‘I don’t know . . . I was told that she needs to see a specialist but I don’t have that kind of money.’
‘How old is she?’
‘Ana is two, but I worry that she will not reach three.’
Nikolai raised himself up from the bed, resting on his elbow. ‘Where is she? I want to see her.’
‘She’s asleep; I don’t want to wake her. Why do you want to see her?’
‘When I’m not here with you, I’m seeing patients at my surgery.’
Erica leapt from the bed wrapping a gown around herself as she left the room.
A soft cry came floating through as the child was awoken from her sleep. ‘Ana, say hello.’ A very subdued toddler nuzzled into her mother’s shoulder trying to shield her eyes from the light of the naked bulb.
‘Give her to me.’ Nikolai reached out and took Ana from her mother. The sweet fruity aroma from her breath was unmistakeable. He sensed immediately that she was undernourished; she weighed nothing. ‘Does she drink a lot?’
‘She’s always thirsty, but she wets herself almost straight away; and she is always complaining of a sore tummy.’
Cradling her gently, he looked into her sad sunken eyes. ‘I need to see her in my surgery tomorrow morning. I want you to bring a urine sample. Can you do that?’ Erica nodded. Nikolai reached into his wallet and produced a card. ‘There you are; you must be there at nine o’clock sharp. I need your name . . . your real one!’
‘My name is Erica . . . Erica Banovich.’
He peeled some banknotes off a wad that had appeared in his hand and passed them to her. Erica accepted them without comment, her fingers closing tightly around them. ‘There’s extra there for a taxi. Tomorrow then; don’t be late.’
* * *
An overdressed Erica clambered from the black Mercedes, half choking on the black diesel fumes that swirled about them. Adjusting an elaborate yellow hat, she looked about her. ‘Come Ana.’ Two outstretched arms appeared from inside the cab and grabbed her around the neck.
The driver reached past Erica and lifted her bag from inside the car. ‘Here let me!’ With a protective arm around the mother and daughter, he guided them across the pavement and into the doctor’s rooms. ‘Usual time on Wednesday . . . OK?’
Erica nodded in response, her mind not really connecting with one of her regular clients.
Having checked in, she sat on the only spare chair. Ana stood on the floor with her head buried in her mother’s lap. Save for the occasional cough, the waiting patients sat in silence, all eyes focused on Erica’s generous cleavage.
‘Miss Banovich; the Doctor will see you now.’ The attractive attendant ushered mother and daughter into an adjacent room much to the annoyance of the waiting assemblage.
Dr. Nikolai Groi rose from his chair. ‘Ah! Miss Banovich; Erica isn’t it? Take a seat. This must be Ana!’ He smiled across at the nurse, ‘I’ll take it from here Stasa.’
The inquisitive nurse backed out of the room, her eyes never leaving the now seated Erica. I wonder where he found that.
‘Did you bring a sample?’
‘Yes, from this morning.’
The doctor produced a dipstick test kit; a slow whistle escaped his lips. ‘Just need to check her blood.’
Ana had been watching the goings on without making a sound. That changed abruptly as the needle pricked her finger.
Erica gripped her tightly and sucked away the tiny smear. ‘There my love; it’s all over.’
The test completed, Nikolai sat at his desk and scribbled some notes into his diary. ‘OK Erica, the blood test confirms what I thought. Ana has diabetes.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘She is very poorly; she needs to be hospitalised immediately. We need to stabilise her condition and then . . . well it’s pretty certain that she is going to need an insulin injection every day for the rest of her life. And if that doesn’t happen, she will die.’
A distraught Erica cradled her daughter's head; she kissed her hair. ‘How can I afford that? I can hardly cope now.’
Nikolai Groi paced the floor; eventually he spoke. ‘I’m not prepared to let your child die. I’ll provide all the necessary medication and do the periodic checks on her when I call to see you; and you can well . . . work it off.’
‘You’d do that for me?’
He smiled softly. ‘I’m actually doing it for Ana.’
