How It All Goes Down
Moscow, Same Day
- As it happens, Leo had been in charge of monitoring Brodsky, but the man escaped while Leo was dealing with Fyodor.
- Leo is in the midst of tearing apart Brodsky's apartment for clues. Though Brodsky is "a respected vet," his recent work with foreign officials has placed him under State scrutiny (2.5.5).
- After finding nothing, Leo interviews Brodsky's neighbors. One family claims to have never liked Brodsky, anyway—likely out of fear of being lumped in with him. Zina Morosovna is a different story, however.
- Zina and Brodsky were very close. Though she doesn't know anything specific, Brodsky had once told her about an old war buddy who lives in "the village of Kimov" (1.5.35).
- Meanwhile, Vasili Nikitin—Leo's lieutenant—has found a clue of his own: a partially burnt letter implying that Brodsky is heading to Kiev.
- Leo dismisses the letter, believing it to be a red herring placed by Brodsky. Although he knows it puts him at risk, Leo's going with his gut on this one.