Алексей Мухин
A person who loves the rain

“Why did you call me?” Vera stood in the doorway, drenched, staring intently at Alexey. Her long curly chestnut hair had straightened from the rain, and her light summer dress was completely soaked, clinging to her body. She had taken off her shoes and was holding them in her hands. Behind her, it seemed like there was a flood. There was so much water that the ground beneath her feet seemed to disappear, and the road had become impassable. The abandoned forester's house seemed like the center of the universe in such bad weather. The heavy downpour darkened the sky with clouds, but inside, the light was on, it was warm and cozy, with what seemed like a million jars and bottles on the windowsill. She stood in the doorway, the rain pouring down her back, seeping into the house, while she stood there, unsure whether to take a step forward or remain where she was. After all, so much could depend on just one step – she might never return!

“If I'm not going to go inside,” she thought, “then why did I come here? All the way, a hundred kilometers from home. To these eyes! To these hands! The hands that held her so tightly, and, perhaps, to those lips whose gentle touch was so tender, so graceful, and sweet, sweet as… well, no comparison could ever describe it.”

“I wanted to see you,” Alexey sat calmly on a chair, afraid to move, fearing that any movement might make her turn and leave, afraid to embarrass her, afraid that something might go wrong, even though she was here now! She had come! And he didn’t want to lose all this. To lose her presence… They stood staring at each other for another minute without breaking eye contact, then she asked,

“What do you want?” “You.” “I…” she became flustered, shaking her head, “I… I’m married, we agreed on everything, Lesha.” “Well, you still came,” he replied just as quietly.

They fell silent again. Then Alexey stood up and removed all her wet clothes. Sex in the rain, with lightning and thunder, stirred them both. After it was over, she said, “I would stay here to live. Here, in this house. It feels like we’re alone here, on the edge of the universe. And I need nothing else. I’m the richest person because I have these jars on the windowsill, which need to have the cobwebs cleaned off, this old furniture, the ancient TV, but most importantly, I have you here.” “What have you done, my dear sunshine?” he interrupted her, touching her hair with his lips. “They could kill us. I think he suspects everything,” Vera said. “I’m not afraid, I can't live without you anyway.” “Lesha, that’s so beautiful and touching, but… they could kill us,” she added, “You know, I can’t live without you either… it’s just existence.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. They both flinched – who could it be in such weather? Alexey dressed and walked to the door. He carefully pulled back the curtains… standing on the doorstep was a woman in white…

Thirty years passed.

“Take this,” the district prosecutor entered his son’s office and threw a case file on his desk.

“Dad! I’ve got enough work as it is… Give it to Filatov, he’s got nothing to do anyway.”

The prosecutor sighed heavily, puffed out his cheeks, and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Just take a look; it’s an interesting case! Once you start, you won’t be able to stop.”

“Dad,” the son protested, “I’ve got seventeen cases already.”

“And are they all interesting?” smiled prosecutor Sergey Leonidovich.

“That’s an understatement,” joked his son, Alexey Sergeevich. “Alright, fine, I’ll take a look.”

“I’ll tell you right away, you’ll need to get excited about this one, I’ve seen the case. It’s necessary!”

“What’s it about?”

“Last year, there were forest fires in the Moscow region, in the swamps, and two bodies surfaced.”

“Alright, Dad, I’ll take a look.”

– What are you writing? – asked Sergey Leonidovich, already about to leave the office.

– I have a cold case, so I need to write a detailed report – answered his son, staring back at the case files.

– That's right, that's right, a cold case needs to be thick, otherwise they called me into the city because of your Filatov… – anyway, that's all chit-chat, I'm off.

– Dad… drop by for some coffee later.

The old man nodded and left, gently closing the door behind him. Alexey opened the file.

"… Near the forest ranger’s house… two bodies found… Moscow region."

– What a godforsaken place! And I’ll have to get up early tomorrow to go there… – he rubbed his face with his hands, staring intently at the case folder, deep in thought. There was a knock at the door.

– Lesh, – entered his father’s secretary, Lyubochka, a voluptuous redhead, as his father liked to call her for her character and knack for handling things – there's a letter… it arrived… with me… come and pick it up.

– What is it?

– How should I know? – the secretary replied, puzzled. She fixed her hair, puckered her lips like a bow, and left. Alexey then thought, when his father hired her:

"Why does he need her? Maybe he's trying to move on after Mom’s death? Lyuba is around forty, she’s not old, though she works a desk job. Still, Dad always liked women with curves…"

His mother had passed away recently, six months ago. His father had quickly deteriorated; his already gray hair seemed even grayer, and he had lost weight too. He was 65 now and always worried about being forced into retirement.

– What would I do there? Sit on a bench with pensioners? – he often said.

