Standing in Teaneck – curled red and yellow autumn leaves around his feet – Leo waited as Nara charmed answers from store owners, working the main street with guile and grace that confirmed she would have made an excellent agent. Leo wondered what career she would eventually take. He imagined she would make an inspirational teacher, much like his wife. Quite unexpectedly, he felt a desire to cry, pained to think of her future knowing that he would have no part in it.

Nara emerged from a grocery store, walking up to Leo. He composed himself, asking:

—Any luck?

—Yates still lives here. His wife died a few years ago.

—Did they give you an address?

She hesitated.

—Leo, I want to say this one more time, don’t be angry with me. There would be no shame in letting this rest.

—Nara, a day hasn’t passed when I haven’t thought about what happened to Raisa. For me, there’s been no rest and there can be none, not until I find out the truth. I’m tired, Nara, I’ve been thinking about this for so long. I want what you suggest: I want to rest. I want to sleep without waking up in a cold sweat, thinking about what happened. I must end this.

—What are you going to do when you come face to face with him?

—I don’t know what he’s going to say so I can’t predict what I’m going to do.

Nara’s concerns grew. Leo smiled, taking her hand.

—You’re behaving as though I was crossing a moral line from which there’s no turning back. You must remember that this used to be routine for me. I’ve arrested many innocent men and women. I hunted people down for the State, good people, knocking on doors without knowing anything about the suspect except that their name was on a list.

—Would you still do that?

—No. But I am going to hunt down the person responsible for killing my wife.

Leo paused, wondering if Nara would want no further part in this.

—Did they give you an address?

She looked up at the sky.

—They gave me an address.

***