“I don’t want my TV back,” Yuri said. “And I’m sorry I broke yours. I was out of my mind.”

“So what else is new?”

“You don’t understand,” Yuri said, trying to sound contrite as well as sincere. “That lab downstairs is important to me.”

“As if I couldn’t guess with the amount of time you spend down there.”

“It’s my ticket out of this mess,” Yuri said. “I mean our ticket.”

Connie turned the sound down on the television and pushed herself up on one elbow. “What are you saying to me?”

“I’m trying to get back into microbiology,” Yuri explained. “I need to practice and to prove I know what I’m doing. Then maybe I can get a decent job. I don’t want to drive a cab the rest of my life.”

“What kind of job are you talking about?”

“Anything in microbiology,” Yuri said. “Those men who were here tonight have been helping me, but they’re worried. It’s against the law to have a lab like that in a private house, and if I get into trouble, they’ll get into trouble.”

“I thought you had to go back to school if you wanted to work with bacteria.”

“Not if I can do something that proves I’m qualified,” Yuri said. “And if I do, and I get a good job, then we can start a new life. You know, go out like we used to do.”

“Yeah sure, when hell freezes over.”

“It’ll happen,” Yuri promised. “But for now, you want some pizza?”

“Okay, why not,” Connie said. “Pepperoni and anchovy. And have them bring over a pint of butter pecan ice cream.”

“Right,” Yuri said. He forced a smile and then closed the door. One thing was certain: nothing seemed to spoil that woman’s appetite. But he wasn’t complaining about the addition of the ice cream. As far as he was concerned, he thought it would be a better medium for the botulinum toxin, especially since he’d be sure she’d eat the whole tub.

Yuri used the wall phone in the kitchen to call the local pizza place. He ordered for Connie, then, for himself, he ordered a regular pizza with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Just before he hung up he added a small tossed salad and a coffee to the order. He realized it might be a long night.