“Certainly, Mr. Tanner. He’s left word he’ll always be available to you until further notice. I trust all is well?”

“Everything is not well. Everything is bullshit at the moment. Put me through to him.”

“Regrettable.” The next minute Nikolai had made the connection.

“You’ve upset Nikolai,” Kaskov said when he came on the line. “I trust you’re not going to do the same to me. I’m not known to be nearly as patient.” He paused. “Lara Balkon is still alive?”

“Yes, and difficult as hell.”

“That’s your problem. You took the job. We have an agreement.”

“And I’ll keep it. But I’m having losses in both personnel and equipment, and I want a progress report from you to make sure I’m not spinning my wheels for nothing. Sandrino. What have you found out?”

“I don’t have to give you any reports until I take over possession of Lara and Maria.”

“Which you’re being very slow about. I want action, Kaskov.” He paused. “Or I might decide to take over their disposal myself.”

Kaskov was silent. “That wasn’t in the agreement,” he said softly. “What are you trying to pull, Tanner? I’d hate to think I was mistaken in you. It would seriously damage my ego, as well as several of your body parts of which you might be fond.”

“Cut the crap. I extracted Lara Balkon and Maria as I promised. But since you haven’t given me any sign that you’re going to keep your word, I don’t see why I should turn them over to you.” He paused. “Particularly since I told Lara that I thought she’d be safe with you, and you haven’t given me any assurance about that, either. I don’t like to be used. I’d rather get her settled somewhere safe myself than trust you not to sell her and Maria back to Volkov and her father if you took the notion.”

Kaskov was silent again. “You’re a bit upset about this,” he said slowly. “And I can’t determine whether it’s about Sandrino or your distrust of my intentions toward Lara Balkon. I find it very interesting, particularly when I had such a difficult time convincing you to take the job.”

“But I took it,” Tanner said curtly. “I’ve almost completed it. Now do your part. Were you just stalling when you said you’d made progress?”

“I never stall. I regard it as beneath me. It was difficult locating Sandrino—and then he disappeared again, and I had to discover what had happened to him again.” His voice was mocking. “I knew you wouldn’t regard our deal as complete unless you had the complete story.”

“And do you have the complete story?”

“Not yet. I have background. I have history. I have location.” He paused. “I’m not sure about the name.”