Destiny's Puppets
Шрифт:
«Perhaps they met when Nelly was an intern in Leningrad. The girls worked together. Nelly seemed to win Bykov’s trust, visited her home.»
«But what does it change?»
«You read on,» Egorov retorted peevishly.
When Morozov resumed reading, he gave way to temper.
«It turns out that she wrote this denunciation of 15 September, on 16 September she and her fianc'e filed a request to get married, which they did on 17 September, and on the same day they submitted a request for the fresh husband to be registered in Nelly’s room on Nevsky avenue. A very smart job, indeed! But what do we gain from this? We still can’t prove that Nelly tried to poison Svetlana with intent!» in Dmitry Morozov's voice there was disgust and indignation.
«That is not even the point. Bykov called me this morning. The Bykov from the Leningrad KGB office and the father of Valentina Bykov – Nelly’s close friend. As far as I can guess, Nelly asked her friend Valentina, she asked her father to press me to provide the newly-weds with good housing. And I can say that but for this denunciation I would have found them suitable accommodation even without Bykov’s call. Now you do understand that I have to do something. And it turns out, I have to fire Svetlana or throw this Nelly out! I suspect that she was frightened and turned to her friend's father for help not by accident,» sparks of anger flashed in Yegorov's eyes.
In the silence of the office, the cries of seagulls outside the window began to be heard.
«So I understand you believe me?» Morozov uttered almost in a whisper.
«Of course! We’ve been working side by side for ages. And I know Svetlana from cradle. There is nothing to say here, all is clear.»
The men looked at each other in silence for a while.
«Here’s what I think,» Egorov took another file and opened it, «this is Victor Tabunov’s personal file. There is nothing special in it, but once the situation has turned this way, I have made a decision to demobilize Tabunov! Look, here is the doctor’s report that Tabunov has had several blood pressure jumps. And you cannot allow a person with high blood pressure serve on a submarine. As he has just married, his wife will go with him to the place of residence registration, namely – to the city of Ivanovo.» Egorov sneered at Morozov, «how do you like this gambit?»
«That’s why you are the boss and I am your deputy.»
«Dmitry, please, ask Svetlana to prepare all the necessary documents as soon as possible. The newly-weds need a vacation to go on honeymoon, and their move to Ivanovo will take some time.»
«Of course, I’ll deal with it at once.»
6
Again, Major Lazarev re-read the dossiers of the people he was going to deal with in the near future. He examined the schedule of rehearsals and performance in the studio theatre "Youth", as well as the plan of the building and Mikhail Fedorov’s comments to it.
«Well, ladies, shall we dance?» he said his favorite joke in a low voice.
He had heard this phrase in an old western. Before the fight with the host of opponents, the main character gripped two huge revolvers in his hands and said in a triumphant tone, "Well, ladies, shall we dance?” He then jumped up high, made a revolution towards his opponents, and stayed clear from their returned fire by producing kind of dancing movements. Shooting accurately, he killed all of his opponents on the spot. And of course, there was not a single scratch on him. Anatoly Lazarev chuckled, put the file away in the safe and left the room.
Anatoly went to the building of the theatre studio "Youth" through the side door. He passed through the foyer that housed portraits of actors, photos from performances and posters on the walls. He found himself in the auditorium, where a unique aroma of theatre dwelled. Only the stage, where the rehearsal was in full swing, was lit. Carefully, trying not to make a noise, Anatoly sat down on a jump seat and started watching. He immediately recognized Mikhail Fedorov. He was an actor of immense charm and talent, famous for many roles in movies, and now was the leader of his own theatre company. Women of all ages went crazy over him.
Mikhail, with a bundle of papers in his hands, was lightly moving around the stage while simultaneously giving instructions. «Sasha, if I say that the music started it really should! What are you busy with? Are you asleep? Masha, please, come onto the stage not between these trees, but from there and at once start hopping and moving right in this direction,» Fedorov stamped his foot slightly in the right spot on the stage.
«Larisa, my dear, what are you wearing? Pick up your skirts, or they will cover everything on the table when you sit on it.»
Major Lazarev looked closely at the girl which Fedorov called Larisa. In the photo she had seemed prettier than in person. She had an amazing figure, a perfect poise and graceful movements. But the face is rustic, and the "duck" nose obviously spoiled the overall picture, but bright, expressive eyes attracted and covered all other flaws in appearance.
«Hard-working, sturdy, talent for dramatic identification, affectionate,» Anatoly’s memory helpfully reproduced Larisa’s characteristics from her personal info file.
«Hi, the future mom of the Crown Prince,» Lazarev looked closely at the girl, trying to find the right way to approach her at once.
«And where is the "Prince"?»
Anatoly called Gleb Svetlov "Prince", because the young man was the grandson and heir of Emperor Nicolas II. Major took a good look at the actors on the stage, but Gleb was not there. He spotted him at once, as soon as he looked in the parterre. Svetlov was sitting next to Roshin.
«Here are our doves,» Major Lazarev observed with satisfaction.
He leaned forward a little and began scrutinizing the actors sitting in the parterre. At that moment Fedorov clapped his hands and began giving orders in a sonorous voice.
«OK, stop sit back. Everybody on stage and let’s run through the whole scene. Sasha, wake up, please, follow the action, the music must merge with it. Igor, no, stay here and only move back … yes, that’s OK.»
Fedorov went down to the parterre and remained standing.
«They began!»
On stage, the actors played the episode, and Lazarev watched what was happening, sitting in the darkened part of the auditorium. The play did not interest him at all, but the acting of those he came here for – really did. A few moments later Svetlov joined the rehearsal – he was saying his lines and moving towards Larisa. Anatoly saw Panko’s eyes light up.
«She is either a talented actress, which, by the way, is mentioned in her file, or she is interested in Gleb not only as a stage partner. And this is already a very good sign,» Major Lazarev chuckled.