Erica lowered her eyes, ‘I don’t know what to say; thank you doesn’t really do it.’
With the treatment under-way Ana’s health improved and in weeks the alabaster waif was transformed; a healthy, porcelain doll of a child emerged.
Ana was happy throughout her childhood years but her mother’s death during the Balkan wars changed her life forever. Not yet a teenager, she now became the focus of the doctors attention. The years of abuse that followed sealed her fate and a life of vice became the career path to see her through. But, there was a bonus; she enjoyed it.
* * *
Viktor Maric stopped in his tracks as he watched the young woman glide across the road. Her fragile beauty . . . the way she moved, he was captivated by what he saw; he wanted more. Ana was going nowhere fast, her afternoon client had cancelled and she now had an hour to kill. She dawdled along the main street; there was always something to grab her attention.
Viktor manoeuvred himself a few yards ahead and turned obstructing her path. As she stepped to the right to walk past him he blocked her way. She stepped to the left and he followed suit. Apologising for his clumsy antics, he acted out a couple of dance steps and they both laughed, their eyes sparkling as they faced one another.
‘Let me buy you a coffee?’ And so began the first of their many trysts.
As their relationship grew, Ana began to describe the details of her troubled past. Reference was often made to benefactor Nikolai Groi and Viktor had long suspected that their relationship was a little more complex than concerned guardian.
‘Nikolai saved my life you know; he used to visit my Mom. I was only a baby at the time and nearly died. I was very sick but being a doctor, he realised what was wrong with me and put into hospital. When I got home he used to visit us often and always kept a check on me. Then my Mom died . . . it was in the war. I had nowhere to go so I went to live with Nikolai; he was very caring.
‘But then he became a little too caring!’ Viktor couldn’t resist the quip.
‘I think he missed my Mom and with Maria hardly ever there . . .’
‘Maria . . ?’
‘Maria was his wife and well, with Maria hardly ever there we started to play . . . you know . . . games. It was innocent at first but to cut a long story short, we started having sex.’
Viktor shifted uneasily. ‘How old were you?’
‘Oh I must have been about twelve. Yes I was twelve, I remember because I had just started at my new school.’
‘How did his wife treat you? She couldn’t have been happy.’
Ana laughed . . . she was quiet for a moment as she returned to those days. ‘No, she wasn't happy, but then again she didn’t treat me badly. She sort of lived her own life and was rarely at home. Looking back now, I think my being there gave her the freedom to do her own thing.’
‘And when did this stop . . . this sex thing?’
‘Relax Viktor. He still provides me with my insulin and I well . . . humour him.’
‘How could he exploit you like that, first as a child and then . . . ?’
‘Don’t be so upset, we go back a long way and he did save my life.’
‘But why is it still going on?’
Ana responded with a half truth; not wishing Viktor to know that she still enjoyed his attention. ‘If I had to pay for my rent, board and medication, I would have very little left to live on.’
‘How could the bastard exploit you like that? Come and live with me and I’ll meet all your bills; you won’t have to worry again.’
‘That’s very sweet of you Viktor; let me think about it.’
Chapter 5
It was almost ten o’clock. Dr. Groi stepped out into the cold damp autumn air. The street was quiet. The late night surgery he had set up to treat STD cases had been an unmitigated success and he was in good spirits; he approached his car. Ana will be wondering where I am.
A voice grabbed his attention. ‘Doctor! Do you have a moment?’ He turned . . . a tall, thin faced man, a dark Fedora hat pulled down across his forehead, approached him.
Nikolai was not happy. These were troubled times and the stranger posed a threat; he answered curtly. ‘Not really.’ He opened the door of the Skoda and threw his case across to the far seat, slid in behind the wheel and slammed the door shut. Starting the engine he began to edge forward.
A raised voice reached his ears. ‘It’s about Ana!’ The mention of her name had the desired effect. He lowered the window slightly.
‘Ana! . . . What about her? How do you know her?’
The man leant down. ‘It’s not so much about Ana, it’s her friend; he has a pain.’
