“My papa loved life; he would never do anything like that. He would never leave me; it’s a lie.”
“I’m sorry to hear he’s gone. He was a very generous man to me. After your party, he came here to give me some money.”
“That’s Papa, too generous for his own good. Now I’ve found out all the things he worked for have come to nothing.”
“He was not a rich man?” asked Mikhail.
“He had no money in his UK bank account. He was bankrupt. I’ve had to let the staff go as I couldn’t afford to pay them. I don’t know about his business interests, I need to find out.”
“Your father has left you nothing? But he was one of the wealthiest men in Russia?”
“He set up a trust for me, but I can’t touch it until I’m twenty-one. Until then I could lose everything, the house and the boutique with all the death duties and who knows what else I have to pay.”
“Dry your eyes, Miss Alena, things will turn around for you.”
“You’re a stranger to me, but I have no one else to tell. I don’t want to embarrass Papa by telling people in our circle, not even my best friend, Carol,” said Alena still crying.
“Where is your mother?”
“My mother, if you can call her that, does not care. She’s gone back to Switzerland.”
“Your father would not want you to be sad like this, Miss Alena.”
“You sound like you know my father, are you Russian? You sound it.”
“I came from Russia many years ago.”
“I hope you don’t think I am mad but I believe Papa’s death is suspicious.”
“Why do you think that?” asked Mikhail.
“Because he had a lot of enemies here and in Russia. His closest business associates, first Johnny Murray died and then Philip Evans, he died strangely – a few months now. And last night Fred Fredrick, who visited my father on the day he died, is in hospital after being knocked down by a car while crossing the road.”
“It seems something is not quite right with all these deaths,” said Mikhail.
“I think that too. Someone has stolen all Papa’s money from his UK bank. I’m going to find out who.”
“Miss Alena, please leave this to the police to investigate.”
“No, I have to do something. I won’t rest until I get to the bottom of this.”
“This can be very dangerous for you. You need someone to help you. I will be glad to help you if you want me to?”
“That’s very kind of you, but you don’t even know me.”
“I owe it to your father. I met him in Russia many years ago; he did something good for me that I will never forget. I want to pay him back by helping you, his daughter.”
“But he never said he knew you.”
“It was a long time ago and he must have forgotten as it was a small thing for him but for me, it changed my life.”
“What did he do?”
“It does not matter now except he was good to me.”
“Papa loved everything about Russia, but I sometimes think I don’t belong anywhere.”
“I too love my country, but I have a lot of sad times there,” said Mikhail.
“Why? Where is your family?”
“My wife is dead but my daughter, I hope to see her soon. It is hard to say more now.” Mikhail surprised himself that he could speak so freely to Alena when he was undercover and always prided himself on being discreet and professional when he was working.
“Thank you. I’ll take any help I can get as I’m not even sure where to start myself.”
“I’ll be here for you, Miss Alena, any time you want me,” said Mikhail.
Alena got up from the park bench; the tears had long dried, she had a new determination and someone to help her.
“Call me Alena. I’m grateful for your offer of help. By the way, what’s your name?”
“Jack, my name is Jack McFadden.”
“That’s not Russian. Papa always said you never know who will be there to help you when you need it and he was right,” said Alena, as she got up from the park bench and left to go home.
Chapter 9
“How much would you value this painting by Natalia Goncharova? It was one of my father’s favourite paintings,” asked Alena as she showed the art expert to value her father’s art collection.
“We’ve seen this painting before. The last time we looked at this we told your father that in our opinion it is a fake.”
“Are you sure? Papa was very careful and got everything checked by experts before buying.”
“There are those who are the experts and those who call themselves that and know nothing. Had this painting been authentic it would fetch millions, she is a much sought-after Russian artist.”
“But Papa only dealt with Russian art experts; they were always recommended to him by associates he trusted.”
“I’m afraid we hear this a lot. Russian paintings have been turning up with no credible provenance. I must say the forgers are getting very good and taking us longer to detect.”
“But my father paid millions for this one.”
“That is unfortunate.”
“What about the other paintings? Look at this one. Papa told me that the Louvre wanted to buy it, but he was not ready to sell at the time,” said Alena, pointing to a painting hanging up on the wall in the hallway.
“May I suggest they registered an interest in seeing it but had not examined it? Your father knew that most of his collection were replicas because we told him this a few years ago," said the expert.
“Why did you come then?"
"When he called us before his death, we thought he had something new.”
“Are you sure about the painting? What about these other paintings on the wall?” Alena led the art expert along the corridor leading up to the front door. He shook his head at each one he passed.
“I have examined these before; none are worth much. Someone may be happy with these copies and willing to pay a few hundred for them if you are lucky. There is now a good market for replicas.”
“I’m sorry to have wasted your time, I don't wish my father’s situation embarrassed,’ said Alena, looking embarrassed herself.
