Alice, come here, Petrov needs you.»
Alice sighed deeply. She had only worked at the hospital for three months, but she had already experienced the true character of the department head. It seemed he had taken a disliking to her from the very first moment they met.
Alice always strove to perform her duties conscientiously. Even though she was just a cleaning nurse, everything during her shifts was always kept in impeccable condition.
Gradually, it became clear to her that the head’s dislike had only one reason—her past. They hadn’t even wanted to hire her because of her criminal record. Yes, such a discreditable episode existed in the biography of a young, fairly attractive woman who wasn’t even forty yet.
For a long time she couldn’t find a job. She was even about to take a janitor’s position when a vacancy for a hospital cleaner appeared. They were always in short supply.
Extra shifts could be taken. The work, of course, wasn’t the most sanitary, but at least it was warm. It was then, at the time of hiring, that Petrov told her directly, «I can’t stand people like you. And remember— you will always be given the dirtiest and hardest work.»
Alice said nothing. She desperately needed the money, and she had no desire to waste time explaining how she ended up behind bars.
She exhaled and headed toward the manager’s office. But a nurse, calling out to her, shouted, «No, Alice, he’s in the registration room!»
The woman fully understood that most likely another drunkard had been brought in—someone no one wanted to deal with—and now she would have to wash and change the new patient.
She sighed again. At first, she was literally repulsed every time such patients were brought in. Then, gradually, she got used to it—but what awaited her today surpassed all previous cases.
As soon as Alice opened the door to the registration room, a stench hit her nostrils so foul that nausea immediately crept up her throat. Petrov came toward her, pinching his nose with a handkerchief.
«Ah, Sokolova, we need to urgently wash the new arrival. He urgently needs his wound cleaned and stitched up, but it’s impossible to get close to him.»
“Just what I needed, a vagrant with a wound in his side,” Alice thought, but the head, as if reading her mind, sharply added, «Sokolova! No questions or objections! And don’t you dare run out into the street immediately! This is your duty!»
«Aren’t there any other cleaners left?» Alice dared to ask.
The head gave her such a look that she immediately shrank back. When no one was left in the registration room except the patient, she approached him. He wasn’t an old man—unclean, stinking, but not feeble. Alice took a deep breath and began stripping his clothes off. The man groaned and squirmed, but did not open his eyes.
After half an hour, she finally managed to get him in order. During all that time, no one had entered the registration room. She gathered the dirty clothes in a bag, and the room immediately felt easier to breathe in. The man opened his eyes and mumbled something.
Alice froze. No, this simply couldn’t be. She stepped closer, scrutinizing the face of the vagrant. Either some incredible coincidences were happening in the world, or… or this homeless man was the very person for whom she had spent three years behind bars. She shook the vagrant by the shoulder:
«Hey, hey, Grigory Olegovich!»
The man mumbled incoherently again. At that moment, Petrov entered.
«So, Sokolova, have you found a companion in yourself?» he said mockingly. «But here’s the trouble— when he was brought in, they immediately said he wasn’t one of ours. You may go now.»
The vagrant was taken away, and Alice was left standing with the bag of dirty laundry. A whirlwind of emotions raged within her. Something here was not right.
«Perhaps it was just a look-alike, and not my former boss—the one who fled, pinning all the blame for the missing money on me,» she thought. After all, a man who stole millions from his uncle couldn’t possibly look so pathetic. Back then, everyone assumed that Alice was in a romantic relationship with Grigory and was covering for him. No matter how many arguments she presented for her innocence, they believed her even less.
They demanded money from her—money she had never taken. The one who tried hardest was the wife of the company owner, Margarita. She, along with the head of security, sent Alice to jail without even allowing her a chance to speak with the owner himself. And Grigory then disappeared without a trace. Later, there were rumors that he had been seen at some resort, but those rumors were spread by the same Margarita.
