And for sure, the long-awaited paramedic of their group was heading to the car. Even a simple medical outfit could not damage or diminish its attractiveness. No one in the department, no matter how hard he tried, could not remain indifferent to her, frankly, beauty. Well, the girl understood this, and treated this issue with humor.

– Varvara Petrovna, very welcome to you, – Fedorov put it gallantly, – here, get on our crew!

And he carefully opened the door to the lady. She smiled sweetly, habitually banged the soles of her shoes against each other, not wanting to stain the floor, and elegantly climbed into the interior of the minibus.

«Almost like Ellie from The Wizard of the Emerald City,» Gavrilov joked, «only without silver shoes. Otherwise, once, we found ourselves at the Cast Iron Gate.

– And then… If you are, then, my Totoshka, – Varya did not remain in debt.

– I can’t. And I can’t bark and I don’t wag my tail.

Varvara here made a surprised face, thin edges took the position of «house.» It looked so clever that even Meleshko smiled.

– All in place Danilych, let’s go, – ordered the investigator.

And their car, turning on a special signal, quickly rolled along a narrow road. Then, along Fergana Street, they turned to Tashkent, and stood at a traffic light. The driver slapped his hand on the steering wheel of the car in grief, but then, recovering, almost gently stroked the dashboard, as if alive.

«Don’t Danilych, the traffic on Volgogradka is painfully tense,» Meleshko reassured the driver, «we’ll wait a couple of minutes.

And, exactly. As if you listen to the elder, the traffic light switched, and they arrived at a busy track, and were able to get to the long-awaited Cast Iron Gate.

– And what is there, one witness? Gavrilov did not understand.

– How alone… With PPS-nicknames. Called the duty car. So, just in case.

– God helps those who help themselves. And then anything happens, – Alexander Sergeevich noted philosophically,

He did not add the second part of such a well-known proverb, «and the stupid convoy will guard.» So Fedorov lived for more than one year, and understood almost everything, even proverbs.

– Self, – said Meleshko.

– Good people can envelop the apartment out of stupidity, – added Gavrilov, – and the defendants in the case will be added.

«It happened,» the investigator agreed, sighing.

Well, Danilych found a place to park, and put his minibus right in front of the desired entrance.

– Well, let’s go, it seems to have arrived, – the investigator noticed.

And, stood next to the PPS car. Immediately, the driver was walking.

Meleshko loved certainty, and sometimes firmness. And, sometimes it was just necessary to show it.

– Have you arrived long ago? he asked sternly.

– Passer Gushchenko. So with half an hour, as indicated, so immediately here. We got there right away, – the ensign answered in a collected voice, – Everything is strict with us, you know. And ensign Petrov is upstairs, guarding the apartment and the witness.

– Did the woman try to leave the scene? Complained, asked, threatened?

– No.

– Okay… Well, let’s go, otherwise it’s night in the yard, – he turned to his employees.

Meleshko put his hands in the pockets of his jacket and was the first to enter the entrance. Gavrilov helped the criminologist and with special pleasure, of course, paramedic Varenka.

The forensic scientist habitually looked around at the entrance, noticed another camera under the ceiling. Well, the elevator, Meleshko, to be honest, was perceived as a kind of gate that transferred it from one place to another. But, the old elevators in the center of Moscow, with their cells or doors, did not give such a feeling. But new, another thing. They slammed the iron doors once, slammed the second – and you, already here, here.

And here he stood on the threshold of the apartment, as ensign Petrov can be seen, guarding the scene and the very unfortunate Alina Ivanova. It can be seen how her beautiful face darkened from fatigue and worries. Rightfully say, as the criminologist thought, nothing good, only nerves. Fedorov, like a man of the old school, raised his cap, but bowed a little. Gavrilov looked at all this in surprise, and Varvara looked at the woman with curiosity, rather appreciatively and even with rejection.

– Hello again, Vitaly Vladimirovich! I already regret calling you. I’m standing here, it’s good that they didn’t take me to prison, the girl said irritably, stuffing her coat.

– It’s good that they warned. Thank you for your assistance, – he thanked.

