Chapter 17 17

Chapter 17 17

Katerina rose slowly from the chair, staring right at the book in her hands. With a heading : HOW TO PROOF TO IVAN THAT SASHA’s INNOCENT.

Her first step was clear, find out who Sasha was. What kind of a woman had she been? What she stood for? Her personality? It wasn’t enough to rely on Ivan’s accusations or memories. She needed her own answers. She needed to know where she once lived, who she had known without leaving any detail out.

She grabbed her phone from the bed and dialed Ben’s number. It took him a while to respond. He finally answered.

“Hey,” He said, a little breathless. “Sorry , I was in the office with Henderson and had to leave before I could pick up. I don’t want him knowing you’ve been calling or that we’ve been talking. You know how he gets”

“Yes I do” Katerina said softly.

“Kat, are you okay. I mean, you disappeared on us”

Katerina wished to again brush his concern off but she knew it wasn’t going to work this time, soon enough she needed to give him something.

“I am okay. I just have a lot right now om my plate” She said softly.

“Do you want me to come over so we could talk? Where you at though?” Ben said concerned.

“Nope, no coming to see me yet. Until all this is sorted”

“Alright. You need my help with something?” he asked.

“Well yeah. I need some information on Sasha Morozov”

Ben raised an eyebrow on the other end, “You mean you’re running an investigation on you…your old self”

“Yes Ben. Look, I think I might have done some shitty things in my past life and somehow it’s all coming back to haunt me. I’ve got to fix this”

“But you have been fine for years. Why bring it up now, why try to find out now?” Ben asked, concerned.

“I knew one day my past would come calling” Katerina said, her tone dropping. “I just didn’t know when and now it has, it’s better I work it out now and face whatever it is that might come afterwards.”

He sighed. “So tell me what do you need?”

“Everything on her, her school, friends, anything at all. I want every stones unturned. Ben I was married and I didn’t even know”

Ben let out a low whistle. “Yeah that’s true…that was something though.”

“Yeah, so please help me out” she pleaded.

“Anything for you Kat, but you must know, schedules have been pretty tight. Got a shit load of work to do and then Henderson brought in a new hire.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s been a mess since you left. Total chaos. Henderson’s about to lose it. He drinks coffee every morning now.”

“Coffee… boy am I shocked” she said laughing in between.

“He says it’s helping him stay calm during the chaos of a day”

“Whats the new hire like?”

“A lot of things” Ben said dryly “ But bossy tops the list. The other day she asked me to go get her lunch. I told her, I am your assistant not your errand guy”

“Ouch. That must have hurt.”

“I am sure it did. But who cares. Look Kat, I gotta go. If I find anything, I’d sent it right up to you”

“Thank you Ben.”

“You owe me” He said with a grin in his voice.

“Yes I do “ Katerina agreed and hung up.

Talking with Ben had reminded her of her life as an Insurance adjuster. The endless paperwork, the cautious phone calls, the careful way she had to measure loss in numbers and figures. Every claim was a story of someone’s bad day, yet she was trained to stay detached, professional, almost mechanical.

But that was no longer her reality, it had only been her life for five years.

Who was Sasha Morozov?
Who am I.

Katerina found herself asking while stared at her handwritten plan to prove her innocence.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. It was Serena and to her surprise Dimitri stood behind her.

“Katerina” Dimitri called out.

“Dimitri” Katerina replied.

“May I come in” He asked.

“Oh certainly, you may”

Serena entered first, placing a tray on the table.

“Freshly made mango juice” she said with a polite smile handing Katerina a glass.

Katerina didn’t realize how hungry she was until the first sip.

“Would you like some sir?” Serena asked Dimitri.

“Oh no, I do not care for a glass of sugar. I am old”

Katerina laughed lightly. “Oh Dimitri, you are not old.

Dimitri smirked. “Okay If you says so”

Serena excused herself, leaving the two alone.

“Did you have something urgent to discuss with me “ Katerina asked setting her empty glass down.

“Yes, actually I did” Dimitri replied.

“Okay”

“It’s about the attack.” Dimitri began. “I am aware it happened in Ivan’s room.”

“Yes by the doorway.”

“How did it happen”

“Ivan is in the best position to share as I wasn’t with him when he was first attacked.” Katerina said

“My lady, you have nothing to worry about. These questions are not one of Ivan’s many interrogations. I am just trying to get information on the attack, anything we might have missed, considering you were there.” Dimitri said reassuringly.

Though his words were gentle, Katerina couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Like he was trying to determine if she was involved in the last attack.

“Ivan and I were in the room.” She said after the pause. “I was about to go to bed, when he insisted that I sleep on the couch. We got into a small argument”

And then he kissed me. Katerina said in her thoughts.

“He left.” She continued aloud. “I told myself that I would hurry after him and so I did. By the time I got to the second door, I could hear groans. I peeked and there he was on the floor, being beaten by two men.

“He did mention that you saved him” Dimitri added.

“If he puts it like that, then yeah. I acted on instinct, knocked one of them out cold but it was Ivan who pulled the trigger and saved us both.”

Dimitri nodded thoughtfully “Okay. …” he hesitated. “Do you have any reason to want Ivan dead?”

The question hit her like a slap.

“What ? No ? “
She got up. “ I thought you said this wasn’t an interrogation, you just wanted to know”

“Yes” Dimitri said calmly, standing as well.
“This is still not an interrogation. “

She turned her back against him.

“Katerina dear, I don’t know how you young ones say it. But I am your biggest fan in this house. I want you here even more than Ivan does. These questions, they are just mere formalities and besides,” he lowered his voice. “They are not mine.”

“Then whose ?” She demanded.

“Ivan’s.”

Katerina froze.

“Ivan sent you to ask me those?”

“Yes “ Dimitri said wondering why she acted surprised. It was something Ivan didn’t hesitate doing; interrogating her.

“Right” she muttered looking away.

“Look, you have nothing to worry about, I believe you”

Like that is some form of consolation… Katerina thought to herself. What was it with Ivan and never keeping his word?

They were together that night.
He looked into her eyes, touched her, kissed her as and then turned around to point accusatory fingers at her like she was some thief.

“Katerina” Dimitri called out but she was no longer with him. Her thoughts ran faster than she could catch them. Wondering, thinking about why Ivan would do such a thing.

“Kat” Dimitri Called out again, his voice breaking throug to her. “Are you okay? You seem lost.”

“I am good, I am okay.” She said forcing a smile.

“Are you sure, we could call the doctor…”

“The only person that needs a doctor is Ivan” her voice pushing out anger. “I have done nothing but try to understand his pain but trusting me seems to be the hardest thing in the world for him”

“Trust is a very hard thing to ask of Ivan. Especially when it has been broken before.”

“Then i want out”

“Not too fast Katerina, you gotta be patient. He’ll come around, eventually.”

Katerina exhaled, looking away.

“You must realize that he trusted you more than anyone. Ivan doesn’t bend easily, his loyalty runs deep. Once he’s committed to you, it’s you alone. That’s how his commitment was to Sasha… You…breaking that nearly destroyed him. He cried for days, no one could tell if he was mourning his father or he was mourning your betrayal. “

Katerina retreated to her bed.

“I’ll take my leave now Katerina” he said finally, adjusting his jacket. “You should have Serena make you something to eat”

As he walked out, Katerina gaze followed him until the door closed behind him.
She still couldn’t believe it.
Ivan had ordered her to be interrogated.
The nerve of him, after everything….after saving his life.