In the underground garage, the deep, dull hum of the massive vents swallowed the echo of footsteps. The cold glow of the neon lights fell in gray patches on the concrete. Roman was heading down to the minus-second level, slowly buttoning his cashmere coat as he walked.
The air carried a choking mix of raw concrete, exhaust fumes, and cooled asphalt.Twenty minutes earlier, he had been sitting in the conference room with Oleg. The conversation had turned into a storm.— We have to sell. Now. It’s the only chance — Oleg insisted.
— I’m not selling. I didn’t build this for ten years to hand it over to a monopoly — Roman shot back.Oleg’s face turned red, then he stormed out without a word, slamming the glass door with such force that it trembled.Now, in the dimly lit parking lot, Roman pressed the button on his key fob.
The headlights of the huge black SUV flashed welcomingly. He was already reaching for the cold chrome handle when he heard a soft swish from the side.Someone tugged at the edge of his coat.Roman spun around. An eight-year-old girl stood beside him. Her coat was pale and too big,
the sleeves folded back several times. From under her gray hat slipped enormous glasses with thick lenses, one arm held together with electrical tape. She clutched a worn notebook in her hands.— Sir… you can’t go there… they cut the brakes — she whispered, glancing nervously at a nearby concrete pillar.
Roman crouched next to her and instinctively looked around.— What did you say? How did you get here?— I was sitting behind the pipes. Warm air comes from the grate — she pointed toward the dark corner. — Two people went to the car. One crawled under with a lamp.
The other said, “Quick. It’ll go down the mountain on its own, and we stay clean.”Roman’s stomach tightened. That evening, he had indeed planned to head to the countryside via the mountain road. And only one person knew about it.Oleg.He called immediately.— Stas. Minus two.
Now. Bring people and strong lights.Five minutes later, the head of security crawled out from under the car. His fingers glistened with oily fluid.— The brake system was sabotaged. Professional job. If he pressed the pedal a few times, all the fluid would leak in minutes. On the first slope, it would have been over.
Roman looked at the girl. She stood aside, shifting in her worn shoes.— Come here — he held out his hand. — What’s your name, my little rescuer?— Katya — she replied softly, placing her ice-cold fingers in his palm.In the café on the ground floor, warm lights, the scent of freshly ground coffee,
and vanilla greeted them. Katya held the hot chocolate with both hands, sipping in tiny sips. A frothy mustache sat on her upper lip as she greedily bit into a croissant.— Why were you alone in the parking lot? Where are your parents? — Roman asked.
— My dad isn’t around. Mom works at the canning factory. Two shifts. By the time she gets home, I’m asleep. After school, I come here. It’s warm. I draw people, and if they like it, they give me a little money.— What are you saving for?— A doctor. If they don’t treat me, I’ll soon lose my sight.
Roman studied the girl’s face. The shape of her eyes. The line of her jaw. Something familiar flashed through him.— Will you show me your drawings?In the notebook, quick, lively lines: a courier, a sleeping guard, a stray cat. On the last page, a woman’s portrait.
A tired face. A stubborn gaze.Roman’s fingers trembled.It was Mom.The woman he had lost nine years ago.— Katya… where do you live?— An hour by bus, then on foot.— Then we’re going there now.On the way, Roman made another call. Oleg was caught at the city outskirts — along with his accomplices.
The next morning, Roman stood in front of a crumbling barrack. In the cold yard, a woman was washing. When she saw him, the wet sheet slipped from her hands.— Mom… — Roman whispered.The woman went pale.— Roma? But… grandma said that…
— She told me too… that you were dead.They stood silently for a long moment. Then Roman hugged her.From the porch, Katya watched them. Roman crouched in front of her and gently removed the thick glasses.— Go pack. You don’t have to stay here anymore.
A week later, they found the scammer who had disappeared with the money set aside for treatment. The money was returned. Katya began treatment at a good clinic in the capital.The first time she removed her glasses, she just stared for a long while.— Everything is sharp now… — she whispered.-
Six months later, the three of them stood at the grandmother’s grave. Mom laid flowers.She wasn’t angry.A fine rain began to fall. Roman draped his coat over Mom’s shoulders and held Katya’s hand.And together they walked toward the gate — leaving behind everything that had hurt them until now.
