shivered at the unpleasant image that popped into her head. No, she couldn’t run. There was no point. Her only choice was to stay and fight.
How she planned to do that, she didn’t know.
With tears burning her eyes, she brought up her cell and flicked through her contacts list. Since the dark days in the aftermath of Alan’s horrible death, she had closed herself off from the rest of the world, severing all the friendships she had forged over the years. She had wanted to be alone with her grief and the guilt she felt for playing such a pivotal part. To this day, only a select few knew the truth about her involvement in Alan’s death and she never again wanted to be in the position to inadvertently cause another person’s demise. Which was why she had steered clear of all types of relationships, unable to forget the past and forgive herself. The only thing that had kept her sane was her work, her own safe haven, or at least it had been until a few nights ago.
Her parents lived in Minnesota, and while they would do anything for her, they couldn’t help. Her problem was well beyond the scope that her mechanic father and homemaker mother could assist with. Most of the numbers saved in her phone were work related, most contacts within museums across the world, the majority in Russia. That was her one-up; she had the in with Russia, having friends in the top museums and even in the Ministry of Culture, the big wigs when it came to letting Russia’s historical treasures out of the country.
She stopped when she reached Elena’s number. As much as she didn’t want to trouble her, she saw no other solution. She needed help and had nowhere else to turn. She took a moment to appreciate the sad state her life had become before glancing at the digital clock on her dashboard, hoping it wasn’t too early to call, and was shocked to discover it past eleven. She hadn’t even noticed the hours ticking away as she’d driven aimlessly around the city.
Navigating through traffic, she hit the call button and listened to it ring. The answering machine announced that Lucas and Elena were currently unavailable, and she closed her eyes for a split second, panic welling up inside her as she felt the urge to give up and cry.
Resigned, she spoke into the phone, silently praying Elena would get back to her soon. Then she hung up and continued driving to God knows where. She had already burned a quarter of a tank that morning. Another hour or so and she’d need to pull into a service station, the thought leaving her feeling cold and vulnerable. After a few moments of internal debate, she made a U-turn, cutting across the lanes of traffic and headed towards Annandale.
She picked up her phone again and accessed her address section. She knew she had Elena’s address somewhere, and she only prayed she’d saved it in her phone. She hadn’t been a great friend to Elena, not seeing her since she’d left Moscow, but she had sent a sympathy card to her when Elena’s first husband had been killed.
Later, she’d sent a congratulations card along with a big teddy bear to the house when Elena’s daughter had been born. She let out a deep breath when she found what she was looking for, then punched the info into her GPS and tried to calm herself.
Chapter 16
Dmitry followed Elena inside, burdened down with groceries while she juggled Yvonne on her hip, her purse and the baby bag on her shoulder, her house keys in her hand.
“When I said I’d love to help out, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” he said as he put the bags down on the kitchen counter and took his little niece into his arms. At six months, Yvonne was just starting to show her personality, including her Russian roots.
“Stop grouching,” Elena told him as she began putting her purchases into the pantry. He smiled as Yvonne blew a raspberry. She was just the sweetest thing and told Elena so.
Her gaze dropped to Yvonne, as if
How she planned to do that, she didn’t know.
With tears burning her eyes, she brought up her cell and flicked through her contacts list. Since the dark days in the aftermath of Alan’s horrible death, she had closed herself off from the rest of the world, severing all the friendships she had forged over the years. She had wanted to be alone with her grief and the guilt she felt for playing such a pivotal part. To this day, only a select few knew the truth about her involvement in Alan’s death and she never again wanted to be in the position to inadvertently cause another person’s demise. Which was why she had steered clear of all types of relationships, unable to forget the past and forgive herself. The only thing that had kept her sane was her work, her own safe haven, or at least it had been until a few nights ago.
Her parents lived in Minnesota, and while they would do anything for her, they couldn’t help. Her problem was well beyond the scope that her mechanic father and homemaker mother could assist with. Most of the numbers saved in her phone were work related, most contacts within museums across the world, the majority in Russia. That was her one-up; she had the in with Russia, having friends in the top museums and even in the Ministry of Culture, the big wigs when it came to letting Russia’s historical treasures out of the country.
She stopped when she reached Elena’s number. As much as she didn’t want to trouble her, she saw no other solution. She needed help and had nowhere else to turn. She took a moment to appreciate the sad state her life had become before glancing at the digital clock on her dashboard, hoping it wasn’t too early to call, and was shocked to discover it past eleven. She hadn’t even noticed the hours ticking away as she’d driven aimlessly around the city.
Navigating through traffic, she hit the call button and listened to it ring. The answering machine announced that Lucas and Elena were currently unavailable, and she closed her eyes for a split second, panic welling up inside her as she felt the urge to give up and cry.
Resigned, she spoke into the phone, silently praying Elena would get back to her soon. Then she hung up and continued driving to God knows where. She had already burned a quarter of a tank that morning. Another hour or so and she’d need to pull into a service station, the thought leaving her feeling cold and vulnerable. After a few moments of internal debate, she made a U-turn, cutting across the lanes of traffic and headed towards Annandale.
She picked up her phone again and accessed her address section. She knew she had Elena’s address somewhere, and she only prayed she’d saved it in her phone. She hadn’t been a great friend to Elena, not seeing her since she’d left Moscow, but she had sent a sympathy card to her when Elena’s first husband had been killed.
Later, she’d sent a congratulations card along with a big teddy bear to the house when Elena’s daughter had been born. She let out a deep breath when she found what she was looking for, then punched the info into her GPS and tried to calm herself.
Chapter 16
Dmitry followed Elena inside, burdened down with groceries while she juggled Yvonne on her hip, her purse and the baby bag on her shoulder, her house keys in her hand.
“When I said I’d love to help out, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind,” he said as he put the bags down on the kitchen counter and took his little niece into his arms. At six months, Yvonne was just starting to show her personality, including her Russian roots.
“Stop grouching,” Elena told him as she began putting her purchases into the pantry. He smiled as Yvonne blew a raspberry. She was just the sweetest thing and told Elena so.
Her gaze dropped to Yvonne, as if
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