Black Widow

inexhaustible.

Sergei shifted as he stood outside the car and watched the hotel's front doors. They were impressive, made even more so by the building. At thirty-four stories, Hotel Ukrainia was the tallest hotel in Europe. It was also the second tallest of the Seven Sisters, a name British imigrants gave to select Russian skyscrapers.

'Yes,' Sergei admitted. 'I am nervous.' He thought it was possible the liveried doorman made more in tips every year than his salary.

'So am I.'

Surprised, Sergei glanced at the older man.

A grin pulled at Mikhalkov's thin lips. He ran a hand over his face. 'You did not suspect that?'

'No, I did not.'

Mikhalkov shrugged and returned his gaze to the hotel. 'We live in interesting times. Dealing with something like this, we must be very careful. Very dangerous people live in buildings such as this.'

'How do you know we are not chasing one of those people now?'

Mikhalkov sucked on his cigarette and expelled a breath. 'I do not. I just hope it would not be true.' He smiled mirthlessly. 'Our job would be even harder, yes?'

'Yes.'

A cell phone rang and Mikhalkov pulled it from his pocket. He answered and listened for a moment. Then he said 'thank you' and put the phone away like he had just taken a business call. But he dropped his cigarette to the pavement and crushed it underfoot.

'Ulyana is on her way,' he said.

* * *

Ulyana Bove strode through the hotel door like a model taking the runway. Everything about the woman, her look and her every move, was designed to turn men's heads. Her blond hair caressed her slim shoulders and a black dress sheathed her perfect figure. Her complexion, pale as milk, warmed briefly when she lit a small black cigar.

A young male valet sprinted for the parking lot as soon as he saw Ulyana emerge. By the time Sergei crossed the street at Mikhalkov's heels, the valet had returned with a midnight-blue sports car that Sergei didn't recognize. He thought the vehicle was British or Italian. It definitely hadn't come from a Russian factory, and it was nothing he'd ever be able to afford.

Ulyana glanced up at Sergei and Mikhalkov as they approached. Casual interest showed on her features when she saw Sergei, then the look hardened when she recognized Mikhalkov.

'I had hoped you had died by now,' she said in an icy voice.

'Hardly the greeting one would expect from an old comrade,' Mikhalkov protested gently. He smiled, but the effort never reached his eyes.

'I ran out of kind greetings for you the first time you betrayed me.'

Mikhalkov looked saddened. 'There was a time when you were glad to see me.'

'Only because there were worse men in my life.'

Looking uncertain, the valet climbed out of the sports car.

'That will be all. Thank you.' Mikhalkov crumpled a tip into the young man's hand and gestured him away.

The valet went reluctantly. 'Shall I call the police, Miss Bove?'

Mikhalkov flashed his credentials. 'I will let you know if any more police are needed. For the moment I think we can handle this in a polite manner,' he growled.

The valet left and quickly conferred with the doorman. Sergei figured they only had a few minutes before hotel security stepped into the mix.

'What do you want?' Ulyana asked.

'Why did you claim Emile IvanoVs body from the funeral home?'

Ulyana took a drag on her slim black cigar to buy herself time. Sergei knew the movement was calculated. She never once glanced in his direction, dismissing him out of hand.

'I did no such thing,' she stated finally.

Mikhalkov sighed. 'I had hoped we could conduct our business without lies.'

'As I recall, our business was based on lies. You were never what you claimed to be.'

'I do not have time for lies right now, Ulyana. These matters are of grave importance.'

'They are your matters. Not mine.'

For a moment Mikhalkov was silent. Then, 'In some ways, Ulyana, the years have been good to you. You are off the streets now and you ply your wares in buildings such as this with wealthy people.'

'And important people,' Ulyana said. 'Forget that only at your peril. Many of my clients can have you sent to Siberia to finish out your days.'

Mikhalkov shrugged. 'That is not so easily done as you might believe. And before that happened, I would bring media attention to you and whoever you have been seeing in there.'

'You do not know enough to hurt me.'

'It would not take me long to find out. You should be grateful I came straight to you, instead of investigating what you were doing. And you need to reconsider your threat.'

Ulyana lifted a challenging eyebrow.

'You may find that the clients you're currently servicing would rather lose the service than try to interfere with the police. I'm sure they would also prefer to cut all contact with that service.'

Sergei thought Ulyana paled a little, and her hand shook as she drew her cigar to her lips.

'Would you really do that to me?' she asked in an uncertain voice.

'Yes,' Mikhalkov answered immediately. 'You should not even have to ask that question.'

Ulyana frowned. 'What do you want?'

'Why did you pick up Emile IvanoVs body, and how was he killed?'

Ulyana shrugged. 'He was an acquaintance.'

Mikhalkov chuckled. 'Not on your worst day.'

As if flattered, the woman smiled a little. 'You are correct, of course. I went there as a friend.'

'To claim the body?'

'Yes.'

'How long had you been friends?' Mikhalkov asked.

Ulyana flicked ash from her cigar. 'I don't always keep track of such things.'

'I've known you for twenty-eight years.'

Sergei was caught by surprise. The woman was older than he'd believed.

'You keep up with such things?' Ulyana asked.

'I would never forget meeting you.'

'Always with the sweet words.' The woman patted Mikhalkov's cheek.

'You,' Mikhalkov said, 'did not know Emile Ivanov.'

Merriment twinkled in the woman's eyes. 'No.'

'If the police had known who Ivanov was, as you did, though you identified him by another name…' Mikhalkov paused to let that sink in '…they would have called his wife. So someone called you to go there looking for your husband.'

'I hate it when you do these mental gymnastics.' Ulyana frowned.

'I have never seen anyone who knew the contents of a man's wallet like you. We each have our gifts. You were asked to claim IvanoVs body under another name.'

'Yes.' Ulyana waved the admission away with her cigar.

'Who asked you to do such a thing?'

Ulyana stared at Mikhalkov. 'I am almost tempted to find out if you would truly turn me over.'

Although Mikhalkov never lost the smile, Sergei saw everything change to edged steel within the man. When he spoke, his voice was soft. 'You do not want to do that.'

'What if I said the man who asked me to do this was dangerous?'

'I knew that from the beginning.'

'You know, if I do not tell you his name, I could be protecting us both.'