When Anton’s presentation came to an end, the rapturous applause left Anna in no doubt how much the undergraduates enjoyed his lecture. He’d lost none of his skill in motivating and nurturing the young’s enthusiasm for their chosen subject.
Anna watched her first love as he collected together his slides and began to put them in an old briefcase. Tall and angular, his mop of curly, dark hair, ancient brown corduroy jacket, and open-neck shirt gave him the air of a perpetual student. She couldn’t help noticing that he had put on a few pounds, but she didn’t feel it made him any less attractive. When the last student had filed out, Anna made her way to the front of the hall.
Anton glanced up over his half-moon spectacles, apparently anticipating a question from the student who was approaching him. When he first saw Anna, he didn’t speak, just stared.
“Anna,” he finally exclaimed. “Thank God I didn’t realize you were in the audience, as you probably know more about Picasso than I do.”
Anna kissed him on both cheeks and said with a laugh, “You’ve lost none of your charm or ability to flatter.”
Anton held up his hands in mock defeat, grinning widely. “Was Sergei at the airport to pick you up?”
“Yes, thank you,” said Anna. “Where did you meet him?”
“In jail,” admitted Anton. “He was lucky to survive the Ceauşescu regime. And have you visited your sainted mother?”
“I have,” replied Anna, “and she’s still living in conditions not much better than a jail.”
“I agree, and don’t think I haven’t tried to do something about it, but at least your dollars, and her generosity, allow some of my best students to—”
“I know,” said Anna, “she’s already told me.”
“You can’t begin to know,” continued Anton. “So let me show you some of the results of your investment.”
Anton took Anna by the hand, as if they were still students, and guided her down the steps to the long corridor on the first floor, where the walls were crammed with paintings in every medium.
“This year’s prize-winning students,” he told her, holding out his arms like a proud father. “And every entry has been painted on a canvas supplied by you. In fact, one of the awards is in your name — the Petrescu Prize.” He paused. “How appropriate if you were to select the winner, which would make not only me, but one of my students, very proud.”
“I’m flattered,” said Anna with a smile, as she walked toward a long row of paintings. She took her time as she strolled slowly up and down the canvas-filled corridor, pausing occasionally to study an image more closely. Anton had clearly taught them the importance of drawing before he allowed them to move on to other media. Don’t bother with the brush if you can’t first handle the pencil, he liked to repeat. But the range of subjects and bold approach showed that he had also let them express themselves. Some didn’t quite come off, while others showed considerable talent. Anna finally stopped in front of an oil entitled Freedom, depicting the sun rising over Bucharest.
“I know a certain gentleman who’ll appreciate that,” she said.
“You haven’t lost your touch,” said Anton, smiling. “Danuta Sekalska is this year’s star pupil, and she’s been offered a place at the Slade in London to continue her studies, if only we can raise enough money to cover her expenses.” He looked at his watch. “Do you have time for a drink?”
“I certainly do,” replied Anna, “because I confess there’s a favor I need to ask of you—” she paused “—in fact, two favors.”
Anton once again took her by the hand and led her back down the corridor toward the staff refectory. When they entered the senior common room, Anna was greeted by the sound of good-humored chatter as tutors swapped anecdotes while they sat around in groups enjoying nothing stronger than a coffee. They didn’t seem to notice that the furniture, the cups, the saucers, and probably even the cookies would have been rejected by any self-respecting hobo visiting a Salvation Army hostel in the Bronx.
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.”
“Then I’m afraid he’ll miss me again.”
“I’m not even convinced the stalker’s a man.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I saw Fenston talking to a woman in the back of his car while I was attending your funeral.”
“That doesn’t prove—”
“I agree, but it worries me that I’ve never seen her before.”
“She could be one of Fenston’s girlfriends.”