The Twelfth Department

CHARACTERS

Doctor Irina Azarova—Professor Azarov’s wife

Isaac Babel—famous author and also Korolev’s neighbor

Sergeant Belinsky—Militiaman in charge of the investigating uniforms (uniformed police) at Leadership House

Blanter—State Security operative working for the NKVD’s Twelfth Department

Doctor Zinaida Chestnova—pathologist and friend of Korolev’s

Count Kolya—leader of the Moscow Thieves

Danilov—in charge of the removals at the Azarov Institute

The Deacon—one of Count Kolya’s men

Dubinkin—a lieutenant with the NKVD

Nikolai Ezhov—General Commissar of State Security and head of the NKVD

Monsieur Hubert—a representative of the French embassy in Moscow

Captain Alexei Korolev—a detective with the Moscow Criminal Investigation Division

Yuri Korolev—Captain Korolev’s son

Kuznetsky—Militiaman assisting Korolev

Valentina Nikolayevna Koltsova—Korolev’s friend and neighbor

Natasha Koltsova—Valentina Koltsova’s daughter

Levschinsky—forensics specialist for Moscow CID

Lilova—maid to Dr. Shtange

Maria Lobkovskaya—Korolev’s elderly downstairs neighbor

Galina Matkina—maid to Professor Azarov

Menchikova—resident of Leadership House

Mishka—Count Kolya’s right-hand man

Pavel Morozov—responsible for the car pool at Militia headquarters and a friend of Korolev’s

Petya the Persuader—an informant

First Inspector Popov—Korolev’s boss

Priudsky—original doorman at Leadership House

Colonel Rodinov—a senior NKVD officer

Semyon Shabalin—a bank robber and gangster

Dr. Arkady Shtange—deputy director of the Azarov Institute

Anna Shtange—Dr. Shtange’s wife

Shura—maid to Babel and a friend to Korolev

Nadezhda Slivka—a junior detective with the Odessa CID

Spinsky—director of the Vitsin Street Orphanage

Svalov—State Security operative working for the NKVD’s Twelfth Department

Tambova—also known as “Little Barrel,” attendant at the Vitsin Street Orphanage

Timinov—replacement doorman at Leadership House

Ushakov—forensics specialist for Moscow CID

Vera—Valentina’s friend and a worker at Moscow Zoo

Doctor Weiss—neighbor and colleague of Professor Azarov

Captain Dmitry Yasimov—Korolev’s fellow detective with Moscow CID

Colonel Zaitsev—head of the NKVD’s Twelfth Department