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Marshall slaps his notepad on the table. “Alright, that’s it, people. It’s a wrap. We’ll reconvene whenever and wherever the next thing turns up. In the meantime, everyone watch your six. We’ve had enough blood loss for a long time.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The bedroom is quiet when I shut the door. Almost everyone’s gone, so I decide to take advantage of Scotch and Andre talking in the living room. I’ve been dying to call Josef. Maybe he’s got ideas or connections that can help me sort this nightmare out.
The phone rings a few times, then he pics up. “Child. How is Sweden?”
“I’m not there now. But just as I suspected, there’s much more to see. I could use a tour guide, I suspect. Sweden is a very big place.” Of course he knows I’m not in Sweden, but I keep it light in case someone is listening, even though we’re on two new phones.
“How can I help?”
“Do you know much about the places I’ve been before, when I was a little kid?”
“Ah, you mean when you were still with your mother?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know much, but I have something that might help.”
My stomach clenches. For a few seconds, my mind fills with memories from those horrible times. “What’s that?”
“Do you remember the old book you brought here once? It was wet and tattered and had belonged to your mother.”
“Oh my god. I remember a little book being in the bottom of my duffel a million years ago. I never even looked at it.” That was the last thing I had on my mind when I was on the street. Stealing and hiding to survive.
“Well, child, it was not just a book, it was a book of poems that had been used as a diary as well. And I have it. It took much work, but it dried enough to read. Which I promise you I did not do. But I thought if one day… one day, if you asked about that time, I’d share it with you.”
My throat is tight with dread as I even consider looking at something that belonged to the woman who gave birth to me. “I’m stunned.”
“Let’s meet for lunch in a few days. I’ll call you with details later.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
“Be safe, child.”
“You too, friend. And thank you. For thinking of that. You’ve been so kind to me.”
“I look forward to seeing you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
I find Simona sitting cross legged in the middle of the bed, facing the window. “You alright?”
She glances slowly over her shoulder. “I’m okay. I just called a friend.”
I ease down on the bed, cross my feet at the ankles and fall back. “You seem upset. Not that it’s surprising, this is a lot to have over your head.”
Her eyes fall to her twisting hands. “You read me too easily.”
“What’s up, sweetheart?”
“I’ve been thinking about what Pavel said. Over and over, of course. The part about me carrying some man’s mark. Well, obviously, I know it wasn’t my father. He’s dead. I saw his body in the church during his funeral.”
She turns to face me. “So, I called Josef, the man who helped me when I was young. He knew my hometown, so I thought maybe he might know something. We’re going to meet for lunch in a few days.”
“That’s good, babe. I think that’s a great place to start.”
She worries at her lower lip. Takes a steep breath. “Josef has a diary that belonged to my mother. One I’ve never read.”