The Mingrelian by Ed Baldwin Read Free Book Online Page B

constrained resources.”
    “Constrained resources?” Ratface asked.
    What a dunce, Lado thought. They send this guy in here to nose about, and he doesn’t even understand what we’re doing.
    “He launders our oil money,” Eskander said, now with a derisive tone to his voice. They didn’t use that term, even here in the office, but with some people you have to be blunt.
    Lado said, “We have been given certain assurances by the government of Iran that our relationship was secure. Have you reason to suspect that trust has been breached?”
    Lado knew he was being foolhardy now, pushing this guy by suggesting that the security breach was in Iran and not in Georgia.
    “No, the security of our financial dealings remains strong,” Ratface said. “My visit here concerns issues of loyalty. We have reason to suspect some of our expatriate businessmen may have been passing state secrets to foreign powers.”
    Oh, that spewed ice water all over Lado’s bravado.
    Eskander got pale again.
    Now it was out in the open. This wasn’t about banking regulations and money laundering. Now they were playing in a game in which players are eliminated for disloyalty. Suddenly, and with a frightening vigor, friends and family are called in, imprisoned, tortured, executed.
    Lado and Eskander were both players in that game. Did VEVEK know that? Lado was suddenly jelly inside.
    Ratface said, “We feel the need to more closely monitor our expatriate workforce. For that reason, we want to have access to the account data of Iranian nationals doing business in Tbilisi. Your two banks have, I believe, the majority of that business.”
    A positive development; they didn’t know about Lado and Eskander, they just wanted to spy on their own citizens.
    “Highly unusual and completely contrary to Georgian banking regulations,” Lado said, heart still in his throat but taking an aggressive posture again.
    “Regulations you are already violating, I believe,” Ratface retorted immediately.
    “With great care and considerable effort.”
    “For which you are compensated.”
    “Yes, well, compensation is the issue then,” Lado said.
    Yes, let this guy think Lado is just another corrupt capitalist. Which, it dawned on him then, was true.
    “Yes, compensation does seem to come up in conversations such as this,” Ratface said. “I’m not empowered to negotiate your compensation for providing us the information we require, only to open the dialogue. As for your bank, Mr. Khorasani, you are a branch of an Iranian bank with headquarters in Tehran. Permission has already been granted and compensation, if any, will be addressed at that level. Permission has also been granted for your cooperation in assisting Mr. Chikovani in complying with our request and in transmitting that data to Tehran, if it pleases Allah.”
    “Yes,” Eskander said, looking a little confused. “I haven’t had any communication from Tehran on this matter.”
    “No, not through the usual channels on a matter this important. Perhaps the next time you visit Tehran you will be informed,” Ratface said, taking a paper out of his coat pocket and handing it to Eskander. “Here is the list of individuals we wish to monitor for unusual transactions, and the office in Tehran where the information should be forwarded each month.”
    *****
    Lado’s hands shook as he placed his fedora just so on his head, looking at his reflection in the plate glass window of the Petroleum Bank of Iran as he pushed open the door. He walked quickly to a bar across the street. He’d made it to the elevator ahead of the VEVEK minister, not wanting to appear to have any post-meeting collusion with Eskander. That would come later. The minister was just coming off the elevator behind him.
    “Vodka,” Lado said before he even reached the bar. He threw back the first shot and put his glass back on the bar. Cold and neat, he felt the vodka hit bottom. The bartender was quick with another icy shot, and he