‘Well get him to book an appointment and I will attend to his . . . pain.’ Nikolai turned and looked up into the muzzle of a .22 pistol poking through the narrow slit of the open window. He saw the flash; it was the last thing he saw. The muted sound of the suppressed Ruger was lost in the noise of the wind. Nikolai slumped forward; a small neat hole now visible between his eyes began oozing blood, surging slightly with each beat of his fading heart.
‘No need for that appointment Doc, the pain has gone.’
* * *
‘It’s done Viktor, there is no way that you can be implicated.’ Jovan Hlava sat relaxed; he looked down into his breakfast drink, studying the neat vodka as it flowed over the now well melted ice cubes. ‘I just hope it works for you?’
‘It has to Jovan . . . shit . . . it has to. She has no one else; where would she go?’
A sobbing Ana arrived at the door. Jovan touched his arm. ‘Remember . . . look surprised . . . but more than that look concerned.’ Jovan moved out of sight.
As Viktor opened the door, Ana collapsed into his arms. ‘Ana? What on earth is it?’
‘Oh my God Viktor! . . . Nikolai has been killed.’
‘What! No . . . never! . . . What the hell happened?’
Through her sobs and gulps, she began to relay what she knew. ‘He didn’t come home last night and then the police came this morning and told us he’d been shot. A robbery I think but we don’t know for sure. What am I going to do Viktor? He was like a father to me; he looked after me. Without him, I won’t have a home.’
Viktor held her tightly. ‘Ana, I've been begging you to move out; well now it's decided. You must come and live with me . . . here!’
‘What about my medication and all that? He gave me everything.’
‘I told you I would take care of it; you don’t need to worry. I've also got contacts. You are going to be fine.’ Holding her firmly by the shoulders, his eyes aflame, he declared. ‘From now on, anyone who tries to take advantage of you . . . will have to deal with me! You remember that!’
* * *
Time moved quickly on and although Ana enjoyed being under Viktor’s care, she missed her freedom; and then there was the matter of Viktor’s friends. Most had been soldiers in The Balkan War and would certainly have been caught up in the atrocities that had been committed. They were ruthless dangerous people and many of them were engaged in criminal activities. Viktor had always been deliberately vague about his own source of income. All that Ana had picked up on was that he dealt in pharmaceuticals and there were always large sums of cash changing hands.
Against the odds, Viktor and Ana had become friendly with an ex British soldier and his Serbian wife. After living for some years in the locale they were leaving for the UK. Ana enjoyed their banter; she was going to miss them. With her health always an issue, she began to press Viktor to consider a move but he laughed off any suggestions that they could make a success of such a venture.
* * *
‘I know that man Viktor, he was here.’ Ana was watching a local news program and the picture of a man filled the screen. She raised the volume. ‘Oh no Viktor, they say he has murdered someone.’ Viktor moved closer, he went faint; the sweat oozed from his brow as he looked down at Jovan’s face staring back at him. ‘Viktor, that man; he is one of your friends. Who on earth did he kill?’ They both watched in silence until . . . ‘The killer of Dr. Nikolai Groi has been arrested.’
A blood curdling shriek hit Viktor's ears. Ana collapsed on the sofa; her hands clutching her head. She sobbed uncontrollably. Viktor moved towards her; his mind racing. He had to distance himself from the events that were unfolding.
Ana raised her head. ‘Don’t tell me you had nothing to do with this!’
‘No Ana . . . you have to believe me. Jovan was no big friend. Yes I knew him and yes I let him know of the doctor because he had a personal problem that had to be seen to . . . but that was it!’
Ana pushed him away. ‘And it was just a coincidence that he was here in this flat when I came to tell you that Nikolai had been killed?’ She leaped towards him; the screaming demonic banshee stopping inches from his face. ‘It was the very next day; he must have told you what he had done!’
Viktor wiped her spittle from his face. ‘I know what it looks like but honestly Ana, I knew what he meant to you; I knew how much he had helped you. I'm upset that you think I could have been party to or have even known about this. I’m sorry . . . really sorry.’
