The Winter Thief

21

The door opened again, and someone entered carrying a lamp. Vera shut her eyes against the bright light. Her body curled into a ball, preparing for whatever was to come.

“What happened to your light?” Vahid asked pleasantly, pushing aside the remains of food and placing the lamp on the table. In his other hand, he held a glass of steaming tea. “I see you received the food I sent. I’ve brought you some tea.” He set the glass down beside her. “Is there anything more you need? You have water?” He looked at the empty carafe. “I see not. I apologize. I’ll have more sent right away.”

Vera found herself gaping. Did he have no idea what had just happened to her? Had those men acted without his knowledge?

Vahid sat in the chair beside her and crossed his legs, revealing a slim ankle in a white silk sock. Vera found the sight of the white silk so moving it made her want to cry for the lost innocence of her Moscow childhood. Pull yourself together, she told herself crossly. She forced herself to focus on Vahid’s face. He was smiling patiently, like a family doctor making his patient comfortable enough to reveal the wretched failures of her body. He indicated the tea with a nod of his head. “Drink something. You look chilled. I took the liberty of adding sugar.”

Vera reached for the glass. It rattled against her teeth, but the warm, sweet liquid calmed her. She should tell him, she thought with rising fury and indignation. They would be punished for what they did.

“I brought you something.” Vahid reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver hairpin. Red stones depending from delicate chains clicked softly against each other. He stood behind her and ran his fingers through her thick auburn hair, avoiding the area he had cut off. Vera was frozen with terror, wondering what he would do next. Suddenly he twisted her hair into a knot and clumsily inserted the pin so that it scratched her scalp. Her hair fell free again at once, but the pin remained entangled.

Afraid to move, Vera concentrated on controlling her breathing.

Vahid sat back admiringly. “You look lovely like that.”

“Thank you.” Vera breathed out slowly through her nose so he wouldn’t see her chest rise and fall in panic. She sensed it would be worse if he saw how frightened she was. She sat up and attempted a smile. “You’re very kind, sir.”

“You’re welcome. It’s of no importance. I want to make sure you’re comfortable here.”

“I’d like to leave.”

“My dear Lena, there are men outside waiting to arrest you. I hope they haven’t already captured your friend. Here you are safe.”

Vera felt confused. Was she not already under arrest? If these men weren’t the secret police, who were they? “You’ve been very kind. But…” She felt tears coming on and struggled against them.

“Please, my dear girl,” Vahid said, leaning toward her solicitously, “just tell me what’s bothering you, and I’ll see to it that it’s taken care of. You’re under my protection here.”

Did he really not know? Vera wondered, confused. “Your men came in,” she began, but found herself unable to continue.

He looked puzzled. “My men? I sent a girl with the food.”

Vera took heart that he hadn’t known about the men. Perhaps they did it believing she would be too ashamed to tell. The comb looked expensive. Maybe he would help her. “They came in here and took me out. To a room down the hall.”

Vahid waited, frowning with concern. He reached out and took her hand. “Go on, my dear girl.” His hand was warm and Vera found comfort in the gesture.

“They did things to me.” To her horror, she began to weep, her plan to remain in control in shreds. Vahid squatted beside her chair. His hand tangled in her hair and pulled her head to his shoulder, where she wept uncontrollably.

When she had calmed somewhat, he sat back, keeping his arm around her shoulders, his lapel wet with her tears. “Tell me what they did, my dear, and I’ll look into it.”

Taking a ragged breath, Vera said, “They took off my clothes and touched me everywhere.”

“What do you mean by everywhere?” Vahid asked with a frown. “Please explain.”

Vera forced herself to say, “Where only my husband should touch.” It was all she could utter. She couldn’t look at him. She began to feel uncomfortable in his embrace and wanted to push him away, but remembering her plan for escape, she forced herself to remain still.

“You are married?” Vahid asked, glancing at the silver ring on her finger.

“Yes.”

“What is your husband’s name?”

This might be a trick to get Gabriel’s name from her. “Ivan Balian.”

She felt his arm tighten around her shoulder. “Is he here in Istanbul?”

“No, in Moscow.”

“You are here alone, Lena? How can that be? It’s very dangerous for a woman alone in a strange city. Anything can happen.”

He stood, towering over her. “I’ll see that those men are punished. They won’t bother you again.” He clicked open a silver cigarette case and offered it to her.

She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and took a cigarette. “Thank you, Monsieur Vahid.”

“Vahid.” He lit the cigarette for her. His smile showed a line of perfect white teeth beneath his mustache. “You may call me that.”

“Thank you, Vahid.” Vera forced herself to look at his face and smile back. The aromatic smoke in her lungs intoxicated her.

“I will send more water.” He removed the pin from her hair and put it back in his pocket.

When Vahid had gone, the key once more turned in the lock, Vera realized she still had no idea who he was or what he wanted from her. She was sure he was interested in Gabriel, but she wouldn’t lead Vahid to him. She had no idea where Gabriel was now, but perhaps Vahid didn’t know that. If she convinced him that she had no useful information, would he let her go? She knew the answer. She would be the lure to bring Gabriel out in the open. Her only option was to get out first.