11

As expected, for a decent sum of money, they gladly provided me with the video of our little incident. Taking the recording with me, I went to my office to study it.

And the brat is good! Even on the video it’s practically impossible to see how she screws me over. Almost… Catching a good angle and zooming in, you could still see how her hand was under my jacket. Look at her, soft-pawed little thing! I didn’t even feel a thing!

Finding the best frames, I print out the images with that girl to make the search easier for myself. Taking everything I need, I leave my office and head to that park.

With the coming of evening, the park became even more beautiful. All sorts of lighting turned on, illuminating the decorations and the open kiosks. There were more people now, because besides those walking with children, older people and couples in love came out for evening strolls. I should invite Ann for such an evening promenade sometime… Right, focus!

I approach the nearest kiosk and ask the saleswoman, showing her the photo of the girl, whether she knows her. But she only shakes her head negatively, leaving me with nothing. Similar failures await me at the next kiosks as well.

What the hell is this?! After walking around the entire park, no one gives me any information, driving me into anger and irritation.

Leaving the park from a completely different side than its entrance, I run my hand through my hair, growling. Little pest!

I see that across the road from the park there’s another kiosk, so I head there.

“Oh, I know that girl,” the girl in a kitchen apron smiles at me cautiously. “She’s here often.”

“You don’t say?” I twist my mouth sarcastically, because it’s obvious the saleswoman is flustered by my presence and unconsciously trying to please me. “Then why did no one in the park recognize her?”

“Well, during the day only one or two kiosks in the park are open, and by evening the sellers change and the rest of the kiosks open,” the girl enlightens me mockingly, scanning me from head to toe. “And the girl often comes here during the day.”

“And you probably don’t know her name, address, or parents?” I ask hopelessly.

“No,” the saleswoman presses her lips together. “But judging by everything, she’s a street kid. There’s a whole gang of them here. I don’t know any detailed information about her.”

Well, at least I got some kind of information. Thanking the girl with a generous bill, I go to my car, planning to wait here a bit and watch, maybe she’ll show up.

But after sitting in the car for about two hours, luck still didn’t smile on me, and because of that I returned to Kirill’s house. The kids were still hacking away at the console, loudly and emotionally shouting over each other.

“You shouldn’t have bought them that console,” the former nanny of the little ones looks at me reproachfully. “They’ve been like they’re on energy drinks all evening, yelling at each other from excitement.”

“I wouldn’t have bought it either, but… I lost a bet to them,” I come up with an excuse for Valentina on the spot.

The woman only shakes her head and we say goodbye. I barely managed to tear the little ones away from the Sony, sending them to bathe and sleep. That’s enough for them today, and for me too.

The next day, without any shame, I dumped the kids on my father. Their faces were angry and dissatisfied, because that meant they wouldn’t be playing the console today.

I arrive at yesterday’s observation spot and sit there, waiting for at least something that might help me in my search.

And how surprised I was when I saw a familiar filthy sweater and a blond crown of a head among several rough-looking kids.

Well, well… looks like you’re caught now, you little bastard!