Like the sedan, I guessed.It might make sense that she’d be a little worried about that.
“And then the police came.Yuri and Konstantin told us we wouldn’t get any help from the police.That the police knew about us and wouldn’t do anything.Russian police is… how you say… corrupt?”
“Mendoza isn’t corrupt,” I said.“He just came to reassure Mrs.Grimshaw that I wasn’t dangerous.”
Anastasia didn’t respond to that.“And then, later, the boy came.With the pizza.When I hadn’t ordered a pizza.”
“That was Zachary,” I told Steven.“We wanted to get a look at Anastasia.You know, for Diana.”
He nodded.“You can understand why Anastasia would be worried, though.”
I could, I guess.Although it still didn’t make it all right to shoot Mrs.Grimshaw and leave Edwina an orphan.
“Go on,” I said.
By now, Rachel had sat down in the chair over in the corner, and put Edwina on her lap.She and the dog both looked close to being asleep.
“I was scared,” Anastasia said.“I stayed by the window, and I kept watch.But it was late, and I got tired.And I fell asleep.Right there, on the floor.And then I heard a loud noise.And someone was outside, trying to get into the house.Into my house.The back door opened.And I opened the front door and ran.”
Her eyes had widened, and so had her pupils.If she wasn’t genuinely reliving a very scary experience, she was an Oscar-worthy actress.
“Where did you go?”I asked.
She forked the fingers of one hand through her long, straight hair, pushing it back off her face.“I ran and ran.And then I asked the way to the university.And I went there.”
“On foot?”
She nodded.“I walked all night.I had no money for the bus or a cab, and I was afraid to...”She stuck her thumb out in the universal gesture for hitchhiking.
I choked.“Yes, that was probably a good idea.”God knows what could have happened to a girl like that, hitchhiking through Nashville at night.“Did you see who shot Mrs.Grimshaw?It must have been the shot that woke you, right?”
Anastasia shook her head.“I didn’t see anything.I ran.”
“What about a car?Did you see that?”
But she hadn’t.
“So you didn’t shoot Mrs.Grimshaw?”
She looked sincerely shocked that I’d ask.“No!She was nice to me.A nosy old woman, but she gave me tea.And she told me she’d keep watch for anyone bad.I wouldn’t want to hurt her.”
Another Oscar-worthy performance.
“That’s your gun, right?”I asked Steven, gesturing to it.“Diana said you had one, and that it was gone from the bedside table.”
He nodded.“I usually keep it in the drawer.Nobody bothers a university professor.Diana keeps hers in her purse.”
“Mendoza will probably want a look at it.If it wasn’t used on Mrs.Grimshaw, it’ll be a formality.”
“Of course,” Steven said, with a glance at Anastasia.“Are you going to call him?”
I guessed I would, eventually.However— “I think you should probably do that yourself.I’ll give you the number.And then you’ll have to explain everything to Diana.”
He swallowed.
“But it’s safe to leave.Konstantin and Yuri are in prison.They can’t hurt you.Her.Either of you.”
It was a not so subtle hint that I’d like them to vacate my house.