At work, his age wasn’t really noticeable. He always wore his uniform, used the expensive cologne his wife had once given him, was always clean-shaven, and rarely wore glasses—mostly for effect, since his vision was still fine.

His eyes seemed very intelligent, his gaze light, but always intense or rather piercing. After his mother’s death, he didn’t drink much, but sometimes he would complain about the city prosecutor’s office, nitpicking over small things. Everyone understood the reason – the loss of his wife, and at his age, it was hard to bear. She had been a beautiful woman and, even at 65, managed to remain attractive. They had lived in perfect harmony. For the unmarried Alexey, they had always been a model to follow. It was a joy to watch those tender old folks together, but then his mother passed away, and Alexey cried a lot. He would often break down during meetings and… he frequently stayed late after work to cry alone. During the day, he was busy, and the pain wasn’t as sharp, but in the evenings… how he had come to hate the evenings! Over time, it became a little easier, or rather, the pain dulled. His mother had worked in the general prosecutor’s office, and she had once helped his father get his position there. When their son grew up, they sent him to law school as well. It’s hard to say what made him a great investigator – the law degree or his mother’s guidance – but the fact was, he became the best investigative prosecutor.

For some reason, he recalled something his mother had said when she was dying. She kept repeating, "If you love, shoot! If you love – shoot!"

“Why am I thinking of this? Oh well…”

He closed the file, tossed it into his desk, and left the office, heading to the reception area.

– Lyubochka…

– Oh, right, Lesha, here you go – she stopped watering the flowers on the windowsill and pulled an envelope from the desk.

Back at his desk, he opened it. Inside the envelope were four shell casings, a piece of cloth, and a note, typed on a computer: “Missing evidence from one of your cases.”

– Hmm. – Alexey picked up the phone and dialed Lyuba’s number.

– Lyuba, where did this come from?

– Hell if I know, I came in, and it was just lying there on the desk… – the secretary replied.

– Ah… yeah… right… bye. – He turned the unusual bundle over in his hands and then placed it in the safe.

Hurriedly leaving the office, he tried to figure out who had brought the envelope. There were security cameras in the prosecutor's office, but he still couldn't find out anything. Alexei grabbed a folder from the desk and headed to the morgue to get the autopsy results.

"Well, what can I tell you," forensic expert Semyonych greeted him grandly, adjusting his gloves. He began to speak in a complex manner, with the dark humor typical of his job. "An old chap, almost decomposed… Must have been a bad one, probably."

"What's the deal?" Alexei asked.

"Got a little tattoo, ex-con… And a bullet right in the forehead," Semyonych pulled back the sheet from the body, and Alexei saw what was left of the man who had been in the ground for so long.

"See?" Semyonych pointed to the bullet.

Alexei nodded.

"And the second one?"

"Yeah, same story, Lenchik, and also a bullet in the forehead. Come back after lunch, and you can pick up the report."

"I’ve already had lunch."

"Well, I, the hardworking one, haven’t had time," Semyonych muttered as he fiddled with his tools. "Go on, your buddy Filatov’s hanging around here."

"What’s he doing here? His father sent him elsewhere."

"Ask him yourself," Semyonych replied, taking off his gloves, running his hand over his "Stas Mikhailov-style" beard, and then washing his hands.

"Alright, Semyonych, I’ll be back."

"Yeah," Semyonych nodded. "Oh, right, Leon… you asked for this." He pulled a small box from the desk and handed it to Alexei. "These are the items found with him. The ring’s the main thing; the rest didn’t survive."

"Semyonych, thanks," Alexei smiled gratefully. "I almost forgot." He opened the bag and took out the silver ring with a garnet stone.

"Beautiful," Alexei muttered, slipping the ring back into the bag as he headed for the hallway.

Leon Filatov was easy to spot from afar. Though he was 45, short, and starting to go gray, he had a certain charm. He often attracted people with his amusing expressions, his ability to listen, and the way his small, dark eyes lit up in a lively conversation.

There was always a lot of noise around him. At the end of the hallway, he was standing surrounded by young female employees from the prosecutor's office, apparently entertaining them with some tall tale, as the laughter echoing through the building didn’t quite suit the setting.

"Leon!" Alexei called out to him.

"Alexei, hey!" Leon responded, excited, clearly catching his breath between jokes.

"Where are you supposed to be working?" Alexei asked jokingly.

"Alright, girls, the jokes are over," Filatov turned to the ladies he had been entertaining.

The young women shifted their attention from Filatov to Alexei, who was younger and more handsome than their storyteller. Noticing this, Filatov fell silent, darting his eyes between the women.

"Ah…" he stretched out. His expression grew serious, as if he were about to say something very important. "The guy had a tough childhood, his dad’s the district prosecutor."

The girls burst into laughter again.

"You're such a rascal," Alexei said with a smile, looking at his friend. He took Filatov by the arm, and they moved aside.

