“No, I wouldn’t say that fits the description of a friend. Did he make you unhappy?”

“Of course not. Are you a fool? He was wonderful. He…filled me with melody.” Her face was suddenly luminous. “And he taught me to listen for the music and then how to let it flow out of me. Much better than any friend.”

“I can see that.” His gaze was narrowed on her face. “How long did he teach you?”

“Maria started to take me to his house in the village when I was three. My last lesson was after I came back from Moscow after the competition. They’d delivered the piano they’d given me as a prize, and he came to tune it. He told me I had to be worthy of such a fine instrument or he would no longer be proud of me. He went away the next day. Maria told me he’d left the village.” She added quietly, “But I thought it might happen someday, and I was ready. I knew that I just had to keep doing everything that Maxim had taught me, and the music would still be there for me.”

Mallory cleared his throat. “Very good thinking. And you still had your mother.”

She nodded. “Maria was always there.” She suddenly frowned. “But you took me away from my piano. If it’s as fine an instrument as Maxim said, it might be too expensive for me to replace. Though that doesn’t really matter, it’s still part of me.” So much a part, she thought. She’d started and ended every day at that piano. Just the thought of being without it was throwing her into a panic. “You said Tanner is brilliant. Do you think that he can find a way to get me my piano?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised, or one that’s comparable. But that’s not important. First, we have to get you settled.”

“It is important. If he can’t get it for me, I’ll have to find a way to do it myself. And I’ll get myself settled after I make sure Maria is safe. Just getting me free is probably all that Kaskov wanted from you.”

“That wasn’t the deal,” Mallory said. “And Tanner always keeps his word. I’m afraid he’ll insist that we keep to the original arrangement.”

She shook her head. “No. What difference does it make to you if I want to be on my own? Just because I’ve lived in a small town in Russia all my life doesn’t mean I can’t take care of myself. I’ve had to go places and do things that would surprise you. I won’t be stupid enough to get killed and mess up Tanner’s deal.”

“I’m very aware you can take care of yourself,” he said gently. “Kaskov didn’t let us go into this blind. But why not accept a little help?”

“I’m safer on my own.” Then when Mallory didn’t speak, she said stiltedly, “Look, Volkov is going to be coming after me as soon as he figures out that I’m on the run. What if Kaskov changes his mind and makes a deal with him to turn me over to him? Or what if Tanner decides to make a deal with Volkov? I’ll be better off if I don’t depend on anyone but myself. You can tell that to Tanner.”