Present Day , Minsk

<p>"Open the truck," said Andrea. Andrei raised the thumb at Plato as one would fo after accomplishing something great. Plato just put on his mask, which warned Andrei to do so too. Anthony followed Andrea to the back side of the truck. This time he was carrying a case with him. There were beeping sounds from the scanner alerting Andrei. This time it was the turn of Plato to raise his thumb as to suggest that things were going as planned. After a while they see Antony go into the building and soon after Andrea too went inside the building. Andrea stood at the entrance of the building and said loudly to Andrei, "close the truck." Andrei quickly closed the truck. The two of them removed the mask to hear what Andrea had to say clearly. But that was not to be the case. She kept the mask on and went inside the building, all they could hear from her was, "same time next week." Andrei ignited the truck and moved away from the drop. 
Andrei turned to Plato, "what was that?" he asked him. "What was what?" asked Plato back at him. "Andrea, she really keeps to herself, doesn't she?"said Andrei. 
"That could be how they work, gets the job done," replied Plato. "I just thought to know more about what was going on and you know maintain a healthy relationship with the people we are dealing with. There is a term called Hierarchy, suppose you have heard of it," said Plato. 
"Yes, and we are in the lower rungs of the ladder," replied Andrei. 
"Precisely," said Plato. "
And Plato, there is one more thing," said Andrei. "What is that?" asked Plato. 
"Our payments, we are to collect it from Romanov," teplied Andrei. 
"From old man Romanov," asked Plato. ""
"Yes, the old man Romanov," replied Andrei. 
"What about Sergey, it was he who said us to join in a operation that was devised by him."
Andrei turned over to Plato. "You are far too naïve young man, Sergey is merely a cog in the wheel."
"And you knew that all along," asked Plato. "That the plan was not devised by Sergey." 
"Yes, of course all along. Sergey, he himself told me that he was just the part of a larger plan, replied Andrei. Plato felt a bit disappointed that his friend would lead me the wrong way. 
"How far does it go up?" asked Plato. "And would it not put us in more peril. I do not know how far up it goes. Right now all roads lead up to the old man. Let us get our payments and not ask thing further," suggested Andrei. 
The truck returned late afternoon , back at the plant and as usual, Andrei dropped Plato at the entrance and went on to park it at the garage. Plato got changed and waited for his friend to come back, so that he could get his payment. As he stood there waiting, Dimitri came up on him. 
"Plato," he said. "Are you headed home?" asked Dimitri.
"No, I need to talk to Andrei about something," replied Plato. "Well then, I will see you later," said Dimitri and headed home. Andrei finally arrived. "Plato come here," said Andrei. Did we get the payment?" asked Plato. "Quiet," said Andrei.
Plato looked around and whispered the same thing to him. "I understood you the first time Plato and no we did not get the payment," replied Andrei with a tone that suggested he wanted to scare Plato. The lights flickered and all could be seen was the sinister eyes of Andrei.
"What's going on?" asked Plato. 
"It is just the lights," replied Andrei. 
"Romanov said we will get it next week, along with what we are owed for this week," said Andrei quickly changing the subject. 
"Plato looked a little concerned this whole thing is a bit strange," said Plato. 
"But anyway Plato," said Andrei, "I think we ought to trust the old man this time. I do not think that he is going to cheat us."
As they were speaking, a figure loomed large on the top floor. Plato turned back and all he could see was a shadow behind the glass watching them. "Some one is watching us Andrei," said Plato. 
"Let us get out of here," he said. 
"Who?" Andrei turned back. "I think you are imagining strange things Plato," Plato had already made up his mind to walk away from the plant and head home. Andrei had no choice but to catch up with him. "Plato, wait," he said. Plato did not slow down as he just kept walking. Andrei finally caught up with him.
"What is wrong with you man?" asked Andrei.
"That shadow that I saw was Sergey," said Plato.
"Sergey you are seeing things man," said Andrei. 
"I'm fairly certain that it was Sergey," said Plato. 
"So, if it was him , why are you walking away. Why do you not go up and meet him?"'asked Andrei. 
"I don't know, it just did not make sense to go up and meet him, Andrei, I do not think that he is the same person we knew. That Sergey is long gone," said Plato
."Maybe so, but he is still our friend," said Andrei.
"Maybe so, I do not wish to find that out today," replied Plato.</p>