"He sounds like he doesn't believe me, but I tell him if it doesn't work he can call me back, so he goes along with it. Five minutes later he calls me and tells me the cop took the bag and left. Then he demands to know what was in the bag. 'A good Polish ham and a carton of cigarettes,' I said, 'What did you think he wanted?'" 

His companion chuckled. "Poor man," she sympathized, "They probably didn't teach him about that in accounting school." She wagged a mocking finger at Igor, "But I'm surprised at you -- A dedicated reformer like you stooping to bribery. Doesn't that violate your principles?" 

"No, Margaret, that's just a business expense," answered Igor nonchalantly. "If we didn't pay it in graft, we'd pay it in taxes to raise salaries and keep the police honest. And the bureaucrats would steal or waste a big chunk of that. All I want out of reform is to make sure the police try to stop violence and no one is getting rich without doing something useful."

"Well, if you can make it happen in Moscow, let me know how and we'll try it in DC," answered Margaret. By mutual consent they rose from the table and made their way out of the deli. 

Watching Igor walk up the street, Margaret had to smile. Definitely not a New Yorker, she reflected, watching the way his eyes danced around the crowd. Too interested in other people, and too much energy. His wavy hair and infectious grin only added to the effect; charming, but definitely alien in this environment. But then, he always looked a little out of place in Moscow too. At least the suit's a good fit -- Makes him look rangy rather than gangly. 

Thoughts of image turned her mind to her friend's situation. "How's the job-hunting going?" She asked, "Any good leads?"

 "If there were," he joked, "I'd have had lunch with them, not you." 

"Mmm," she mumbled sympathetically, "Sorry to hear it."

"Oh, things aren't so bad," Igor responded. "I've found some technical positions I'm sure I could get, they're just not very interesting. As long as I'm spending some time abroad, I'd like to see something more exotic than a computer screen. But the kinds of consulting jobs I did back in Moscow are hard to get here -- You need lots of references, solid paper credentials. Here, I tell them all the different projects I worked on in the space program, and they conclude I can't hold a job." He chuckled 

Margaret hesitated, then said, "There's someone I think you should call. An old friend of mine by the name of David Armitage -- He runs a private investigations company in San Francisco which is looking for good people. 

"Private investigations?" Asked Igor in surprise, "Taking pictures of cheating husbands?"

"No, nothing like that," she replied, amused at the thought of David involved in such things. "More -- Unusual kinds of jobs. Solving big problems. I think your talents might lend themselves to something like that. Would you like their number?"

 The Russian looked intrigued. "Yes, thank you." Margaret reached into her jacket for a leather-bound address book; Igor produced an electronic notepad. "Technophobe," He accused mockingly as he copied down the number.

"Number-cruncher," she answered in the same tone. "If you move on, leave a message with your new number on my machine. I'll call you in two weeks when I'm back from Malaysia."

"Looking forward to it," He answered, shaking her hand farewell. "Good luck exploiting the emerging market."

They said their good-byes, and Igor disappeared into the crowd on the street.

A pretty, Persian receptionist looks up from the computer screen when Igor steps through the elevator doors and into the AI Inc offices. "Hello," she begins brightly, "How can I help you?" Miriam, the nameplate reads, is sitting behind a mahogany counter, and beside her lie books on advanced C++ programming. She's dressed casually for her surroundings -- expensive rugs and statues decorate the open foyer -- but she's nothing compared to the wild-looking woman flipping through a folder beside her. The woman -- of Vietnamese extraction -- has fuchsia hair and nails, and is wearing a lime green leather skirt and top. She glances up to hear Igor's response, and the Russian gets the distinct impression he's being measured.

Igor gives the receptionist a friendly smile. "I'm Igor Chernikov," he introduces himself. "I have an appointment with Mr. Armitage." He throws the Asian woman a respectful nod, acknowledging her presence without requiring her to join the conversation.

I should have gone with a bolder tie, he thinks, trying not to let his surprise at the women's attire show. He keeps his manner relaxed as the receptionist pushes her books away to check her calendar.

"Oh, right," Miriam says. "Mr. Armitage is expecting you, Mr. Chernikov." She has a tolerable Russian accent as she says his name, Igor notices. "Right this way."

She leads the scientist past a full conference room and several occupied offices before knocking lightly on the door. A muffled "Come in," and Miriam opens the door.