“You can trust our discretion. Everything we do for our clients is in complete confidence,” said the expert. As he got ready to leave he stopped to look at a candlestick holder that caught his eye on the mantelpiece near the door. He picked it up gently so as not to loosen the white candle inside and said, “Now this is an interesting piece, handmade I suspect and beautifully done. Where did it come from?”
“Oh it’s from Russia, it’s been around for as long as I can remember. My father took it with him to every house he moved to.”
“His lucky charm maybe?” said the art expert.
“Maybe?” said Alena.
When the expert left, she went to each painting and shouted, “Worthless, worthless, worthless!” She turned each painting over to reveal the blank back of the canvas. When she reached the final painting, there was a knock at the front door. Opening it, her voice shrieked with joy at seeing her visitor.
“Oh, Uncle Sergei!” she cried.
“My dear Alena, I’m sorry to hear about Igor’s death. I couldn’t come earlier because I was in Russia doing business. Is there something wrong with the paintings?” said her uncle looking at the backs of the paintings on the wall.
“No, I’m just packing things away, Uncle.”
“I see. Igor is gone, I can’t believe this.”
“Nor can I, Uncle. All his hard work has come to nothing. I have to sell everything and find work to survive,” said Alena.
“Your father helped everybody who crossed his path. I’ve come to tell you that I will do everything in my power to help you.”
“Thank you, Uncle. Papa always had your support.”
“I had known Igor a long time, Alena. Now, why do you say you have to sell up? Do you have to sell this house?”
“No, that’s on
e thing I have. It is all paid for and in my name. But I have no cash, well not until I’m twenty-one.”
“What about the shop he gave you for your birthday?” asked her uncle.
“How did you know about the boutique? You didn’t come to my birthday party.”
“I helped Igor to arrange it for you.”
“Then you know the shop does not belong to me. Papa didn’t buy it outright as I thought. I have no money to pay for the stock, so I have to close it before it’s even got started.”
“Don’t worry, Alena; I will give you the money. You don’t need to pay me back until it's a success,” said Sergei.
“Thank you, that is very kind of you. I can’t believe that you will loan me this money. I promise I will make a success of it,” said Alena.
“You’re Igor’s daughter. I believe in you.”
“It means a lot that you have faith in me.”
“I have to go but I’ll be in touch soon,” said Sergei.
Alena wanted to tell someone about all that had happened and walked across the road to the park and saw Mikhail kneeling and tending to the flower beds.
“Jack, I wanted to thank you for the support the other day. I shouldn’t have bothered you with my problems,” she said.
“No, Alena, I was glad you came. I wish that if my daughter needs help, there will be someone for her,” said Mikhail.
“Well, I have some good news at last,” said Alena. “I’ve been offered help from my uncle. Well, he’s more a business associate of Papa's, but I call him uncle.”
“He’s going to help you find out why your father died like that?” asked Mikhail.
“No, he’s going to help me financially, but I still need to find out what happened to Papa. Maybe my uncle can find out for me why my father died broke.”
“I could help you,” said Mikhail.
“I don’t mean to be rude, Jack, but you’re a caretaker of this park, and I don’t want to take up any more of your time.”
“I have plenty of time on my hands to help you. I have not been a caretaker all my life, Miss Alena. I have the skills to find out anything for you,” said Mikhail, trying to reassure her.
“Somehow I believe you, Jack, and anyway my uncle would think I was foolish not accepting how papa died.”
“You come here for help anytime, whenever you need me.”
“Thank you, Jack, I feel safer knowing that. I’ll be back,” said Alena.
That evening Ron turned up at the cottage.
“I have a lot of information for you,” said Mikhail handing Ron two small pocket notebooks full of notes and drawings.
“We knew you would step up to the mark,” said Ron flicking through the book.
“Ah, so this was my test?” replied Mikhail.
“Sorry it’s taken me long to get back in touch, but we needed to know if you still had it in you,” said Ron.
“Have you found out anything about my daughter?”
“We have someone very good in Russia working on it,” said Ron.
“I can do a lot more undercover work for you as Jack called from Ireland to say he has to stay little longer.”
“Yes, I know what Jack is doing.”
“Igor Zaslavsky’s daughter wants me to help her investigate his death.”
“Things don't add up about his death. Another one of Igor’s business partners, Fred Fredrick, died in hospital last night from a hit and run accident,” said Ron.
“Alena told me about the car hitting this man as he crossed the road.”
“That will be four dead within four years including Igor himself, and all the others associated with him. One of which was our agent Johnny Murray.”
“Johnny Murray worked for you? Did Igor know?”
“This is what we need to find out,” said Ron.
“You think all three were murdered?”
“Likely. Johnny was working undercover for many years. You seem to have Alena’s trust.”
“Yes, she trusts me. She is an honest and clever girl.”
“This is the breakthrough we’ve wanted. Alena is right in the circle of the people we are investigating.”
