Chapter 18

At first Simone couldn’t believe her ears. Who? Who’s calling? Who? Simone kept repeating the words, wondering if the call was even for her. She didn’t have a cell and shared the house phone with her aunt Velga.

A minute later, her face broke out in a delighted smile. Yes, it was Arsy! It was really him! She managed to keep her voice from shaking even though the rest of her was all aflutter. She just knew her trip to the beauty salon had paid off.

Yes, of course he could come over. And Vika too? Why Vika? But never mind. She couldn’t waste time thinking about that. She had only a few minutes to tidy up a bit, make herself presentable, hide away aunt Velga. They each had their own bedroom and Aunt Velga’s had a TV. She would often be relegated to some show while Simone helped a client with English translating.

* * *

Simone threw the door wide open.

It was Arsy. Just standing there.

When she could finally speak, Simone spoke her first words. “Come in. Come in,” she simpered. Her face was a rosy blush, an embarrassed mixture of disbelief and delight.

“Would you like some coffee?”

Arsy shook his head. “No. I just need to talk to you. Please listen.”

Simone’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. Why the hurry? Was he here to borrow money? She disliked the thought but there it was. Still, tilting her head slightly she adjusted her face. Forced it to have an   understanding expression.

“I…that is, we… need your help,” Arsy stuttered. He was very fidgety. Shuffling his feet nervously, he pulled out his crumpled empty cigarette pack, crumpled it some more.

“Help? What help?” Simone gave her head a sharp little shake. She was becoming  flustered. This wasn’t just a social call. What in the world could he want?

“We left you after lunch at Sam’s. Remember?”

Simone’s face hardened. Yes, she certainly remembered. She and Eggy were left with the bill and Misha was still waiting for payment.

Nervously clicking his Zippo lighter, Arsy continued.

“We found Svetlana. She’s injured and… she’s afraid.”

Simone’s eyes narrowed. “She’s in the hospital, right?”

Arsy just stared at her. His mouth opened and closed. Opened and closed.

Simone almost shouted, “Where is she?”

Arsy found his voice, finally. “Outside. In a cab. Please help us.”

Simone swiveled her head. She heard the sound of a door opening. Her aunt had come into the living room.

Aunt Velga glared at the two of them and asked angrily, “Why are you speaking Russian in my house?”

For a fraction of a moment both Simone and Arsy looked completely lost. Frozen in time. As if they didn’t know where they were or what was going on.

Arsy was the first to snap out of it. “Sorry ….” He went on in Latvian, apologizing as best he could. Vika would kill him if he didn’t settle this quickly. He turned on Velga his finest most boyish and most appealing look. “We need your help. Please help our injured friend.”

Velga stared at nothing for a long moment. This segued perfectly with  the TV melodrama she had just been watching. Cinema verité, indeed.

She loved her fantasyland. Clasping her hands together, she replied, “Yes, yes, right away, right away,” hiding her excitement behind a worried frown. She always craved distraction. Her life could be so boring.

Simone clapped a hand over her mouth to hide her shock. “But, dear auntie, how can we…”

* * *

Adrenaline shot through Arsy like a bolt of lightning.

“Nu, davai! Let’s go!”

Luckily Simone’s apartment was on the first floor—ordinarily not a desirable location but this time it was perfect.

Hauling themselves out of the taxi, the mules herded themselves into the small apartment. Velga ran towards Svetlana who was barely able to stand.

“Nu, nu, nu,” Velga crooned as she directed Svetlana towards her room. “You need to rest. You need to rest.” The repetition of words was comforting and, for the first time in a long time, Svetlana smiled.

Vika collapsed on the couch. “Simone, I’m so very sorry. You don’t deserve to be involved in all this but there was no other way. Svetlana was in danger at the hospital. We needed a safe place. I couldn’t take her to my hotel. Questions would have been asked.”

Arsy was standing first on one foot then on the other. “Doesn’t anyone in this house have a cigarette?”

Vika jumped up from the couch. “I’ll get a cig from the cabdriver. In fact I’ll get his whole goddamned pack. Then I’ll send him on his way. I’ve had enough of his grumbling.”

Now it was Arsy’s turn to make amends with Simone. “Don’t worry. It will all work out. It looks like Mrs Zito isn’t that interested in being a tourist but she’ll certainly pay well for the trouble we’ve put you to.”

Velga bustled back into the living room, providing her version of a happy ending to this endless day. “I’ve managed to settle down Svetlana quite nicely. She doesn’t want to eat but she’s asking for cigarettes.”

Arsy laughed. He lit up his fag, blew a stream of smoke into the air and visibly relaxed. Vika had raided her minibar stash and returned to the couch.

She always wore two watches. One set for Latvian time, one for New York.

She said to no one in particular, “I must call my mother. She must be worrying.”

And not only her mother would be worrying. Vika gave a slight shudder thinking about Bernie’s rage just about now. She’d make sure that Irena didn’t breathe a word to Bernie about where she was and what was going on.