me find and fund a lawyer then that would be a huge help, and I’d pay you back every penny once I got on my feet.”
He starts to laugh.
“What’s funny?”
“Mob lawyer you say?”
“Yes, that’s what the rumors are.”
“I think I know someone who can help with that,” he says mysteriously.
I glance at him and smile.
“Let me make a call,” he says.
He takes out his phone and dials, while I look out at the river and the beauty that is Paris, and I wish I could feel how beautiful it is instead of simply observing it coldly.
“Hey, K. How are things?” Bohdan says to whoever is on the other end. “Got a solid to ask. Can you find me a lawyer who would be willing to go up against the husband of the woman I’m watching at the moment? It’s complicated, but this guy is no good. No.” He frowns and nods as if the man on the other end can see him. Then he carries on his side of the conversation. “Yes, she’s here with me now. I know you said no more mob stuff, so I have to warn you this lawyer is allegedly working for them here in Paris.”
There’s a long pause, and I can faintly hear the gruff voice of the man on the other end of the phone, but I can’t make out easily what he’s saying. I only pick up the odd word.
“Yeah, that would work,” Bohdan says. “I owe you one; thank you.”
“Okay.” Bohdan pockets his phone. “My friend K is one scary motherfucker, and he has a lawyer friend who might help out with this. He is based in the UK but does work all over Europe, and he’s a total shark. He’s gonna send me his number, so we can call him tonight.”
“Thank you.” I go to him and give him an impromptu and brief squeeze. “I really appreciate it, and as soon as I’ve managed to get myself out of this mess with Jasper, I will pay you every penny back.”
“I don’t want it back, Dasha,” he says. “I only want to know you are okay.”
“I insist. I’ll only talk to this guy if you promise me you’ll take the money back.”
“In that case, I promise.”
We walk, close but not touching, and I wish I could hold his hand. I can’t, though. Anyone might see us here. Instead, I get as close to him as I can and lean into him smelling his scent. Today he’s got the ocean scent that I love, and I ought to ask him what it is so I can get some and splash it on me to remind me of him when this is all over, because it will be over one day. He won’t wait forever, and I’m too damaged and messed up to start anything right now.
Hating the sad thoughts, I push them away and turn to Bohdan. “Have you seen the Eiffel Tower?”
He shakes his head.
“Want to?”
He nods at me, and so I veer off to the right and indicate for him to follow me as I head in that direction. “It’s not that great, I don’t think. It’s so famous, and to me it’s just this metal tower, but the fountains and sculpture near it are gorgeous. I suppose it is one of those things you should definitely see while in Paris.”
I take him to Le Trocadero et son esplanade, which is about the best place to view the Eiffel Tower. It’s even better at night, but today, with the sun high in the blue sky it’s a good second. “We can go up it if you want?” I say to Bohdan as he looks at it with a smile on his face.
He turns to me, his eyes as blue as the sky in this light, and shakes his head. “Don’t let my secret out, but I don’t like heights.”
He doesn’t? I don’t remember him mentioning that as a kid.
“Erm, you used to live in a high apartment,” I say.
“Yeah, but I never went out on the balcony much. I’m fine with heights indoors, or on a plane, but I don’t like them outdoors. That looks far too much like an outdoors height situation to me.”
I laugh at his words. “Yes, it is an outdoors height situation.”
Then I remember something. We were once in the woods, and all the other boys were climbing this big old gnarly tree, but Bohdan didn’t. I guess he has always hated heights then.