East of the Sun by Janet Rogers Page B

into too much detail on the painful subject.
    Legault shook his head. ‘It was a terrible thing . . . what happened last year.’
    Amelia nodded mutely.
    ‘What can I – we – do for you? I assume that is why you are here in Moscow again – unfinished business?’
    Amelia cleared her throat. ‘Yes, it is.’ She paused. ‘And it’s only fair that I’m frank with you. Last year was chaotic and, as you know, answers were never found. I’m still not sure if that was because there were no answers to be found, or if the police didn’t want to look harder. Perhaps for fear of what they might find. Yet another example of Russian business taking the law into its own hands wouldn’t be good PR for this country, would it?’
    He was watching her intently, nodding, but not interrupting.
    ‘I met with the detective a few days ago,’ she continued, ‘and he told me about certain developments – new evidence they uncovered which they’d passed on to the embassy.’ She stopped, waiting for him to say something, but he remained silent. ‘I was never informed.’ The unspoken accusation hung between them.
    Legault’s forehead furrowed. ‘ Mais . . . really? Are you sure? But of course you are, what am I saying?’ The frown became deeper. ‘This is not good. I am so sorry, my dear. Could you give me a minute, please?’ He turned to his computer and tapped at the keyboard. His frown disappeared as he typed in something else and reappeared before he turned back to her.
    ‘I cannot explain it.’ Legault’s French accent was stronger now. ‘I am embarrassed to say that I do not know how it could have happened, but it looks like you are right. It looks like we received a few letters and visits from the Russian police, but I cannot see a reference to communication from the embassy with you.’
    He scowled at the computer screen, checking the facts again, but shook his head in dismay. ‘I can only apologise.’
    Amelia hesitated. ‘Was the new evidence given to Patrick?’ she asked carefully, wanting to make sure of the facts and not wishing to add to his apparent distress.
    He looked at the screen. ‘Yes, it looks like it was. I promise to ask him about it.’ He placed his hand on his chest, as if desperate to reassure her that his promise would not be taken lightly.
    ‘Would it be possible for me to read the information you have?’
    Legault’s uncertainty lasted only a moment before he nodded. ‘It’s a little unconventional to give you direct access, but I think I can do that for you. I read the notes a while back and I’m afraid they are not very informative, but they should still have been shared with you.’
    ‘Excuse me a second.’ He stood up and walked to the door. Amelia couldn’t hear the words spoken in the outer office, but a short while later he returned with a thin folder. It didn’t look any more promising than Kiriyenko’s police file.
    ‘Why don’t you read it in here?’ Legault offered and placed the folder on the desk in front of her with great care. ‘I have a meeting elsewhere in the building anyway. No one will disturb you here, I promise.’ His hand crept up to his heart again and his smile was apologetic. ‘Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. You’ve been through enough.’ Hand on heart he bowed slightly and gently pressed her hand.
    ‘Thank you,’ Amelia whispered and was relieved when he left the room quickly.
    Unable to control them any longer, she allowed the tears to flow. Why, why was this so difficult? Why were there so many secrets? Why weren’t there more kind people like Jean Legault in the world? Why couldn’t Robert walk through the door now and put his arms around her?
    Gradually she calmed down and listened to the building’s muted sounds. She pulled the folder closer. It didn’t take long to read through everything. Legault had been right, she already knew most of what was in it. There was a report from the head of security