False Impression

Anna opened the front door to allow Anton to step out onto the street. She was pleased to see Sergei waiting by the back of the car, the trunk already open. Anton placed the red box in the trunk and brushed his hands together, showing how happy he was to be free of the painting. Sergei slammed the lid closed and returned to his seat behind the wheel.

Anton extracted the thick envelope from his inside pocket and

handed it over to Anna.

“Thank you,” she said, before passing across another envelope in exchange, but it was not addressed to Anton.

He looked at the name, smiled, and said, “I’ll see she gets it. Whatever it is you’re up to,” he added, “I hope it works out.”

He kissed her on both cheeks before disappearing back into the house.

“Where will you stay tonight?” asked Sergei, as Anna joined him in the front of the car.

Anna told him.

9/21

38

WHEN ANNA WOKE, Sergei was sitting on the hood of the car, smoking a cigarette. Anna stretched, blinked, and rubbed her eyes. It was the first time she’d slept in the backseat of a car—a definite improvement on the back of a van, somewhere on the way to the Canadian border, with no one to protect her.

She got out of the car and stretched her legs. The red box was still in place.

“Good morning,” said Sergei. “I hope you slept well?”

She laughed. “Better than you, it seems.”

“After twenty years in the army, sleep becomes a luxury,” said Sergei. “But please do join me for breakfast.” He returned to the car and retrieved a small tin box from under the driver’s seat. He removed the lid and revealed its contents: two bread rolls, a boiled egg, a hunk of cheese, a couple of tomatoes, an orange, and a thermos of coffee.

“Where did all of this come from?” asked Anna, as she peeled the orange.

“Last night’s supper,” explained Sergei, “prepared by my dear wife.”

“How will you explain why you didn’t go home?” Anna asked.

“I’ll tell her the truth,” said Sergei. “I spent the night with a beautiful woman.” Anna blushed. “But I fear I am too old for her to believe me,” he added. “So what do we do next? Rob a bank?”

“Only if you know one with fifty million dollars in loose change,” said Anna, laughing. “Otherwise I have to get that”—she pointed to the crate—“into the cargo hold on the next flight to London, so I’ll need to find out when the freight depot opens.”

“When the first person turns up,” said Sergei, as he removed the shell from the egg. “Usually around seven.” He added, before handing the egg across to Anna.

Anna took a bite. “Then I’d like to be there by seven, when they open,” she said, “so I can be sure the crate is definitely on board.” She looked at her watch. “So we’d better get moving.”

“I don’t think so.”

“What do you mean?” asked Anna, sounding anxious.

“When a woman like you has to spend the night in a car, not a hotel, there has to be a reason. I have a feeling that is the reason,” said Sergei, pointing to the crate. “So perhaps it would be unwise for you to be seen checking in a red box this morning.” Anna continued to stare at him, but didn’t speak. “Could there possibly be something inside the box that you don’t want the authorities to take an interest in?” He paused, but Anna still didn’t comment. “Just as I thought,” said Sergei. “You know, when I was a colonel in the army, and I needed something done that I didn’t want anyone else to know about, I always chose a corporal to carry out the task. That way, I found, no one took the slightest interest. I think today I will have to be your corporal.”

“But what if you’re caught?”

“Then I’ll have done something worthwhile for a change. Do you think it’s fun being a taxi driver when you’ve commanded a regiment? Do not concern yourself, dear lady. One or two of my boys work in the customs shed, and if the price is right, they won’t ask too many questions.”

Anna flicked open her briefcase, took out the envelope Anton had given her and passed Sergei five twenty-dollar bills.

“No, no, dear lady,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “We are not trying to bribe the chief of police, just a couple of local boys,” he added, taking one of the twenty-dollar notes. “And in any case, I may be in need of their services again at some time in the future, so we don’t want expectations to exceed their usefulness.”

Anna laughed. “And when you sign the manifest, Sergei, be sure your signature is illegible.”