Contacting the Russians - Dmitri wants to meet

     "Interesting that there is a phone number and it is a Warsaw number."  Artur noted and suggested we call.  "Let me call and speak in Polish...if they can speak Polish, that is." I told Artur that this would be a very unusual situation if Poles are actors in this operation. He agreed but was certain that any Poles would be under the thumb of Russian operators.

The conversation went something like this:

     "Hello, Dmitri here." (English)

     "Good day. I'm Artur. Can you speak Polish?" (Polish)

     "Not well but passable. Better in Russian or English." (Dmitri in fair Polish)

     "I am calling about the fax related to high purity aluminum and titanium. Can you tell me more or  can we meet to talk about it? I see you are in Warsaw...or at least this is a Warsaw number." (Artur and Dmitri speak in English for the rest of the conversation.)
   
     "Yes, I am in Warsaw. Will you be representing yourself and, if not, who is the buyer? Are you an intermediary? What nationality are you and who is the buyer...or interested party?"

     "There will be an American with me representing American interests here in Warsaw. He is the Managing Director of the Polish office of a multinational firm. And may I ask who you are and who you represent? Also, do you have something concrete we can look at that will help us figure out if this is really something we want to pursue?"

     "Just as the fax says, there is a group of Russian businessmen and some scientists, also from Russia, involved in the sale of these items. I am part of the business side of this deal and I am closely connected to the scientific interests that have made this opportunity available. I have papers, photos, and a proposed 'extraction plan' with me. So...is this American just an intermediary or somehow connected to the actual buyer? And what company is he the local representative for?"

     "If you wouldn't mind, we can discuss this at the meeting. Where and when shall we meet?"

     "Tomorrow at 10am at the Marriott upstairs cafe ok for you?"

     "See you there at 10...with my American friend."

     Artur shrugged his shoulders at me, "He says he has papers, photos, and some kind of 'extraction plan', whatever that fucking means." 

     "So we are meeting tomorrow?  What's this guy's name?"

     "Yep. Dmitri at the Marriott at 10am in the upstairs cafe."

     "Good"

     "So, are you interested in this because of Dennis at Teledyne? Somehow connecting him to it hoping he will be the buyer?"

     "Maybe. I'll probably run this fax by him and see what his reaction is. He'll roll his eyes and say it's bullshit...then run over to his Teletext and squeal on me to the CIA guys two seconds after I walk out the door.  By the way, where are Toby and Nick?   It's so quiet in here. Strange."

     "Nick and Toby left for St. Petersburg this morning. They said goodbye to their girlfriends, picked up their stuff and left. Nick was all smiles. He got his insurance check for the equipment that he claimed had been stolen. He's all good for St. Pete now for a few months, I guess."

     "So what will you do without Toby? Write and publish on your own?"

     "Most likely back to the marketing and design stuff. My mother is leaving me this apartment so it's officially mine. I'd like to pull some money out of my hat so I have my eye on a coffee deal in Africa. Kind of risky but I'm talking to a trade rep from China in town. He's a rich motherfucker and knows how to pull these scary deals off.  You are welcome to partner with me if you are interested."

     "Let's see how this thing goes tomorrow. I may get a work gig out of it if I handle it right.  I could use some of that deal training you will be getting from your Chinese contact, though.  Thanks for the offer."

     I almost told Artur at that moment that the gig might be for the US Government but thought better at the last moment. I'm glad I held off.