“Perhaps I’ll tell you…when the job is finished.”

Kaskov chuckled. “Tit for tat? Just so you don’t make the mistake of using her against me. That’s not permitted. I haven’t made my final arrangements for her yet.”

“I imagine she might have a few objections to you doing that,” he said dryly. “It’s clear you don’t know her that well.”

“And it’s clear you think you do. No, I admit I wasn’t really interested in anything about Lara but her music.” He paused. “Did you play the DVD I sent with you?”

Tanner was tempted to lie, but that would be an admission that the answer mattered to him. “Yes.”

“How many times?”

The son of a bitch. “She’s very good.” He changed the subject. “But she’s also exceptionally difficult. I might have trouble with her. And Maria Balkon was a surprise to me. They’re close and might present a united front that will make it necessary to separate them to avoid problems.”

“Separate them…” Kaskov repeated. “From what I’ve observed in my time with them, that might be a challenge. Actually, the idea is amusing. I’m glad that you’re the one that’s going to do it. Do tell me how it works out.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.” He kept his temper. “But I’d like to avoid a radical step like that if I can. So I want you to tell me everything you know about Maria Balkon and I’ll see if I can use persuasion. I hope you paid more attention to Maria than you did Lara.”

“Only her attitude toward Lara, but naturally she was part of the picture when I made the decision. You’re right, Maria Balkon is an interesting problem…”

* * *

“You’ve told me everything, Lara?” Maria asked. “All Tanner wants is to take us away somewhere safe until Kaskov finishes making his arrangements? What arrangements?”

“I have no idea.” Lara held up her hand as Maria opened her lips. “And Tanner didn’t ask. He made it clear this is just a job and as soon as it’s finished, he’s gone. But not until then. He has some kind of code where his work is concerned.” She frowned. “He’s probably going to get in my way.”

“A code isn’t bad.” Maria’s lips twisted bitterly. “Though very rare. I can’t remember either one of us running across anyone else who has one in all these years.”

“Maxim,” Lara said quietly. “He had one about the music and he taught it to me.”

Maria nodded. “I’d forgotten. Of course he had a code.” She quickly changed the subject. “So how is Tanner going to get in your way?”

“We don’t know anything about him, so there’s no way we can really trust him. I have to find a secure place for you that only you and I know about. That’s the only way I can be certain you’ll be safe.”

“And then you’ll go and lead Volkov and Anton away from me?” Maria was shaking her head. “No, Lara. That’s not the way it’s going to be.”