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Back Violet Save as PDF
Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. VIOLET
  3. VIOLET
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. Contents
  7. Prologue
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. 32
  40. 33
  41. 34
  42. 35
  43. 36
  44. 37
  45. 38
  46. 39
  47. Epilogue
  48. Acknowledgements
  49. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  50. Copyright

My mind starts to race, my limited options whirling round like a Roulette wheel. I have several other cards, but I’m going to come up with the same issues unless I can remember the pins … but, yes. Thank God! I slide all the cards out of the little wallet and find the folded piece of paper at the back. I know it’s stupid to have all the pin codes in the same place as the cards, but I’m very careful with my stuff and I’ve never been mugged yet. I have the list of pin codes with a little symbol beside each one that only means something to me – anyone who did try to work out which was for which card would lose the cards to the machine before they did. I run a finger down the crumpled piece of paper, until I find the one I’m looking for – there’s a tiny stick-drawing of a crab, and I smile at my own ingenuity at this foolproof reference system.

I take out another card and slide it into the machine, then I tap in the pin. My heart does a little leap in the split second before it takes me to the next screen, and then I quickly type in the maximum withdrawal limit and hold my breath while the machine clicks and whirrs and counts my cash. Part of me is surprised that this card is still working – I’d assumed it would have been cancelled long ago.

I leave the market, not wanting to repeat yesterday’s performance.

I need new pickings today. There’s a decent-looking bar on one of the streets off the square. I need something to take my mind off things. Something, or someone. Preferably someone with no links to Sergei or Lev.

A woman in a strappy floral dress is leaning against the wall outside the bar, smoking. She eyes me up and down, then turns away. Not her then. I go inside. I won’t stay long, I tell myself. There’s nothing to worry about. Ivan has sorted everything for me. Carrie is gone, but I am safe. I can relax.

It’s just a couple of drinks to take the edge off.

Messenger

TO: Laura [04:59]

Something’s happened. I need to speak to you. Please pick up!

…

[One missed call 05:00]

…

TO: Laura [05:02]

PLEASE pick up!!!!

…

TO: Carrie [06:32]

Call me now, I’m here! Why are you using Messenger? You said you couldn’t use Messenger because someone was bothering you on there???

…

TO: Carrie [06:40]

I’m here now! Don’t leave me hanging!!

…

[One missed call 06:42]

[One missed call 06:45]

[One missed call 07:05]

[One missed call 07:18]

…

TO: Carrie [07:30]

Carrie – please call me! Or just message … Let me know you’re OK?

…

[One missed call 07:56]

[One missed call 08:31]

…

TO: Laura [09:01]

Check your work email.

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