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“He needs to rest for the night.”

“You heard her,” Maksim tells Alexei.

Alexei holds my hand. “Belov?”

“Downstairs with Chernov and Rudenko,” Maksim says. “Dmitri has started.”

Leonid holds out the folder. “This has what you asked for.”

Alexei looks at it for a long second before taking it. His fingers tighten around the cover, and he gives Leonid one small nod.

Maksim watches them in silence, then says, “Sidorov’s son was caught at his aunt’s house in Nikulino, outside Klin.”

Alexei opens the folder. “Did he talk?”

Abramov steps closer to the table. “He helped clear out the archive after the break-in. Some boxes went to Belov’s depot, and the rest went to other storage sites.”

“You found them?” Alexei asks.

“He gave us every address. My men confirmed the boxes are there, and recovery teams are bringing them in now.”

Alexei turns a page. “What about the people still working on the claims?”

“Belov has given Dmitri two names so far,” Maksim says. “Leonid is checking them against the payments and ownership records now.”

“There should be more.”

“Belov says there are.” Maksim nods. “Dmitri is still questioning him.”

“Do they have copies of the archive?”

“Nothing complete.” Abramov shakes his head. “They may have kept copies of the claims they were working on.”

“They may also have made fake transfer papers to move women without checking the main archive.” Alexei closes the folder.

“Each time Belov gives us a name, Leonid will check it and Abramov will watch the person’s home and office,” Maksim says. “No one moves until we know every name on the list.”

“I’ll meet you downstairs. Ten minutes,” Alexei says.

“No,” Maksim says. “Dr. Yelena ordered you to stay in bed, and for once, you’re going to obey a doctor.”

He reaches the door, then looks back at us.

“By dawn, every handler Belov names will be in our cells.”

35

VERA

Maksim leaves through the sealed doors with Abramov and Leonid, while Alexei keeps the folder Leonid gave him tucked beneath one arm.

Dmitri stands when Cara brings him his coat. Mikhail takes his hand, and Sergei escorts them toward the north-wing entrance. Lidiya arrives a minute later to lift a sleeping Lev from Elena’s shoulder, then follows Elena down the inner corridor.

Misha carries the bear book to Alexei and climbs onto the sofa before either of us agrees to another story. Alexei sets Leonid’s folder on the side table and opens the book.

“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” Alexei tells him.

“You came back late.”