"Hey, Alexei, have you eaten yet?" Filatov asked before Alexei could speak.

"I have. I had lunch before I came here."

"Lucky you. I haven’t eaten yet… Let’s go grab something, you can keep me company."

"Alright," Alexei hesitated, "let’s go, I’ll have some coffee."

They both walked toward the exit. After settling nearby in a café, Alexey asked:

"Lenya, how long are you going to keep arguing with your father?"

"Well… you're asking some tough questions…" Filatov retorted.

"I'm sick of both of you!" Alexey said, opening the menu.

"Alright, what are you doing here anyway?" Filatov asked.

"My dad gave me a case."

"That one about the bodies in the swamps?!" Filatov asked eagerly.

"Yeah, why?"

"Damn, I asked for that case myself! There's just a cold case report to write up and that's it."

"Well, that's why I got it… he said they needed to open a case."

"Why?" Filatov looked at Alexey in confusion.

"I don't know," Alexey shrugged it off.

"There are wildfires in the region, the swamps are burning, and now all the old 'who did what where' is floating up," Filatov sighed sadly.

"It's an unusual case. I'm curious what happened there 30 years ago."

"When are you planning to go?" Filatov asked, waving to the waitress.

"I'll sit with you for a bit. Semyonich said he'll have the results after lunch, so I'll probably head straight there to check the crime scene. By the way, why are you here?"

"You heard about Goryainov getting whacked?" Filatov asked.

"No… seriously?! That's crazy! Goryainov himself? What's going to happen to the Goryainov criminal group now?" Alexey closed the menu.

"I took the case myself," Filatov bragged, "just waiting for the forensics, then I'll wrap everything up and send it to court… it's clear whose hand was behind it… Have you seen the new girl?"

"No, what's up?"

"Oh, I see that look in your eyes," Filatov teased Alexey, "she's a beauty… They say she was the star in her last district."

The waitress approached. The friends placed their orders.

"Is she really that smart?" Alexey asked.

"Seems like she's got some talent. By the way, she's buying drinks today."

"I won’t go… What's her name?"

"Raisa Zakharna," Filatov joked.

"Get out of here with your jokes!"

"Shvedova Larisa," Filatov replied.

"Alright. Let's go. I'll give you a ride back."

"You're driving? That's great!"

The area greeted Alexey with little friendliness. The emergency workers had done their job well, the fire was out, but the stench of burning peat was overwhelming. Finding a stick, Alexey grabbed it and headed toward the swamp where two bodies had been found. The swamp seemed mostly dried up, but occasionally his feet would sink in. He used the stick to find a path and made his way deeper between the trees. A clearing appeared, and he stepped into it. His pants were, of course, dirty, with burrs stuck to them. About a hundred steps ahead stood a small house. Either a forester’s cabin or something similar, but clearly, a local forestry employee had once lived here. As he got closer, Alexey looked around. The house was completely dilapidated, the plaster crumbling, the walls overgrown with grass, and the windows shattered for some reason. The paint on the window frames was peeling, and there was an empty doghouse where a dog probably used to live. He decided to go inside. Glass jars were on the windowsill, some broken, but all covered in a thick layer of dust. Everything was clean and tidy, giving the impression that a new owner was expected to move in. The fridge in the corner was empty. A bed covered with a blanket, wooden stools. The heat was unbearable. Alexey found a relatively clean spot and laid his jacket down. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. From here, the place where the two bodies had been found was clearly visible. He walked over to the window, wiped the dust off the table, and placed the expert report there.

"…shots from a hunting rifle from a distance of one hundred meters… both were killed…"

– "One was killed at a distance of one meter… Bullets of a certain caliber," he read aloud.

– "Hmm," he thought. "That means there were at least three people there, maybe four. One of them killed another, and the others were finished off by shots from a hundred meters."

– "Nonsense!"

Closing the file, he decided to inspect the house from the outside. Grabbing a long stick, he started parting the bushes that had grown thick around the house. Apart from a few tin cans and an empty vodka bottle, he found nothing. He picked up the bottle from the ground, glanced at the year printed on the label, and recalled how, back in those days, the word "vodka" was decoded as "Here He Is, Kind Andropov." Such a nickname had been earned by the general secretary for lowering the price of the popular drink. He stuffed the bottle into the bag he had brought with him. As he was about to head back inside the house to grab his jacket and the file, his gaze fell on a chunk of plaster, nearly falling off the wall. Picking it out with his finger, he found a bullet lodged in the wall. Tapping the wall with the stick he had found earlier, he discovered several more bullets embedded within. It was clear that the shattered windows were the result of gunfire, not because someone had broken in. After all, there was nothing worth stealing inside, and if it had been vagrants or hooligans, the house would be a mess.

