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"I’ve been corandpa used to work here He and Drandfather Oskar Markov Warner gave me the rundown Luke, his sister, and their mom moved in with Oskar and his wife, Vera, after Luke’s father took off They all lived together until Oskar’s death froo, two years after his wife’s Both heavy se, because he still lights up I wonder if that has more to do with addiction or the simple fact that Rust still sarlic-permeated aroma It’s obviously an old store and family-run, based on the dated black-and-white checkered linoleum floor and the rows of black-and-white pictures ofone side The owner isn’t too concerned about design, and yet there is so you’d expect in an ethnic suburb and not in the trendy don core

Jars of pickled herring and borscht line the front of the lasses stands behind it "Luka!" he exclainize you, if not for your deda’s eyes"

This must be Dmitri

Luke dips his head, his usual confident srin "I’m sorry, I’ve been busy"

"How is your ood They send their love"

"And you’re taking good care of them?"

"Of course, D Luke to introduce us

"Dmitri, this is Rain"

Dmitri nods, first atfrom all the various scents "Yours?" he asks Luke

"No"

Another glance atand then grabs a slice of sala lass in front of the tray of ground meat "Half a pound each of the beef, veal, and pork That’s what you said, right?" He looks to ry you are"

Dmitri slaps double that onto a sheet of butcher’s paper, wrapping and taping with the expertise of athis for fifty-plus years He tosses the packages onto the counter without weighing the "Tell your uncle to swing by, okay? And soon Nikolai has some business for him"

Luke shares a look with D Nikolai and Rust Markov aren’t going to be discussing ht next door should have whatever else you need" Luke pulls his wallet out and begins rifling through an impressive stack of bills "I’ll meet you there in five"

He wants to talk to D with Nikolai, or so else? "I’," I say, looking for a reason to stay