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The director ushers me out of the room, but it’s hard for me to miss the whispers and the jeers.
“Told you she did it.”
“Do you think she’ll go to jail?”
“I hope so. It’s basically assault.”
I have never been more terrified in my life than in this moment, nor as confused. The director doesn’t speak until we reach the women’s change rooms. He knocks on the door, calling out to make sure we’re the only ones there. To my utter horror, he walks straight to my assigned locker.
“It seems you must have left the lock undone,” he says. “One of the cleaners found this this morning.”
He opens it to reveal its contents. Sitting at the very bottom of the locker is a toolbox, the lid propped open to expose nails, bits of glass, and razors. I shake my head adamantly.
“This has to be some sort of mistake. It isn’t mine. I’ve never seen it before in my life.”
“We’re taking this act of sabotage very seriously,” the director says. “You were the only one to gain anything from Vanya's displacement.”
For a brief moment, I wonder if I was some sort of tyrant in a previous life and I’m just now receiving my karmic justice.
“I’m being set up,” I insist. “I would never do—”
“We’re getting the police involved,” the director cuts me off. “They’ll be here shortly to ask you a few questions. They’ll be fingerprinting the tools in your locker, as well. Unless you would like to save us all the time and confess.”
Rage boils inside me unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. This has to be some sort of cruel prank. Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve any of this? I’m at my breaking point, seconds away from shattering. But I’m not done yet. I’m not going to let them kick me while I’m down.
“I didn’t do anything,” I state firmly.
The director sighs. “Very well. Until we get to the bottom of things, we’re suspending you.”
“But the show—”
“You have already been replaced. Don’t worry. Kseniya will do a marvelous job. No one will even notice it isn't you on stage. Now wait here until the cops—”
But I don’t wait. I’m not going to sit around and let them pin the blame on me for something I didn’t do. Panic grips me by the throat. I need to get out of here. Apparently, if I want something done right, I’ll have to do it myself. I need to get to the bottom of this, but I can’t very well do that if I’m cooped up at the police station. What I need is someone with resources. Someone who’s willing to take big risks for even bigger rewards.
Before the director has a chance to stop me, I whip around and make a break for the exit. He has no legal recourse to keep me here. If the police want to question me, they’ll have to come pick me up, because there’s no way in hell I’m going to let them embarrass me here. I leave in such a hurry I nearly ram into Pavel, the security guard.
“Whoa!” he says. “Where’s the fire?”
I don’t answer him. There’s no time to talk. I’m out of a home and out of a job. I see now there’s only one person left in the world I can talk to. I don’t trust my family, nor do I trust my friends.
So who do I turn to?
Chapter 24
Leo
Any updates?I text Roman.
Not yet. We’re still looking.
Hurry up.
Yes, your highness.
I’m quietly praying Roman’s connections across Moscow will turn up something fruitful. He’s always been a people person. Where I specialize in collecting debts, Roman collects all manner of favors. I’m sure he’ll be able to pry information concerning our missing night shift sooner or later.
Right now, though, patience isn’t exactly one of my virtues.
