Вячеслав Яцко - The Professor's Murder

After the policeman carefully read it I added: "And the woman's name is Olga Smirnova".

"Your name is Larin rather than Anderson; her name is Smirnova, rather than Lukoje", repeated Murkin. "And what shall I write in her examination record?" exclaimed he looking completely confused.

"Nothing", intervened Rogov. "You will write nothing because there will be no examination record", added he with disarming frankness looking straight into Captain's eyes.

"And what shall I do with this?" complained Murkin opening a folder on his desk and taking out several sheets of paper.

"This is a complaint folded by Mr. Zilberman, the manager of 'Otvet' restaurant. He writes":…

The woman who, as it was clearly seen, was very drunk jumped on the stage dashed to Miss Snegova who was performing a song, snatched the microphone out of her hands and rudely shoved her away. Miss Snegova couldn't keep her feet and fell down on the table standing near the stage. The table broke to pieces; Miss Snegova with numerous injuries was taken to hospital. Fortunately, people sitting at the table remained physically safe though their clothes sustained irreparable damage. Meanwhile the woman with the microphone uttered shrill sounds that were like the squeak of the pig. I was able to make out two words: 'Luk' and 'Oi' [2] Russian лук [luk] means 'onion', and 'Oi' (ой) stands for the exclamation 'Oh' Copyright: V.A. Yatsko (В.А. Яцко), 2010 . In that way she continued until the police arrived to arrest her".

"And that's not all!" added Murkin offensively. This is a report of Sergeant Avarov: "…The woman put up strong resistance. She kicked me at the groin making me inactive for a while…"

"If I release her what shall I say to Mr.Zilberman, Miss Snegova and other people who will come tomorrow bringing complaints about Smirnova?"

"That complicates matters", agreed Rogov. "Can I have a look at the documents?" he extended his hand and Murkin, showing hesitation, handed him over his folder

Rogov looked through the papers and said: "Let us do it in the following way. I keep these documents with me. Mr. Larin will meet all these people to take signed releases and waivers. If he manages to do that the documents disappear and Mrs. Smirnova is set free. If he fails I give the documents back and the Captain starts legal procedures".

Murkin pursed his lips manifesting dissatisfaction.

"It goes without saying Mr.Larin must compensate Sergeant Avarov and Police Station 11 on the whole for the damage caused by the actions of his defendant at once. And you, Captain, must provide Mr.Larin with a list of the aggrieved persons with their addresses. Agreed?"

Murkin assumed a detached air. They shook hands.

"I'll see you later", said Rogov to me and disappeared from my view.

Murkin sat at his desk and diligently began making notes compiling a list of the aggrieved persons.

I fixed my eyes on him. He was obviously a good, ordinary officer who new the rules and never ran into trouble. The general practice at local police stations was to classify detained persons into two groups. One included people who had influential helpers or relatives. These men of consequence were informed about the incident and usually took efforts to hush up the affair, the police officers getting money or promotions. The rest of the people were subject to ordinary legal procedures. If the police had doubts about the personality of the detainee they tried to establish his or her identity as was in the case with Olga. Murkin did his duty and expected a reward. And I didn't let him down.

As he handed me the list I took out my wallet.

"This is for Avarov, for you personally, and an additional sum for Mrs. Smirnova if she needs something", explained I showing gratitude and giving him twelve thousand rubles. "How is she, by the way?"

Murkin readily switched on a walkie-talkie.

"Is this you, Sidorov? What about that woman in the third cell? A blond?" He looked at me questioningly. I nodded energetically. "Yes, a blond. No, her name is Smirnova, as it turns out. Who else is in the sell? And what are they doing? Really?"

He switched off and reported: "She is in the cell with three prostitutes. Right now they are signing".

"What are they singing???" I couldn't hide my surprise.

Murkin shrugged his shoulders. "Let's go and see for ourselves".

We left his office and went downstairs and entered a long corridor with cells for detainees. The corridor was filled with sounds of Russian folk song.

Oh, Father Frost, Father Frost,

Don't freeze me, don't freeze me!

Don't freeze my horse!

intoned women's voices and among them I unmistakably recognized Olga's contralto.

Now I had no doubt Olga would survive. She got perfectly adapted to her imprisonment. Perhaps she had a propensity to living in a prison cell.

"The last question, Captain. How much time do I have?"

"I cannot detain her for more than 24 hours, you know. So the deadline is tomorrow's evening. But the sooner the better. I'll be here on duty the whole night."

We shook hands and I went out to undertake my night odyssey.

4. The Night Odyssey

I sat at my desk examining Murkin's list. I made up my mind first to go to my place to think over the situation in quite surroundings. The Captain did good work having provided not only names but also addresses, telephone numbers, i.e. all information that was in police records.

The list was surprisingly short and included names of four persons.

Mr. Semen Zilberman, the manager of 'Otvet" restaurant.

Miss Maria Snegova, a singer at the same restaurant.

Mr. Oleg Ruchko, a student at the State University.

Miss Marina Sotova, a student at the State University.

"The restaurant will work all night and there will be no problem to find the manager", reflected I. "The restaurant is the last place to visit. As it's a quarter to eleven I must find the rest of the company before they go to bed. And in the first turn I must speak to Snegova who suffered most of all being taken to hospital with 'numerous injuries'. The students must be those persons who sat at the table broken by her body. It would be interesting to have a look at the body that can break a table to pieces".

I opened my laptop typed and printed standard waivers so that it was left to fill in signatures.

Then I phoned the hospital to which Snegova was taken. I was politely informed that Miss Snegova refused to stay at the hospital and went home after the examination showed she didn't have serious internal injuries.

It was good news. Now to solve the problem with Snegova was much easier. I decided to call her at once.

"Snegova speaking", answered my call a pleasant high female voice.

"This is Alexei Larin. Excuse me for the late call; we are not acquainted but…"

She interrupted me: "Yes, we are not acquainted, but I know you. You defended my friend Anna Krylova". She referred to a divorce process that I won. "She highly appreciated your work", prattled Snegova. Obviously, she was in good condition and injuries at the restaurant didn't affect her speech abilities at all. "You just worked wonders when you proved that her husband had another family and an illegitimate child. And Anna got his cottage, car, and almost all his money. After the trial she could afford a good rest at the Bahamas!

I understood she would chatter endlessly unless interrupted and I did it rather rudely: "I must apologize, Miss Snegova, don’t you mind if I explain the purpose of my call?"

"Oh, sure, I am listening to you attentively!"

"Currently I' am busy with another case and I need your assistance. Could we meet right now?"

"I am not sure it is suitable… I live alone, you see. But if it's so necessary… But anyway they say that a lawyer is like a doctor…