Chapter 8

En route to Hungary from Romania, by train

Dimitri Marick made the mistake of falling asleep.

After flying to Romania from Vadsel, travelling to the orphanage and making the craziest decision of his life, then driving back to Bucharest, waiting five hours for the next train back to Hungary; he was tired.

Less than an hour into the train ride his eyes closed and he fell asleep. It couldn't have been for long.

Now as his eyes slowly opened, the first thing he noticed was that the seat next to him was empty.

"Andrei?"

He also noticed that the train had stopped moving. That in itself wasn't particularly surprising. It wasn't an express train, so naturally it made stops along the way. Dimitri glanced out the window and saw they were stopped at a train station.

"Andrei"? he repeated, louder this time. Dimitri got up and scanned the seats around him. There were no signs of the boy he'd taken from the orphanage.

He looked at his watch to see how long he'd been asleep.

Except the watch was no longer on his wrist.

"Damn it," he cursed. Andrei had stolen his watch while he was asleep. "And my cufflinks," he mumbled when he noticed the sleeves of his shirt flapping around his wrists. Dimitri groped for the wallet in his pocket, surprised that it was still there.

He glanced out the window and spotted a familiar face. That of Andrei sticking out his tongue at him and waving goodbye.

It was just then that the train started moving again.

"Damn..."

Dimitri ran down the aisle, towards the nearest exit door. By the time he got to it, he could barely make out Andrei's figure in the distance. The train was gathering speed as it left the station.

"If you don't do this right now, it's going to be too late," he told himself.

He'd somehow managed to go his entire life without jumping from a moving train and had been perfectly content with that. Why was he chasing after a teenage thief? A thief who obviously didn't want anything to do with him.

'Because he's yours now,' he answered his own question.

Without a second thought, Dimitri closed his eyes and leapt from the train. He fell hard onto the gravel road that was next to the tracks, feet first. Then he rolled over twice before finally landing on his back with a thud.

He groaned when he got up, wiping the dust off his pants. Pants that were now torn in several places.

He spotted Andrei still standing at the train station, before turning to see the train travelling away from both of them, in the other direction.

His day kept getting better and better.

Andrei gave him a bewildered look, astonished at what had just happened. Only when he saw Dimitri starting to run towards him, did he realize what that implied and he too began to run.

'Great,' Dimitri cringed. He would have to chase after his adopted thief. He ran after the boy, much to the surprise of several curious onlookers.

"Andrei! Stop!" he yelled after him.

Andrei was fast, but, surprisingly, Dimitri was faster.

He caught up to him and grabbed the boy's shirt. "For Christ's sakes, would you stop already?"

Andrei wormed his way out of Dimitri's grip and tried to run off again.

But he was out of energy.

He was completely out of breath and Dimitri tackled him to the ground with ease. For a moment, both of them lay there, exhausted, panting, on the dirt road.

"Why the hell did you run away?"

Andrei's face and hair were covered in dust. "Because I don't want to go with you."

"You couldn't have mentioned that back in Bucharest?"

"Why you want me?" Andrei demanded.

Dimitri frowned. "Why do you keep asking that?"

Andrei's eyes glared at him. "I know…I know some people they take older boys for movies."

"Movies?" Dimitri shook his head, still pinning the boy to the ground. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm not stupid," he announced, frustrated that he wasn't strong enough to wrestle himself from Dimitri's grasp.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Dimitri repeated.

"Sex movies!" he spat out.

Dimitri released his grip, his anger suddenly replaced with shock. He shook his head again and stared into Andrei's eyes. "I didn't adopt you to take advantage of you." He wasn't sure whether the boy understood. "I would never hurt you. I'd never hurt a child...I couldn't." It wasn't hard to sound convincing. It was the truth.

Andrei's glare lost of touch of its hostility but Dimitri still didn't think the boy believed a word of what he said.

One thing was certain, he couldn't keep him pinned down until they reached Vadsel. He had to earn enough of his trust to at least stop him from running away at the next opportunity.

"Look," Dimitri sat up and took his hands off him. "I won't make you go with me," he said softly.

Andrei said nothing, his scowl telling him he wasn't convinced.

"Honestly. You're not a prisoner."

Andrei made no move to run.

"Tell me, where are you going to go, if you don't come with me?"

Andrei said nothing.

"One Swiss watch and a pair of gold cufflinks are only going to get you so far. Until you end up in another orphanage."

He thought he saw Andrei blush.

"I can't promise you that you're going to love your new home. But I can give you more than this…I can give you a chance. A home and a future."

