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We each drank a shot of cognac and got ready to leave. I didn’t want to stay there another minute. Max agreed. He grumbled, unhappy that I made him come all this way, wasting the precious time of Moscow nightlife just to drink cheap cognac in a ridiculous café. Max and I were arguing when a man who sat at the table by the door approached the bar.
“Here you go, Eric, there is enough there. Thank you!” He said and put the cash on the counter.
“My pleasure! Have a good one!” The bartender smiled.
The man nodded, turned around and met my gaze. Clearly, he recognized me as well and greeted me with a confused nod. I nodded back. He walked off hurriedly.
The interaction wasn’t lost on Max, who instantly pressed up against me, looking sideways at the gray-haired man, and asked:
“Is that s
