Chapter 5

"What was that?" I turned toward the noise in fright, suddenly remembering the Man-Eater and the mysterious driver in the dark car who had gone after Voronov. "Was that them?" I blurted, suddenly realizing who it was.

"Yes," Leshenko said quietly, looking back too. "And right now my partner is conducting an operation to identify and throw off the criminals! Help me, Rooster—we have to hurry if we don't want them to find him!"

"Right!"

I hadn't noticed when the sergeant took out the remote for my boss's car, but the black SUV suddenly flashed its lights and the rear door swung wide, as if inviting us inside—now that was technology! Short and stocky, Leshenko hoisted Voronov onto his shoulder with my help, dragged him to the car, and stuffed him into the back seat. After pushing in his legs, he grunted tiredly, "Whew, big guy!" and slammed the door.

"Get behind the wheel!" he ordered.

"Me?" I exclaimed, peering over his shoulder in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind, citizen sergeant? I can't drive!"

"You can! You have a license. And I can't go with you—I'm on duty!"

"Yes, I do. But wait…" I hurried after Leshenko. "I took my driving test in my final year of school! No, I drove a couple of times, of course… with an instructor, and that was a hundred years ago! I can't!" I shook my head firmly.

"You can!"

"What if we call an ambulance? That's what ambulances are for, right? One call, zip, zap, and he's at the hospital. Huh?"

"We don't have time! And get your purse out of the road! Hurry! One minute left!"

I ran back for my purse, picked up the briefcase, returned, pulled myself together, and climbed behind the wheel.

"Everything will be fine! Don't worry, citizen," the police officer reassured me. "I'll keep an eye on you!"

Ha! I wondered how. But I didn't ask. My hands were shaking so badly that I gripped the steering wheel with both hands and could barely hear anything over my pounding heart.

"The ignition's here, the automatic gearshift there, the brake and gas pedals. There's money in the glove compartment. When you get him to the hospital, do not give them his last name under any circumstances!"

"Why not?"

"They'll find a helpless man, and then we're screwed!" Leshenko's eyes widened, and he drew a finger across his throat. "I told you, the hitman is on his trail!"

"Oh… Got it!"

"Say he's your husband! He was walking home from work, slipped, fell, and lost consciousness. You weren't with him. When you found him, his documents were gone…"

"What?!" I was outraged about the husband part. And a little about the lying, too. I was ashamed and deeply embarrassed by what had happened.

"What do you mean, what? Or do you want Kupriyanov and the Man-Eater to win?" The little man didn't even blink. "Then leave Andrey and go home. Sleep peacefully…"

"No!"

"Then drive!"

"What am I going to tell him when he wakes up? When he remembers everything?"

"The truth, of course. Tell him everything exactly as it happened. Now go, it's time! I'll contact you again!"

So I drove. I spun my wheels a little, hit the curb, slid off it… Luckily, the parking lot was empty. I somehow turned the black monster around and, whimpering with fear, sped into the night. As I passed Nelly's wrecked car, I ducked my head and shoved the Volvo off the road with the SUV's powerful bumper.

Aaaaah! Where's the brake? This thing is a beast!

A black cat suddenly jumped onto the hood. It flashed a yellow eye at me, winked (I almost lost control of the wheel), and disappeared.

Ugh! I must be imagining things!

While I drove Voronov to the hospital, sweating from the strain and trying to remember the road signs, I wondered: how did Leshenko know what I called Prigozheva in my head? Had I actually said it out loud without realizing?

And I decided that must be it.