After her release, Alice diligently avoided the once-prestigious company where she had worked. She didn’t want to disturb old emotional wounds or run into any former acquaintances. Yet now, she felt an irresistible urge to go there and find out whether Grigory had finally reappeared or not. After her shift, Alice first headed home, but then suddenly turned around and strode toward the company building.
She stopped opposite the building and watched as employees hustled back and forth.
«Alice, is that you?»
The woman flinched and turned around. Standing before her was her former colleague—once, they had even worked in the same office.
Alice smiled bitterly, «What, have you changed a lot?»
Irina—the woman’s name—was initially embarrassed, then replied, «We all have, Alice. We’ve all changed.»
«By the way, I’m no longer on the payroll here either.»
«Really? And why? You were held in good esteem.»
Irina sighed, «You, too, once held a respectable position. I’m sorry… Listen, how about we have a coffee and chat?»
Alice initially wanted to refuse, but then nodded, «Let’s go.»
She was desperate to understand exactly whom they had brought to the hospital—Grigory or merely a look-alike homeless man. They settled in a nearby café, and Irina began her story:
«After everything happened, our owner completely lost it. They said he loved Grigory as his own son, raised him from infancy, and couldn’t bear such betrayal. In short, he gradually withdrew from affairs, and his wife began to run everything. Everyone in the office knew she was having an affair with the head of security, but no one dared say a word.
«If something wasn’t as she desired, the person was immediately fired. They reduced our salaries, imposed a bunch of fines. In short, whoever wasn’t fired left on their own. You know, many believe the owner isn’t even aware of what’s going on in his company. He simply became indifferent. They say he moved to a country estate and never appears in the city.»
«And is he living there alone?» Alice inquired.
«I don’t know. Probably not alone. There’s security and all that.»
«Listen, Ira, has Grigory not shown up yet?»
«Can you believe it? No! They say the owner offered huge sums for any information, but there’s not a trace of him anywhere.»
«This is all rather strange.»
«Exactly, everyone thinks so.»
Irina lowered her voice and leaned toward Alice’s ear, «You know, many believe that Margarita, along with her lover, simply killed him. And you got caught up in their plan. Unlucky you.»
«To kill someone for money?» Alice doubted.
Irina shrugged, «Well, it wasn’t a small amount of money. Besides, if Margarita knew her husband well, she might have understood that he would now become indifferent. But here things are unfolding differently… How about you? How long has it been since you got out?»
«Six months ago.»
Thousands of thoughts swirled in Alice’s mind. Finally, she asked, «Do you know where Viktor Semyonovich’s country estate is located?»
«I do. I once ordered a specialist to go there.» Irina pulled out a notebook and wrote down the address. «I don’t know what you’ve planned, but if Margarita suffers even a little, I’m all for it. All of us are now out of work because of her. She’s issued such ‘wolf tickets’ to everyone that now it’s impossible to get a decent job.»
Alice didn’t even feel tired, although she had been on her feet for nearly an entire day. She had no desire to sleep; exhaustion was not even registering. She walked along, surveying the houses, until she found the one she needed—a tall fence with a doorbell. A chill ran down her spine. What if she was mistaken? And if she wasn’t, she’d never forgive herself. With resolve, Alice pressed the doorbell. The gate swung open immediately, revealing a sturdy young man standing before her.
«Who do you need?» he asked.
«I need to speak with Viktor Semyonovich.»
«He isn’t seeing anyone.»
«I know. Tell him it concerns Grisha—his nephew.»
Alice fully understood that she had now embarked on a dangerous path, but there was no turning back.
The security guard grumbled, «Wait here.»
After about five minutes, the door swung open, and the same man nodded, «Come in.»
Alice walked through the well-maintained grounds. The guard pointed somewhere behind the house. There, in an armchair, sat a man. Alice could barely recognize him— in three and a half years he had aged about twenty years.
«Who are you?» Viktor Semyonovich asked, staring at her intently.
«I am the one who served time in prison for someone else’s money. For your money, which I never took.»
«So, it’s true that you were in cahoots with Grishka? And why have you come now? Do you want to tell me where he is? You think I’ll pay you?»
