He turned his thoughts to Wilbur Hewitt, who, two days earlier, when he’d managed to slip away from his escorts, had shown up at the store to ask about the passports.
Jack had fobbed him off. He still didn’t know whether Hewitt was really to blame for the sabotage, though it didn’t make sense that he had hired Jack to investigate crimes that he had committed himself. Unless, of course, he was looking for someone on whom to lay the blame. Jack finished his vodka, put the bottle away, and slumped onto the sofa near the hearth to gaze at the little embers that floated like fiery sprites. It worried him that he’d reached such a simple conclusion that hadn’t occurred to him before. A scapegoat . . . and McMillan . . . where was he? And what connection did he have to the sabotage? He considered reexamining the documents he’d found in the trunk, but his head ached. Vodka and arguments were not a good combination. He slowly closed his eyes and let his mind drift with the anxiety of not knowing what direction his life would take.
An insistent banging as if his head were being drilled woke him. Jack sat up and checked his watch. It showed 5:00 a.m. His temples throbbed, but the knocking persisted, unrelenting. He pulled on a dressing gown and went down the stairs as quickly as he could to prevent whoever it was from smashing down his door. He had no idea who it could be. When he opened up, he found Elizabeth Hewitt, soaked through, her makeup running and her eyes red from crying. Before he could ask her what was happening, the young woman came in, and, with no explanation, threw herself into his arms, sobbing inconsolably. Jack tried to calm her down, wrapping her in a blanket. When Elizabeth managed to speak, she told Jack that they’d arrested her uncle. “We were sleeping, and the telephone woke us up. Viktor took the call, then quickly got up. He didn’t want to alarm me, but his face gave it away. I insisted he tell me what was happening, and finally he explained. Oh, Jack! It was Sergei! He’s sent Wilbur to the ispravdom, charged with counterrevolutionary acts. I . . . Viktor wouldn’t tell me anything else. Oh God! I’m afraid something dreadful has happened to him.”
“All right. Calm down. Why did you come here? I’m sure Viktor will be able to—”
“Viktor threw me out.”
“What?”
“He told me I had to leave, that he couldn’t harbor the niece of a capitalist traitor.”
“And he threw you out? In the middle of the night?”
“Well, no. I left. I called him everything under the sun. I didn’t know who to turn to, so I came here. I don’t know anyone else. You have to help me, Jack! You can speak to Sergei.”
“Me? But I just run a store. I don’t know why you think I could—”
“Jack! Please, I’m begging you! You go out with his daughter. He’ll listen to you.”
Jack blushed. “Are you forgetting who you’re talking about? In matters of the state, Sergei Loban wouldn’t listen to his own mother. And anyway . . . if they’ve arrested him, they have their reasons.”
Elizabeth separated herself from Jack.
“Why . . . why do you say that?” she stammered.
Jack tried to calm her down, but she retreated again. “Please, relax. From what I know, Sergei’s been investigating your uncle for some time, and if he’s finally decided to charge him, it must be because he’s found proof. And . . .” Jack remembered how Wilbur Hewitt had deceived him with the McMillan business. “And there’re things you don’t know,” was all he finally said.
“I’m begging you for your help, Jack! What am I going to do on my own?”
“I understand, but I don’t see how I can—”
“Please. If you don’t want to compromise yourself, at least help me find a lawyer. I don’t speak the language, and I don’t know who else to turn to.”
“That’s not the problem. It’s simply that I—”
“What is it, Jack? Have you forgotten me already? What is it you want? Do you want me? I’ll do whatever you ask, do you hear? Whatever you ask,” she said with determination.
Jack was convinced that Elizabeth really meant it. He remained silent for a few seconds while he considered his options. Taking Elizabeth in would put him in a delicate situation as far as Sergei was concerned. And as for Natasha . . . Natasha knew he had been seeing Elizabeth, and she wouldn’t approve, either. But he couldn’t leave her out on the street.
“All right. I’ll go to see Loban in the morning. You can stay in my room until you find somewhere else. I’ll make do here,” he said, gesturing at the sofa in front of the hearth.
Elizabeth nodded, sighing with relief. Jack contemplated her in silence. She, though still beautiful, looked like a broken doll. He made her some of the valerian-and-lemon-balm tea that he took for his pain, and he showed her upstairs. Elizabeth sat on the bed and drank the infusion like an automaton. Jack took the cup from her hands and helped her lie down. Then he covered her and turned out the light. When he was leaving, he heard Elizabeth say good night.
“Please, Jack. Get us back to America.”
Before dawn, Jack was already waiting impatiently in the hall outside the office of the director of operations. He hadn’t slept. If they were capable of imprisoning Hewitt, no American could consider himself safe. When he saw Sergei appear, he finished his cup of coffee and swallowed his nerves. The Russian greeted him with a glimmer of surprise, opened his office door, and invited him in. While Jack sat down, the OGPU boss left a folder of reports on the desk and took off his old hat. His face seemed more serious than usual, as if he bore a heavy burden that he was unable to lift. He sat and studied Jack in silence.
“So?” He said nothing else.
“Thank you for seeing me without an appointment, sir. I know you’re very busy, but as I said to your secretary, it’s an urgent matter.”
“Yes?”
Jack cleared his throat. No doubt Sergei had guessed the reason for his visit. “In the early hours of this morning, Elizabeth Hewitt came to my house. She said that last night some thugs showed up at her uncle’s home and took him away without explanation.”
“Right. Do you suppose those thugs were following orders?”
“I suppose so. I’d be grateful if you could tell me who gave them those orders and what he’s accused of.”