"Smith, Martin Cruz - Arkady Renko 03 - Red Square" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Martin Cruz)

Rudy said, 'Kim's there for effect. I'm like Switzerland, neutral, everybody's banker.
Everybody needs me. Arkady, we're the only part of the economy that works. Look around. Long
Pond mafia, Baumanskaya mafia, local boys who know how to deliver goods. Lyubertsy mafia, a
little tougher, a little dumber, just want to improve themselves.'
'Like your partner, Borya?' Arkady tried tightening the spools with a key.
'Borya's a great success story. Any other country would be proud of him.'
'And the Chechens?'
'Granted, Chechens are different. If we were all a pile of skulls, they wouldn't mind. But
remember one thing, the biggest mafia is still the Party. Never forget that.'
Arkady opened the transmitter and slapped out the batteries. Through the window he noticed
customers growing restless, although Rudy seemed in no hurry. If anything, after his initial
nervousness, he was in a serene, valedictory mood.
The problem was that the transmitter was militia goods, never strong cause for confidence.
Arkady twisted the connecting jacks. 'You're not scared?'
'I'm in your hands.'
'You're only in my hands because we have enough to put you in a camp.'
'Circumstantial evidence of non-violent crimes. Incidentally, another way to say 'non-violent
crimes' is 'business'. The difference between a criminal and a businessman is that the
businessman has imagination.' Rudy glanced at the rear seat. 'I have enough technology here for
a space station. You know, that transmitter of yours is the only thing in this car that doesn't
work.'
'I know, I know.' Arkady lifted the contact prongs and gently slipped the batteries back in.
'There was a woman in your car. Who is she?'
'I don't know. I really don't know. She had something for me.'
'What?'
'A dream. Big plans.'
'Is greed involved?'
Rudy let a modest smile shine. 'I hope so. Who wants a poor dream? Anyway, she's a friend.'
'You don't seem to have any enemies.'
'Chechens aside, no, I don't think I do.'
'Bankers can't afford enemies?'
'Arkady, we're different. You want justice. No wonder you have enemies. I have smaller aims
like profit and pleasure, the way sane people live around die world. Which of us helps other
people more?'
Arkady hit the transmitter with the recorder.
'I love to watch Russians fix things,' Rudy said.
'You're a student of Russians?'
'I have to be, I'm a Jew.'
The spools started to roll.
'It's working,' Arkady announced.
'What can I say? Once again, I'm amazed.'
Arkady laid transmitter and recorder under the notes. 'Be careful,' he said. 'If there's trouble,
shout.'
'Kim keeps me out of trouble.' When Arkady opened the door to leave, Rudy added, 'In a place
like this, you're the one who has to be careful.'
As the line outside pressed forward, Kim pushed it back with rapid shoves. He gave Arkady a
black stare as he brushed by.
Jaak had bought a short-wave radio that hung like a space-age valise from his hand. The
detective wanted to stow his purchase in the Zhiguli.
On the way to the car, Arkady said, 'Tell me about this radio. Short wave, long wave, medium