Chapter 57

The stereo played almost at the minimum volume limit, playing the contents of a memory card that had been left inserted. There was something strange in the air, something oppressive. It was a very special kind of stillness. Silence of anticipation. It felt like a tickle on my gums, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up in response to the sensation.

“Spit it out, Sebastian,” I ended up saying. “You chose to come back to me for a reason. Take advantage of the next forty minutes.”

“Okay, you got me. You are good, sharp senses,” he commented, with a smile that made many expression wrinkles form around his eyes, hidden behind his dark glasses. “I like you, Nikolai Sergei, very much. You are strong and you have decision-making power. I was just wondering what the deal is with that woman, Johanna.”

“My business, that’s right.”

Sebastian whistled through his teeth, I don’t know if in alert or appreciation.

“Oh. You act with great zeal in everything rela