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Kneeling on the thick carpet in front of the boxes, she found the one marked FILES, MISC 1970–1980, and opened the flaps

This was going to be her starting place Nina ative research, but Meredith knehere to look in the house If there was one letter about Moht be others Or maybe there were other docuraphs thrown in with other memorabilia

She found the filethe letter from Professor Adamovich, she walked over to the computer and sat down The only link that came up directed her to the University of Alaska Web site

She picked up the phone and called It took several attempts, but finally she was routed to the Russian Studies Department and a woman with a heavy accent answered “May I help you?”

“I hope so,” Meredith said “I’ to find Professor Vasily Adamovich ”

“Oh, my,” the wo tio He has had several most worthy successors, however, and I would be most happy to connect you to someone else ”

“I really need Dr Adamovich I have some questions about one of his research studies ”

“Oh, well, I guess I cannot help you, then ”

“How can I get in touch with the professor directly?”

“I’m afraid I do not have an answer for you on that ”

“Thank you,” Meredith said, disappointed She hung up the phone and went to the studyFroarden On this war, the bench was empty, but as Meredith stood there, Mo blanket, its plaid tail dragging in the grass behind her In the garden, she touched each of the copper colu

Frole, Meredith could see the way Mom’s chin was tucked into her body, the way her shoulders were rounded Whatever strength it took for her ht and tall around her children, she had none of it out there It looked like she was talking to herself or to the flowers orto Dad Had she always sat out there alone, talking, or was that new; yet another by-product of a lost love?

“She out there again?” Nina asked, co a big terry-cloth robe and a pair of sheepskin slippers

“Of course ” Meredith reached down for the letter and handed it to Nina “I called the university The professor is retired, and the woman I spoke to didn’t know much else ”

Nina read the letter “So, we know for sure that Morad, and the fairy tale takes place there and at least so to ask the obvious question: Is she Vera?”