Page 72 of The Cellist

“A portion of it is already here in the West.”

“How much?”

“Let’s call it six billion dollars.”

“And the rest?”

“MosBank.”

“Which means it’s in rubles.”

Arkady nodded.

“How many rubles are we talking about?”

“Four hundred billion.”

“Five and a half billion dollars?”

“Five-point-four-seven, at today’s exchange rate. But who’s counting?”

“Where did it come from?”

“My construction company was recently awarded a contract for a large public works project in Siberia.”

“Do you intend to actuallyconstructany of it?”

“As little as possible.”

“So the money has been siphoned from the Federal Treasury.”

“In a manner of speaking.”

“I don’t deal in looted state assets. Or in rubles, for that matter.”

“Then I suppose you’ll have to convert my looted rubles into a reserve currency before investing the money on my behalf.”

“In what?”

“The usual. Privately held companies and industrial concerns, large real estate assets, perhaps a port or two. These assets will be held by Global Vision Investments, but the true ownership will reside with several corporate shell companiesthat you will create for me. You will keep these assets on your books until such time as I see fit to dispose of them.”

“I just founded a nongovernmental organization dedicated to promoting the spread of democracy around the world, including to the Russian Federation.”

“You would have a better chance of slowing the rise of the seas than bringing democracy to Russia.”

“But you see my point.”

“The fact that you are now a self-declared opponent of the Russian government plays to our advantage. No one would ever dream that you are doing business with someone like me.” Arkady admired his wristwatch—Patek Philippe of Geneva, one million Swiss francs—and then rose to his feet. “I was told your time was limited, as is mine. If you are interested in my offer, send word to my office by no later than five p.m. on Thursday. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll take my business elsewhere. No hard feelings.”

“And if I’m interested?”

“You will draw up a detailed prospectus and deliver it to my villa in Féchy on Saturday. Oksana and I are having a few friends for lunch. I’m sure you and your lovely wife will find the other guests interesting.”

“I have plans this weekend.”

“Cancel them.”

“I’m addressing a gathering of civil society leaders in Warsaw on Saturday.”