Doctor Gavrilov Read Free Page A

minutes he came and sat at the far end of the bench. He was quite young, had short, dark hair and an olive complexion, and he was wearing casual clothes, jeans, trainers and a leather jacket. He looked nervous and it crossed Dmitry’s mind that he might be a child molester.
    Dmitry smiled and waved at Anna as she called to him from the top of the wooden climbing frame. The man inched nearer, clearing his throat. He said, quietly, respectfully, in English, but with the hint of an accent, ‘Dr Gavrilov…’
    Dmitry went hot and then cold all over with something that was close to fear, a kind of shock, a recognition. He said, still staring straight ahead, ‘Please go. I am not interested.’
    â€˜There would be a great deal of money involved.’
    â€˜I do not want your money.’
    â€˜My Government…’
    Dmitry turned to him for the first time. ‘Yes, who is your Government?’
    The man hesitated for a moment. ‘I do not need to reveal this at the present time. But your skills, your knowledge, would be very valuable to us. We would pay you highly for them.’
    Anna came down the slide, ran over to Dmitry and asked him to tie up her shoelace which was trailing in the mud. Her eyes gleamed, her cheeks were flushed bright red, and her whole body was suffused and overflowing with energy. Dmitry sat her on his knee and retied the lace, tying it double and pulling it tight to make sure.
    Anna pushed the thick dark hair away from her face, kissed him, and giggled. She adored him. Sometimes this disconcerted him; nothing in his life had prepared him for such absolute trust and unstinted love. Deprived of her own father, she had accepted Dmitry at once and could, as Katie often observed, twist him round her little finger. He knew she made a fool of him, and he didn’t mind; how could he do anything but love her when she looked so like her mother?
    Dmitry pushed her off his knee. ‘Go on,’ he said gruffly, ‘I’m getting cold. Five more minutes and then we’ll go.’
    â€˜You have a very beautiful daughter,’ said the man, his eyes following her as she ran. ‘How old is she? Five? Maybe, six?’
    At this Dmitry abruptly stood up. He walked away from the bench and turned his back on him. He idly read the sign in front of them and then, suddenly set alight with anger, he turned and pointed it out to the man.
    â€˜Can you read this sign? Adults are only allowed in here if accompanied by young children. Do you have a child with you? No. Do you want me to call the police?’
    The man looked alarmed; Dmitry’s size and strength and the sudden intensity of his anger must have frightened him for an instant. He said, ‘Of course, forgive me,’ and backed away, nodding his head, almost bowing in a sudden excess of politeness. When he had gone Dmitry walked up and down with quick, short steps, banging his hands together as if to warm them. After a few minutes he could stand it no longer. ‘Anna!’ he called. ‘Anna, it’s time. We have to go now.’
    Anna turned and ran to him at once, smiling and holding out her hands.

    Katie heard Dmitry bang the front door shut, and the sound of Anna running up the stairs to her room. She looked up from changing the baby’s nappy when she heard him come in.
    At least now she had something positive to report. ‘Oh, Mitya, I think I’ve got another tenant for downstairs. It’s an old colleague of mine from the BBC and his girlfriend. They can pay the rent all right, and they can move in next week, if they like the flat, of course.’
    â€˜Good.’
    The income from the flat downstairs was the main thing that kept them solvent. She had been ringing around all day trying to find someone she could trust who might want to rent it. Then she’d had the phone call from an old contact, Erwin Stone, saying he knew someone who was interested. When she’d heard it