– "So what exactly happened here thirty years ago?"

Collecting all the bullets into his bag, he took his things and headed to the place where the bodies had been found.

Wandering around for a while, he initially found nothing. Not surprising—so many years had passed. He circled one tree, then another, but there was nothing. Then he stumbled upon an object. Alexei bent down—it was a knife, possibly a hunting knife, with a rusted blade and a handle caked in dirt. He pulled a bag from his pocket and dropped the knife inside. Soon, he found a couple of shell casings as well. That was the end of his discoveries. He walked around the area a bit more but found nothing else.

Then his phone rang.

– "Lyonya, are you coming?" Filatov asked, amid some background noise. It was clear that the initiation party for the new member of the team was in full swing.

– "Lyonya… No, I'm on my way," Alexei realized it was better to agree rather than endure a long conversation with his friend about why he should come to the party.

– "Drop everything and get over here! There's a girl here… I’d totally hit that…" Filatov said, his voice now much quieter over the phone.

– "Fine… I'll be there soon. You dog," Alexei muttered as he shoved his phone back into his pocket.

Looking around once more, and after a moment of thought, Alexei headed towards the local administration building, asking the villagers for directions along the way.

The administration building was U-shaped and two stories tall, with a recently updated facade. The prosperity of the administration was evident—Mercedes and BMWs were parked all around. Alexei quickly bounded up the stairs and opened the doors. Walking down the long hallway, he approached a door labeled "Reception."

– "Vladimir Vladimirovich is currently busy," reported the secretary, a woman in her fifties. Everything about the place screamed "village administration," from the open window to the wildflowers in a vase on the windowsill and the very modest decor of the room.

– "Following a trend or just a namesake?" he asked, seeing that the secretary was flustered.

He continued, – "Just kidding. I'm from the prosecutor's office. Let him know I'm here."

Alexei had often noticed that the word "prosecutor" had a certain magic to it. Important meetings would end abruptly, encounters with prostitutes at the workplace would be cut short, and all sorts of shady dealings would come to a halt. Soon, a young woman emerged from the office, and Alexei stepped inside.

He was greeted by a man in his fifties, of medium height, full-figured, dressed in a white shirt and tie. He extended his hand and smiled, flashing teeth as white as those in a toothpaste commercial. Though no longer young, Alexei quickly understood the recent departure of the young woman—the man was still attractive, with graying hair that only added to his charm. His firm handshake suggested he kept up with some form of exercise, and although he had a slight belly, it was clear that he remained appealing to women.

Alexei shook his hand, and the man gestured for him to sit down.

– "So, what can I do for… our prosecutor’s office?"

– My name is Alexey Sergeyevich Martynov, about those swamps of yours…

– Ah… – the man didn’t let him finish. – Oh, sorry, – he quickly corrected himself.

– No worries, go on, – Alexey nodded to him in agreement.

– I am Vladimir Vladimirovich, head of the local administration… There was an unpleasant story there… But you'd better talk to the locals. I only know bits and pieces from rumors.

– What was the forestry business about? – Alexey asked with interest.

– There was something like that, the Moscow region was expanding, and back then there was more forest here. There were foresters, they guarded the area. When capitalism kicked in and construction began, that position was gradually eliminated.

– Who worked there? I’d like to take a look at the records.

– Just a moment, – Vladimir Vladimirovich pressed a few buttons and mumbled an order to fetch the documents from the archive. While waiting for the secretary, they exchanged a few polite sentences on unrelated topics, had another cup of coffee, and then there was a knock on the door.

– Yes… Lidochka, come in.

The secretary entered and handed over the documents. Vladimir Vladimirovich took the heavy folder and flipped through a few pages. The secretary left.

– Aha, – he said, – here’s 1981, – he turned a few more pages, his expression becoming more serious, and he pressed the buttons again and shouted,

– Lida! Come in, quickly!

The secretary appeared again.

– What is this?!

She hurried over, looking at the folder in surprise.

– I don’t know… I – she began gesticulating nervously – Vladimir Vladimirovich… you know I… – she was getting more and more upset.

– What’s going on? Tell me, – said Alexey, standing up. The folder was handed to him. Everything indicated that the forester's photograph and his personal details had been removed.

– Who was the last person to access the archive? – Alexey asked.

– No one, it’s been untouched for ages, – the secretary tried to defend herself, waving her hands and wiping tears from her face with the same hands.

– Lida! – the boss slammed his palm on the table.

– I’m telling you, – the secretary yelled in frustration – no one!

– You… sit down. Calm down. No one’s blaming you. Just think, who has access to it? – Alexey reassured her and sat her down next to him, nodding to the boss as if to say, "Enough, stop."

– Well, no one, I have access, our administration is small, and there’s no point in hiring extra staff. Plus, I manage everything myself… I don’t even know, – she explained.