Little was said over the prevailing weeks. Tensions were high as Ana tried to come to terms with life without Nikolai. Viktor had his own problems; how long was Jovan going to stay silent before implicating him in Nikolai’s death?
* * *
‘Ana . . . these are for you.’ Viktor dropped an envelope in front of her.
‘What’s this? . . . Wizz Air tickets!’ She checked the dates. ‘We’ve got how long . . . a week and we’re gone? I don’t believe it! After all you’ve said.’
‘Well believe it. What you've told me about the UK has finally registered. With what’s gone on with Nikolai and all that, you need a change in your life. We both need a change, so we’re off.’ She jumped forward, wrapping her arms around his neck; she was speechless. ‘It’s decided Ana; let’s give it a shot. I’m sure we can make it work.’
A week later the tyres of their Airbus 380, squealed as they touched down at Luton Airport. Ana squeezed Viktor’s hand, a look of hopeful anticipation had settled on her face. She was trying to catch his eye, wanting to share the moment, but his eyes were fixed, staring down the aisle of the plane; he was unmoved. The years of privilege provided by his criminal activities were over; what lay ahead?
What the hell have I got myself into; what the fuck am I doing here?
Chapter 6
A quiet moaning brought Viktor back to his senses; Ana was moving; bewildered, she tried to raise herself from the floor. Unable to move, she lay face down. Grabbing the hair on the back of her head, Viktor pulled her upwards, turning her face towards his as he did so. She cried in pain, pushing down on the carpet to lessen the force of his grasp. He looked at her broken face and threw her back, cursing; she made no sound as she lapsed back into unconsciousness.
* * *
Hours passed; Viktor, slumped in an easy chair, began to stir as the morning light began to creep over him. He thought for a moment that he was awakening from a nightmare, but seeing Ana lying on the floor in front of him brought him back very quickly to the living nightmare that he now faced. He had sobered up but felt like trash. Looking down at her, he began to feel an enormous loss. The need to try and put something right began to overwhelm him, but what? He had reacted like any man would have done when faced with su
ch betrayal; but what was he to do with her now. He leant down and slowly turned her head so that he could see her face. He was shocked when he saw how swollen and bloody her once beautiful features had become. She moaned quietly as her eyes began to open. At first she struggled to focus but as her senses returned, she burst into tears and looked away. Viktor looking down at this sorry mess of a person, broke down himself and for an interminable time they both lay together on the floor in huddled silence.
Ana’s pain was beginning to surface, her moans eventually reached into
Viktor’s stupefied brain. He staggered to the kitchen sink, running water over his hand until it ran warm. With a half filled bowl and a soft cloth, he began to wipe away the blood and eye shadow that had become a Halloween mask on Ana’s face. She whimpered as he dabbed at her delicate features but her eyes remained closed; he lifted her into bed where she was more rested. Climbing in beside her, he held her closely. She did not resist and eventually they both fell into a troubled sleep.
* * *
Viktor awoke. He checked the bedside clock; it was well past noon. Shit I’m late! Certainly he was late for his courier collection but today was not going to be a normal day. He quickly phoned the depot and called in sick.
‘Not like you to be sick Viktor!’ The duty clerk had been surprised by the call.
‘Should be OK in a couple of days.’ Now I’d better call and let Ana’s boss know she won’t be in.
Ana loved her job at the Bistro and they valued her contribution recognising that her flirty nature brought them repeat custom. Hearing that she was sick did not go down well.
‘What's wrong with her? How long will she be off?’ Viktor struggled, trying to lie his way around the probing questions.
‘She’s sick . . . that's all I can tell you! I’m not a bloody doctor!’ He slammed the phone down.
Ana was awake, having listened in to Viktor’s rant; she wanted to know what had gone on. ‘What did they say?’
‘They need you back!’
Although still in considerable pain, her mind was now alert. ‘How can I go in like this?’
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