#43versionsbetter

Chassit could not quite suppress a smile as it sent Katia the link to a breaking news article--a link that would destroy itself as soon as she clicked on it,

“Local Renowned Scientist Dead From Misadventure”

“Antoine LeClerq, famed associate of Peter Litvenko, was pronounced dead at an area hospital Friday night of apparent heart failure. LeClerq had dined at an upscale restaurant earlier that evening, and it was reported that he insisted on ordering the Pufferfish.

“Pufferfish, when prepared incorrectly, can emit a potent neurotoxin. It is theorized that improper pufferfish butchering may have led do LeClerq’s death.

“When asked about the death, distraught head chef Yamaoka replied ‘I told him not to order it. He threatened to have us shut down. I am so sorry. I should have refused. I will never touch pufferfish again.’“

A few minutes later, Chassit sent a follow-up message:

Yury sighed a little, looking around at the Brussels HQ, a neat, streamlined, almost space-age building. He doubted he’d ever been here before. A task force officer was leading him down the corridors to the sick bay, then sparsely occupied. One agent had a broken arm, and was ranting in German, presumably about a mission or a target. Another was out cold, his head wrapped like he had brain surgery. Maybe they did that somewhere else and moved him.

@43versionsbetter

Yury examined the St. Petersburg penthouse apartment with the real estate agent, who was busy listing off all the top selling points of what was essentially a glorified and larger five-star hotel suite. He turned to the agent and asked, “Alright, but I intend to live here with my girlfriend and at least three cats. Is that possible?”

“Well, technically, yes,” the agent said sheepishly.

“Technically?”

“Pets are allowed, on the condition that you don’t make noise and leave their shit everywhere.”

“So invest in litter boxes, then.” The agent nodded, and Yury considered this for a moment. Maybe the place in Singapore would be better? It only had one bedroom, but they’ve made that work before. Or maybe he should consider Berlin, Moscow, Chicago, or somewhere else entirely.