– Lida… has anything suspicious happened? – Alexey asked.

– Nothing, I’m telling you, no… I can’t recall anything.

– You know, I can’t think of anyone – maybe the postman, the plumber, the district police officer, those people whose presence we always trust…

For some reason, she smiled and brightened up.

– Oh, you know, yes! Yes! You’re right, the plumber was there… we had some work going on…

The boss interrupted her and didn’t let her finish.

– The building is old, we’re replacing all the pipes with plastic ones, and… probably left it unattended.

– Maybe, but that’s all… the archive is always locked, and I have the key, – Lida said, looking from one to the other – and the plumber is a bit of a drunk.

– Lidochka, I’ll give you an order – bring Vladimir Vladimirovich and me a glass of cold water. It’s not even hot, but… we’re thirsty.

She left. While she was gone, Alexey asked,

– Who is this plumber?

– Well, maybe it wasn’t him. They’re just guys doing side jobs, acquaintances of an acquaintance.

– Give me the coordinates, – Alexei stepped closer to the person he was talking to.

– Ah… – the boss hesitated, – why did you send her for water? – he smiled as he asked.

– Gotta take care of the staff. Why did you make the woman nervous? – Alexei asked instructively. – She’ll walk around and calm down.

– You’re a psychologist… – the boss smiled again – here you go, – he pulled out a business card from the drawer and handed it to Alexei.

– Got it.

Lida entered, brought some cold water, he drank it and said goodbye.

– By the way, why are foreign cars so expensive? You guys are misusing the national projects… – Alexei asked, suddenly turning around – Just kidding!

– All the best, – the director said to him.

– All the best, – Alexei nodded.

Then he headed to meet the locals. The first house near the forest belonged to Old Man Trofim.

– Grandpa, are you going mushroom picking today? – his grandson sat at the table, looking at him.

– No, grandson, I picked a lot yesterday. We’ll make pies and fry some as well.

Grandpa Trofim stroked his grandson’s head, and the boy smiled. They were in complete harmony. The boy, 6 years old, was an obedient child, fair-haired and curious like all children. Over time, he started asking to spend summers with his grandpa instead of going to pioneer camps. Being with grandpa was great; he knew all kinds of stories, and they could go mushroom or berry picking, the nature here was beautiful, and there was fishing, too. They’d set up boat rides on the local river. It was a paradise. The grandson, Seryozha, got along with the neighboring kids, though not without fights, of course. But to him, as he called his grandpa, his “first friend” was still the most important. His son had moved to the city and invited him to come along, as the old house was becoming unfit. But after his wife passed, whom he had lived with for more than half a century, grandpa decided not to change anything.

The old man adjusted his shirt, ran his hand through his still somewhat full, not entirely gray hair, and looked at his grandson with a smile.

– Once I get some new teeth, you’ll have a grandpa who’s as good as new… Or at least decent, – the old man added with a grin. – Let's go chop some wood, I need strong hands.

– Grandpa, let’s go. – The boy rolled up his papers and set off with his grandpa. It was a good day outside, the sun wasn’t too hot yet, the air smelled of grass, a light breeze was blowing, and the dog barked, circling the two of them. The boy hugged her, and the young shepherd dog, in her typical passionate way, started licking him.

– Alright, grandson, I’ll grab the axe. – Grandpa Trofim turned around, only to see a man in uniform approaching the gate.

– I’m Alexei, from the prosecutor's office!

– No need to shout, come on in, good man. – The old man walked over to the gate and opened it. Alexei stepped inside.

– I’d like to talk to you. Are you Trofim?

– We’ll talk, come to the gazebo, – the old man gestured where to go – Have a seat, and I’ll bring you some milk, – offered Grandpa Trofim.

– No need, don’t trouble yourself, – Alexei shook his head side to side, but arguing was pointless. The old man disappeared, then returned with a pitcher and two cups.

– It’s nice and cold, – he commented, setting the pitcher on the table and sitting down beside him.

– I’m Senior Investigator Alexei Martynov, – he took out his ID. The old man glanced at it and called his grandson to play with the dog while he talked. Then he fixed his gaze on the visitor.

– They found two bodies… – Alexei began.

The old man said nothing, just nodded.

– Do you know anything about it?

– Yes, – the old man sighed – that’s an old story. There was an incident here…

It wasn't so good about thirty years ago. There's a forest ranger's house nearby; it used to be swampy around there, and there was no place to build, so they built it… pretty much on the swamp. There was a couple that used to come by, they would always come to me for milk. They went there on dates; she was beautiful, that woman of his. And the guy, he was decent too, you know… Can we switch to 'you'?

Aleksey nodded.