«No, it’s not like that. Please, listen to me.»
Viktor Semyonovich did not interrupt, though it seemed to Alice that he wasn’t really listening at all—he was simply staring off into some distant point. When she finished, he raised his head and asked, «Why do you think I would be interested in that?»
Alice shrugged. «Perhaps I still hope that one day I can clear my name, although now, most likely, no one cares. I can leave.»
«And is there anyone holding you back?» he said coldly.
Alice headed for the exit. It was then that she felt exhaustion overwhelm her. She had taken several steps when a creaking voice reached her, «Which hospital do you work at?»
She turned around, «At the First City Hospital.»
«Go,» the master of the house curtly ordered.
Alice changed her clothes. Two days off passed unnoticed, and today it was her shift again. She arrived early. There was no one in the service area—it seemed the rounds were ending. Alice looked out the window and froze. Petrov, their department head, was dashing about the grounds.
It was evident he was in a highly agitated state. Unable to stand it, Alice opened the window—it was far too unusual to see him like that.
«What? I’m asking you, what’s going on?» he shouted into the telephone. «Some completely unknown individuals in my department! We agreed that no one would interfere with my work!»
The person on the other end replied something, «So what if the professor? What’s it to me?» Petrov continued to protest, but then his face slackened. He listened intently to what was being said.
Alice realized that this was probably a conversation between their head and the chief physician.
«Are you serious?.. It can’t be…» was all Petrov could manage, after which he hurried off, not letting go of the phone.
Alice stepped into the corridor. What was happening here? Her feet carried her to the ward where a man resembling Grigory was supposed to be. Nurses were crowding there.
«What is so interesting happening here?» Alice inquired.
One of them widened her eyes, «Something like this is happening here! Our local rich man has found his nephew here! The one they once tried to kill, but only severely injured. And he forgot everything—he couldn’t even speak. And yesterday, a famous specialist operated on him right here in our hospital. And now he’s here! They say the nephew has come to and immediately started saying something.»
«And on top of that, they’ve uncovered so many violations that they’re about to tear Petrov’s head off. With the professor, almost the entire Ministry of Health showed up.»
Alice smiled, «And I was just wondering, why is he so nervous?»
The women laughed, «He’s not really upset yet. Yesterday you should have seen him scrambling, and today… today he’s in complete disarray.»
A furious Petrov burst out of the ward, «Don’t you have any work? Get everything back in place quickly!»
The staff reluctantly began to disperse. Alice also left.
«Alice!»
She turned around. Next to Petrov stood Viktor Semyonovich. He looked much better—as if new life had been breathed into him.
«Alice, could you spare me a few minutes?»
It seemed that in a moment, Petrov would get his comeuppance. He gasped for air, and then dashed down the corridor as if a pack of wolves were chasing him.
Viktor Semyonovich was silent for a while, then turned to her, «Alice, I must apologize. I understand that no words can erase what you have endured, but believe me, everyone involved in this will face a far harsher punishment than what you have received.»
«And if that can console you even a little, you will undoubtedly be reinstated in your position, with a promotion and back pay for all the time you couldn’t work. And one more thing… thank you. You not only saved Grisha, but also me. I just didn’t want to live, didn’t want to see anyone, because Grigory had always been the person closest to me. Even though he is already forty-one, to me he is still a child.»
Alice knew she should be rejoicing, yet tears burned in her eyes—whether of joy or of old resentment, she couldn’t tell. Viktor Semyonovich spoke about restoring her good name and how the trial against his wife would be sensational, but she could barely catch his words. One thought pulsed in her mind: «It’s all over.»
But in reality, it was only just beginning. After all, the rumors about Grigory hadn’t arisen out of thin air—he truly liked Alice, although at the time the admiring glances never went any further. Now, having learned who his savior was, he simply could not contain his feelings after being discharged.
And a year later, the happily married couple Grigory and Alice delighted Viktor Semyonovich with the news of the imminent arrival of an heir.
