Anya's sigh was soft, and pained. Taras arrived just in time to hear it.
She turned away from Lasha and Liadov. Taras thought she looked angry, or like she was going to cry, or both. Women were like that. He did not try to stop her.
Taras watched Anya walk away for a moment, but then realized that someone else was nearby. After a moment, he placed him.
"You," he said, looking at Lieutenant Rakitin.
Rakitin looked at him. There was an odd clarity in the pathologist's eyes, a focus that had not been there before. Rakitin did not so much shrink, as bend, in his presence.
Taras leaned forward.
"I think your comrade has his hands on my comrade. You need to do something about that."
He fixed Rakitin with another hard look, then he turned back.
Lasha and Liadov stood close to each other. Even in conflict, even now, there was a familiarity between them that seemed unthinking and easy, the way they touched, like comrades.
no subject
She turned away from Lasha and Liadov. Taras thought she looked angry, or like she was going to cry, or both. Women were like that. He did not try to stop her.
Taras watched Anya walk away for a moment, but then realized that someone else was nearby. After a moment, he placed him.
"You," he said, looking at Lieutenant Rakitin.
Rakitin looked at him. There was an odd clarity in the pathologist's eyes, a focus that had not been there before. Rakitin did not so much shrink, as bend, in his presence.
Taras leaned forward.
"I think your comrade has his hands on my comrade. You need to do something about that."
He fixed Rakitin with another hard look, then he turned back.
Lasha and Liadov stood close to each other. Even in conflict, even now, there was a familiarity between them that seemed unthinking and easy, the way they touched, like comrades.
Taras' hard brow furrowed.
"Lasha," he murmured, half a question.