Chapter 10. Everything ingenious is simple. A trap

             Chapter 10. Everything ingenious is simple. A trap for a scoundrel.
   
     Two days have passed. But I still didn't dare to call Lena and take her bag. Afraid that she would send me away.This time it's final. Remembering the hatred she looked at me with when we parted.
    I was meeting girls on the beach every day now. We became friends and had fun and carefree time. Mood  Masha changed dramatically, she was no longer offended by me. She became animated and chirped merrily, being, as they say, in a good mood.   Telling us different interesting stories. She turned out to be very fond of history and gave us such historical facts and descriptions of various historical events that Tatiana and I listened to her, as they say, with our mouths agape. We joked a lot, laughed and teased each other, and sometimes played cards with passion. I bought a new deck of cards and always took it with me to the beach. I asked them about Lena, how she was doing there. Has she recovered or is still ill. To which Tatiana replied that she had called her, but Lena said that she suddenly had some problems and she might be leaving soon. She apologized and said that unfortunately she could not meet with us. So we went to a restaurant and went dancing.
- But I promised. Tanya said resentfully. Apparently she changed her mind. She promised us a drink, and then changed her mind.
And I warned you then that she wanted something from us. She needed us for some reason. And you didn't believe me. Why would she take us to a restaurant if she didn't know us at all? Most likely, the issue was resolved in some other way and we just turned out to be unnecessary for her. She's a hypocrite. I knew it right away. He looks at you like he's smiling, but his eyes are cold, studying. It's like an X-ray is shining through you. It's kind of fake. Listening to her, I immediately remembered how I called Lena a hypocrite and how she threw an ashtray at me.
"She looks like My Lady." I laughed. "Just as arrogant and treacherous.
That's right, that's right. You've got that right. All she needs is a cardinal and poison.- said Tanyusha. - She would have poisoned Masha easily then.
Why is it me and not you," Masha asked her.
- Well, that's what I have to do with it. She thought you were Vlad's girlfriend.- After her words, we all laughed merrily. - And she's a chatterbox. He likes to brag.- Tatiana said. When we were at her place, and you were smoking on the balcony, you boasted about how many breeches she had and what luxurious fur coats she had.- Her husband is rich, you see. And why do we need her husband? That's right, then Vlad said, and even began to brag that he didn't have enough money, he was giving bribes to someone there. Drunk, she was telling us this nonsense without knowing why. And you're right, Masha, she doesn't love her husband and lives with him for money. Student. We have seen such students.She said resentfully. Well, as for the fact that she needed us for some reason, all this nonsense. She needs us badly with her money. What to take from us. And after a short silence, she continued. Except that she might be interested in Vlad. And he fell for you Masha and stayed at the broken trough. You miscalculated, Vlad. Now he wouldn't be playing cards with us all covered in sand, but would be sitting with her somewhere in an expensive restaurant. And he would have lived in a luxury hotel, not in some wooden house. Ha ha ha. She laughed. It's all your fault, Masha. I took Vlad away from her. She laughed even harder, pleased with her joke.
- You're the one who said that, - Masha flushed. You're talking nonsense. And her face turned noticeably red from Tatiana's words.
- Why is this nonsense. You're the one...
- Shut up. Masha did not let her finish. You'd better look at yourself, you wouldn't mind... . But without finishing, which she would not mind, she bit her tongue and fell silent.
- Girls, stop fighting over nothing. I am your teacher today and I call you to order. And if you don't calm down. I'll call your parents to school. Actually, it seems to me, girls, that she's just jealous of you and that's why she bragged so out of annoyance. - Well, you said it. Tanyusha looked at me in surprise. Which she can envy us. This rich woman. We can't afford decent shoes. You need to save up for six months. That's what he said.
And I think she would gladly give all her breeches and fur coats to be as free and young as you are. You just don't know how to appreciate yourself.
- And I would love to trade with her. Let him give me his fur coats. Tatiana laughed . And then we all burst out laughing with her.   
"How do you know her?" Masha suddenly asked me. Not expecting such a question, I did not know what to answer her. But then I gathered my thoughts. He said, "Yes." quite by accident.I was sunbathing here and we met by chance. She asked me to look after her things while she went swimming. And then we just started talking and already met just as acquaintances. Well, about the same way I met you by chance. In general, somehow it turned out that way.
