Chapter 36
Two nights later as Irina had directed, Michael went to the Hermitage employee entrance a little before midnight. The night was freezing with an icy wind blowing off the Neva. Michael could scarcely imagine how cold St. Petersburg must be in the dead of winter, since even in spring the chance of snow was high.
The door was locked, but the guard opened it for him. “Irina Petrescu?” he asked.
“Yes,” Michael said.
The guard nodded, gestured for Michael to step inside the building, and made a call.
He stood in the hall and waited, and soon Irina appeared. She had her coat over her arm. “I was thinking that, since it’s freezing outside and many places are closed this time of night, we should stay here in the museum. We can talk without being disturbed.”
Michael was surprised, b