"Mr. Chernikov to see you," she says.

"Thanks, Miriam," Armitage says, standing to greet Igor. "Please, come in, Mr. Chernikov," the older man says as Miriam shuts the door behind them. Like the rest of the office suite -- so far as Igor has seen -- the room is done in mahogany and dark tones. A parrot sits in a wrought-iron cage next to a window overlooking the city, and on the walls hang pictures of Armitage and military friends, as well as several abstract paintings. On the man's desk are pictures of two children.

Armitage himself is a well-built man in his fifties, with gray hair and piercing eyes. He's dressed in an olive suit, though the jacket has been draped over a nearby chair.

"It's good to meet you at last," he says, shaking Igor's hand. "Please, do sit down. I must say, Margaret is very impressed with you -- and that's high praise indeed. I don't think I've ever heard her say more nice things about anyone, myself included." He grins. "So how was your flight?"

"It was fine," Answers Igor. "I enjoyed the landing -- The hills around the city are beautiful from the air." He smiles and nods to the window. "Though it doesn't compare with San Francisco itself. It's worth climbing the hills for the view alone."

"It's certainly beautiful -- I grew up not far from here, and while I've spent my adult life away from here, it's nice to be back," Armitage responds pleasantly. "Have you had much time to see the sights yet? Alcatraz is always entertaining -- or so my children tell me -- and the boat ride out gives you the best views of all."

"No, I haven't had much chance to look around the city," comments Chernikov. "But I'll have to keep the Alcatraz trip in mind." Ask about his family? He wonders. No, it seems like everyone here is divorced -- Best let it go.

"You must have gotten to see quite a few cities, during your military service," Igor remarks, gesturing to the pictures. "How long did you serve?"

Armitage doesn't blink. "Twenty-five years. I took resigned my commission for a while -- to finish my education, and to teach -- but couldn't stand life without the Navy." He smiles slightly. "I don't think this is the job I would have chosen for myself, but I'm finding it as interesting as any ship I've been posted to."

"And it's not the type of job I'd think someone of your background would be interested in, either," Armitage comments. "Your credentials are impeccable, and Margaret's recommendation, as I said earlier, is very well taken. But what brings a nuclear physicist-turned-entrepreneur to San Francisco to seek employment with a private investigations firm?"

"Oh, a number of things," answers Igor with a shrug. "I spent a good deal of time consulting for Western companies in Moscow, and was frequently told, 'That's not how we do things back in the States.' So I wanted to see how things are done," He smiles. "So far, I've learned that paper credentials are very important here. There are technical jobs I could take, but they're mostly dead-ends and the work is very repetitive. Margaret mentioned your company specialized in unusual problems, and that a lack of formal business training would not be an issue. So," He concludes, gesturing broadly, "Here I am."

I wish I knew more about these 'unusual problems,' thinks Igor. They don't advertise, there are no specifics listed on their web page...Something is very odd about this company. But Margaret vouched for Armitage, so whatever they do, it's legitimate. Mostly, anyway.

"Unusual is probably the best word for what things are like around here," Armitage agrees. "Sometimes I wonder -- quite honestly -- if I'm running a business or a lunatic asylum. But we've had a good success rate, the clients are satisfied, and no one's quit on me in a year and a half of this, so I guess we're doing something right."

"What type of consulting did you do in Moscow?" Armitage asks.

"Various technical problems -- Networking and communications, a little with transportation problems as well," Answers Igor. "The toughest problems for foreign businesses usually center on the human element." Seeing Armitage's questioning look, he adds, "The system is in transition. No one really knows who has the means or authority to get things done, so finding equipment or getting authorization for particular projects takes some imagination." The Russian smiles, "Sometimes I had to convince people they had the authority to sign a contract before I could convince them to sign it. Once I even had to explain the concept of a competitive bid to a local electrician and get him to submit one so that I could reject it, giving me the paper trail to go with the company I knew could get the job done." Igor laughs. "I took him out for lunch later -- He was convinced I'd cheated him, but couldn't figure out how."

Armitage laughs. "So you've pretty much left physics behind, then?" he asks.

"Oh, I try to stay current," answers Chernikov, "But yes, I haven't been a practicing physicist in over six years -- And even then, with the space program, much of my work was really engineering." He hesitates, knowing Armitage expects more from him, but not sure how much to say. "To be honest, I got tired of doing the things you have to do to get and keep a good research job. There are interesting problems outside of physics, and you don't have to spend time begging for money to solve them."

