Soprano didn't know anything about the symbols, but calling her back paid off all the same. The Celestial Echo were not the usual sort of religious nuts. They did not entice the lost and aimless in by lovebombing, and none of their number sang in airports to spread the truth of their beliefs.

But they did have one aspect in common with your garden variety cult, and that was an interest in taking your money. Soprano had access to Meister's main bank account due to his disinterest in handling his own financial affairs, and the recent online purchases were definitely not Alto going on a spending spree. The last one was two days ago and it had nearly cleaned out his account.

This isn't him. They got his password. Betting his private account's also swiped. WTF.

The most expensive ones were from broadcasting equipment, but there was the occasional large amount of gold embroidering thread or purveyor of mind-altering substances deemed illegal in most countries. A few of them were from private sellers who refused to list their items on the receipts. The actual purchases were diverted through PO Boxes and proxies centered in North African areas with easily bribed customs agents.