Keeping Thyme (Thyme Trilogy) (14 page)

I have a slight feeling of guilt creep
ing its way up from the pit of my empty heart.

“This is happy moment.” Luka grins
. “I’m very happy for you, cousin.” He grips onto Tench’s shoulders.

I weave my arm through Tench’s and we all make our way
inside.

The theatre is breathtaking. We sit in the huge centre
d private balcony that stretches up three tiers. Heavy blue velvet curtains drape along the top of the balcony. Tench points to the front seats. I scoop up the full skirt to my dress and squeeze past the rows of chairs until I’m at the front. I look around the space and stare at the absolute beauty of the whole theatre. Gold shines from the intricate features across the front of each five tiers circling around the length of the space. The entire room sparkles. Every little detail looks like I’ve stepped back in time where the Tsars still ruled the country.

I delicately take a seat and Tench sits next to me.
Our hands lock into one another’s, and he wiggles the engagement ring between his fingers. I catch his eye and we both grin. I have to enjoy this moment for what it is. It’s not like I’ll get marriage proposals in the future, so I might as well enjoy this one while it lasts.

Luka sits on the other side
of me and hands me a program, written in English.

I have to continuously remind myself that these guys are bad guys, because it is really easy to accept them outside of what they do.

Except for Dima. I could happily see him get put away. He’s a prick on every level. I always feel him watching me. I can feel him now. I turn my head slightly and see him sitting two rows back from me, smoking a heavy cigar like a fat-cat crime boss. I smile but he doesn’t. His hawk eyes remain fixed on me. It gives me the creeps. I look down at the program and try to shake the feeling of that monster behind me.

Swan Lake

The Kirov Ballet Company

St Petersburg, Russia

Odette/Princess:
Tatiana Pavlenko

Siegfried:
Victor Oblakov

Von Rothbart
: Alexei Bulgakov

Odile:
Mila Karpakova

I smile at all the distinctly Russian names of all the dancers. Now this is the real
Swan Lake
as it should be performed, in Russia with Russian dancers. Warning chimes sound to tell people to get to their seats, and soon the lights dim and the clarinet plays its beautifully eerie opening piece.

An hour into the ballet and I can’t take my eyes off the ballerina playing Odette. She’s stunning and her movements are very familiar. I look at the program again to read
the dancer’s name. Tatiana Pavlenko. I don’t recognize her name, but I feel like I know her.

The curtain draws on at the end of Act I, and the lights go up across the sparkling theatre.

“This is almost surreal, Joe. I still can’t believe I’m here in Russia, watching
Swan Lake
… with a huge rock on my finger, and engaged to you.” I can’t help but smile.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying the ballet
,” he says as he kisses the back of my hand.

“The prima ballerina is stunning, but I feel like I know her dancing from somewhere.”

Luka leans over to join in the conversation, “Tatiana Pavlenko. She’s something, isn’t she?” he gushes.

I chuckle at Luka. Everyone always wants a piece of the prima.

“Joe tells me you used to be a ballerina.”

Tench talks about me like that to them? I look to Tench
, and catch him smiling.

“Yes. I was a long time ago. I was a kid.”

“Did you go to an Australian ballet school?”

I nod
. “Yes. Why?”

“Then that’s how you may know Tatiana. She spent some time at a school in Australia. Maybe you were at the same school?”

“Maybe.” I smile, but highly doubt it. I never had the privilege of dancing with a Russian. “Do you know Tatiana?”

Luka looks down at his program to hide the slight look of embarrassment
. “We are friends. She is ex-wife to one of my cousins. They were very young when they married. I think it was arranged.”

I realise the
reason for Luka’s embarrassed look. She must be out of bounds, despite his obvious feelings towards her.

“I’d love to meet her, maybe?” I smile.

I wonder if I do know her and just forgot her name after all these years, though I just don’t remember ever dancing with a Russian girl.

By the end
of the last act, I am almost certain I know the dancer playing Odette. I know those movements. Every dancer has a slight variation to their extensions that makes them unique to the trained eye. She dances so beautifully and I’m eager to meet her close up and see if I do recogniser her.

My most anticipated part of the show begins. The music no longer reminds me of Tench in the ballet room, taking a piece of me. The music now gives me hope that this will all be over soon. I feel Tench’s
strong fingers slide across my thigh to find my hand. He gives it a light squeeze.
You can’t hurt me any more, Joe Tench,
I say to myself as I catch the whites of his eyes in the darkness. I wish I could enjoy this moment better, but with big fat hawk eyes behind me, it’s making enjoyment difficult. Plus, I’m too interested in finding out who the dancer is.

The drama builds to the end of the scene. The orchestra blasts out its final bursts of
Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece. The hairs stand on the back of my neck; this music has meant so much to me for a long time now.

After tonight, I never want to see this ballet again. I need to move soon on Tench. The lights fade on the performers and the entire theatre erupts in rambunctious applause. It was the best version I have ever seen. I can’t help but want to stand up and call out “bravo” as I clap. I glance next to me and see Tench is applauding with the same vigour as I am.

This ballet was once one of the pieces that made me want to dance. Now, this ballet is my link to Tench—I want it out of my life.

We wait in
our private balcony for another hour. The conversation flows amongst Tench and his other guests that I have paid no attention to until now. They all congratulate me one by one in their broken English and tell me I need to make an honest man of Joe Tench. Little do they know what I have planned for him.

Dima continues to keep his distance from me the whole time. I notice Luka is missing from the balcony.

