The two shared a fine meal that evening at Svereta’s, an upscale eatery in western Moscow. Afterwards, they began walking. They paused for a moment to buy a bottle of vodka and continued on to a small park near Borski Square. There, they found a bench.
“Have you a plan?” asked Demetri.
“Of course, first we have to find him.”
“You have leads?”
“One, I got the name and address of his uncle in Riyadh. I was told he would know.”
“Who told you?”
“Vladimir Perski,” said Raven, Demetri laughed.
“You don’t believe his information is accurate?”
“No, I am certain it would be. What I laughed about is can you imagine how many hours Vladimir has spent chasing me? The man was like. . What’s that American stuff? Scotch Tape. No, I don’t doubt Vladimir Perski.”
“I thought Perski was KGB. Why would the KGB be interested in you?”
“Oh, you conceited bastard. Do you think you are the only one who ever handled high-level business? You think your clients were so more important than mine?” Demetri asked almost laughing.
“My apologies, My Friend. I am well aware of your accomplishments and your reputation. I sincerely apologize.”
Demetri smiled and bowed his head. “Apology accepted. Now, back to my question, your plan?”
“Actually, my friend, much of my plan is hinged on you. You are familiar with those caves in the mountains of Afghanistan. It is said that is where bin Laden hides.”
“I was familiar with those caves, but that has been almost thirty years ago. Things change.”
“Does a mountain change? Does a cave fill in and a new one appear? Those mountains have been there since the beginning of time. Besides, don’t people always return to where they feel safe? What could be safer for the rat bin Laden than the mountains of Afghanistan?”
“This is true, but there is something you are not figuring, the money. When bin Laden was fighting against us, he needed to rely on American money. Now, he has mountains of oil money to draw upon. Money changes everything.”
“Yes, but I we are to believe the news, much of the oil money will not go to bin Laden. Some of those who control the oil hate him.”
“Yes, if we are to believe the news, but you know better than that. And too, My Friend, remember that before there is hate, there is religion. The ones who control the oil money are Muslim. Bin Laden is a Muslim. To them, Allah comes first. They are all brothers before Allah.”
“You are right, but one thing you are forgetting. Bin Laden has always had money. He grew up in one of the wealthiest families in Saudi Arabia. People with money develop habits at birth. Those habits never change. It is those habits on which we must rely. Once a man has felt silk, he will never want cotton. Once he has tasted fine wine, he will never want water.”
Demetri nodded and handed Raven the bottle of vodka.
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