A person who loves the rain - стр. 4

"Well… you're asking some tough questions…" Filatov retorted.

"I'm sick of both of you!" Alexey said, opening the menu.

"Alright, what are you doing here anyway?" Filatov asked.

"My dad gave me a case."

"That one about the bodies in the swamps?!" Filatov asked eagerly.

"Yeah, why?"

"Damn, I asked for that case myself! There's just a cold case report to write up and that's it."

"Well, that's why I got it… he said they needed to open a case."

"Why?" Filatov looked at Alexey in confusion.

"I don't know," Alexey shrugged it off.

"There are wildfires in the region, the swamps are burning, and now all the old 'who did what where' is floating up," Filatov sighed sadly.

"It's an unusual case. I'm curious what happened there 30 years ago."

"When are you planning to go?" Filatov asked, waving to the waitress.

"I'll sit with you for a bit. Semyonich said he'll have the results after lunch, so I'll probably head straight there to check the crime scene. By the way, why are you here?"

"You heard about Goryainov getting whacked?" Filatov asked.

"No… seriously?! That's crazy! Goryainov himself? What's going to happen to the Goryainov criminal group now?" Alexey closed the menu.

"I took the case myself," Filatov bragged, "just waiting for the forensics, then I'll wrap everything up and send it to court… it's clear whose hand was behind it… Have you seen the new girl?"

"No, what's up?"

"Oh, I see that look in your eyes," Filatov teased Alexey, "she's a beauty… They say she was the star in her last district."

The waitress approached. The friends placed their orders.

"Is she really that smart?" Alexey asked.

"Seems like she's got some talent. By the way, she's buying drinks today."

"I won’t go… What's her name?"

"Raisa Zakharna," Filatov joked.

"Get out of here with your jokes!"

"Shvedova Larisa," Filatov replied.

"Alright. Let's go. I'll give you a ride back."

"You're driving? That's great!"

The area greeted Alexey with little friendliness. The emergency workers had done their job well, the fire was out, but the stench of burning peat was overwhelming. Finding a stick, Alexey grabbed it and headed toward the swamp where two bodies had been found. The swamp seemed mostly dried up, but occasionally his feet would sink in. He used the stick to find a path and made his way deeper between the trees. A clearing appeared, and he stepped into it. His pants were, of course, dirty, with burrs stuck to them. About a hundred steps ahead stood a small house. Either a forester’s cabin or something similar, but clearly, a local forestry employee had once lived here. As he got closer, Alexey looked around. The house was completely dilapidated, the plaster crumbling, the walls overgrown with grass, and the windows shattered for some reason. The paint on the window frames was peeling, and there was an empty doghouse where a dog probably used to live. He decided to go inside. Glass jars were on the windowsill, some broken, but all covered in a thick layer of dust. Everything was clean and tidy, giving the impression that a new owner was expected to move in. The fridge in the corner was empty. A bed covered with a blanket, wooden stools. The heat was unbearable. Alexey found a relatively clean spot and laid his jacket down. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. From here, the place where the two bodies had been found was clearly visible. He walked over to the window, wiped the dust off the table, and placed the expert report there.