Part 22 (1/2)

”Oh, my G.o.d.” Katia walked inside, listening excitedly. ”Piano Concerto Number Two.”

Locking the door, Pyotr grinned at her. ”Rachmaninoff himself is playing. There's nothing like great Russian music played by a great Russian composer. It was recorded in 1929.” He sat on the love seat, watching her.

”How did you- Oh, never mind.”

As the music soared, she wrapped her arms around her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and closed her eyes. Each note seemed to resonate within her, and in her mind it was spring in Bedford, with the linden trees leafing and tulips blooming along Main Street. She had finished her homework, the dinner dishes were done, and they were watching television. Papa and Mama were on the couch, his arm around her, and Katia was sitting on the floor between them, feeling their legs pressed against her shoulders. It was a sweet feeling, the tactile sensation of protective love.

At nine o'clock, she had gone off to bed. Then something unusual happened-Papa said good night not only in the living room, but came into her bedroom as well.

”You are happy in school?” He sat on the edge of her bed.

”I like it.”

”No, you're not happy.” His blue eyes scoured her face, looking for the truth of her.

”I miss home,” she admitted.

”Of course you do. Your mother and I do, too.”

He had a simple face, nothing distinctive about it, but a good face, a solid peasant face with a snub nose and round cheeks and curly brown eyebrows.

”Always remember you come from Stalingrad,” he told her. ”Two million Soviets and Germans died there in World War Two. The city survived and became great again. When you have problems, think about their resolve and their sacrifices, and you'll come through like Stalingrad, still standing.” He looked down at his hands. ”Have fun, too. You have a good life ahead of you, my dear Katyusha.”

He kissed her on the forehead and both cheeks. With a big smile, he stood. In the doorway he turned and gave her a cheery wave.

But she did not see him again for years. For a few seconds, she could still feel the security of his presence, could still smell his old-fas.h.i.+oned aftershave, Old Spice. Her throat tightened. But then the music ended.

54.

The room was quiet except for the warm crackle of the fire in the stone fireplace. Katia saw Pyotr was watching her from the love seat, head c.o.c.ked, smiling tenderly.

She sat beside him. ”My parents loved Rachmaninoff's music.”

”Liza always has something Russian playing for me. Kind of her.”

”But you don't pay for the room.”

He hesitated. ”Years ago we happened to be working in Athens at the same time. I got word she was in trouble. I arrived in time to help.”

”You saved her. You feel safe here, don't you.” It was a statement, not a question.

”Yes. I'm sure no one followed us, and Liza's security is cutting edge.” He paused. ”Liza's right, I've been going through a lot of changes. Getting older can do that to you. Affairs come and go-I never wanted any of them to last. But with you, Katia ... I'd do anything to slow down time, stretch every moment.” He lifted her hand and kissed the fingertips. ”It feels to me as if we belong together. You understand my past, what I was. I love you for more reasons than there are stars in the sky, and I think you love me.” He paused. ”But if you can't believe in my love, we should end this right now.”

Her lungs tightened.

”Will you tell me how to get in touch with your father now?” he asked gently. ”I just want to find a way to reach out to Seymour.”

She looked away and bit her lower lip. ”Papa is dead. He died seven years ago.”

For a moment he appeared stunned, then discouraged. ”I'm sorry, Katia. I'm really sorry. Did you ever get to see him again?”

She fought an impulse to rip open the door and run. Instead, she folded her hands in her lap, entwining her fingers, holding herself together. ”Yes. Once. We met in Vienna. It was ... it was incredible.”

For a few seconds she was with him again, smelling the Old Spice he had put on just for her, feeling the gentleness of his hands. They had laughed together, the joy of it all, the bittersweet pain, too.

”He was dying of esophageal cancer,” she told him. ”He'd smoked all his life. He wouldn't let me go back with him to where he lived. He said it still wasn't safe. He was so thin and pale, like a piece of chalk. He said someone was taking care of him. I can't remember for sure now, but I think he called him Seymour.” Reaching into her purse, she found notepaper and a pen. ”I'll give you the contact information, but it may not be good anymore.” She uncapped the pen and began to write.

”Can't you just tell me?”

She gave a hard shake of her head. ”No, getting in touch with him was always very secret. I don't know why, but I'm not going to start questioning it. Here's the phone number.”

He leaned close. ”Baghdad?”

She nodded. ”He'd been in Baghdad for years. Whoever answered spoke Arabic.” She pointed to the words with her pen.

”Is it a real business?”

”I don't know. Next you say, 'I need to buy some wrenches' in Russian. That was when I'd be told he'd call me back at a specific time. I don't know where this will lead you-or maybe it's just a dead end.”

He studied the instructions. ”Got it.”

”Good.” Wadding up the paper, she walked to the fireplace and tossed it into the blaze. She turned.

He smiled. ”I love you,” he said simply. ”I know that was hard.”

A phone rang. It was sitting on a writing desk next to his elbow.

He answered. ”Yes, thanks.” Then to Katia: ”Our suitcases are here. We can pick them up in the garage.”

55.

Alex Bosa sat in his darkened trijet on the tarmac of Marrakech-Menara Airport, checking local news on his iPad. It was not long before he discovered why his surveillance expert had not reported on schedule-she was dead, shot sometime between three and four o'clock this morning.

Crossing his arms, Bosa mulled. Her murder explained the lapse before her most recent e-mailed report. Whoever had written it had been motivated to pretend she was still alive. The logical deduction was Krot had wiped her then impersonated her to lull Bosa into thinking nothing unusual was going on in Marrakech.

Bosa felt his iPhone vibrate. He checked the digital identification-Sacher Torte.

Bosa answered immediately. ”You have news?”