– Yeah, like two halves of one whole, like they were made for each other. But then something happened, and they stopped coming by. One time, he came alone, really upset. There was a heavy downpour then, and I asked him, 'Where's your beloved?' And he was so sad. 'She got married…' And then later, he came running, all cheerful… poor guy! – at these words, the old man became upset, laid his head on his hand, and nearly cried – 'She’ll come!… Ah…'

– So, what? – Aleksey made a face, as if asking, "What happened next?"

– There was shooting next – the old man understood his reaction. But what happened exactly isn’t clear. There was a forest ranger, I think he rented them the house.

– Do you remember the ranger? Sorry to interrupt.

– Yeah… halfway, kind of. So many years have passed. I remember the couple well, they're still in my mind, but the ranger… no, probably not, I don't recall.

– I see. Trophim Matveevich, do you know the local area well?

– Well, I've lived here all my life. How could I not know it, my good man?

– I'll stop by if I need you to show me around?

– Of course, stop by, my good man – the old man agreed.

– Oh, and your milk is tasty. You're a temptress – Aleksey smiled, taking another sip.

They said their goodbyes. Grandpa Trophim walked him to the gate and went to his grandson.

Aleksey reached the prosecutor’s office by evening; he still had to drop by the experts and hand in the bullets and knife found at the crime scene. He went up to the second floor, passed the reception – Lyuba was already gone, meaning his father had also gone home. Aleksey walked to the end of the hallway and opened the door to the room where all the prosecutor’s office celebrations took place: birthdays, promotions, welcoming new employees, and countless other reasons marked in red on the calendar. Empty bottles stood near the table. On the table, besides the dirty plates, were a couple of untouched dishes, ashtrays, and the windows were open.

– So, they were smoking in here.

“Slobs!” thought Aleksey.

Someone was washing dishes; the sound of running water could be heard. He tossed the folder onto a chair and sat down. He heard footsteps. A woman of about 30 came around the corner. A beautiful brunette, hair slicked back, expressive eyes, full lips. A pleasant smile.

– Are you Aleksey? – the stranger asked. – I’m Katya, your new colleague. Everyone’s gone, and Sergey Leonidovich asked me to stay and feed you.

– Feed me – he said, somewhat pensively and sadly, looking at the new employee. Then he stood up. – Katya, I need to do one thing quickly. Will you sit with me?

She spread her hands to the sides.

– You’re so persuasive.

He hesitated. In the office, Aleksey pulled a bag from the desk with the label "Evidence for your new case" and took out one bullet, placing it next to the one he found in the forest.

"Same! Twins! I'll wait for the experts, of course," he thought. Then he locked the office and returned to Katya.

– Are you tired? – she sat down beside him. He nodded, indicating he was.

– Have a drink with me – Aleksey turned to her.

– With pleasure – she agreed – Let me take care of you. She grabbed a plate and served two kinds of salads.

– Thank you – he brightened up. – I’ve been sitting here without lunch.

– What, really?! – Katya sat across from him, folding her hands on her lap, watching as he devoured the plate’s contents.

– If you keep looking at me like that…

She realized she was making him uncomfortable and picked up her own plate.

"I’ll join you."

Aleksei poured cognac into the glasses.

"To getting acquainted!" he raised his glass.

"To getting acquainted," Katya echoed.

"How were you received?" Aleksei asked.

"Quite well, good guys. We already spoke with your father… Filatov is… no comments."

"Yeah… something like that," Aleksei replied. "So why did you transfer?"

"Family reasons. I’d rather not talk about it."

Aleksei nodded in agreement.

"And it's closer to home here. At my previous job, it took a long time to commute, but here, it’s just two trolleybus stops away."

"Shall I walk you home?" Aleksei asked.

"That would be nice," she smiled, then asked, "And what about you? How’s work? You’re home late."

"It’s better to finish everything and not worry. I’ve done all I wanted, so now I’m calm. The area’s quiet, though the city’s been getting noisy lately. Well, work’s still there, but not like before, when… it feels like we used to sleep here. Did you hear about Goryainov getting whacked around here? It was a big event for the neighborhood, such an honor," he added with sarcasm.

"I heard, Filatov filled me in… Lyosha, and what about him? He seems like a nice man… but alone."

Aleksei raised his eyebrows, "I don’t know, I think maybe his time just passed, so he's alone. Or his time hasn’t come yet… These are big philosophical questions, and only God knows the answers. As for us… we just talk, complain about life, and

"…and nothing more."

"Fair enough," Katya smiled.

"I’ll have a quick bite and help you with the dishes."

"Lyosha, that’s a woman’s job… don’t make a fuss."

But arguing was pointless; he helped wash the dishes and then walked the lady home.

"Why didn’t you show up yesterday? It was great! Katya is quite a catch," Filatov called as Aleksei was driving.

"Lyonya, I’m still sleeping," Aleksei answered.

"Sleeping?!" Filatov was surprised.