"Why? Why you want me?" he insisted.

Dimitri grimaced in the blinding sun. Whatever he said would have to be simple. Plausible and honest. No great pronouncements of love at first sight. Not that I'd buy that one either, if I were you.

"Why do you keep doubting that I want to adopt you? You were there in that office…why not you? If it was another boy I'd have taken him…but it wasn't. It was you, so just leave it at that and stop questioning it."

Andrei scratched his thick, dark brown hair. He did that often, Dimitri noticed. 'He probably has lice,' Dimitri thought with a frown. Given the conditions at the orphanage, it wouldn't surprise him.

"So you want to give this a try or not?"

Andrei made no move to run away. Perhaps that was his equivalent to a yes.

Dimitri stood up and held out his hand. "Come, let's go back to the train station and get something to eat while we wait for the next train."

"I am hungry," Andrei announced.

Dimitri managed a meagre grin. "Yeah, come to think of it, I am too. Jumping out of trains seems to work up an appetite."

Andrei stayed a full, cautious pace behind him when they started walking back to the train station.

Dimitri wondered when the next train to Hungary would arrive, when something else suddenly occurred to him. 'The papers…' While jumping from the train he hadn't thought to bring along the adoption papers and legal documents that would allow Dimitri to cross the border with him.

He cringed, 'Great…now I have to catch that train again before it crosses the border with my papers in it.'

He fished for his wallet and realized he was about to make a local taxi driver very happy.

Seaview Hospital, Pine Valley, PA

David Hayward observed the chart on the wall.

Melissa Cartwright had a congenital heart defect.

Her parents had likely known since the day she was born that she would one day need a heart transplant. Her childhood would have been punctuated by frequent stays in hospitals, more medication than any young girl should have to take and the constant fear that one day her heart would begin its slow path to deterioration, as it did a few weeks ago.

Melissa Cartwright needed and deserved a physician who wouldn't just treat her condition, but who would inspire her and motivate her to hold on as long she needed to. Until they had a heart to give her. A physician who would give a hundred and ten percent to convince her he would do everything in his power to make sure she won her battle.

'How the hell am I supposed to be that physician?' David asked himself. 'I barely care whether I get up in the morning or not.'

Leo's funeral took place less than a week ago.

Somehow, he'd pulled himself together enough to give the eulogy. Enough to comfort Greenlee and Maggie. And when he left the chapel that day to return to his isolated cabin he realized there was nothing left he had to give.

He was empty.

He didn't care about anything anymore. He didn't care about finding Anna. Or about having his charges dropped. Furthering his career meant nothing.

He didn't particularly care how he looked when he left his home in the morning. Whether his patients recovered quickly, slowly or not at all. He didn't care whether the rumours about him escalated or stopped altogether.

He often forgot to eat, shave and sleep. Sometimes all three within the span of a day.

After Anna, Leo was the only person who had any faith in him. The only person who truly meant something to him. His brother, in flesh and in his heart. If anyone could make things right, it was Leo.

And now he was gone.

With Leo gone, nothing mattered anymore.

"Are you going to stand there all day and stare at her chart, or are you going to go in and see her?" Leticia interrupted his thoughts.

"Leave me alone," he grumbled.

Leticia ignored the outburst. "Gord Mackenzie wants to know why you haven't taken over as her primary physician yet."

"Because my brother died last week and I was off until today."

Leticia put her hand on his arm. "Look, I know. I'm sorry. I'm just letting you know he's on your case."

David nodded. "You tell him I've taken over her case as of today."

Leticia lowered her eyes. "Good. Melissa's a sweetheart. You'll love her. Trust me. She deserves the best doctor we have, and that's you."

David said nothing.

Leticia lowered her eyes. "I really am sorry about your brother."

"I know." Among a staff of over eight hundred, Leticia was the only one of his co-workers who'd come to the funeral. "Tell Gord the senator's daughter's in good hands."

David went to the girl's room without another word. Melissa was awake so he made an effort to contort his lips into a smile. He doubted it actually resembled one. In fact, the forced smile probably made him look constipated instead of happy.

"Hi Melissa." He held out his hand to her. "My name is David. I'm going to be your new doctor."

The girl looked at him with a mixture of disappointment and trepidation. "What about Jennifer?" Dr. Jennifer Gutierrez was her previous physician. Although David thought she was merely competent, he knew she was well liked, especially by the hospital's younger patients.

"Jennifer will still come by and see you sometimes. But I'll be the one who checks on you daily and controls your treatments."

