The Troika Dolls - Miranda Darling [88]
‘I think the threats could backfire,’ Stevie persisted, feeling increasingly nervous about Kozkov’s reasoning and his state of mind. ‘There are men in the FSB whom even the mafia treat with respect—they haven’t forgotten a thing they learned in the KGB. It could be very dangerous for you.’
Kozkov shook his head slowly. ‘Vadim is right. I should have done more to protect my family. Anya is still somewhere out there and I have to find her.’ He reached over and took Irina’s small hand in his, his eyes on Stevie. ‘I think it’s better I handle this alone from now on. I know the Kremlin, I know its people. Thank you both for trying to help us. Stevie, your efforts are appreciated, but they are no longer enough. It’s time you and Constantine went home.’
Stevie flushed to her roots, embarrassed. She nodded to Kozkov and took a long sip of her whisky, hoping it would compose her voice. ‘I understand and I apologise. I’m sorry we couldn’t do more—that I couldn’t do more. I really am.’
She meant every word and more. Se felt shame and a deep sense of inadequacy at not having been judged up to the mark. Nothing she had done had helped get Anya back so far. And she hated knowing that David Rice would find out she had failed, Henning also.
She put her glass down and forced herself to look at Anya’s father. ‘Is there nothing left for me to do?’
But Kozkov fixed his eyes on the fire and said nothing.
Stevie went to her room to pack. She didn’t feel like sitting around the fire with Anya’s mother and brother, drinking the Kozkovs’ whisky, returning nothing but disappointment. She preferred to stay hidden in her room.
Sometime later—it was hard to keep track of time . . . it seemed always to be twilight—Saskia came in, followed by Vadim. He sat at the foot of her bed like a ghost, cradling the dog. He looked thinner than ever.
‘It’s my fault my father said those things to you.’ He didn’t look at Stevie. ‘I upset him with the things I accused him of. What I said was true, but maybe I was wrong. Maybe now I’ve pushed him to do something he shouldn’t. I just don’t know . . . I don’t know what he is going to do.’
‘I can’t help.’ Stevie pulled at the coverlet. ‘I thought I could but really . . . I’m sorry if I gave you all false hope.’
‘You found out about Petra, and Gregori Maraschenko, and Felix Dragoman . . .’ Vadim trailed off.
Stevie shook her head. ‘I’ll be leaving Moscow as soon as I get back to the city. I’m going back to the assignment I’m supposed to be on.’
‘I wish you would stay.’
Stevie felt a rush of gratitude for Vadim’s kindness but she knew in her heart that Kozkov was right and that she had no place any longer in this business.
‘Your father seems confident he knows what he’s doing.’
‘I think you’re lying, Stevie.’ Vadim was looking at her now with those pale-fire eyes of his. ‘You think he’s doing the wrong thing. I can see it in your face.’
She did think that. ‘It’s dangerous—but I have no right to stop him, or even advise him otherwise. What I think doesn’t matter—and I could very well be wrong. Your father is Anya’s best hope. I truly believe that.’
Vadim said nothing for a moment then said suddenly, ‘There is someone that maybe you should see. Anya’s godfather, Kirril. He lives in Zurich. We can’t mention his name in front of Papa—we’re not allowed to speak to him—but I think he calls Anya sometimes in secret.’
‘Why aren’t you allowed to talk to him?’ Hadn’t both Galina and Irina mentioned a godfather . . . ?
‘He and my father were very close. Something happened—they had a huge fight years ago and Papa said he didn’t want the influence of a traitor and a coward in his children’s lives. I don’t know what Kirril did. But he might know something.’
10
Stevie arranged to be on a flight out of Shermetyevo airport to Kloten, Zurich, as soon as possible. She had been in contact with David who was to meet her for lunch when she landed in Switzerland. He was in town for a meeting with