"Well, metaphorically speaking. I’m heading to see Elena Skrynnik. But I’ll be at work today."

"That’s good, because your father’s being called to the city office…"

"For what?" Aleksei interrupted.

"They want to take over the case," Filatov explained.

"Which case?"

"Yours, the one about those two bodies in the marshlands."

"Hm," Aleksei smirked, annoyed. "Interesting. I’m glad you guys had fun. I stopped by later and met Katya. Nice girl… Alright, Lyonya, later." Aleksei hung up and quickly picked up speed.

Shepelev Street was in a private sector. He was just pulling up to it. Slowing down, he began looking closely at the house numbers.

House 33 was two stories tall and looked very new among the older buildings. It was clear that it had been built recently; the sand around the house hadn't yet been cleared, and the fence was unnaturally clean for the area. Aleksei stopped the car and got out. He rang the doorbell at the gate. A dog’s barking could be heard.

"Coming, coming—Mitya, open up," someone yelled. The voice seemed to be a woman's. A tall, thin young man in uniform, holding a radio, appeared—probably the security guard.

"You are…?" he drawled.

"Senior Investigator of the Prosecutor’s Office, Aleksei Sergeevich Martynov."

– What did you want? – Does Mrs. Skrynnik live here? The guard nodded. – I’d like to speak with her. – What's the reason for the conversation? – Young man! Isn’t that too many questions for a guard?! I could come back, and I wouldn’t be alone. – Alright, no need to get upset – he backed away – I'll call her. – Lena, – he spoke into the radio. – Yes? – Prosecutor’s Office. – Prosecutor’s Office? Well, I don’t know… let him through… escort him, I’ll get dressed. The guard nodded and led him into the house.

Alexei entered a small living room. He sat down on a black leather sofa, placed the folder on the table, and waited for the hostess. Soon, she came downstairs. She was a woman of average height, with long chestnut hair that fell on her shoulders. She was wearing a brown robe and had her hands tucked into her pockets as she approached.

– Good afternoon. My name is Elena Skrynnik. How can I be of service to the prosecutor's office? It was clear that she had been crying, and she was trying to hide her emotions with a smile, but it wasn’t working very well.

Alexei introduced himself. Then he asked: – Lena, may I address you informally? She nodded. – Tell me, who is Pyotr Skrynnik to you? – That’s my father, but he disappeared 30 years ago… Wait, have you found him?! – She stood up at these words. – Please, sit down. We have found him. – My God – she clutched her chest. – Now, now, don’t worry – he tried to calm her down. – How can I not?! – Lena protested. – Would you like some water? – Alexei asked. – No, no – she motioned for him to sit down and sat herself. – Dad, daddy, they found him, I can’t believe it… Is he dead? – Lena… yes, let’s take it step by step. What do you know about his disappearance? – Mom told me… Oh, sorry. Let’s have some coffee; I didn’t offer you anything, and this conversation will probably be long – she stood up and headed to the kitchen – There’s so much to say about Dad – she explained – What news! My morning started off with a shock! Dad. – It’s okay, it’s okay… no need to worry – Alexei tried to calm her down. – Let’s have coffee – she insisted. Alexei nodded. From the kitchen, which was located at the end of the living room near the stairs, Elena continued her story. – You know, my dad wasn’t exactly a law-abiding citizen. He had dealings with your office. He was imprisoned twice and used to joke that his time in prison counted toward his pension… A minute later, she returned with coffee and sat down. – So, how did he disappear? – Mom told me the story, though I remember a little myself; I was very young at the time. Uncle Sergey called us, and he and Dad talked about something on the porch. My dad was a big, strong man with a tattoo of a spider web on his shoulder. Then, for some reason, he went into the storage room. Mom ran after him, and they argued for a long time. Dad shouted: – Don’t yell in front of the child! – He was a good, kind man, always protected me… Oh, I’m probably not telling you the right things, am I? – No, no, no – Alexei nodded – Continue however you feel comfortable. – He spoiled me often; Mom always scolded him for that. Anyway, that day he shouted – You know what Sergey means to me! And Mom yelled – What about me? What about your daughter? – Don’t bring my daughter into this! – They’ll kill you, Petya. They’ll kill you! – Mom tried for a long time to convince him, but if…

"They were sitting together, so… it's a diagnosis," she said with a condemning tone in her voice.

He took the rifle and left.

– "What kind of rifle?"

– "A hunting one, he had a permit. Mom cried for a long time then. And later, he disappeared, well… anyway… When can we go to see him?"

– "Yeah, anytime," Alexey sighed.

– "I'll go now," she placed her coffee cup on the table and started gathering her things hurriedly.

– "Excuse me, maybe it's not my business – is something wrong? Are you upset? And why are you with security?" he asked as she walked away.

