"Distance, of course," Shepard answers, but he keeps his voice low, just in case. By this point, he's decided to contribute to the charade that he's slowly falling under the Russian's influence by swapping his police officer's uniform for a leather jacket.

Since there isn't any audible disapproval on Erik's end -- something he suspects a well-and-truly converted Russian sympathizer wouldn't be short of -- he risks looking up.

"I don't think I'm getting anywhere, though."