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Dr. Parks shook her head and sighed. She didn’t know what to think. She leaned against the kitchen counter. “Three men tried to break into my house. This is the report from the police who came here last night. Thank God. Thank God they came and scared these men off. They arrested them two miles down the road. There was a shootout. These people were armed.”
“So?!” said Masha.
“So they were Russian.”
“So?”
The doctor sighed, frustrated. “How can that be a coincidence? Tell me how that’s a coincidence.”
“I don’t know.”
“After what you told me last night?”
“I don’t know!” Masha said, raising and raising her voice. “You don’t trust me. You think I stole your files to steal drugs, and murdered a man. What can I do? What can I say to that?”
“I didn’t say that. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“You don’t have to. I can see it in your eyes.”
The doctor was losing her patience. “What am I supposed to think? Someone hacked into my files, and then someone else entirely, randomly, tried to rob me last night, or murder me, or who knows what? That these two events had nothing to do with each other at all? And these—these burglars and my housekeeper both happen to be Russian? I mean, what am I supposed to think?”
“Think what you want,” Masha said, and stood from the barstool. “I quarantined in your backyard—for you. I moved to the backyard for you—to make things easy. For your home. I let go of my place. I did the shopping. Risked my life to go to the markets.”
“Masha,” said the doctor.
“I did the cleaning while you were gone. Took care of your dog, your son, your husband…”
Sophie’s eyes shifted to her knees.
“And I paid you for all of that, and paid well,” said the doctor, “and I’ve been grateful—never asked you a single question or pried, nothing—and I protected you last night. You and your family. I haven’t said a single word yet to the police.”
“Oh,yet? Yet? No,” said Masha. “Fine, I’m gone for good then, fine.”
“I said you can both have a couple more weeks, and I stand by that.”
“No. I’m out,” Masha insisted. I’m happy to go somewhere else to live. I will not be insulted in this way. Sophie can stay. She can clean. Do all your bullshit.”
“Masha,” said Sophie.
“What?” Masha turned and snapped at her cousin. “What do you want? Stay. I want you to. You’ll be safe. I should’ve moved out months ago.”
“Fine,” said the doctor. “Do what you want.”
“I will,” said Masha, and turned and walked out. “I don’t need your fucking permission.”
CHAPTER 26
TWO MONTHS LATER
DETECTIVE MORSE AND Detective Hernandez called the doctor with news every week for eight long weeks. That afternoon, as they spoke on the phone, the doctor stood at the patio doors and gazed out onto the sunny backyard.
Nikolai and Bandit played and roughhoused. Nikolai tossed a tennis ball high, and Bandit caught it in midair in his mouth and ran away, but only to tease. The boy then tackled him and pried the ball from the dog’s strong jaws, and the whole charade started over again.
Happily.
It was so nice to see a boy laugh, having fun in the sun, in her yard, with her dog. Sober.
Nikolai had won the doctor’s affection over the months, digging into his weekend chores while Sophie slept in or drank her coffee on the pool house porch like a backyard queen.
