Gray Shadows: Russian Historical Thriller

Chapter Fifteen

In Moscow, the trees were still devoid of spring leaves and the air was still cold, but the bright blue sky was already illuminated by the first warm rays of the spring sun. For the first time since the dramatic events in Upper Luzinsk, Nikolai felt a sense of peace when he and Vanya entered Vagankovo Cemetery through the massive gates and walked past the small vendor stands where elderly women in dark coats and colorful head scarves were selling flowers, small icons, and plastic vases.

At the entrance to the cemetery’s main alley, Nikolai spotted Anatoly waiting for them, a large bouquet of white lilies in his hands. They greeted each other and walked past stone monuments, marble crosses, sculptures of angels, and large portraits in stone. A stream of water from the melting snow was running down the alley, sparkling and shining in the sun.

For a few moments they walked in silence, getting deeper and deeper into the sprawling alleys. It was a weekday, and the cemetery was mostly deserted except for a few workers tending to graves and picking up the old leaves that the melted snow revealed.

“This place is enormous,” Vanya said.

“It’s one of the oldest cemeteries in Moscow. Dates back to 18th century,” Nikolai said. “Andrei liked coming here. He always said this place helped him calm down and think about what’s really important.”

They reached the end of the main alley and turned into a narrow lane. Anatoly opened a small gate and led them to Andrei’s gravesite next to a new seedling.

“Good idea about planting this tree,” Anatoly said.

“Andrei liked trees,” Nikolai said, “especially the tall ones that create shade. And shadows. And this one will grow tall and strong.”

Anatoly put the lilies next to a framed portrait of smiling Andrei on top of the fresh grave.

“We should start a collection for a monument,” Nikolai said. “Andrei would have wanted it. What do you think, Anatoly?”

“We don’t need to. It’s all taken care of.”

“By whom?” Nikolai said.

“Pyotr Alekseevich paid for it,” Vanya said. “He felt that he owed it to Andrei.”

They stood for a few more minutes, then slowly left Andrei’s grave, closed the small gate behind them, and headed back to the exit.

“How could I have missed the obvious? All that time, Natalya was so close to me, and I never suspected her,” Nikolai said.

“I still don’t understand why she needed a bodyguard if she herself was a hired assassin,” Vanya said.

“We were puzzling over the bodyguard question all that time, but in the wrong way. We did not see the real reason. She needed to have firearms, and she knew that she could not have brought them in herself. So, she hired someone to bring the firearms in for her. A bodyguard,” Nikolai said. “And the dead guy was supposed to be me.”

“What a plan,” Vanya said.

“One thing I don’t understand is the involvement of Natalya’s father.” Nikolai turned to Anatoly. “I thought he was a clean businessman.”

“And that was a mistake on my part.” Anatoly said. “I did not check his personal life thoroughly enough. He is clean, as far as his business is concerned. And so is his daughter.”

“I don’t follow you,” Vanya said.

“The girl who called herself Natalya is not his real daughter. His real daughter, the real Natalya Abramova, lives in London. She’s a student there.”

“What’s the connection between Natalya the assassin and him?” Nikolai said.

“The man who said he was her father has a gambling problem, and he ended up owing a large sum to some shady people. A really large sum. And they made a deal with him that they would forgive the debt if he pretended to be Natalya’s father. He had no choice but to agree. If his boss at the bank found out about his gambling debts, he would be fired immediately. And he would still owe these people money,” Anatoly said.

“I take it that these people had something to do with the old director of the company? And with the attack on Vasily Petrovich?” Vanya said.

“That’s exactly right. And they have been arrested,” Anatoly said.

“And who is Natalya, really? Was anything she told us about herself true?” Nikolai said.

“We don’t know much about her yet. But the investigation is just starting,” Anatoly said.

They came back to the main square of the cemetery just inside the gates. Nikolai promised to take Vanya on a brief sightseeing tour of Moscow, and Anatoly was heading back to the office.

Nikolai and Vanya were about to part ways with Anatoly at the gate when Anatoly’s phone rang. He glanced at the number and motioned for Nikolai and Vanya to wait while he talked.

“How’s your leg feeling?” Anatoly asked Nikolai after he finished the phone call.

“Doctor says it will ache for a while, especially in cold weather, but other than that, it’s as good as new.”

“Good to hear,” Anatoly said. “Take today off. But after you put Vanya on the plane tomorrow, come by the office. Vasily Petrovich is eager to have you back. And there have been some interesting new developments he wants to discuss with you.”

“I’ll be there in the morning,” Nikolai said. He waved goodbye to Anatoly and followed Vanya out of the cemetery and into the sunlit Moscow street. It was a perfect day for sightseeing.