“Nobody knows me here; not even Igor recognised me so it will be easier for me to investigate.”
“Does she know anything about your past?” asked Ron.
“Only what she needs to know, to trust me.”
“I see you’ve not forgotten any of your old skills,” said Ron impressed with the detailed descriptions in the notebooks as he flicked through again.
“An artist does not forget how to paint if they’ve not done so for a while so why should I?”
“Ah, I’d not thought about it in that way.”
“You want me to recruit her?”
“If you think you can. We need you to get into Igor’s house without breaking in. Now, how about we have a game of chess before I go?” said Ron.
“You think you can beat me?” asked Mikhail as they went outside. Observing the oversized chess board with its chess pieces scattered all over. Mikhail was carefully thinking his next move.
Chapter 10
Alena received a large sum of money from her Uncle Sergei a few days after they had spoken. She wasted no time in opening her boutique in Carnaby Street.
There were two assistants to help her and with the shop stocked she had a steady stream of customers coming in. Mikhail saw her rushing out of her house and into a taxi in the early mornings. She would smile and wave but never stopped to talk to him and had not visited the park for several weeks.
He was desperate that he was not getting the information he needed for Ron and feared this would hold up finding his daughter in Russia. Mikhail dressed up early one morning in his best suit and knocked on Alena’s door before she left for work.
“Sorry, Alena, if I came here too early,” he said as she opened the door. “But I need your help.”
“I was about to get ready to go to the boutique, but yes, of course, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
“Thank you. It will soon be my daughter’s birthday and I want to get her something special, and I see you have good taste.”
“So you want me to get her something from the shop?”
“Yes, I would be very grateful if you can.”
“What does she like?”
“Please, you choose for me. I don’t know fashion. How much will it be?” asked Mikhail.
“Nothing, it’s a gift from me for all the support you’ve given me.”
“Thank you, that is good of you,” said Mikhail.
“Look, why don’t you come for lunch this Sunday, and I will have the gift for your daughter.”
“Sunday it is,” said Mikhail, pleased with himself that he was, at last, making some progress. He walked back to the park and saw Alena leave in a black taxi.
Shortly after Alena opened her shop in the morning customers immediately started arriving to buy dresses, bags and other fashion accessories. By midday, she and her two shop assistants were so busy with customers that they did not notice a man standing by the door observing what was going on. When Alena had finished serving a customer, she looked over briefly at the door.
“Oh, Uncle Sergei, how long have you been standing there?” said Alena when she noticed him.
“Long enough to see you doing very well, Alena. Igor will be very proud of you.”
“I so wish Papa was here now,” said Alena with her eyes becoming moist with tears. “It’s thanks to you with the loan; I’m very grateful to you, Uncle.”
“Don’t mention it. Can I speak to you somewhere privately, Alena?”
“Yes, but now is not a good time.”
Why don’t I visit you at the house this evening, and we can talk.”
“This evening will be fine; I don’t go out much now,” said Alena.
“It’s not good for you to stay in, you are young. You must go to the Russian Ball this year, Igor would want this.”
“Yes, Papa bought me a
debutante dress for the Russian Ball. I don’t know if I want to go or not.”
“Well, you must. I’ll see you tonight.”
Later that evening when Alena arrived home from work her Uncle Sergei came to her door with a bunch of purple roses. Alena put the flowers in a vase on the mantelpiece near the front door and lit a white candle next to it.
“I see you still have this candleholder,” said Sergei.
“Yes, Papa loved it, so I light a candle in it every evening for him.”
“Igor, he was always larger than life, and when he walked into a room, you could not ignore him.”
“Please, don’t make me cry. People will think my eyes are red instead of the hazel.”
“Where are your staff?”
“I had to let them all go. I cannot afford staff,” replied Alena.
“But you need a bodyguard.”
“Papa needed a bodyguard, I don’t.”
“Your father, a few weeks before he died, he talked more about how he wanted to go back to Russia.”
“He never told me that. I thought he couldn’t go back because of politics.”
“Igor was working on it; he had hoped the authorities would see he still had a lot to give.”
“But why has he forced out, Uncle? He never told me the full reason.”
“You don’t worry yourself about this now. I am very pleased with your business.”
“Yes, the shop is doing well, and we’ve only been open a short time. I think my birthday party helped as Papa’s contacts have been sending people.”
“That is good. If you need any more money, you only need to ask, and I’ll fund whatever you want.”
“It’s very generous, but no, I don’t want to borrow any more money. I’ll pay you back as quickly as I can and the rate it is going it may be quicker than we both thought.”
“I know you will, but, Alena, I’d like you to do something for me.”
“I’ll do what I can, what is it?”
“I’m setting up a new business abroad, and I need to transfer some money to that business but have some problems with my bank abroad. I would like to put the money in your business bank account until I sort it all out.”
“But why don’t you open another account here and put the money in it until you are ready.”
The Pavilion Man Page 6