“I don’t know who he is, but I’d bet an arm that he made the call that resulted in my friend lying in a coma.”

“It says here your man is a banker.”

“Says where?”

“Euromoney. From”—Duran scrolled down the story—“six years ago. It’s an article on sons of Russian oligarchs. His name is Sokol Orlov. Born in Moscow. Studied at Cambridge. London School of Economics.” He looked up. “I read someplace Mick Jagger went there.” He continued reading. “Three years at Blandon, whatever that is.”

“Private bank,” Ted said. “Olde with an e. The joke goes they lent the Dutch the beads to buy Manhattan. What else does Euromoney have to say?”

“Sokol eventually saw the light and went to work for his father. Diversification. Special projects. But he stayed in New York to oversee their ‘growing real estate portfolio.’”

“Where does the money come from?”

Duran quickly scanned the rest of the short article. “Says here the old man is the largest manufacturer of ‘edible chemicals in Russia.’ Preservatives, flavorings, colorings. He’s the flavor-crystal king.”

“Mesquite-flavored barbecue potato chips?” Ted asked.

“Stoli Razberi.”

“Anything else there?” Ted gestured toward the phone.

“That’s it. Sokol is younger than he looks, by the way. A lot. He’s forty-one.”

“Evil adds years.”

“That’s what I tell them after I’m done reading them their rights,” Duran said.

“So the reporter doesn’t mention that this guy is guilty of extortion, loan-sharking, money laundering, murder for hire, and general mayhem?”

“Puff piece.”

“So, was the trip worth five minutes of your time? Can you do anything with that video?”

Duran sighed. “Mr. Molloy, I would love to run with this. The very thought of linking a corrupt city councilman with a Russian money-laundering scheme makes me rock hard. Never mind the fact that the widow of a recent murder victim is enjoying their company. But without some corroboration from an actual witness, I have nowhere to go with this. The LT will toss me out of her office.”

“I was there. I watched Kenzie make that video.”

“You are a person of interest in the Rubiano case.”

“I’ve been downgraded? Kasabian said I was still a suspect.”

Duran’s face closed up. “We are examining another theory that may or may not preclude your involvement.”

Ted let it go. The cases were one, he was sure. He and Lester didn’t have all the connections, but they were close. “Tell me what you need. I’ll find some way to make it happen.” Ted tried to sound confident.

Duran softened a tad. “Give me someone who will talk to me. A witness.”