- Stop talking about her, Masha. She's going to start hiccupping there now. What difference does it make to you where Vlad met her? Why do you care so much? The whole investigation  here I spread it out from scratch. You got it. You need to get to the bottom of everything. Tell me, Vlad, what subject are you a teacher in? What are you going to teach me?" she asked me, smiling slyly.I'm, well, I'm in all subjects. And now you will be silent and write.
- And what should I write? Dictation or essay. Dictation. I said, and suddenly, after her words, a simple but brilliant idea suddenly came to my mind. It solved everything. I fell silent and apparently even changed my face a lot. Because I noticed how the girls stared at me in disbelief.
- What's the matter with you? Tanya asked. I could have kissed her.
- You're such a smart girl, Tanya. You have no idea how smart you are. You gave me a brilliant idea. Let me kiss you, Tanya. And approaching her, he kissed her
"I don't understand anything," Tanya told me.- What idea?
"Brilliant," I repeated, delighted.
- And what kind of idea is that. I looked at me absently, absorbed in my thoughts, and then said.
- Yes, it is so for work.You are not interested in this. And in high spirits, inspired by the idea that arose, he began to joke merrily with the girls. It was time for lunch and I took the girls to the dining room where they ate on coupons for set meals and went to my place for lunch. Having previously agreed to meet with them after lunch. After lunch, I called Lena at the hotel to arrange when I could go to her and bring my bag. But the phone was not answering. And I decided to call her later, went to the beach. The girlfriends were already there and waiting for me.
- Well, that's lazy. We've learned our lessons. Today I am your teacher and I will teach classes with you.
- And in what subject. Tanya asked me. - I thought about it and said.- Well, in any subjects. At your choice.
"How interesting," Tanya said. But I missed one important topic on housing. On the basics of safe living. The issue of a safe relationship between a man and a woman was raised there. Well, it's about contraception and stuff. You can teach a lesson on this topic. I wasn't expecting such a trick from her and I didn't know what to answer. - Well, such a question was hesitating.- But Masha helped me out.
- Stop it, Tanya, you have nothing else to do. You're talking nonsense. Actually already... If you're interested, take a textbook and read it. And you're talking so loudly that the neighbors are already paying attention to us.
- Well, let them listen to it, they are also interested in knowing. Tanya said defiantly. And then I felt that she smelled of wine. Well, egoza, when she has already managed it.
- Well, let's say that the neighbors are not interested in this at all, Tanyusha.
- Why is that. She asked in surprise.
- And look around you, there are only grown-up people and they have known all this for a long time, unlike you.- I told her with a mocking smile
She laughed. - And jokingly pushed me.- You got out of it, well done. I thought you'd say that. She was smiling, but her gaze was serious, which clearly showed desire, enhanced by wine....
- Well, girls, let's take a swim and I'll go I have things to do.
- You're leaving us. We'll be bored without you. Tanya said.- Stay with us a little longer. We will obey you and study well.
- No, I'd like to stay with you, and I don't want to leave you, but I really have to go. Tomorrow I will be waiting for you early in the morning and we will spend the whole day and even the night together, if you want.I told them jokingly.
- We will, - said Tatiana. - Especially at night. - I agree. I don't know about Masha.She's such a prude.
- Calm down, you're always picking on me.
"I didn't understand what I was doing to you," drunken Tanyusha asked her.
- Girls calm down. And promise not to quarrel, or I'll put ABC in the corner. Understood.
After saying goodbye to the girls, I hurried home and nova called Lena. This time she was on the spot and picked up the phone and I heard her rather cheerful voice.
"I'm listening," she said. She doesn't seem very sad, I thought.
Hello Lena.I told her.
"And this is you," she said to me in a displeased tone. What do you want? I think I've already told you everything. What else do you need?
Bag. I have your bag.Your things are there.
- Oh, yes. My swimsuit and bathrobe are there.She paused for a moment, then said.- Leave it at the Reception.
- What, I asked her again.
Are you deaf? I'm talking about the "Reception". At the reception. I got it.Understood me. I'll come down later and pick her up.
 - You don't understand, I'm not in a hotel. Tell me when to bring it, tell me the time.
She paused , then said. Okay, in about an hour.
- Yes, I wanted to tell you something else. We definitely need to talk to you. It's very important.
I don't have time to talk to you, and I don't need to. I'm leaving in a few days.
- Lena, listen to this very seriously, believe me. What I'm going to tell you decides everything.This is very important to you. You won't have to go anywhere. It's up to you to decide for yourself whether you leave or not. I can't tell you this on the phone.Understand that these are not empty words. I'll just tell you everything and leave. I'm not going to impose on you. Then you can do everything yourself without me. I'm sorry to you. It just happened. And I really want to help you.What I'm going to tell you will solve everything. This scoundrel will be lying at your feet.
