‘The world,’ Morosov announced, ‘always simpler after vodka.’
‘Is that why you’re late?’ Dianna Aldis asked, archly. ‘You have that call from Dodoma at ten, remember.’
‘Tanzania? Plenty time. No worries, yes?’ Morosov grinned at his assistant. He liked Dianna, even though she’d not been his first choice for office help. His first had been younger, and prettier, and had allowed Morosov to explore her body for the best part of two weeks without a word of complaint. Then she quit, leaving him with no support for an upcoming meeting with a well-connected Zambian.
Dianna, who’d been sent by a temp agency at short notice, was significantly older, though still attractive, in that English, lady-of-the-manor kind of way. It hadn’t been long before he placed his first friendly hand on top of her breast.
‘Let go of me,’ she’d said, in an even Home Counties accent. She might just as easily have been asking for a cup of tea.
‘Why? It’s just bit of fun. Don’t be boring. You need job, yes?’
‘I need the job,’ Dianna had agreed. ‘I’m divorcing, my shit of a husband has run off with some bimbo, I’ve a teenage son who refuses to talk to me, and bills to pay. But I don’t need this job half as much as you need your fingers.’
‘My fingers?’
‘Your fingers. Take them off me right now, or I’ll break ’em.’
Laughing, he’d allowed his hand to drop away. He’d kept his fingers to himself after that. And it was worth the effort. Dianna Aldis had proved herself to be an exceptionally good assistant, and – for a woman, at least – highly intelligent.
‘I drink vodka,’ he explained, bringing himself back to the present. ‘Then I get great idea, then I get woman, then I sleep. No vodka, no great idea, and woman not so much fun, no?’
Dianna sighed.
‘At some point, I imagine, we will get to this great idea of yours?’
‘Da. Woman not worth further discussion. But I thinking about, ah, side project. Not paying but possible very big profit if go well. Also, big personal happiness. Understand?’
‘Not really, but do go on.’ Dianna reached for a pen and paper.
‘I need you find country where US dollar used as currency.’
‘OK. And by “country” do you mean countries where the dollar is the only currency, or should I also look for countries where the dollar is commonly accepted?’
‘Hah! Good thinking. Both, yes.’
‘Is that it?’
‘No. That is not great idea. Get country and then identify city with population one million more big.’
‘And if the country has no city that size?’
‘Then country third-world toilet. You forget this.’
‘Understood. And for city size, do I just look at the city population or the suburbs as well?’
‘Hmmm. Suburbs, also, I am thinking. Da. Suburbs also is good.’ He grinned expansively. ‘Now come great idea. In each city with suburbs one million big, I want list all Eastern Orthodox church. Russian, Greek, Serbian, all church. But only Eastern Orthodox. No Catholic. And for sure no Protestant.’
Dianna’s lips twitched with what might have been mild surprise.
‘And why am I doing this?’
‘Because person I look believe in God. Big time.’