Page 40 of The Unseen (Echoes from the Past #5)

THIRTY-TWO

The dishes could wait, but Quinn had to feed Alex before he went to sleep or he’d wake up during the night.

He was finally beginning to sleep through until morning, and she was grateful for the uninterrupted sleep.

Quinn was too spent to get up after their impromptu lovemaking, so Gabe lifted a drowsy Alex out of his crib and brought him to bed.

He settled himself next to Quinn, watching as Alex sucked hungrily, his eyes closed in concentration.

“Have you learned anything new about who the man in the tub might be?” Gabe asked.

“I’m beginning to think he might have nothing whatsoever to do with Valentina,” Quinn said as she stroked Alex’s downy head. “Everyone in Valentina’s life seems to be fairly amiable and helpful.”

“What about Stanislav? Do you think he might be our victim?”

“He’s too young. And honestly, I don’t think he’d hurt a fly.”

“Maybe not physically, but he was an aspiring journalist. Perhaps he wrote something damaging and needed to be silenced.”

Quinn shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’s him.”

“So, what do you know for a fact?” Gabe asked, ever the academic.

Since Gabe served as a freelance consultant on Echoes from the Past , it was nice to be able to share her findings with him and exchange ideas.

Gabe always had his own unique perspective, which often helped Quinn spin a credible story around the few facts she managed to discover in relation to the subjects of the program.

“I know that a middle-aged man died in the house where Valentina and her family lived with Dmitri Ostrov. It had to have happened while they were still in residence, given the timeframe. I also know that even if he died of natural causes, which is unlikely, someone went to great lengths to erase his identity and hide his remains.”

“Perhaps Valentina knew nothing of what happened,” Gabe suggested. “The skeleton was found in what would have been Dmitri’s bathroom. Stands to reason that he’s the one who murdered someone and hid their remains.”

Quinn shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. Why would Dmitri want to hide a dead body in his bathroom? Surely his housekeeper would discover what he’d done as soon as she went in there to clean.”

“But the wardrobe had been moved to block the door, so she wouldn’t have.”

“And you think she wouldn’t question the reason the bathroom had been suddenly blocked off?”

“She might have questioned it, but if she valued her job, she would accept whatever explanation she was given and get on with it.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s possible. I think I need to find an object that belonged to Dmitri. It’s his memories that are the key to this puzzle.”

“Was there anything at the house?” Gabe asked as he carefully took the sleeping baby and went to lay him in his cot.

“The room had been stripped bare, as had the bathroom. Perhaps there’s something of Dmitri’s in storage, or in the attic.”

Gabe came back to bed and lay down on his side, propping his head on his hand so he could look down at Quinn.

“I still think Valentina had to have known something. Melissa Glover said that Valentina lived in that house until her death, so she must have inherited it from Dmitri. It’s hard to imagine that in all those years she never discovered the hidden bathroom.

People move furniture all the time. She knew,” Gabe reiterated.

“Perhaps.”

“You said Dmitri was very protective and solicitous of Elena and they’d shared a close relationship when they were children. They were of approximately the same age, were they not?”

“Yes. They were both in their late thirties at the time they were reunited.”

“Could it be possible that the reason Valentina got the house was because Dmitri married Elena?”

Quinn mulled this over. Dmitri did seem to fawn over Elena and was determined to help her overcome her grief and find some happiness in her new life.

They were second cousins, but it wasn’t unheard of for cousins to marry, especially if procreation wasn’t the goal.

At her age, Elena would have been considered well past childbearing age, so Dmitri and Elena’s familial relationship wouldn’t matter much if it evolved into something more.

Perhaps it was time to start searching for some facts now that she knew the names of the key players.

She might find something to help her fill in the glaring blanks omitted Valentina’s memories.

“I need to find records, but where do I start?” Quinn asked.

“I would start with the Russian Orthodox Church here in London. The church they went to might no longer exist, but the parish register, if there was one, would not have been destroyed. It would have been passed on to the diocese, if that’s the right term.

Also, the local registry office might be able to help. ”

“They don’t keep records that far back.”

“No, but they might tell you where the records have been archived. ”

“I’ll start making enquiries tomorrow,” Quinn said.

The Orthodox Church celebrated Christmas on January 7, so the end of December wouldn’t be their busiest time.

Hopefully, whoever she spoke to would be willing to help.

“I’ll go check on Emma and help her get ready for bed,” Quinn said as she made to rise

“I’ll do it. You look like you’re very comfortable exactly where you are,” Gabe replied and kissed her lightly. “Good night, love.”

“Good night,” Quinn replied, grateful to have an early night.