glass of champagne from him, and they went down the corridor.
“I haven’t had such a relaxing evening for a long time, my dear. I thought I’d like to do it again.”
“Just the same, Viktor? Are you a rascal then?”
Yemlin forced a grin. “You don’t know the half of it.”
They went back to one of the luxury suites, though it looked the same as last week, he couldn’t tell if it was. Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty came softly from hidden speakers, and the lights in the apartment were set low.
Renee went into the bathroom to check the bath water, as Yemlin got undressed. He dropped his jacket on the floor beside the bed, as if by mistake, and when he bent over to fumble for it, he slipped the heavier of the two cigarette boxes out of his pocket, unlatched the clasp and slid it out of sight under the bed. The surveillance cameras and microphones within fifteen meters would no longer work.
He laid the jacket on the bed, poured them another glass of wine and went into the bathroom where he climbed into the pleasantly hot water.
Renee disrobed, got in with him, and began scrubbing his back. “We thought you might come back this weekend,” she said.
“I was too busy,” Yemlin said. He sighed with pleasure. “But I’m here now. Is Valeri in the club this evening?”
She giggled and slapped him on the back. “You are wicked. Do you want me to call him over here?”
“Da. A rubdown would be nice.”
Renee reached between his legs with a soapy hand, and give him a playful tug. “He doesn’t deserve the little doll.”
“What do you mean?” Yemlin asked innocently. His heart was starting to pound.
“Oh, nothing,” she said sweetly. She stepped out of the tub, her black body glistening with water, and skipped into the bedroom.
As soon as she was out of sight Yemlin got out of the tub and went to the door. Her back was to him, and she was searching his clothes as she talked on the phone, the handset cradled against her shoulder. She found the second silver box in one of his pockets, opened it, then said something into the phone and hung up.
“Shall I inform Josef that my little Renee is a thief?” Yemlin said.
Startled, the girl spun around so fast she nearly dropped the box. Her eyes were wide, her nipples hard. “You almost made me drop it!”
“Did you find anything of interest?” Yemlin asked. He sipped his wine. “Are you a little spy?”
“Just curious, Viktor,” she said, a mischievous look on her pixie face. “Can I have some, or don’t you share?”
“It’s good stuff. Maybe you can’t take it.”
“I’m no virgin.”
“I guess you’re not,” Yemlin said, forcing a smile. “Be my guest. But take it easy, Renee. I don’t want you passing out.”
“Why not? Valeri will be here in a little while.”
“Maybe I want both of you this time.”
She laughed, then set the open silver box on the nightstand. Using the tiny silver spoon nestled inside the top part of the box, she scooped out a portion of the doctored cocaine, and took it up her right nostril.
Yemlin put his glass down on the dresser, and reached her as she sighed deeply, and sank slowly to the carpet. Her eyes were open and glazed, a stupid, slack-jawed expression on her pretty mouth.
“Are you okay, Renee?” Yemlin asked softly.
“Sure, Viktor. That’s some good shit, you know.”
“I’m going to put you in the other room for a little while. I want you to be a good girl and take a nap. Can you do that for me?”
“Sure, Viktor. Whatever you say. Then can I have some more good shit, or are you going to fuck Valeri all night?”
“You can have some more good shit, I promise,” Yemlin said. He sat her up, then got her to her feet and walked her into the other room where he laid her on one of the sectional couches, propping her head on a cushion.
He was ambivalent about blacks, but he felt a tinge of sorrow for this little girl. She was going nowhere. If he’d had a daughter and she had come to this fate it would have broken his heart, and he’d had enough of that to last ten lifetimes.
Galkin had promised that the doctored cocaine taken in normal doses would not be fatal. Nevertheless Yemlin checked the girl’s breathing and her pulse. Both were fast, but not alarmingly so.
Closing the door, he went back to the bathroom where he hid her costume in the cabinet beneath the vanity.
Valeri was there as Yemlin came out of the bathroom. The young man was dressed in the same skimpy white swim trunks as before. He’d brought his towels and lotions, and a bottle of champagne.
“Is Renee in the tub?” he asked.
“I sent her away. She’ll be back later. Right now I want a rubdown.”
A momentary look of suspicion crossed Valeri’s face, but then he smiled openly. “Sure thing, Viktor,” he said. “You can have a glass of champagne while I get the table set up.”
“I’ll have some champagne later. And this time let’s use the bed, I think it’ll be more comfortable.”
Valeri chucked. “You’re a man after my own tastes.”
Yemlin closed the bathroom door, then went to the bed and lay down on his back, spreading his spindly legs. Vomit rose up in his throat gagging him, and his heart raced so rapidly that he was momentarily frightened he was going to have a heart attack.
Valeri took off his white trunks, and came over to the bed, as Yemlin reached over and took the silver box off the nightstand.
“Something new this time, Viktor?” Valeri asked.
“I think you’ll like it,” Yemlin said. Keeping eye contact with the younger man, he moistened two fingers with spit, dabbed them in the cocaine and’ spread the paste around the head of his penis. He set the box back on the nightstand and then forced a broad, wicked smile, the effort taking every ounce of his strength. “Suck my dick, you darling little pufta.”
Valeri threw back his head and laughed out loud. Then he joined Yemlin on the bed, taking the older man’s flaccid penis in his mouth, licking and sucking the cocaine, and smacking his lips. “You really should have some champagne, you know,” the young man said.
“Later,” Yemlin replied tersely.
Valeri went back to his ministrations, and despite himself Yemlin responded.
When it was over the young man kept sucking, and Yemlin had to push him off. Valeri fell back, a glazed look in his eyes, the same stupid grin on his face that Renee had exhibited.
“S’that good?” Valeri asked, his voice slurred.
“Very good,” Yemlin said, the gorge rising in his throat. “I want you to stay right there for a minute, can you do that?”
“Sure thing, Viktor. You bet.”
Yemlin just made it to the toilet when he threw up. The champagne was sickly sweet and nauseating, but when he was finished he felt a little better.
He checked on Valeri who was still on the bed, and then checked Renee who was curled up on the couch and snoring softly, then he went back into the bathroom and took a hot shower. Afterward he got dressed while trying to avoid looking at Valeri, who was languidly playing with himself.
The cigarette box with the cocaine went back in his pocket, and then he sat on the edge of the bed.
Valeri reached for him, but Yemlin batted his hand away. “Can you hear me, Valeri?” Yemlin asked.
“You bet, Viktor. You want to do it again?”
“Do you remember last week the first time I was here?”
“Sure. Georgi said you were a big wheel.”
“Was the champagne drugged?”