I make my way over to the edge and peer down again. The richness of the building is just so spectacular. Someone clears his or her throat at the balcony entrance.

“We are honoured to be graced by the beautiful Tatiana Pavlenko tonight. She wanted to p
ersonally wish congratulations to the happy couple herself.” Luka beams.

The balcony applauds the prima ballerina as she enters the area. I can’t see her properly yet. She still has her beautiful swan headpiece on. My heart races at meeting such a talent. Then I see her through the small crowd of people around her. Her green eyes catch mine and light up like saucers. My mouth drops at the same time as hers does. I look nervously at Tench next to me, but conjure up a smile when he stops his conversation for a moment.

Luka guides the ballerina over to me. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The prima ballerina for the Kirov ballet is none other than Kira Pemberton.

“Tatiana, please meet Miranda. The future Mrs Tench,” Luka announces.

“Miranda,” she repeats. “I remember Miranda. You were one of the best dancers I’ve ever seen.”

I grin like an idiot. Kira’s eyes quickly scan across to Tench then back to me for a moment. I’m bursting with adrenaline inside and I can no longer contain it. As if the years have never passed, Kira reads my body’s reaction and we both launch into each other’s arms. I grip tight onto her and giggle like the schoolgirls we once were. I feel tears welling in my eyes. The room falls silent and the attention is turned on Kira and I.

“So, you do know each other.” Luka claps with joy.

I turn to Tench to quickly explain myself. “Tatiana and I were great friends in ballet school together. Until you ran away to Russia.”

The girl who I once knew as Kira takes a moment before she speaks in perfect Russian. I watch her and scan across to Tench. His expression instantly turns to delight and he reaches out and embraces Tatiana. I watch her mannerisms. She is
Tatiana
.

“I’m sure you girls have a lot to catch up on. Why don’t you join us at the Belmond Grand, Tatiana?” Tench offers.

I look to Tatiana and plead that she sees me screaming
yes
inside.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“So what’s with
the name change? Why are you still Miranda? Wasn’t that your stripper name?” Tatiana asks the moment we’re alone at the hotel’s bar.

“I could ask you the same thing … Tatiana. Or should I call
your
stripper name, Tia?” I loudly whisper.

Tatiana looks around. All the men have left us alone to talk in the corner while they talk
business
at the other end of the room.

“Okay, I’ll go first, but you have to tell me everything. Including how you’ve gotten tied up with these guys.” She frowns with concern. “When I first moved here I was sold to the highest bidder and married instantly. They offered to give me a new identity to help be accepted as a dancer here. They told me I could have a new life in Russia. When my marriage ended, my career took off. Now, I’m a prima in
Swan Lake
… and sitting with my old best friend, Mia, who now goes by the name Miranda.”

“What? Wait, you were sold? By who? Who’s they?”

She frowns and looks confused. “These guys,” she says slowly and tilts her head in the direction of Tench and the others.

Why I’m surprised, I’ll never know.

“So what’s your story? Why do they call you Miranda?”

I take a deep breath. “This is going to be a long one.” I take a sip of my champagne. “After you left for Russia, I went back to Sydney to become a high-class escort.”

“You!” Her eyes widen. “You were a … prostitute? But you were a virgin? And sweet?”

“Until I started swinging around a pole. Thanks to a certain someone.” I watch her sink in her
armchair a little, “Anyway. Tench was one of my top clients, until he wanted more. So he bought me.”

Tatiana rolls her eyes. “Go figure.”

“The problem is that Tench shot someone in front of me. And murdered my best friend, so now I’m working under cover for an off-branch of the Australian government to find out what he’s up to here and take him down forever.”

Tatiana stares at me for a moment. Have I just put more information on her than she was ready for? She puts her champagne flute down on the small low table between us and bursts into a fit of laughter. She holds her stomach and hunches over as she
falls into hysterics. I look over at Tench and the others on the far end of the room. He grins and shakes his head. I smile back and make it look like I told a really funny joke by laughing too.

“What’s so funny?” I spit under my breath.

“You. Mia Thyme. The shy, never-do-any-wrong girl, is now a kickass undercover agent who’s taking down one of Australia … and Russia’s most notorious criminals?” She continues to laugh.

“A lot happened after you left.” Steam rises as I become increasingly angrier about just blurting all our top-secret information to her, only to be laughed at.

Eventually Tatiana stops giggling and she takes a sip of her champagne. “So. You don’t know what Joe Tench and the other guys do from Russia to Australia?”

I shake my head. I’m assuming drugs; I couldn’t think what else.

“Come on, Mia. Isn’t it obvious? Look at the situation we’re both in. These guys sell
girls
.”

The news hits me in the gut harder than a hit from a baseball bat. How did I not work this out sooner? It
is
obvious. Now I need details. Why would he murder my friend over this?

“You need to tell me everything you know. But not now. You’re coming with me tomorrow. My brother is here, working with me on this.”

Her eyes light up and she grins. “Simon? Your brother Simon is here working with you? How is Simon nowadays?” She coos.

I shake my head. “Uh-uh, Kira Pemberton. He’s here with another colleague from the agency. They are fond of each other, and you will stay out of it.”

She giggles. “Nothing like a bit of healthy competition to spark things up then?”

I can’t help but laugh at my old friend
. “You haven’t changed one bit … well, except for the brilliant ballet skills, fluent Russian and having a new name. But apart from that, you’re still my old best friend.”