Kitty squealed with delight. “Mommy and Daddy are here!”

Seibert made himself scarce as they all began to kiss one another and exchange meaningless endearments and exclamations.

He went out onto the balcony, lit up a cigarette, and then dug in his pocket and took out the list of services he had performed for Klim, wanting to check it one last time.

Down below, Frau Hauswald was sweeping the snow from the porch. When he caught sight of her, Seibert forgot everything and let go of the piece of paper. It flew out of his hands, and the wind caught it and dropped it at her feet.

“I think you’ve dropped something,” said Frau Hauswald. “Is this your list?”

He shook his head. “No, no. It has nothing to do with me. Please just throw it away if it’s no trouble.”

It wouldn’t do for Frau Hauswald to read what was written on the list, he thought. She might think he was a miserable skinflint.

“We’ve been neighbors for some time now,” said Seibert. “And yet I still don’t know your first name. Mine is Henrich.”

“I’m Gertrude. Please to meet you.”

Seibert grinned from ear to ear. In the USSR, the name Gertrude had a particular meaning—it was short for “Geroinia Truda” or “Heroine of Labor.”

I’ll wait for my uninvited guests to leave, he said to himself, and then I’ll ask her in for cocoa.

RUSSIAN TREASURES SERIES

Russian Treasures Book 1 White Ghosts Book 2 The Prince of the Soviets Book 3

Visit Elvira Baryakina’s website to learn more about Klim Rogov and Nina Kupina:

http://www.baryakina.com/en/

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Copyright

Translated from Russian by Rose France

Book cover illustration by Olga Tereschenko

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2018 Elvira Baryakina

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, visit www.baryakina.com/en/

ISBN: 978-1-7325840-5-1