if you heard that from somebody close to Colonel Munz, Alex, you better get a new source. They fired Munz."
"I heard that, too. I'm sorry about your people, Charley."
"Alex, I want the bastards who did that."
"I understand."
"This is personal, Alex."
There was a moment's hesitation before Pevsner replied.
"I would expect nothing less of you as an officer. Or do you really mean personal?"
"I mean really personal, Alex."
"Oh, then I really am sorry, my friend."
"I spoke with Howard just before he left."
"He didn't mention that."
"I asked him to find out what he could about a man named Jean-Paul Lorimer, a UN diplomat in Paris. The next time you speak with him, would you tell him that I now really want to know about this man?"
"I'll have Howard contact you. Where will you be?"
"Here until about noon tomorrow. That's when we leave with Masterson's family. And his body."
"I doubt if I'll hear from him before that. Then you'll be in Washington?"
"First Mississippi, then Washington. Tell him to call my cellular or the hotel."
"I will. And I will also see what I can learn about this Lorimer person. Jean-Paul Lorimer, you said?"
"Right. I would really be grateful."
"I hesitate to say this to someone of your background, but are you adequately protecting yourself?"
"I have two SIDE cars, four SIDE agents-including a major-and, far more reassuring, an American Marine I'm not sure is old enough to vote."
Pevsner chuckled, then said, seriously: "There are some very dangerous people-obviously professionals- involved in whatever's going on. I'm sure you appreciate that."
"I do. You haven't had any fresh ideas about what this is all about, have you?"
"No. And no one I've talked to-people one would think would have at least an idea-have any idea, either."
"Keep asking, will you?"
"Of course. And Anna will pray for you-and yours- my friend."
"Thank you."
"Friends take care of friends, my friend. We'll be in touch, Charley. Be careful."