– Then, for sure, they could delay. Your prints are probably on the front door handle. And, you say, is Steklov’s car at the entrance?

– Yes, of course. Here is the number, and the brand, «Toyota Carolla.» That’s right.

– Petrov, then you to the car. Then Alexander Sergeevich will come up, look at the machine. And then, order a tow truck, take the car to a special parking lot, – the investigator ordered.

The main thing was now not to miss anything. Actually, in his head there was already a familiar algorithm, such small watches that did not allow him to lose the desired rhythm.

– And with you I then, Alina Petrovna, – he immediately remembered, – I will have to go to Steklov’s apartment. He seems to live in Nizhny Novgorod, in new houses? Did you talk?

– Yes, exactly. Removes. There is a good kopeck piece.

– All right… We will worry the owner now. Yes, sorry, Alexander Sergeevich, you are already starting to inspect. And you, Varvara Petrovna. I will come to you in a minute.

And Meleshko fished his phone out of his pocket. And then a service tablet with clogged databases in it. A convenient thing turned out to be. At the address I found the owner of the apartment, and then, and became the owner of her phone number, already according to the passport. It became much easier to work, more fun.

Thinking, wrote a message, immediately recalled the current situation. That no one answers unfamiliar calls. And, right, there was already a call to him. Well, he readily answered.

– Galina Ivanovna? Police Captain Meleshko. Yes, expect us in your apartment on Nizhny Novgorod. This is due to your tenant Fedor Steklov. Yes, in about an hour or two, an inspection in your presence is necessary. Goodbye, «he said calmly and stopped the conversation.

Alena waited for the investigator to finish the conversation.

«Can I leave now?» she asked impatiently.

– Go to the apartment and tell us how you entered. You’ve been here, haven’t you?

– Yes.

– Your help will just be priceless. Well, for a second more… I will call the district police officer, seal the apartment.

Alena sighed heavily, turned away and began to look at the wall. She has already regretted five times that she came here.

– Well, let’s go, Alyona Petrovna.

«Yes, first I rang the doorbell several times, then,» she said, «I opened it and walked down the corridor.» It was dark, the light wasn’t on. I saw the dead Konstantin… What a horror… And I immediately called you.

– I see…

– Vitaly Borisovich! – Fedorov said loudly, – our junior specialist in the bedroom found the corpse of a girl.

The forensic scientist worked in the living room, and having said that, he returned to business. He put out the light and filmed the murdered man. Varvara stood calmly aside, not interfering.

– Gavrilov?

– Yes, Vitaly Borisovich, examined the apartment, and in the bedroom found killed. It was connected, gunshot wounds to the head.

– Oh Lord… – Alyona whispered, clutching at her heart.

– I understand, it’s hard… But, could you identify the killed? This is very important.

«I’ll try…» she whispered.

Carefully entered the bedroom, and here, right next to the bed, lay a girl. The face, right side, is covered in blood, the bedside mat of white has become half red. A chain hung on his neck, sliding almost dead on his nose. The robe was short, the legs were bare, and tattoos on the hips and ankle were noticeable.

– So it’s Christina, Kristya, – Alyona said quietly, – hair, and tattoos on her legs. Do not confuse with another. She’s this one. Kostya had several acquaintances. All from Dnepropetrovsk. And he himself is from Ukraine.

– Spasibo, Alyona Petrovna. You roll your fingers, on the device at Alexander Sergeevich, and you can go. Just, so to speak, do not disappear from sight.

– And Fedor somewhere? – she asked.

– Unknown. Here, not found. But, thanks for the help, Alyona Petrovna. On Nizhny Novgorod, we ourselves…

And Meleshko almost gallantly led the lady to the exit. Then, recalling something important, he returned.

– Gavrilov… Now runs along the entrance, up and down, maybe that’s why to find. Do not break into apartments, it’s too late, night in the yard.

– All understood, Vitaly Borisovich!

Meleshko frowned, looked at the situation. Nothing really attracted the eye. I walked down the hall.