– "Yeah… my ex-husband was a businessman, and he left it for me. We got divorced."

– "Hasn't the era of slavery been abolished?" Alexey joked.

– "You know how it is," she yelled from the staircase, "divorce doesn't exist in the criminal world. You’re responsible for your ex as well. Everything's fine, but it's better to be safe…"

– "Got it. Lena, may I see a picture of your father?"

– "Yes, of course." She flitted around the second floor like a butterfly in her robe. She came back with an album. After flipping through a few pages, she looked surprised.

Alexey walked up to her and saw the damaged photographs.

– "I see… Did you do anything with the plumbing recently?"

– "Yes, but how did you know?" Lena asked in surprise.

– "Well… can you describe him?"

– "Sure," she said thoughtfully, "A short man, well, I’d say medium height, in a baseball cap, you couldn't really see his face. He had a broad nose, around 55-60 years old, but sturdy, you know? Stocky. His eyes were small, barely visible. Well… that’s all… Could he have stolen something from me?" She panicked and ran off somewhere. She came back— "No, everything's fine. What's this all about?" she looked at Alexey, puzzled. "Why do I even need security!?"

He didn’t answer, just said:

– "Thanks, Lena, let’s go."

On the way to the morgue, Alexey asked about this Sergey. Of course, Lena had been a child and didn’t remember much, but she said her father had served time with him and had gone on two jobs together. At the morgue, she quickly identified her father by the spiderweb tattoo on his shoulder, his gold tooth, and the ring found with him.

She felt nauseous, and Alexey had to take her out into the hallway.

– "Oh! He’s shown up already! The meeting place can’t be changed! How are you here?" Filatov walked up to him.

– "We’re here for an identification," Alexey pointed at Lena.

– "Got it, alright."

Filatov had one irreplaceable quality – he could snap anyone out of their state quickly, whether it was his charm, his ability to tell a joke on any topic, or his healthy cynicism. This time, too, he quickly got Lena back on her feet.

The address Lena gave, where her father’s friend Sergey lived, wasn’t very precise, but that wasn’t surprising. After sending the girl back in the car, Alexey said goodbye to Filatov and headed to another address.

– "Misha, keep an eye on the kids, I’m exhausted in the kitchen, and the guests will be here soon," Nastya adjusted her apron and rushed back to the stove.

– "Alright, I’m coming," Mikhail, a man around 35 in blue jeans and a white sweater, got up from the couch and went to watch their rambunctious kids. The doorbell rang.

– "Misha, someone’s at the door, it's probably Ksyusha with her husband. Go answer it."

– "I’m coming," Mikhail grumbled and walked to the door. He looked through the peephole.

A man in a prosecutor's uniform stood there, holding a folder.

– Yes?

– My name is Alexey Martynov, I'm a senior investigator from the prosecutor's office… – with these words, he pulled out his ID.

– Come in – invited Mikhail.

– Is it Ksyusha? – shouted his wife from the kitchen.

– No, honey… It's the prosecutor's office!

– Oh my God! – a slender woman, around 40, with thick hair tucked under a scarf, appeared before Alexey. She wiped her hands on a towel and approached, eyeing the unexpected guest.

– Alexey Martynov.

– Anastasia… Sergeyevna – she held her gaze on him. She had large, expressive brown eyes, a well-proportioned face, and a slim figure. Beneath her apron was a fashionable dress, and she wore high-heeled shoes.

Alexey said he had an important message and suggested they sit down. They went to the next room, but Mikhail soon left as the children were making more and more noise.

– This is unexpected… – she was shocked by the news of the discovery and threw the towel onto a chair.

– Anastasia Sergeyevna…

– Just call me Nastya – she interrupted him.

– Alright. Nastya, you'll need to come for an identification, but I'd like to ask a few questions to clarify the cause of his death.

– Oh, Alexey… Sorry, what’s your patronymic?

– I respond to anything…

She appreciated the joke, and at that moment, it was somehow timely, given that this news came just before the arrival of guests… it was necessary to soften the blow somehow.

– Alexey, he wasn’t a pleasant person, he was friends with some Peter… Skrinnik, I think his surname was, but I sometimes talk to his daughter, we call each other, though she doesn’t visit us, we didn’t become friends. Our fathers were in prison together.

– I’ve been to her place, and we found her father too…

– Ah! Well, then there’s nothing more to discuss, right? I’m the daughter from his first marriage, and soon after, Dad met another woman and decided to leave my mother. I must say she was a good person, and Dad changed for the better with her… You know, Dad was like a beast, but she tamed the beast, and he looked at her like a miracle… In short, my dad lost his head and… fell in love. But that lady… she couldn’t forget her old love, and he suspected she was running back to him… I have her photo somewhere, just to make things clearer.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «Литрес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на Литрес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.