Finn immediately saw how important it was that this be the end of it, that the girl had to be able to move on with her life, that there had to be no thread leading back through the maze to him and to Karasek and to everything else that had happened in Tallinn.
“Karasek himself might not be a problem, but you’re right, it’s probably best we never speak of this again. I know you’ll do the right thing for her, that’s all that matters to me.”
Alex nodded, deep in thought for a moment before he said, “Karasek could still be a problem. I hear something happened in Kaliningrad last night, and it didn’t go well. People were killed, but Karasek wasn’t there.”
Finn wondered what that would mean for him, not least the alarming possibility that he wouldn’t be able to go back to Tallinn, not for any length of time. And he was probably marked as a traitor now, which made it worse, particularly if the operation had failed totally and claimed casualties in the process.
“Do you know who was killed?”
“Not names. Some of our people, for sure.” He studied Finn’s face. “This news is bad news for you?”
“You could say that.”
Alex seemed grave with concern himself, but then he looked over Finn’s shoulder and smiled. Katerina was walking slowly toward them, looking up at the ship. She saw Finn and he smiled, and she looked questioningly, asking if it was okay for her to approach.
Finn introduced her to Alex, who smiled broadly and spoke to her in Russian. Whatever he said, she answered with enthusiasm, and after a moment Finn realized they were talking about the museum.
Alex’s daughter came over, also now on the verge of becoming a beautiful young woman, no trace of the child Finn remembered. She clearly didn’t remember him at all but greeted him politely and then, after an introduction, entered into an excitable conversation with Katerina in Russian.
Alex smiled indulgently but then said something to Katerina, who turned to Finn in response, her smile fading as she said, “You’re leaving?”
He nodded. “Mr. Naumenko will look after you, make sure you’re okay.”
She looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected him to leave immediately. Urgently, she said, “Thank you, for everything, all the . . .” She looked about her, unable to find the words, her eyes glistening. She put her arms around him, hugging him so tightly that he feared she might not let go again.
When she did loosen her arms, he took her by the shoulders and looked her in the face, then wiped away her tears and said, “Katerina, saving you last week, killing that man, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.” She smiled, nodding, still sad. “Now, remember to look out for my book.”
She laughed a little, and he stepped back and shook Alex’s hand. “Thanks, Alex, for everything. I’ll be in touch.”
“I’ll walk with you to the door.”
Finn nodded and said, “Bye, Katerina.”
“Goodbye, Finn.”
They left the girls together and walked toward the door. Finn tried not to look back, but when he did, he was relieved to see the girls heading for the steps up to the next floor, arm in arm.
Then Alex said, “When do you plan to go back?”
“Tonight’s ferry.”
“I think you should go sooner. Go to the airport, get the first available flight.” Something in his tone made Finn stop walking. Alex looked at him. “It could be nothing, but . . .”
“What is it, Alex?”
“Your girlfriend.”
Finn felt his heart lurch. “What’s happened to her?”
“Nothing, it’s not that. A faction in Moscow likes to make life difficult for me—it’s not a problem because my influence and power is one level higher. But your girlfriend, Finn, she was the source of the story about us.”
“But she didn’t even know I was in business with you.”
As he said it, he thought of Louisa talking about her, thought of the CIA following them, claiming it was Sofi’s colleague they were interested in, thought of everything about the way she’d behaved in the weeks since he’d announced he was quitting.
He felt violently hollow, as if he might crumple inward, because he immediately knew it to be true. He’d been duped, emotionally as well as intellectually, and it was worse because he loved her and had believed that she loved him. But she hadn’t, and Alex wouldn’t have told him this if he weren’t certain of it being true.
“You need to go home, Finn. Confront her. There may be an explanation.” Finn nodded, knowing there could be no explanation plausible enough to mend the sickness he felt inside. Alex took Finn’s hand in his and said, “I’m so sorry, my friend.”
“Thanks, and thanks for telling me.” He glanced back into the museum, but the girls were nowhere to be seen. He was glad of that, in a way, because he didn’t want the memory of Katerina mixed up with how he felt right now. “Look after her, Alex.”
“I will. And if there’s anything you need. I mean anything . . .”
“I appreciate it.”