And Meleshko himself carefully looked at the bedroom, with things thrown to the floor from the closet. I looked around the kitchen, where pristine order reigned, as in the bathroom. He returned to the living room, where Fedorov examined the trophy with professional curiosity. Quite an ordinary pistol.

– Traumatic, Vitaly Borisovich. But, they shot from a very close distance, but not point blank. Traces of gunpowder on the skin are still invisible, I’ll see better in the laboratory. I found four shell casings, two in the living room, two in the bedroom. And the fingerprints on the handle are quite intelligible. So we will find the villain, we will definitely find it, – the forensic scientist confidently said, – he has already removed the prints from the dead. Yes, and in the room everything climbed. Apparently, they were looking for something. The passport of the murdered man, here, lies on the table. The phone is also there, but turned off. Sim card, and memory card were floating separately. There is no wallet, bank cards or keys. No funds have been found yet. A computer or laptop is also stolen. Although the headset is in place. And, found mobile phones, two. Both are off. The dead can be taken away.

– Varvara Petrovna, what do you have?

– The man received lifetime injuries to his face, a broken nose. Both woman and man, killed two days ago. Ossification is pronounced. In appearance, they were killed with one weapon, but, of course, an autopsy is needed.

– Right. Call for transportation, but take the bodies to the judicial morgue. Thanks.

The paramedic calmly set about her business, and Fedorov went to work in the bedroom. Meleshko sat down on the sofa, looking around the chair where the victim was found. Probably stunned at first, then bound. Perhaps, of course, a robbery… The cards, the fact that they took bank cards, is good, and very good, as the investigator decided right away. There will be a great lead. But, this is if a bandit or bandits, finished fools… And, phone, phone. Out of habit, he took out his spare, and downloaded the data from the mobile victim and the memory card. It’s good that no one interfered.

I went into the bedroom, look around the murdered woman. Beautiful, of course, there was nothing in this, and there was only a need. How the criminal acted, you won’t understand this from the photo… And, the absence of traces of gunpowder on the skin of both victims was embarrassing, and there were no burns from touching the barrel either. After all, there was confidence that the villain was shooting almost point blank. And, apparently, the girl fell to the floor suddenly, after the shot. That is, here, probably, the offender acted spontaneously? While it was difficult to understand…

The door of the apartment opened, the breathless Gavrilov returned.

– Nobody opens, Vitaly Borisovich. Everybody’s asleep. Only here, builders, in the apartment above us. They live there, three people. From Central Asia, I took a photo of passports. Heard nothing.

– Right, okay. Sergeich, you and Gavrilov get up, take off their fingers. Better, right now.

– We went, Alexey, for a walk, – Fedorov did not argue.

Here, however, the phone rang again, distracting him from reflection. I thought to answer who says it: «Elephant.» But somehow overpowered himself. With obvious displeasure, Meleshko replied:

– I listen, Captain Meleshko.

– Vitaliy Borisovich, such a thing… Now a senior friend will come to you, he needs the laptop of the murdered man.

The head of the department, Lieutenant Colonel Teplyakov, Ivan Sergeevich called. To be honest, the investigator was surprised by such attention of the authorities to this case. Murder, double, of course, but somehow strange… Yes, even such an interest of the curators in what is happening.

– So there is no him. There was, for sure, no. Not found.

– Look! – the boss began to scream hysterically into the phone, – At least from the day of the sea to find! Who could take? What are you sitting there? Work, dig the earth with your nose!

– The raider was, not otherwise, comrade lieutenant colonel. Everything in the apartment was rummaged, they were looking, and apparently, they still found money. Found two killed, a man and a woman. There are also documents of those killed, they are natives of Dnepropetrovsk. Sushkova Kristina Georgievna and Bondar Konstantin Olegovich. Found weapons, so we work, try. It’s just that everyone has just started,

– Work harder. Well, hello everyone. And Zhulin will come to you, such… You will tell him everything, especially, do not forget about the laptop. Well, work, Captain.

The conversation was over. Although, and on such a minor note. Meleshko hid the phone in his pocket. Here, as if on purpose, two orderlies entered the apartment, with plastic bags in their hands. And after them, Gavrilov and Fedorov returned.

