10-27-2019, 04:55 AM
Lillian heard the door to her apartment open and presumed it was her secretary, returning at long last with coffee and a snack. It wasn’t.
“Nice of you to decide to join me,” she said. Lih grinned and nodded. He was munching on a bread filled with smoked fish, and carried a tray with two cups of coffee in his other hand. He set the tray down and handed one of the coffees to Lillian.
“I intercepted your secretary on the way in,” he said.
“There was supposed to be food too,” said Lillian. Lih stopped chewing immediately and looked down at the sandwich in his hand guiltily. “Sorry,” he said.
Lillian shook her head dismissively. “There’ll be food at the festival. You want to go with me?”
“Yes,” Lih said honestly, the thought of Ivan Sarkozy flashing through his mind.
He looked at her, his eyes in shadow. “Ever had a secret, Lillian? One that will hurt as many by telling it as it will by keeping it?”
“Yes,” she said simply.
He seemed surprised at her reply, as if he’d been expecting her to say no. “How did you decide?”
“I didn’t. It was decided for me.”
“That’s what I’m afraid will happen here,” he let out a slow, dangerous breath and looked like he might punch something. “This is a big, big world with a lot of corners and holes to hide in,” said Lih darkly.
“Have you … changed your mind?” Lillian said instead. “You asked me to help you, Lih. You said you needed proof to put your mind at rest. I’ve watched you Lih. You came here needing proof one way or the other. I’ll let you make your own mind up what to believe.”
“No, I haven’t,” Lih set down his empty cup and brushed crumbs off his jacket. “Time to work.”
“No?” She smiled. “Ok, I got your back! I finished up earlier than expected and thought I’d move things along. Of course it’s your treat tonight, Lih.”
“Thank you.“
On they came. Lih and Lillian, running side by side like hunting dogs, angling into the plane of the street festival. And the Syndicate? Where were they? Where was Ivan?
Behind him, they were laughing and shouting out. Lih moved down through the rows of street carts and pavillions. He pushed through their huddled groups, knowing they were all watching him.
“Sorry, folks,” Lillian cried, sounding anything but sorry. She pushed her way through the throng of people. A band was playing…
He didn’t break stride. He could feel the smile on his face. It wouldn’t go. Lillian was back. Lillian was back! This had got to be about the best day of his life, ever. Right up there along with the day he made police officer and the day Costa told him he loved him (like family).
He’d missed Lillian so much he hadn’t realized, and he knew all too well he owed her everything. He’d have been dead on the streets of Moscow but for her.
“Nice of you to decide to join me,” she said. Lih grinned and nodded. He was munching on a bread filled with smoked fish, and carried a tray with two cups of coffee in his other hand. He set the tray down and handed one of the coffees to Lillian.
“I intercepted your secretary on the way in,” he said.
“There was supposed to be food too,” said Lillian. Lih stopped chewing immediately and looked down at the sandwich in his hand guiltily. “Sorry,” he said.
Lillian shook her head dismissively. “There’ll be food at the festival. You want to go with me?”
“Yes,” Lih said honestly, the thought of Ivan Sarkozy flashing through his mind.
He looked at her, his eyes in shadow. “Ever had a secret, Lillian? One that will hurt as many by telling it as it will by keeping it?”
“Yes,” she said simply.
He seemed surprised at her reply, as if he’d been expecting her to say no. “How did you decide?”
“I didn’t. It was decided for me.”
“That’s what I’m afraid will happen here,” he let out a slow, dangerous breath and looked like he might punch something. “This is a big, big world with a lot of corners and holes to hide in,” said Lih darkly.
“Have you … changed your mind?” Lillian said instead. “You asked me to help you, Lih. You said you needed proof to put your mind at rest. I’ve watched you Lih. You came here needing proof one way or the other. I’ll let you make your own mind up what to believe.”
“No, I haven’t,” Lih set down his empty cup and brushed crumbs off his jacket. “Time to work.”
“No?” She smiled. “Ok, I got your back! I finished up earlier than expected and thought I’d move things along. Of course it’s your treat tonight, Lih.”
“Thank you.“
On they came. Lih and Lillian, running side by side like hunting dogs, angling into the plane of the street festival. And the Syndicate? Where were they? Where was Ivan?
Behind him, they were laughing and shouting out. Lih moved down through the rows of street carts and pavillions. He pushed through their huddled groups, knowing they were all watching him.
“Sorry, folks,” Lillian cried, sounding anything but sorry. She pushed her way through the throng of people. A band was playing…
He didn’t break stride. He could feel the smile on his face. It wouldn’t go. Lillian was back. Lillian was back! This had got to be about the best day of his life, ever. Right up there along with the day he made police officer and the day Costa told him he loved him (like family).
He’d missed Lillian so much he hadn’t realized, and he knew all too well he owed her everything. He’d have been dead on the streets of Moscow but for her.