“Whoa, that’s certainly loosened your tongue. So much restraint and then bang! Evochka, sweetie, go on home. I’ll finish off myself.”
Evochka took off like a scalded cat.
I watched her go.
Polina giggled.
“What, d’you fancy her? You’re not the only one to have taken a shine to our Evochka. Anyway, fine. I’m not giving you the knife. I changed my mind yesterday. I’ll keep it in loving memory of Lilechka. But what’s got you in such a stew? Since Moiseenko killed her, Moiseenko has paid the price: death by suicide. You do take your work very much personally to heart. I’m the one Lilechka was close to. She was nothing to you. That’s true, isn’t it? Tell me.”
“Nothing, to be honest,” I said. “A blank space. But work is work.”
Polina burst out laughing and unfolded her arms from her bosom.