«I did everything, Vitaly Borisovich, I skated my fingers,» the forensic scientist noted.

– In the apartment, I did not notice anything suspicious, – added Gavrilov.

– Great. You, Alexey, go then… It’s up to you, the most important thing. You go to the company that stores video data from cameras in houses. From this, on the Cast Iron Gate, and at home on Nizhny Novgorod, where Fedor Steklov lived. Can you handle it?

– Do not doubt, Vitaly Borisovich!

– I’m waiting for you tomorrow. Do everything there, take your time. That everything would be even.

Gavrilov nodded, but looked around, as if he had lost something, and important. Fedorov adjusted his cap with a smile, and muttered:

– Eh, young people…

Meleshko did not really understand, but gave a sign to go to the orderlies in the room. These people had their own affairs. A paramedic appeared from the bedroom, all wearing his gloves to the very shoulder.

– Okay, I went, Vitaly Borisovich, – said Varvara, – my archangels flew in. Where is Romeo? she asked a little preoccupied.

– Romeo departed on an important assignment, dear Juliet, – answered, smiling Meleshko, – but I, being a good messenger, like Padre Lorenzo, will inform the lieutenant about it. What did you ask about him.

– Main, if only not like Padre Giovanni.

– It looks like mine, Varenka… – shaking his head, Fedorov said sadly, – the role of a messenger, I will take over. Vitaly Borisovich, as the eldest, of course, is our duke. And I, as a connoisseur of medicines and poisons, will stay with your messenger.

– Yeah, – with doubt, through the lip, «Juliet» grumbled.

But, on a sheet of notepad I wrote, folded it four times and gave it to Alexander Sergeyevich in my hand. He, first attached a message to his forehead, famously bowed, and hid the sheet in the inconspicuous pockets of his wide-leg trousers.

Well, the «archangels» leisurely took one body, returned for the second. Meleshko looked at the contours of the victims, circled in chalk on the floor. It resembled old photos from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where only a shadow remained from a person, a mark on the wall, after an atomic explosion. And here, a thick line, chalking on a parquet board and, carpet. A little…

Here, calmly, as to his home, the guest came. Gray such a subject, completely unmemorable appearance. And in a gray coat and gray trousers, besides. However, the varnish boots shone, attracting attention.

– Good evening. Not distracting, right? Captain Meleshko?

– Exactly. What happened?

«I’m from Lieutenant Colonel Teplyakov. He just called you. Arrived for a laptop and mobile killed.

– Violation is investigative actions. You yourself know the procedure for conducting an investigation.

– Enough for you, Captain… Well, write that they did not find. Let’s mobile, why do you need extra problems later? There is no need to aggravate everything.

Meleshko gave the tubes. The gray man checked for SIM cards and memory cards, was not too lazy. And, calmly removed his prey in the portfolio. He worked without taking off, in thin like gloves. You are looking for the frant, the investigator thought. Well, and the guest, alien to any torment and self-digging, left the apartment.

The investigator only looked at how the district police officer trump the Gray man, and he only patted him patronizingly on the shoulder. Asking what and how would it be just stupid. Meleshko only touched his phone with a satisfied smile, which became a copy of the victim’s phone.

– Precinct, we seem to be finished, – said the investigator, – We seal the front doors. So far, that’s it. Alexander Sergeevich, and to us, to the car of Mr. Steklov!

– I see. Or maybe immediately, call the platform, and take it to our parking lot?

– Look what and how. Let’s decide on the spot. But, we’d better check everything.

***

Meleshko looked around Steklov’s car with interest and even approval. Great car, Toyota-Carolla. Just a fairy tale, and there is no demolition. I would also like a similar thing, but the funds did not allow. I just had to watch. Yes, to watch Alexander Sergeevich with a mysterious smile open the interior of the car. The investigator himself, using the database in the service tablet, and the vin of the car, fished out Mr. Steklov’s passport. And then, he became the owner of his mobile number. Again I was pleased with myself. And a little time, and you have a photo and a passport. I reset this data to my own phone. He looked again at the forensic scientist’s fingers.