Chapter 2

"Before I go to New York Horatio, and I will tell you why I need to go in a few minutes, I was wondering if you could possibly make contact with Michael Hayes and find out whether he knows if Anton Kovaleski, given life for the murder of my brother and his family is still alive. When he visited Kovaleski in Attica prison last year he was only expected to live at best another three months?"

Horatio leaning back in his swivel chair hands on his lap twiddled with his fingers for a moment and then asked, "Are you hoping to hear he is dead?"

"Yes Horatio, sounds harsh I know."

"Not in the circumstances Ivan." Horatio got up then and shut the study door and returning to his chair asked,"What's up Ivan? I had understood you were in a good place now. If you're not, you can talk to me anytime."

"I'm almost there Horatio, but I need to do one more thing before I say goodbye to the past. I vowed never to go back to New York, but my mind has recently been telling me I need to lay the ghosts and say a proper goodbye to my brother and his family... my family. And before Suzie and I get married I need to get rid of the guilty feelings still hanging around for the fact I wasn't there for them, but also for being angry with my brother for getting into something he should not have, whatever the hell that was."

"Suzie has done so well Horatio, and she deserves me to be going forward with her in as good a place as she is now. I want to go to my brother's graveside and say goodbye as a loving brother, not the angry brother I was when they were buried. At the same time I would like to tell him his death has been avenged. Vadim Zalesky aka Viktor Abramov is of course dead but the picture would be complete if I could tell him the person who committed the crime on his behalf, has also left this world. Then I could say goodbye to New York for good."

"Am I mad to want to do this Horatio?"

Horatio shaking his head side to side Horatio replied, "No Ivan, not at all. I can tell you from personal experience that speaking your thoughts at the graveside of a loved one can help enormously."

"Okay let's phone Michael now." Then realising he did not have his cell phone handy he stood up saying, "Just a minute Ivan, left phone on the kitchen table." Returning in just a few seconds Horatio immediately phoned Michael.

"Horatio..."

"Michael, sorry to bother you but I have Ivan Vetrov with me this afternoon and he is coming to New York any day now to visit his brothers grave, and would like to know in advance if there is any chance of you knowing whether Anton Kovaleski has died since you saw him in Attica prison last July?"

"Is the poor man still struggling Horatio?"

Horatio avoided answering the question and paused for a moment that told Michael Ivan was too close and then Horatio simply said, "He just wants to say a final goodbye to his brother and family before he and Suzie get married and to tell him, if he can, that his death is totally avenged now."

"Okay Horatio understood. I can tell you that Anton Kovaleski; died two months ago, he lasted a little longer than expected. But this is really odd you phoning today, as I now have some news that will hopefully help him. I was going to phone you early next week." Michael paused for a moment and then said, "Horatio excuse me a minute"...when Michael returned he asked, "When is he coming here and has he booked anywhere to stay yet? If not, I have nothing much on next week so perhaps he would care to stay with us for the time he needs to be here, just checked with Maeve and she is comfortable with this. I could pick him up from JFK and when he is ready to go to the cemetery I would be happy to run him there, and obviously leave him alone until he is ready to leave."

Not waiting for a response Michael continued, "And, I could also talk to him about what has been happened this end since Jordan King kept his promise and kept on digging and digging; there have been some developments, but if he is coming here I may as well tell him first hand. I would have told you first had he not been coming here. But I promise to let you know soon Horatio."

Turning to Ivan Horatio asked, "Have you booked in anywhere yet in New York?"

"No I was going to do organise it this weekend."

"In that case Michael is offering you the chance to stay with him and his wife Maeve."

"I can't do that Horatio; he did enough for me last year."

"He wouldn't have asked if he didn't mean it and I think he would like to talk to you about something anyway, but for now he is confirming that Anton Kovaleski is dead."

Horatio smiled at Ivan softly noticing the look of relief that passed across his face.

Then Ivan said, "Okay Horatio I accept Michael's offer and please thank him and his wife for their generosity."

"Michael..."

"It's okay Horatio I heard, give Ivan my number and tell him to call me when he has the date and time of arrival."

"Will do, and thank you Michael." Then closing the call Horatio told Ivan what Michael wanted him to do, and passed on his cell phone number.

Then Horatio asked. "What else do you want to talk about Ivan?"

"Madison."

Horatio raising his eyebrows responded, "No problem I hope."

"I'm asking for your approval to adopt her before I submit the necessary paperwork. I wish Suzie, Madison and I to be a family unit by name Horatio, and I have a great affection for her as Suzie's daughter, she is a great kid. We have talked about it and she told me about the conversation she had with you in New York on your vacation last July, and apparently she gave you a bit of a hard time, but Olivia Patterson also told her a few home truths which she recognised. Olivia told her to give me a chance."

"Olivia did, I didn't hear them speak about that subject."

"Apparently she spoke to Madison firmly just as you had left to get in the cab the day you all visited her back then."

"Anyway, Madison has come round to the idea now that she would like me to go ahead and adopt her. Although this is what I and Suzie wanted, I promise you we haven't pressurised her. After talking it all through thoroughly together this is her decision Horatio. I assure you that I will love her as if she were my own daughter, and would never deliberately hurt her."

Horatio smiled, he was happy and said, "Of course you have my approval, and I know you would never hurt Madison. I would never have let her anywhere near you if I had any doubts. This is excellent news Ivan, and Ivan thank you for the courtesy of asking."

Ivan sighed with relief. "Thank you Horatio, this means a lot to me."

"Madison loves you so much and biologically she is of course your bloodline, and no one will let her forget that, but better if as a family we have the same surname. Makes it easier all round."

"I agree Ivan; this is what I hoped she would agree to. I have absolutely no problem with it."

"One more question if I may Horatio? "

Horatio responded with a nod of his head.

"Suzie and Madison love Olivia Patterson and I was wondering if it might be possible to get her to Miami for the wedding as a surprise for them, she could stay with us, and I will pay her air fare. You have met her, is she fit enough for flying?"

"What a nice idea, she is a delightful lady, and anytime we go to New York we will fit in a visit. She seemed pretty lively when I met her, but I have no idea whether she is fit for traveling by air. She is in her early seventies but I didn't see any sign of physical problems."

"Ivan, if you can fit it in why don't you go and visit her while you are in New York she would like that, she loves to receive visitors, and she knows about you; she has no family still alive and I am sure she gets lonely at times. But telephone her when you get there and introduce yourself before you visit. We have tried to instil in her she shouldn't open her door to strangers. She did that a bit too easy when Colin Johnson first made contact with her, and he worried about her and gave her a gentle talking to about it."

"Can I have her address and telephone number then Horatio, I could get it from Suzie or Madison of course but they will want to know why."

Horatio obliged and as he finished telling Ivan what to key into his cell phone, he stood up and opened the study door just as Aileen appeared and asked, "Would you both like another coffee?"

"That would be nice," Ivan answered, "But I don't want to overstay my welcome."

"Don't be an idiot Ivan," said Horatio," You may as well stay here until you get that call from Suzie, and besides you're part of the family now, you're always welcome."

Ten minutes later as they were sipping coffees in the lounge, Tommy who was sitting next to Ivan on the sofa, and just a little in awe of him as he was a big man, but in one of his typical inquisitive moods asked, "Were you born in Russia Ivan?"

TBC