FOUR YEARS EARLIER

Yuri sat down to a Tandoori chicken, only to realize he'd forgotten utensils. He made a quick dash into the kitchen and came back with forks and knives for himself and Sabina, and a little spoon for Anya.

She burbled in her high chair, smacking her plastic bowl like a drum.

"I hope this worked," Sabina said with a nervous smile, serving the food. Yuri took his plate and scooped a forkful.

"It will be excellent," he said, then sneezed.

Sabina put down the serving spoon.

"Don't be like that," she said.

"Like what? I like chicken."

She scowled at him, picked up her fork.

"You lie badly."

"Is no lie! I love your cooking, Sabina. Truly."

He put the fork to his mouth and the doorbell rang. Yuri left his food, kissed Sabina on the cheek on the way past, and went down the hall to the door. The bell rang again, and he opened it.

It was Rache. She was wearing a black tank top in the summer heat, but was shivering, eyes sunken. When she saw him, a smile crept across her face, and she stepped forward.

"Yuri!" she said. "It's you!"

He stepped outside, closed the door behind him. She didn't back up to give him room, stayed close.

"What do you want, Rache? How did you find me here?"

"The bouncers at the club," she said. "They scanned your fingerprint. I persuaded them to share it."

She had a playful smile on her face. He turned his head away.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice hollow. "Just tell me.

What?"

"I need some money," she said. "Just a little money. I'm not offering anything. It's not like last time. I just need some cash, Yuri.

Please."

He shook his head, and she rested a hand on his shoulder, moved closer. He pulled away, but she moved with him.

"Please, Yuri. I'm getting clean, I swear."

"You do not look clean," he said. "You look worse. How is heroin treating you?"

She didn't react, just smiled. Smiled and stayed close to him. The door behind him opened and Sabina came out.

"What's going on here, Yuri? The food is..."

She look at Rache, up and down, and then at Yuri. He held his head away from Rache, obviously uncomfortable.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"Is no one," Yuri said stiffly.

"Then get rid of her," Sabina grunted. "We're having dinner." She went back inside and closed the door.

Yuri looked down at Rache, removed her hand from his shoulder, and gently pushed her away. She started to cry, but held it back, setting her jaw and narrowing her eyes.

"Rache, you are not my problem," Yuri said carefully. "I cannot fix your life for you. You have parents. Call them. They can help you."

She wiped tears from her eyes.

"My parents died a few months ago," she said. "Car accident.

Decapitated. I saw the morgue photos. It was... it was horrible."

Yuri said nothing for a moment, then took a sharp breath.

"I am sorry," he said. "But is still not my problem."

"They left me with so much debt, Yuri. So much debt. I need help, Yuri. I can get back on my feet, I just need some help."

"No," he said. "Is too late for that."

She grit her teeth and reached into his trouser pockets, searching for his wallet. He tried to back away, but she wouldn't give up. He grabbed her arm, and shoved her back into the wall across the way.

She stood there, panting, manic.

"I need it," she said.

"Somewhere else," he whispered, keeping his voice as low as he could.

She stepped across the hall and slapped him. He didn't react. She reached back to do it again, and he caught her arm.

"You had chance to fix your life, Rache, and you did nothing with the chance you had. I try to help you so many times, and so many times you ruin it for yourself. I cannot do this anymore. You choose your life, and this is life you get. If you do not like, you have no one to blame but yourself."

He let her go and turned to go back inside, but she grabbed the back of his shirt.

"Who are you to tell me this?" she snapped. "What have you done with your life that makes you do high and mighty? You have money?