“The important point,” Rodionov said, “is that Renko wanted to run independent investigations with a direct channel of information to me. I think of him as a scout in advance of our regular forces, and the more independently he operates, the more important the line of communication between him and us becomes.” He turned to Arkady and his tone became more serious. “That’s why we have to discuss the Rosen investigation.”

“I haven’t had time to review the file,” Penyagin said.

When Arkady hesitated, Rodionov said, “You can talk in front of Albov. This is an open, democratic conversation.”

“Rudik Davidovich Rosen.” Arkady recited from memory. “Born 1952, Moscow, parents now dead. Diploma with distinction in mathematics from Moscow State University. Uncle in the Jewish mafia that runs the racetrack. During school vacations, young Rudy helped set the odds. Military duty in Germany. Accused of changing money for Americans in Berlin, not convicted. Came back to Moscow. Motor-pool dispatcher at the Commission on Cultural Work for the Masses, where he sold designer clothes retail out of cars. Switchyard director at the Moscow Trust of the Flour and Groats Industry, where he stole wholesale by the boxcar. Up to yesterday, managed a hotel souvenir shop from which he ran the lobby slot machines and bar, which were sources of hard currency for his money-changing operation. With the slots and the exchange, Rudy made money at both ends.”

“He lent money to the mafias, that’s it?” Penyagin asked.

“They have too many rubles,” Arkady said. “Rudy showed them how to invest their money and turn it into dollars. He was the bank.”

“What I don’t understand,” Penyagin said, “is what you and your special team are going to do now that Rosen is dead. What was it, a Molotov cocktail? Why don’t we leave Rosen’s killer to a more ordinary investigator?”

Penyagin’s predecessor at CID had been that rare beast who actually had risen from the detective ranks, so he would have understood without having everything explained. The only thing Arkady knew about Penyagin was that he had been a political officer, not operational. He tried to educate him gently. “As soon as Rudy agreed to put my transmitter and recorder in his cashbox, he became my responsibility. That’s the way it is. I told him I could protect him, that he was part of my team. Instead I got him killed.”

“Why would he agree to carry a radio for you?” Albov spoke for the first time. His Russian was perfect.