"Are you David Hayward?" she asked him, curiosly.

"Yes, I am. Why?"

"Your brother died last week didn't he?"

"He did, yes."

"You must be really sad then."

David bit his lower lip. "I am sad, yes, but I it's not something I'd like to discuss right now."

"I'm sorry," Melissa apologized and paused. "You're also really good aren't you?"

"What?"

"You're, like, this brilliant surgeon. That's what I heard." She had a small, pale round face with light, blue eyes. She seemed perceptive beyond her twelve years of age, as kids who were sick their whole lives often were.

"I have a reputation in my field but that doesn't matter." Her inquisition was making him uncomfortable and were she not twelve years old he would have ended it right then and there.

"Yeah it does," she came close to cutting him off. She propped herself up on the pillows on her bed and David saw her face strain with exertion at the movement. "Are you going to cure me?" she asked.

"You need a heart transplant, Melissa. You know that. Without a heart there's not much I can do."

Melissa sighed. "What's the point then?"

"Of what?"

"Of you being my doctor? Why can't Jennifer be my doctor?"

David sat down on the side of her bed. "Your parents specifically requested me to be your physician."

"I won't tell them, if you don't."

David managed a smirk. "Sorry, kid. That's not the way it works."

Melissa sank back into her pillows. "But you wish you didn't get stuck with me, right?"

David was taken aback. It was a rather heady accusation coming from a pre-teen. "Melissa, I don't think of myself as being stuck with you. I would have checked up on you no matter what. I'm the head of the department. I consider all patients in Cardiology to be my patients."

The girl turned on her side and yawned, as if no longer interested in the conversation. "If you say so."

"Melissa," David pulled out his stethoscope. "I need to listen to your heartbeat and ask you some questions, okay?"

"Uh huh. But I'm really tired, so if you don't mind, don't take too long."

David nodded. "I'll do my best."

Melissa turned onto her back again locking her eyes with his, without a word. And when she saw the poorly masked indifference in them, she sighed a quiet sigh of profound disappointment.

Kampala, Uganda, Africa

Robert sat across from Sandrine in the dimly lit restaurant.

Restaurant was really too kind a word to describe the space they sat in. The plastic tablecloth on their table had burn holes where previous diners that used them as an ashtray. There were food stains on the wall next to them.

Still, there were advantages to the shabbiness. The restaurant wouldn't be frequented by any government employees, most certainly not by the WSB. It also boasted a diverse enough clientele that a black woman and white man wouldn't stand out. In fact, very little would stand out here.

A waiter, wearing a dirty apron, handed them a menu consisting of two tattered, yellowed pages.

"Thank you," Robert heard Sandrine mutter.

"Are you going to tell me what that was about? That little accusation out in the market?"

"It wasn't an accusation. I asked you a question. One which you still haven't answered."

"You asked me whether I'm playing both sides of the game. You said you can't trust me any more. Sounds like an accusation to me."

"Are you playing both sides?"

Robert had never seen her quite so angry. So hurt. "Why would you ask me that?"

"You're still not answering my question. I guess the fact that you're not denying it says it all."

Her English had gotten so good. Had the topic of conversation been anything else he would have told her so. Instead he tried to avoid her icy glare.

"Tell me why you're asking and I'll give you an answer."

"The WSB thinks you are. They want me to spy on you. To report back to them."

Robert made an effort not to show how much her revelation shocked him.

The WSB suspected him.

Robert always believed he was too good to get caught. This wasn't good news. Not for him and not for Anna and Robin.

"So what do you do? You go ahead and tell me?" He managed a nervous chuckle. "What kind of a lousy spy are you? I taught you better than that."

"Don't joke with me."

"Who's joking? You're jeopardizing your career, aren't you?"

"The WSB doesn't know that I love you. More than my career."

Robert cringed. Sandrine had always been brutally honest with him. Because that's who she was. If she loved him, she told him so. There was no awkwardness. No hesitation. It didn't matter whether or not he'd return the sentiment. She'd given herself to him and asked nothing in return. Nothing except honesty.

And I didn't even give you that.

He didn't deserve her. He knew it.

"Are you finally going to tell me the truth?"

"You're right. I haven't been completely honest with you."

Sandrine eyes darkened. Two jet black orbs of bitter disappointment. "I don't understand, Robert. All this time, you taught me to fight for justice. You showed me how to help my people and now you're telling me it was all a lie? You helped me stop the illegal diamond trade while you were pocketing the profits?"

