“That’s triple the usual rate.”
“He knows what’s in the third container. He’s squeezing us.”
I consider this. Fifty thousand is nothing compared to the value of four hundred rifles. But paying inflated bribes sets a bad precedent.
“Counter at thirty per container,” I say. “If he refuses, pull the shipment and reroute through Constan?a. We have people there who won’t create problems.”
“Rerouting delays delivery by two weeks. Markov won’t like that.”
“Markov will accept what we give him. He needs those rifles more than we need his money.”
“Understood. I’ll handle it.”
He hangs up. I make a note in my phone to follow up tomorrow.
Anna is watching me now. “Rifles?”
“Business.”
“That’s illegal.”
“Most profitable businesses are.”
“You’re selling weapons.”
“I’m facilitating transactions between parties who have mutual interests. What they do with the merchandise after delivery isn’t my concern.”
“That’s a convenient way to avoid responsibility.”
“Responsibility is a luxury for people who can afford morality. I deal in reality.”
She turns back to the window. “You’re a criminal.”
“I’m a businessman who understands that laws are guidelines written by people with power to control people without it. I simply operate in the spaces between their rules.”
“That’s still criminal.”
“Only if you’re caught.”
My phone rings again. Pavel, this time.
“Status?” I ask.
“The cocaine shipment from Medellín landed in Lisbon this morning. Portuguese customs cleared it without issues. It’s being broken down and repackaged now. Should be in transit to Moscow by Friday.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred kilos. Marinho’s people are sending an additional three hundred next month if this shipment moves smoothly.”
“Purity?”
“Eighty-seven percent. Higher than the last batch.”
“Good. Make sure our distributors in Moscow know it’s a premium product. Price it accordingly.”
“Already done. Yuri is handling the Moscow distribution. He’s projecting we can move it within three weeks.”
“Tell him two weeks. The longer it sits, the more risk we carry.”
