Mistress

Chapter 39

“His name is Alex,” says Anne. “I only met him once. I ran into Diana with him and they looked-very cozy. But then a few weeks later, I saw an article about him in the Post. I recognized his photograph. His name is Alexander Kutuzov. He owns a soccer team in England and a bunch of specialty bookstores around the world, including one here on Fifth Street. I’ve actually been in it. It’s called AK Collectibles. Anyway, he’s made billions in oil in Russia and he flies all over the world, that kind of thing.”

Despite the importance of what she’s telling me on so many levels, I can’t help but feel jealousy and resentment creeping in. Diana had two paramours-Jonathan Liu and now this Alexander Kutuzov-and I didn’t know anything about it? She must have thought I was a puppy dog following her around, eager for any attention she might throw my way. I must have been a joke to her.

Reality is a bitch.

“Okay, Alex Kutuzov,” I say. “You didn’t mention him to the feds.”

Anne shakes her head. “I’m not sure why, but something about how Diana reacted when I brought up the topic. I was, like, ‘Hey, y’know, I saw the Post article, what’s up with this hotshot billionaire?’ But Diana looked mortified. She made me promise I wouldn’t mention him to anybody. Ever. So I kept my promise.” She touches my hand. “Except I’m telling you, aren’t I?”

“You are.”

“Diana said she could trust you. She said you were the only man she could trust.”

Okay, a trustworthy puppy dog. Still a puppy dog.

“I don’t know where else to turn, Ben. I don’t know what to do.”

Enough is enough. I don’t know what to think of Diana anymore, but I make a decision right then and there that I’m not going to let anything happen to Anne. There have been enough innocent casualties already.

I put my hand on top of hers. “I’m going to take care of this,” I say. “I’m going to figure out what’s going on. Let me tell you how.”

My words seem to reassure her. I wish I could say the same for me.

I’ll find out tonight.