Robert hated seeing her like this. He hated hurting her.

"I've done some things that I'm not proud of…but you don't know the whole story. You don't know the reasons, Sandrine."

Her anger was mixed with incredulity. "What reasons could you possibly have? You have gambling debts you have to pay off? You need money for what exactly? My father has money. You could have asked!"

"Sandrine," his hand reached across the table to touch her arm. "Give me a chance to explain. Let me tell you the whole story."

Andrassy Estate, Vadsel, Hungary

"Alexandra my dear, do you think you could stop pacing? You're giving me a headache."

Alex eyed the blonde housekeeper, Marina, who'd finally, thankfully, stopped calling her Doctor Marick.

Alex ran a hand through her hair and stopped in her tracks, noticing only then the path she was carving out of the thick, red carpet. "I'm sorry…but I feel like I'm going crazy. It's been three days and not one word from him! The orphanage said he left two days ago…"

"I'm sure your husband is alright. Mr. Marick is a smart man. Whatever situation he's in, I'm certain he'll find his way out."

Alex raised her eyebrows. "Situation?"

The older woman put a hand on her arm. "I meant to say he's fine. I'm sure he is."

"He could be lying in some Romanian hospital, unconscious or injured or heaven knows what!"

The older woman had never seen her like this. Normally Alexandra Marick was cool and seemingly detached, like most English people she knew. But instead of being annoyed, Alexandra's nervousness almost made her smile. Marina had known Dimitri since he was twelve years old and loved him like a son. The fact that cool and collected Alexandra Marick was a mess, meant her love for him ran deep.

"You have done everything you could."

"It's not like him to not call me for three days, especially now. And to leave his cell phone turned off?" Alex had called the orphanage, the authorities at Bucharest-Otopeni International airport. She'd even gone so far as to call her sister and have Anna use her connections with Interpol to launch an inquiry with the Romanian police.

For the first two days Alex had been too busy to give in to her fears, as she did now. First there was the tedious veterinary check up with the horses, and then she'd gone to Budapest, to shop for baby items, and spent the next day decorating Andrei's new room.

But now, all she could think about was Dimitri. What if something's happened to him? It was an unthinkable thought, and she tried to brush it from her mind.

"Laszlo knows Romania well. He frequently does business there. Perhaps there is something he could…" Marina's words were cut off mid-sentence, by the sound of voices entering the estate.

Alex heard the sound of footsteps approaching and then the door opened and Dimitri stood in front of her.

Alex flew into his arms.

"Where the hell have you been?" She cupped his face with her hands, standing on her toes to kiss him, so that his three-day beard scratched her chin.

"I'm sorry, I should have called..."

Alex stared at him in disbelief. "I was worried sick about you and that's all you have to say? 'I should have called'?"

"There are some things that happened in Romania. Things that I wanted to tell you in person."

Marina interrupted before Dimitri had a chance to say more.

"You look exhausted, Mr. Marick. Why don't you have a seat and let me bring you some tea."

Dimitri nodded, "Thank you."

Alex waited until Marina left the room before moving to take a seat next to Dimitri. She was right; he looked as though he hadn't slept in the last three days. His clothes were dirty and torn. It suddenly made Alex regret her anger.

She gently took his hand, clasping it between hers, "Darling…what happened in Romania? Is something wrong with Andrei?"

Alex sensed that he was bracing her for something.

"I don't think the orphanage was very straightforward with us when it came to Andrei."

"What do you mean? Is he... more ill than they let on?"

"No…not that," Dimitri shook his head. "I mean, I don't know. I don't know if his name was even Andrei."

"What are you saying?"

"When I got there they tried to con me into giving them another twenty thousand, in order to correct some mixed up paperwork that would delay the adoption."

"What?" Alex couldn't believe what he was telling her.

"Then they brought out another boy, a teenager. Saying the papers we signed were for him."

"How is that possible? Laszlo did all the legal work, the translating…"

"There was nothing wrong with the papers we thought we signed. It was a con, Alex. One they've obviously used before."

"So what did you do?"

"I …uh…"

Alex held his hand tighter, wondering why he suddenly avoided her gaze. "Darling…what happened?"

"I made a crazy decision. One that I shouldn't have made without…" He was interrupted as room's heavy, wooden door creaked open. Alex thought maybe Marina was back, with some tea. Instead, she saw a boy's dishevelled head peaking in.

"You have finished talking yet?" the boy asked Dimitri.

Alex stared at him.

Upon seeing her, his lips slowly moved into a smirk. "Hi, Mom."