The Armenia Caper Read Online Free PDF

being in part a translator for government as necessary. She replied with candor yet guarded, that there had not been any talk inside about diamonds or what might have taken place. Even the disappearance of the designated recipient did not bring up any red flags by other departments. It was like they did not know anything about the arrangements with the government to receive gifts from the Israelis.
    Osanna had suspicions and expressed them to me. She thought the recipient inside was a Russian agent. Somebody not really engaged with the government but using it as a cover for numerous enterprises?
     
    Gratuitous diamonds would certainly accent interest. The insider just may have decided instead of taking a few off the top they would just take the whole satchel. The Israelis could do nothing. They were bound by the reality they were paying no taxes or bribes to conduct their business in the country.
     
    Maybe a lot more than diamonds was taking place. Corruption was part of the city’s daily digestion. It came to mind Artem was supposed to be the expert on all things Moscow. Maybe more than anyone thought. He could pick up the phone and talk to the Kremlin with ease.
     
    After a good bottle of wine it was time to visit the washroom. I came back to find Osanna gone. The waiter told me she just slipped out without a word. Out of nowhere my handler arrives, drops money on the table for the bill and says my options were doing a late dinner or going back to the apartment. The music was getting better as more musicians joined in to jam but my time was done.
     
    The apartment it was.
    Once in the door, I opened a can of Norwegian Spratts (sardines of sort) soaked in olive oil. I devoured them with a good piece of black bread. Washing it all down with the bottle of wine I took from the jazz bar. This exercise finished the evening.  Time was running out. Tomorrow I needed to track the stones and it would only happen if I can get to this mysterious missing man.

Chapter 14
    Blondie
    Next morning Artem was waiting for me in the coffee shop at the Marriott Hotel. So pedestrian. The coffee was typical wash offered by most restaurants everywhere in the world.
     
    As I approach Artem, four men jumped up from a nearby table. They ran at me, dropping me on the floor before there was any opportunity to defend myself. Placing me in a chair, I watched while other guests quickly simply walked away from our location. They had seen this before. In that I had not I was at a disadvantage.
     
    Artem begged off and he was motioned to leave while he could. Typically cold and calculated Artem never looked back. He was gone.
     
    These people insured I did not move from my chair. We were obviously waiting for someone. A blond woman walked toward us. She was likely in her early fifties, slim and very short.  Her face resembled prunes left in the sun.
     
    One chair was set for her and she sat down across from me. My observation was her blond was store bought dyed.  Smiling she spoke in perfect Oxford English. The message was clear. It was stated I had seen enough of Yerevan and I should leave.  I was beginning to like the city even with the up heaved streets and difficult living conditions.  One of the men had their foot on mine. I could not get up from the chair without tumbling over. I listened further.
     
    She introduced herself as Lilit. The question of the diamonds came around. Her comment was did I really believe diamonds were the center of the mystery. What did I know? My handlers gave me the intelligence and gave me the file to track.  Why was she asking me? I should be asking her.
     
    Apparently the diamonds made their way to Moscow as was the suspicion. According to this conversation the recipient was a double agent and Moscow could not hide their greed when he pointed out the fact cut diamonds were in his hands with no real paperwork to identify or track them. These were Agents too but untold I knew not who they worked for. Maybe