“Why are you so sure of that?”Kucharski paused, frowning.“Does it…does it have anything to do with your mother’s reasons forchoosing today to give up the game?”
“Yes.Yes, it does.My father had a heart attack.In his officethis afternoon.He’s dead.”
Kucharski sat up.“What?Sir William?”
“Yes.I’ve seen him.”Seen him;checked.Read the damn tag on his toe to be sure.If I hadn’t, he’dbecome a bogeyman to haunt my mind forever.“It was quick.He didn’t have much pain.”
“Oh.Good Lord, Laurie.I’m terribly sorry.”
“It’s all right.You…can’t be thinking he was much of aloss.”
Kucharski visibly considered pretending it was otherwise.Then he said, lacing his fingers together, “Well.He was still yourfather.”
“Yes.And I know that should always be sacred, sir.But it’snot.”Laurie paused for a moment.He looked up at Kucharski, a halfsmile hitching.“Look.I know she’s caused…a diplomatic incident,but will my mother get into much trouble for this?She’s not well.At any rate, she’s not strong.”
Kucharski shrugged.“If you can forgive it, I suppose wecan.”When Laurie raised his eyebrows questioningly, he clarified,“She seized the opportunity of the Petrica boy having been in yourhouse to make your sister vanish and try to set Petrica up for it.Am I wrong to suppose his loss meant—means—a great deal toyou?”
Lauriecould not answer.Kucharski watched him in silence for a minute.Then he closed the file that had been open on his desk.“Withregard to your mother and making false accusation… We wouldn’tnormally pursue it, not in her circumstances.At least that’s whatI’ll recommend in my report.”
“Thank you,” Laurie said.He got to his feet, feeling his headspin slightly.He was about paid out, events beginning to catch upwith him.“I’d better get home, if there’s nothing else I can dohere.”Suddenly he grinned.“I’ll take a few posters down fromlampposts between here and Mayfair.”
“Well, that would be a start.”Kucharski let him get as far asthe door.Then just as Laurie was turning to bid him farewell, hesaid cautiously, “Speaking of the Petrica boy…”
Lauriestiffened.“No,” he said.“I told you.There’s nothing more I’d sayto you about him, even if I knew.I don’t care who he is or who hissodding associates are.He was good to me.He is good.”
“Suppose I wanted to say something to you abouthim?”
“It wouldn’t make any difference.Whatever it is.”
“Well, maybe not.But as it happens, you’re right, as far asour information guides us.You didn’t listen to me the other day atyour father’s house.When I told you that Sasha was wanted inconnection with drugs crimes and trafficking, that was all I meant.Not that he was involved.”
Laurietook a grip on the door frame.He said faintly, “All right.Goon.”
“Stefan Petrica is about as bad as he can be.I don’t know ifhe was a monster before he fell into the hands of monsters, butSasha grew up witnessing some serious deals and how his fatherdealt with the people who broke them.When he got old enough, hetried to run.Stefan told him he’d not only have him killed, butthat he’d activate people in Britain who would hunt down hismother, who’d fled here when Sasha was a child.
“So when he was scared enough to ignore the threats and runanyway, he ran in this direction, to find her and warn her first.Last week he thought he’d got some news of where she lived, and hewent to investigate.But the trail went cold.We can’t find hereither.She may have changed her identity, emigrated fartherwest.”
Kucharski paused and indicated the chair Laurie had justvacated.“That’s why Sasha doesn’t give his real name or stayanywhere for too long.He’s afraid of leading Stefan straight toanyone he gets close to.He knows he shouldn’t have come to yourhouse, Laurie.You made him forget his own rules for a while, hesays.”
Thistime when Kucharski gestured at the chair, Laurie obeyed.He barelygot there.“How…how do you know all this?”
“Your father and his mates inadvertently helped us out atBirchwood the other night.We were there, but on the far side ofthe encampment.They chased Sasha straight into our arms.We tookhim in and questioned him.”
“What?You said he hadn’t done anything wrong.”
“Well, he’s not selling guns or abducting children.But heentered the country illegally and remained here andworked.”
“Oh, God.Where is he now?”
“In the Dover Immigration Removal Centre.We’re not pressingcharges.He agreed to deportation.”
Laurielost a breath.He could see—cold tiles, tiny windowless rooms.Sasha’s face among a thousand others caught between the worlds.“No,” he said.“You know what he’s running away from.He’s arefugee, not an immigrant.”
“And if he’d seek asylum, we could help him.My departmentwants Stefan Petrica very badly.Sasha could lead us straight tohim, and in return for that—well, God knows what deal they’d cuthim.Refugee status at the very least.”
“Then—make him tell you.Let me see him.I’ll persuadehim.”
“Laurie.Listen.You didn’t know Sasha very long, but youprobably knew him well enough to believe me when I say that,although he was anxious for me to tell you the truth—to clear hisname with you—he is equally unwilling to besmirch the name ofanyone else.Even a monster like his father.He won’t talk.Don’tjudge him too harshly.That kind of loyalty, even so badlymisplaced as this, is incredibly rare.”
