False Impression

Anton poured two cups of coffee. “Black, if I remember. Not quite Starbucks,” he mocked, “but we’re getting there slowly.” Heads turned as Anton guided his former pupil to a place by the fire. He took a seat opposite her. “Now, what can I do for you, Anna,” he asked, “because I am unquestionably in your debt.”

“It’s my mother,” she said quietly. “I need your help. I can’t get her to spend a cent on herself. She could do with a new carpet, sofa, a TV, and even a telephone, not to mention a splash of fresh paint on that front door.”

“You think I haven’t tried?” Anton repeated. “Where do you imagine you get your stubborn streak from? I even suggested she move in with us. It’s not palatial, but it’s a damn sight better than that dump she’s living in now.” Anton took a long draft of his coffee. “But I promise I’ll try again—” he paused “—even harder.”

“Thank you,” said Anna, who remained silent while Anton rolled a cigarette. “And I see I failed to convince you to give up smoking.”

“I don’t have the bright lights of New York to distract me,” he said with a laugh. He lit his hand-rolled cigarette before adding, “And what’s the second favor?”

“You’ll need to think long and hard about it,” she said in an even tone.

Anton put down his coffee, inhaled deeply, and listened carefully as Anna explained in detail how he could help her.

“Have you discussed the idea with your mother?”

“No,” Anna admitted. “I think it’s best she doesn’t find out why I really came to Bucharest.”

“How much time have I got?”

“Three, perhaps four days. Depends how successful I am while I’m away,” she added without explanation.

“And if I’m caught?” he asked, once again dragging deeply on his cigarette.

“You’d probably go back to jail,” admitted Anna.

“And you?”

“The canvas would be shipped to New York and used as evidence against me. If you need any more money for—”

“No, I’m still holding over eight thousand dollars of your mother’s money, so—”

“Eight thousand?”

“A dollar goes a long way in Romania.”

“Can I bribe you?”

“Bribe me?”

“If you’ll take on the assignment, I’ll pay for your pupil, Danuta Sekalska, to go to the Slade.”

Anton thought for a moment. “And you’ll be back in three days,” he said, stubbing out his cigarette.

“Four at the most,” said Anna.

“Then let’s hope I’m as good as you think I am.”

“It’s Vincent.”

“Where are you?”

“Visiting my mother.”

“Then don’t hang about.”

“Why?”

“The stalker knows where you are.”