Irina is in Istanbul, tracking down a Rambaldi artifact, when Katya calls to tell her Mama has died. All thoughts of Rambaldi forgotten, Irina clutches the phone tightly, her knuckles turning white, and tells Katya she'll be in Moscow as soon as she can.
The next few days pass in a blur. Irina thinks of Papa, of red mittens in the snow. She thinks of Jack and the look in his eyes as he put a ring on her finger. She thinks of Sydney, unable to sit still long enough for Irina to braid her hair. Kashmir, and a daughter she knew far too briefly. Elena, telling her it was all for the best as she took the baby away.
And now Mama.
Aside from Katya, Irina has lost everyone she's ever loved.
Katya meets her at the airport, her skin too pale against her dark clothes, sunglasses hiding red-rimmed eyes. Irina has not cried yet; she learned to lock away the pain a long time ago. She would never have survived otherwise.
"What happened?" she asks once they are in the car. Katya would not give her any details over the phone, and Irina has spent the trip thinking of all the possible scenarios.
"She was sick," Katya says, looking out the window. "She knew what would happen and she didn't want that."
Irina cannot breathe.
"I found her in the bathtub. She used her favourite knife."
"Someone else could have done—"
Katya shakes her head. "No, Rishka. Mama did this herself. There was no one else."
Irina thinks of Sydney again; she has Mama's eyes, Mama's smile. Irina had always held the secret hope that one day they would meet, but now—
"Does Elena know?" Irina asks.
"I don't know. No one seems to know where she is."
"I'm glad she's not here. She doesn't deserve to be part of this."
Katya reaches for Irina's hand. Not even Mama knew the extent of Elena's betrayal; Katya was the only one Irina told, and only because she had been there in those first weeks after Irina's release.
"There's something else you should know," Katya says.
"What?"
She removes a yellowed note from her pocket and hands it to Irina. "I found this in Mama's things."
Irina unfolds the page; it is an official KGB document authorizing the elimination of Arkady Nikolaevitch Derevko.
She cannot stop the tears that spring to her eyes; the KGB has destroyed everything good about her life. Irina lost her allegiance to the KGB years ago; Katya's allegiance has always been with Irina.
They do not speak for the rest of the car ride. By the time they arrive at Katya's flat, Irina has decided she will take up Alexander Khasinau's offer to join his fledgling organization. Then she will steal it from him, and when the time is right she will kill him the same way that he killed her father.
"Do you trust me?" Irina asks.
"Of course."
Irina explains her plan.