‘If you don’t mind me asking,’ he said, ‘how did you end up working in the job you’re doing?’
‘It was never my intention, Nikolai Ilyich,’ replied Artur. ‘I was studying electrical engineering at a technical college in Moscow and to earn some money I used to do shifts down here for a security firm my cousin owned. It was very simple – Saturday, Sunday, I would do a shift, then back to the institute for the week.’
‘What about your studies?’ asked Sheremetev. ‘Did you finish them?’
Artur shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, my cousin had an accident.’
‘A car accident?’
‘Something like that.’
‘I’m sorry to hear it.’
‘What can you do? Suddenly, there was no one to lead the firm. I already knew something about the business so I had to take over. Then we got the contract to provide security for Vladimir Vladimirovich, and of course I couldn’t say no. It’s not about the contract, Nikolia Ilyich – it’s a privilege to do this work. One couldn’t refuse.’
‘Yes, I felt the same when I was asked to take responsibility for his care.’
‘Exactly. I do regret having to give up my studies. I hope one day I can go back and finish my degree.’
‘My nephew Pasha is at university as well.’
‘Well, let’s hope he can get back to his studies soon.’
Artur dropped him at the station. From there, Sheremetev caught the commuter train to Belorusskaya station in Moscow and then went down to the connected metro station, with its coffered plaster ceiling and black and grey marble floor. He got off the metro at Dmitrovksaya, near where his brother lived in a Soviet era apartment block. The walk to the apartment took him fifteen minutes. On the way, Sheremetev stopped and bought a box of chocolates.
When he arrived, Oleg and Nina stared at his lacerated cheek. Sheremetev told them it was nothing, just an accident, and came inside. Over a glass of tea and a dish of vatrushkas, they reported that Pasha was okay, but they looked worried and unsure. Nina had been to see him once since the time Oleg had seen Pasha’s black eye – each visit in addition to the one officially allowed per month cost a hundred dollars in bribes – and said that Pasha was still in good spirits. She wiped away a tear. ‘They say they treat them alright as long as they think the family might pay up – after that, they treat them worse than everyone.’
Sheremetev was silent. The guilt that he felt over Pasha was doubled in Nina’s presence. He saw her glancing at Oleg, who sipped at his tea.
‘I don’t have the money,’ said Sheremetev. ‘Nina, I’ll tell you what I’ve got. Two hundred and twenty-three thousand rubles. You can have every kopeck.’
‘And Vasya?’ said Nina. ‘He’s the businessman. I don’t believe he has nothing.’
‘I’ve asked him.’
She shook her head, her nose wrinkling in distaste.
‘Nina, I called him the day Oleg came—’
‘It’s him who should be in there, Kolya! Not Pasha. It’s because of Karinka that Pasha’s like this. And who’s Karinka’s son? Who? Not Pasha!’
Sheremetev bowed his head. After what Oleg had said when they met, he had expected something like this. It wasn’t quite fair. After all, he couldn’t be responsible for the way a person reacted to a tragedy, and he could hardly be blamed if Pasha had gone one way and Vasya another. Still, as a nurse he knew that allowances must be made for someone who is naturally worried sick about a person they love. Nina must have been beside herself. In the current circumstances, she was entitled to say a few things she might regret later.
‘Kolya,’ said Oleg quietly, ‘do you really not know anybody? A word from the right person – and Pasha’s out.’
‘You mean from Vladimir Vladimirovich?’
Oleg shrugged.
‘Olik, you’ve see him. Nina, did Olik tell you what he’s like? He doesn’t remember anything you tell him. He lives in the past.’
‘Still,’ said Oleg, ‘if Vladimir Vladimirovich said the right word…’
‘Olik, for a start…’ Sheremetev stopped, trying not to get impatient. ‘Listen, I want to help. I’ll do anything for Pasha, but believe me, I could tell Vladimir Vladimirovich this minute to say that Pavel Olegovich Sheremetev should be released, and in thirty seconds from now he would have no recollection, not of the name nor or what he was meant to do about it. Nothing. That’s how senility works – he remember things from the past, things you wouldn’t imagine anyone could remember, but he retains nothing of the present. I’ve looked after him for six years, and he no longer knows who I am. Can you imagine? I shower him, I dress him, I feed him, I put him to bed and every day – five times a day, ten times a day – he asks me who I am.’
‘Get him to write something,’ said Oleg. ‘Write something for him saying Pasha should be released and he can sign it.’
Sheremetev considered the idea for a moment. ‘I could write something for him and possibly get him to sign it – you can never be sure what he’ll do – but then who would I give it to? No one listens to him. No one’s coming to him for his advice. Anyone who knows him would know that such a thing means nothing.’
‘The president was there only a fortnight ago,’ said Nina.
‘Did you hear what he said?’
‘I saw pictures.’
‘I was there, Ninochka. Let me tell you what was going on. Vladimir Vladimirovich thought Lebedev was his minister of finance, and you know what he was doing? He was firing him! Banging his fist on the chair, saying, you’re no good, the Ministry of Finance is a disgrace, out you go!’
‘I didn’t see him banging his fist.’
‘Well, I suppose they didn’t show it. Lebedev, let me tell you, used a few choice words in return. All the time he was smiling, but you should have heard what he was saying, real bar room stuff. Let’s just say I wouldn’t repeat it in front of present company.’
‘What about someone else?’ said Oleg. ‘One of the people who comes to visit him. Maybe they’d do you a favour.’
‘No one comes.’
Nina looked at him sceptically.
‘Ninochka, I’m telling you, none of his friends come.’
‘What about his family?’
‘The second wife… The last time I saw her I think was six months ago. She stayed for twenty minutes. And the daughters… Two or three times in the last couple of years. And even if one of them came tomorrow, and even if they agreed to help, if they pick up the phone and said to someone, I want you to release Pavel Sheremetev, is it going to make a difference? After what I saw the day Lebedev came to visit, it might be even worse for Pasha if someone close to Vladimir Vladimirovich makes an appeal on his behalf.’ Sheremetev paused. ‘Ninochka, how can I help? Tell me! I’ll do anything. Maybe you don’t believe what I’m telling you, but truly, Vladimir Vladimirovich is alone. There’s no family, no friends. No one.’
‘What about his money?’
‘I don’t know about that. I get my salary, that’s all I know. Turns out, people are embezzling hand over fist, the housekeeper—’
‘You didn’t tell me about that,’ said Oleg.
‘I only found out. It’s shocking. The cook, the driver, the maids, even the gardeners, everyone who can get anything. Only the security men haven’t got some kind of racket. The rest of them, they’re like rats in a corn barrel, trying to get as much as they can for themselves. Now there’s a terrible fight between—’
‘But not you,’ broke in Nina. ‘Oh, no. Not Nikolai Ilyich Sheremetev.’
‘What?’
‘You’re not trying to get anything, right? Of course not. Not brother Kolya.’