"A lot of my friends in research have said similar things," Armitage says, nodding. "I'm curious as to what Margaret told you about our 'interesting problems' that we deal with here. What have you heard about AI Inc?"

Oh, good, thinks Igor. This is the part where I have to tell him I don't have the faintest idea what he does, but I'm desperate enough to fly clear across a continent to talk to him anyway. "Margaret didn't seem to

want to go into detail," answers Chernikov, "And your web page states that discretion is an important part of the service. So my impression was that you solve problems important people don't want to admit exist, tracking down debtors or missing assets. You don't go to any great lengths to advertise, so your name must be known in specific circles, but I don't know which." The Russian shrugs. "Margaret assured me you are an ethical businessman, so I decided to follow up. But I'm afraid I have to turn the question around: What sort of opportunities could there be for me with your firm?"

"That's fair enough," Armitage says. "It's why I was curious about the degree of research you've been involved in -- certainly scientific issues come our way, but not in the type of depth you've been engaged in. No," he adds, " We solve unusual problems of many kinds. The firm was my father's idea, and his legacy. He realized that -- for a variety of reasons -- there were situations that neither agencies of the government or paranormal adventurers -- could deal with. Before I go out on a limb, however, I'd like to ask that nothing I tell you leaves the room, regardless of what you and I decide about your future here."

"I give you my word," replies the Russian.

Armitage continues, "When my father first called me home, to tell me he was dying, I'd already heard of his dream for the firm. When Dad was younger, he'd been involved in…" Armitage looks embarrassed, "Well, he'd been involved in many unofficial investigations of a mystical bent. Honestly, that's what I thought he was doing here -- trying to recapture some of his lost youth. But when I started working here, in earnest, I realized it was bigger than that. We're a small agency now, but we've a very large mission. What I'd thought would be wild goose chases and ghost hunts has become investigations of government plots and intrigues that would curl Oliver Stone's hair. We do take some for-profit cases to keep up appearances -- we took one for Margaret some months ago -- but for the most part, I have the finances and business interests to bankroll AI Inc. as a hobby if I wanted to.

"The opportunities we have to offer you are a constantly changing and challenging work environment, and the ability for you to use your problem solving skills in a unique way. I know that's vague, but there you have it. You'll also have the chance to work with some of the most talented -- and interesting -- people in the field. The investigators here come from all walks of life and all manner of backgrounds."

Igor sits for a moment, stunned. "So you're not really a corporation at all?" He asks in amazement. His accent thickens, betraying his bewilderment as he continues, "You are a -- Philanthropic organization. But why pretend to be -- Oh," He breaks off, comprehension dawning. "If you declared yourself a player in the game, these conspiracies, they would move against you. But as a corporation, you are a pawn in their game, and they will look for your client -- "

"Who doesn't exist," finishes Armitage.

"Magnificent," breathes Chernikov in Russian, forgetting to use English. He looks over Armitage again, trying to parse through the situation. He didn't know anything about these conspiracies, and Armitage had said something about mystical investigations, which sounded implausible to say the least. But Margaret trusted him, so he was almost certainly not insane -- He was probably exactly the kind of levelheaded, practical man a Navy captain had to be. And everything Armitage had said fit with the corporate image -- No advertisements or endorsements, no public image, and a staff who could dress without fear of meeting clients. Unbelievable as it seemed, the picture was consistent.

So assume it's true, thinks Igor. This man Armitage is very shrewd -- He has arranged things so he can move openly without exposing himself. Had I been half as clever in Moscow, I would still be there now, instead of letting myself get sent running... The flash of bitterness accompanying that memory prompts another thought: If I returned to Moscow with this man backing me, with the resources at his disposal, it would go very differently. Very differently indeed.

It would take a few years, he concludes. I would have to prove myself to him, find out how he operates, learn his tactics. But with patience...Igor finds satisfaction in the thought. It was galling to be sent running, and here was a way to turn the tables. The work was certain to be dangerous, probably more dangerous then staying in Moscow would have been, but there was the chance of a real pay-off.

He realizes he has been staring off into space, past Armitage. Returning to reality, his face breaks into a wide grin. "So," Igor asks, settling back into his chair. "What kind of benefits plan do the Men in White hats offer?"