“They don’t need to have it,” I say. “They just need to believe it exists and could come out.”
She stays quiet.
“So they keep pushing in other ways,” I say. “Audits. Reviews. Questions. Rooms like this. As long as they think the ledger is somewhere, they can keep watching you and anyone around you.”
“And if they find it?”
“Then it stops being a shadow,” I say. “Then things blow open.”
I look at her. “That’s how this works until it stops working.”
“So we make a ripple,” she says, her fingers tightening around the cup.
“We do,” I say. “We don’t sneak in and hope no one notices us. We go in together. Married. On paper. We let them see I’m settled, and that you’re with me.”
She doesn’t cut in.
“They’ll be watching who walks in with me.” I look at her. “That’s you.”
She nods once, then says, “And Mila?”
“She leaves tonight,” I say. “She goes with Irina.”
Ana goes still for a moment. Then her shoulders tighten and settle again.
Irina arrives an hour later. Ana wakes Mila and sits with her on the edge of the bed until the sleep leaves her eyes.
Irina doesn’t rush it. She crouches so she’s level with Mila and tells her they’re going on a visit, just for a little while. She says there’s a farm where she lives, with animals that need feeding and fences that need checking. Horses, rabbits, ducks. Milalistens, serious at first, then her face lifts when Irina says she can help.
“Will Mommy come too?” she asks, her eyes wide.
“Mommy’s got some work to finish, baby,” Ana says. “With Papa. We’ll come join you later and help feed the horses once we’re done.”
Ana and Irina pack in practiced silence. Clothes folded small. The fox tucked into the side pocket. Mila watches the whole time. When Ana reaches for the zipper, Mila stops her and goes back to the room. She comes back with her tin sword and holds it out.
“That comes too,” Irina says without hesitation. “Every farm needs a guard.”
Mila nods and puts it in herself.
At the door, Ana crouches and straightens Mila’s jacket, smoothing it once more than necessary. Mila wraps her arms around her neck and presses her face in, hard. Ana holds her until Irina clears her throat, gentle but firm. She rests a hand on Mila’s shoulder.
“I’ll keep her close,” she says. “She won’t be alone, and she won’t be rushed.”
Mila steps toward me before Irina takes her hand. I straighten her collar and tap the tin sword once to make sure it’s there.
“Listen,” I say.
Irina settles the shawl around her shoulders and guides her down the stairs. The door closes behind them, and the room turns noiseless, the small child-sounds gone all at once.
My secure phone vibrates once.
Igor.
Meeting confirmed. Off-books.
I lock the phone and stand.
26