"Are you serious about this, or do you just want to," she broke off, not finishing.
- Believe me, Lena, this is very serious and it will save you.
She was silent, apparently considering my words.
- Well, come back.- She said. But the tone of her voice had changed. It was felt that she was interested in what I had told her. "Come," she repeated, after a short pause.
    An hour later I was at the hotel. She immediately opened the door for me when I knocked on her door without even asking who it was. She was waiting, I thought, and looking forward to it. She was clearly interested in my words. 
- Well, what else have you come up with? I decided. She said mockingly.
- You are Lenochka, as I see it in your role. It gives you pleasure to mock and humiliate people. She didn't answer me, waiting for me to tell her. But I came to save you, or rather, consider that I have already saved you. She continued to be silent, staring at me intently, and because of how she tensed, and how her expression changed, it was clear that she was looking forward to information from me about what I was up to. And in her gaze there was a hidden hope, a cornered woman clutching at straws. Her mocking words, it was just empty bravado in front of me. After a short silence, I told her.- Voice recorder.
- what? "What is it?" she asked. - I don't understand you.
"A dictaphone," I repeated to her. You need to get a voice recorder urgently.  It's not difficult, they are freely sold in stores.
- And what, - Lena asked me in surprise and somewhat disappointed.- Why?
- Don't you understand? You should record your conversation with him. To challenge him to be frank. You remember that previous conversation you had. How much he, in his arrogance and arrogance, carelessly and stupidly blabbed to you here. In violation of official instructions and the secrecy of the investigation. And his disgusting immoral behavior, sexual blackmail, malicious criticism of the leadership, which they will not forgive him, and much more. Yes, if this information had reached his superiors, he would be screwed. Not only would he not have received his star, but he would have been kicked out of work with a bang for discrediting and immoral behavior that disgraces a law enforcement officer. If you show him this recording later. Which can be cleaned up, to remove the details concerning you. He will be in your hands. He's not going to molest you, but he won't even dare touch you. His entire future career, his merits and seniority — everything will be covered with a copper basin, as they say. You have to prepare yourself, figure out the questions that you will ask him, so that he pours more nastiness on his leadership, openly expresses his intentions towards you. And he repeated the story of how he and his colleague hung an article on an innocent person. Because he bribed him. And this, as you know, is already a criminal case. There's so much here that he can't get out of it and nothing will save him. He will crawl on his knees in front of you so that you give him this recording. And then you can safely give it to him along with the dictaphone in addition for persuasiveness, having made him promise that he will leave you alone. And he'll forget the way to you. But first we'll make a copy of it and you'll keep it, just in case. But understand that it must be stored in a very safe place, and it is better to destroy it later when everything is over. Besides, you can't find a better ally. He will do you any service you require of him. And he will bypass you by the tenth way. But in his heart, he will still respect you. For the fact that you outplayed him, such an experienced operative, so elegantly and competently. Having got into an almost hopeless situation. Moreover, what is most interesting, using the same method as he used in relation to you. And it's called simply. Blackmail. It will be a great trap for this scoundrel, into which he will fall without expecting it. Because of his self-confidence, rudeness and stupid bragging. Not at all expecting to fall into a trap set for him by this defenseless woman who fell into his hands, as he presumptuously believes. Yes, by and large, he would not even think of such a thing.
    Discouraged, Lena sat and looked at me in silence. Apparently still not believing in his salvation, and in his near victory over this scoundrel. Well, we'll come back to this conversation later. And now I have to go. I'll stop by the store on the way to see what's suitable there. I'll teach you how to use it and we'll figure out a conversation scenario. And we'll have to treat him to something stronger. To loosen his tongue. And if he starts bothering me, what should I do? Look, she showed bruising marks on her hands. Yesterday he barged in drunk and grabbed me, I barely escaped and jumped out into the corridor. It was good that there were people there and when he saw them he left. Well, if you want, I can back you up and sit in the bedroom, like that time during your conversation. With this evidence against him, we won't have to hide anymore.  And if I come out of there and get him out, he'll leave when he sees me.
- Wait, Vlad. Let me come to my senses. I can't even believe all this. You found such a simple and ingenious way out of all this. Thank you. You are so, so... Her voice trembled. I'm sorry...