"To getting acquainted!" he raised his glass.

"To getting acquainted," Katya echoed.

"How were you received?" Aleksei asked.

"Quite well, good guys. We already spoke with your father… Filatov is… no comments."

"Yeah… something like that," Aleksei replied. "So why did you transfer?"

"Family reasons. I’d rather not talk about it."

Aleksei nodded in agreement.

"And it's closer to home here. At my previous job, it took a long time to commute, but here, it’s just two trolleybus stops away."

"Shall I walk you home?" Aleksei asked.

"That would be nice," she smiled, then asked, "And what about you? How’s work? You’re home late."

"It’s better to finish everything and not worry. I’ve done all I wanted, so now I’m calm. The area’s quiet, though the city’s been getting noisy lately. Well, work’s still there, but not like before, when… it feels like we used to sleep here. Did you hear about Goryainov getting whacked around here? It was a big event for the neighborhood, such an honor," he added with sarcasm.

"I heard, Filatov filled me in… Lyosha, and what about him? He seems like a nice man… but alone."

Aleksei raised his eyebrows, "I don’t know, I think maybe his time just passed, so he's alone. Or his time hasn’t come yet… These are big philosophical questions, and only God knows the answers. As for us… we just talk, complain about life, and

"…and nothing more."

"Fair enough," Katya smiled.

"I’ll have a quick bite and help you with the dishes."

"Lyosha, that’s a woman’s job… don’t make a fuss."

But arguing was pointless; he helped wash the dishes and then walked the lady home.

"Why didn’t you show up yesterday? It was great! Katya is quite a catch," Filatov called as Aleksei was driving.

"Lyonya, I’m still sleeping," Aleksei answered.

"Sleeping?!" Filatov was surprised.

"Well, metaphorically speaking. I’m heading to see Elena Skrynnik. But I’ll be at work today."

"That’s good, because your father’s being called to the city office…"

"For what?" Aleksei interrupted.

"They want to take over the case," Filatov explained.

"Which case?"

"Yours, the one about those two bodies in the marshlands."

"Hm," Aleksei smirked, annoyed. "Interesting. I’m glad you guys had fun. I stopped by later and met Katya. Nice girl… Alright, Lyonya, later." Aleksei hung up and quickly picked up speed.

Shepelev Street was in a private sector. He was just pulling up to it. Slowing down, he began looking closely at the house numbers.

House 33 was two stories tall and looked very new among the older buildings. It was clear that it had been built recently; the sand around the house hadn't yet been cleared, and the fence was unnaturally clean for the area. Aleksei stopped the car and got out. He rang the doorbell at the gate. A dog’s barking could be heard.

"Coming, coming—Mitya, open up," someone yelled. The voice seemed to be a woman's. A tall, thin young man in uniform, holding a radio, appeared—probably the security guard.

"You are…?" he drawled.

"Senior Investigator of the Prosecutor’s Office, Aleksei Sergeevich Martynov."

– What did you want? – Does Mrs. Skrynnik live here? The guard nodded. – I’d like to speak with her. – What's the reason for the conversation? – Young man! Isn’t that too many questions for a guard?! I could come back, and I wouldn’t be alone. – Alright, no need to get upset – he backed away – I'll call her. – Lena, – he spoke into the radio. – Yes? – Prosecutor’s Office. – Prosecutor’s Office? Well, I don’t know… let him through… escort him, I’ll get dressed. The guard nodded and led him into the house.