MOSCOW : FOUR MONTHS AGO
Anja came in with a small tray. It had a glass of juice, seven different pills, a mortar and pestle, and a thermometer. Ryan woke when it made a soft ting as she sat it on the marble bedside table. She looked down at him as she sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up the thermometer. He glanced at the door. The guards had left – it was their break when Anja was in there. She hadn't said much to him since the first day they met, and he had no idea what had happened to the note. He believed, though, she had either changed her mind or tricked him.
"Open," Anja said.
Ryan looked at her, she was waiting with the thermometer. He obeyed, taking it. She cleared her throat, reaching into her dress, and pulling out a small box plastic box with a single switch. She flicked the switch and then slipped it into her sleeve.
"We have little time," Anja said. "They will notice bugs not working soon."
Ryan reached for the thermometer, but she pushed his hand down. "No. Leave. Make look good. I send note to Horatio. He know. I say not much, but you trust Anja. I help."
"She's going to know you did that. She's not stupid, unfortunately."
Anja smiled, patting his shoulder. "She hire me to kill you. She stupid."
"If you're not here to kill me, then what are you here for?"
Anja took the thermometer out, glancing at the reading. "Trust Anja. I watch out for you." She looked down at him. "You'll know when to. But no more hurt self." Anja picked up his wrist. It was still wrapped in white gauze, covering ugly stitches and the healing cuts. "Promise Anja."
"I promise."
"Good. No more talk." Anja slipped the box out, flicked the switch and put it in her bra.
About the same time two guards came into the room and started searching it. She went on preparing his orange juice with the crushed pills. She handed it to him and he hesitated. There were sedatives in it. They made him unable to reject Chrissie's advances and he felt like a zombie most of the time.
"Better you drink," Anja said.
Ryan took it and drank it. Hope was forcing him to trust Anja, because she was the last shred of hope he had left in him.