24Malcolm Barstow, Castillac’s most promising young thief, realized early on that he had gotten in over his head with these Russians. But in the optimistic way of young people, he believed he would be able to figure out an escape at some point down the road. So rather than admit his mistake and extricate himself right then, he pretended to be enthusiastic about helping the Vasilievs.
He had met Vasily and Fedosia on Sunday, when they had spied him stealing a magazine from the Presse. Fedosia walked up to him and grabbed him by the arm, suggesting that they take a few steps into an alleyway where they could talk in private.
Malcolm whipped his straight brown hair out of his face by jerking his head to the side, giving the woman the side-eye. He was good at sizing up strangers, and this on
