– What was the forestry business about? – Alexey asked with interest.

– There was something like that, the Moscow region was expanding, and back then there was more forest here. There were foresters, they guarded the area. When capitalism kicked in and construction began, that position was gradually eliminated.

– Who worked there? I’d like to take a look at the records.

– Just a moment, – Vladimir Vladimirovich pressed a few buttons and mumbled an order to fetch the documents from the archive. While waiting for the secretary, they exchanged a few polite sentences on unrelated topics, had another cup of coffee, and then there was a knock on the door.

– Yes… Lidochka, come in.

The secretary entered and handed over the documents. Vladimir Vladimirovich took the heavy folder and flipped through a few pages. The secretary left.

– Aha, – he said, – here’s 1981, – he turned a few more pages, his expression becoming more serious, and he pressed the buttons again and shouted,

– Lida! Come in, quickly!

The secretary appeared again.

– What is this?!

She hurried over, looking at the folder in surprise.

– I don’t know… I – she began gesticulating nervously – Vladimir Vladimirovich… you know I… – she was getting more and more upset.

– What’s going on? Tell me, – said Alexey, standing up. The folder was handed to him. Everything indicated that the forester's photograph and his personal details had been removed.

– Who was the last person to access the archive? – Alexey asked.

– No one, it’s been untouched for ages, – the secretary tried to defend herself, waving her hands and wiping tears from her face with the same hands.

– Lida! – the boss slammed his palm on the table.

– I’m telling you, – the secretary yelled in frustration – no one!

– You… sit down. Calm down. No one’s blaming you. Just think, who has access to it? – Alexey reassured her and sat her down next to him, nodding to the boss as if to say, "Enough, stop."

– Well, no one, I have access, our administration is small, and there’s no point in hiring extra staff. Plus, I manage everything myself… I don’t even know, – she explained.

– Lida… has anything suspicious happened? – Alexey asked.

– Nothing, I’m telling you, no… I can’t recall anything.

– You know, I can’t think of anyone – maybe the postman, the plumber, the district police officer, those people whose presence we always trust…

For some reason, she smiled and brightened up.

– Oh, you know, yes! Yes! You’re right, the plumber was there… we had some work going on…

The boss interrupted her and didn’t let her finish.

– The building is old, we’re replacing all the pipes with plastic ones, and… probably left it unattended.

– Maybe, but that’s all… the archive is always locked, and I have the key, – Lida said, looking from one to the other – and the plumber is a bit of a drunk.

– Lidochka, I’ll give you an order – bring Vladimir Vladimirovich and me a glass of cold water. It’s not even hot, but… we’re thirsty.

She left. While she was gone, Alexey asked,

– Who is this plumber?

– Well, maybe it wasn’t him. They’re just guys doing side jobs, acquaintances of an acquaintance.

– Give me the coordinates, – Alexei stepped closer to the person he was talking to.

– Ah… – the boss hesitated, – why did you send her for water? – he smiled as he asked.

– Gotta take care of the staff. Why did you make the woman nervous? – Alexei asked instructively. – She’ll walk around and calm down.

– You’re a psychologist… – the boss smiled again – here you go, – he pulled out a business card from the drawer and handed it to Alexei.