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The man looked about forty. Expensive suit, gold pin tie. With a jerk he loosened the knot of his tie, wincing in pain. An intelligent face with a neat beard, thin nose and dark, hypnotic eyes could hardly be called pleasant now. He moved his lips nervously as he uttered an endless inner monologue. However, it was so. From the very minute he learned about the murder, he could not calm down. And it was necessary to calm down in order to make a decision. Very important. So important that his future life depends on him.

It was life, not career and prosperity, because now he realized that he realized for him what life is. And now, when he is three steps away from the desired goal ...

"You bastard," he whispered, more painfully than angrily, not knowing who the accusation was addressing. Probably to everyone who dared to stand between him and his dream. "I won't let anyone," he whispered again, and desperately shook his head, shaking grimly. I will not let it ...

It is easy to say when everyone, the whole world is against ... He suddenly felt so sorry for himself, for his efforts, for his torments that he did not cry bitter childish tears.

- No no no. We need to pull ourselves together. There is an exit. You need to calm down, and then the decision will certainly come.

He grabbed a pencil and began to roll the sgo on the table, but the movements became more and more nervous, sharp. They did not bring comfort. Finally, he broke his pencil and threw it on the carpet.

Friends gave him the carpet for his 35th birthday. Handmade, silk. Worth crazy money. A thought pierced him again, bringing a sharp thought: what if we really part with all this? With the usual comfort that costs a lot of money, with the confidence bestowed with considerable power.

"I don't allow anyone," he croaked, gasping for breath, while his inner voice whispered mockingly: "These are all emotions, but we need to find a solution. "Take it and get drunk until you feel insensible," he thought cowardly. - What? They say the morning is wiser than the evening. "

He got up, crossed the office, opened the bar door, poured a large glass of cognac and even took a sip. But I didn't feel the taste. Confusion, they were afraid of everything, even taste.

"This is unbearable," he decided, slipping back into tearful self-pity. Gently put down the glass, although he felt the urge to throw it against the wall, and walked around the office with his hands folded behind his back, proudly erect and his chin raised. I can handle it, - he repeated monotonously, typing a step. - I can handle. I will find a way out.

He continued to pace around the office, but the thoughts in his head were: either he saw himself in the last battle, then he again began to complain about how cruelly fate had treated him. He didn't think it was his fault. He has long and happily forgotten about his guilt. Didn't he pay for her with years of fear and humiliation? Sometimes he thought, remembering Miya: "She is good." Yes, yes, just like that, as if he, out of the kindness of his soul, saved her from torment.

And how much did he go through? This damn old man, these sneaky investigators, they all wanted only one thing: to destroy him, so talented, born for happiness, wealth, power ... He gradually calmed down, returned to the table, stretching out his hands, examining his nervously trembling fingers. The cuffs of his white shirt looked stale, and he pulled the sleeve of his jacket over it in annoyance. Today he did not even have time to take a bath and change. For this, he also blamed this world, where everything, everything, everything is against him.

"There is a way out," he said with desperation. - You can contact the head of security. Thay is a determined guy and hardly burdens himself with morality. For decent money, he will certainly agree to solve my problem.

But then everything in my soul opposed this. Thay will have to explain everything somehow. So what? Instead of one type, he is the best for his throat, he will get another. And again the sticky sweat at the thought that one fine day ... Thay is not good, he decided. - Nobody, nobody should know about it. I must myself ... "His shoulders twitched, in a chill, he had no idea what and how he would" do it himself, "but he already knew that no one would ask for a favor.

"Or maybe the old man was lying? a saving thought appeared. - What could he have? He just saw something himself (of course, he saw, on that visit he described what was happening in such a way that it left no doubt). While he was alive, that is, as long as the witness was alive, he certainly represented a threat, but now he is gone. Therefore, there is no threat either. "

The man shook his head bitterly. He remembered that visit in great detail, as if it had been yesterday. He was then surprised to learn that the old man decided to visit him. He was slightly surprised, but did not even bother with thoughts about why the old man needed to come here. "I'll meet you and explain." So he thought then, not suspecting what a surprise fate was preparing for him. What a terrible surprise. After all, he really managed to forget and only at night, in nightmares, did he see Mia. Waking up in a cold sweat, he hastily chased away thoughts of her.

The old man then with a smile extended his hand to him, settled himself in an armchair, the owner of the office began a small talk, but the guest suddenly interrupted him. Dryly and efficiently he stated his demands. Then he got up and, while he was in prostration from what he had just heard, walked to the door, turned around and said seriously:

- And here's another thing, young man, if you suddenly decide to get rid of me ... my testimony, the signature not certified by a notary, is in the bank's cell. So ... I do not advise, in a word.

Then he, like now, could not come to his senses for a long time. And then ... then I made a decision. And he paid regularly for several years.

They even became friends. Quite a strange friendship, given the circumstances. Probably, they were brought together by a common secret, as well as what is commonly called the kinship of souls. In essence, they are scoundrels. When you know this about yourself, it is very unpleasant, but when your double is around, it brings comforting thoughts to your head that we are all not perfect and everything is under God ...

One evening, when they were comforting the ukamin, he decided to start a conversation with the old man. He tried to give his voice, and his words a certain irony, so that at any moment they turn them into a joke. But the old man answered quite seriously:

"You have nothing to worry about. I took care of everything. If I die, by my own death, of course, the papers will be destroyed.

Now he became serious too, the feigned irony instantly disappeared.

- I believe you. And, to be honest, I am even grateful to you, no matter how strange it sounds. But there are also accidents. Nobody is insured ...

The old man laughed, at first softly and sarcastically, then loudly, the rumble of his laughter shook the living room. The laughter ended as suddenly as it began. The old man leaned forward and, looking into his eyes, said:

- I am a very careful person. It is in your best interest to make sure that no accidental incident happens to me.

- After the conversation, he even thought about protecting the old man for a while, but then dismissed this thought as delusional. The old man lived a recluse, and the likelihood of an accident seemed negligible. And such an excessive concern for the safety of the old man, some would suspect, would not fail to arouse a keen interest in his show programs. "Or maybe there was no evidence? again he returned to the saving thought. - The old man just powdered my brains. Or. perhaps there were, but then he destroyed them, realizing that I was ready to pay in the future. " He even thought, "We were friends, after all." - and he himself laughed at the absurdity of such a statement. It looks like he has nothing left. After the papers are in the bank, they will soon be handed over to law enforcement agencies. And then ...

"The lawyer should be taken care of," he said very slowly.