Volkov’s eyesmoistened as he tried but failed to meet his niece’s gaze. “It isnot possible just now, my Anyechka. But someday.”
“Everything ispossible with you, uncle. You are wealthy and powerful. You can doeverything. Why can’t I stay?” She turned to her namesake. “Tellhim. Tell him he can make anything possible. He’ll listen to you.”
The assassin’s heartmelted. “I’m sorry. I cannot. This thing you want, it is verydifficult, but not impossible. Perhaps someday soon you can come toAmerica for good.”
In typical form for ateenager from any country, she set her jaw and teetered on the edgeof a tantrum.
The drive to the hotelnear Lincoln Center was silent and cold. When they pulled beneath theawning of the hotel, Anya threw open the door as Volkov called out,“I love you, my only niece.”
Standing beside the carand leaning back inside, she glared at the jeweler. “If you lovedme, you wouldn’t make me go back.”
She slammed the doorand stormed through the ornate entrance of the hotel.
Volkov stared betweenhis feet and shook his head, barely perceptibly.
Anya took his arm. “Sheis only a girl. She will understand someday.”
He pulled his arm fromher. “No, she won’t. She can never know the truth of her father’sdeath, and I cannot bring her here to be with me. You will soonunderstand, but she never will.”
18
SMENYA KHVATIT
(I QUIT)
The ride to Anya’sapartment was as quiet as the ride to the ballet company’s hotel,but not as cold.
Before stepping fromthe Bentley, Anya leaned close to Viktor, pressed her lips to hischeek, and whispered, “She knows you love her, but she is girlchild. You cannot understand because you have never been. I have.Good night, my beautiful man. I will begin matching diamonds onMonday, yes?”
“Thank you, my dear.I am sorry for the way this evening must end, but—”
Anya pressed her fingerto his lips. “Shh. It was wonderful evening, and niece Anya isperfect. I will be ready for driver on Monday morning.”
Volkov silently nodded,and Anya slid from the car.
As she walked throughthe apartment door, Gwynn rose to meet her. “Tell me everything.Where did you go? What did you do? Spill it, girl.” Gwynn’sexcitement waned as she studied Anya’s expression. “That doesn’tlook good. What’s wrong?”
“I am no longercertain I can do this. I think I must quit.”
Gwynn shook her headand grabbed Anya’s hand. “Come, sit down. I’ll make you sometea, and you can tell me everything.”
The Russian pulled fromGwynn’s grasp and ambled down the hallway toward her room. By thetime Anya returned, dressed in flannel pajama pants and a Universityof Georgia baseball jersey, the tea was ready, and Gwynn was curledup on the end of the sofa.
Anya nestled into theplush cushion and cupped the mug in both hands. “Thank you for thetea. It smells delicious.”
“You’re welcome.Now, tell me what’s going on.”
Anya blew across themug and took a tentative sip. “Viktor Volkov has a niece, and hername is Anya.”
Gwynn slammed her mugonto the end table and leaned toward Anya. “Shut up! You’relying.”
Anya shrugged. “It istrue. She is prima ballerina of Bolshoi second company. I saw herdance tonight at Lincoln Center, and she is beautiful.”
Girlfriend Gwynn wasinstantly transformed back into Special Agent Davis. “How did wenot know he had a niece? We have to tell Agent White.”
Anya laid a hand onGwynn’s arm. “Yes, of course I know this, but I must tell youeverything before you call him.”
Gwynn continuedignoring her tea and listened intently as Anya spoke. “He said Anyais daughter of his murdered brother, and he is responsible for themurder.”
“He told you hekilled his own brother?”
“No, he only said hewas reason for his brother’s murder—not that he killed him.”
Gwynn grabbed a pen andChinese restaurant menu from the end table drawer and flipped itover. The pen flew across the paper as she furiously took notes ofevery word. “What was his brother’s name?”
Anya took another sip.“Also Volkov.”
Gwynn slumped. “Yeah,I kinda figured that since they’re brothers. I meant, what’s hisbrother’s first name?”
“I do not know.”
“Okay, so, tell meabout the niece.”
“I know only that shehas my name and is wonderful dancer. She had dinner with us, and shedemanded that Viktor let her stay with him in America, but herefused.”
“Why?”
“I suppose like mostpoor Russian children, she believes America would be better.”
Gwynn let out a groan.“This is getting painful. It’s like you’ve forgotten how tocommunicate with me. Of course the girl wants to come to America, butwhy did Volkov refuse.”
“This is meaningfulpart of conversation. He said, ‘She can never know truth of herfather’s death, and I cannot bring her here to be with me. You willsoon understand, but she never will.’”
Gwynn stopped writing.“What does that mean?”
“I do not know.”
“So, why do you thinkhe feels responsible for his brother’s murder?”
“This I do not know,either, but his heart is broken for his niece. He loves her, and shebelieves he can do everything.”
“This is great stuff.I can’t wait to tell Agent White.”
Anya paused and divedinto her tea. After two long swallows, she said, “Do you believeViktor is dangerous man?”
“We don’t know yet.We know he’s practically printing money, and now that we’ve seenhis girl Veronique switching diamonds in a shop, it’s starting tocome together that he’s stealing high-quality diamonds andreplacing them with lesser stones.”
“But he is notkilling anyone, and he is not bringing into country bags of cocaine,yes?”
“We don’t thinkhe’s involved in any of those things, but that doesn’t mean heisn’t breaking the law.”
“I realize this, butthis little girl, Anya, she is without father and will be withoutuncle if we send him to prison.”
“That’s whathappens to people who break the law in this country.”
“Not always.Sometimes people break laws for many years and do not go to prison.”
Gwynn sighed. “Areyou suggesting we lay off of Volkov simply because he has a niecewith your name?”
“No, this is not whatI am suggesting. I only want to know what he is doing to break laws.Maybe he is not doing something so bad that his niece should sufferfor the crimes of her uncle.”
Gwynn closed her eyesand sighed. “What you’re experiencing is common among lawenforcement
