The investigator, being even an employee of such an important institution, tried to be as polite as possible with the lady who applied to their department, because she, first of all, was referred to them by the foreign intelligence service, and secondly, was the wife of the professor – the unspoken genius of the secret project "DUBLFEIS".

– Good afternoon, Veniamin Moiseyevich. I would like to know what became with that citizen who was arrested in the case of blackmailing me?

The investigator, after a few seconds of silent looking around at the visitor, said:

– M didn't arrest him. If that's what you're referring to again. I apologize, as a matter of procedure, he was questioned and sent....

– And you're telling me he's out there now? – n she cut him off abruptly.

– We had no reason to detain him, – without expressing the mimicry and tone of change, replied the inspector for special cases of the investigative committee.

In response, she stared at him with fiercely bulging eyes and began to scan the investigator with her gaze ; wrinkles appeared on her face, giving it an indignant, even more furious expression. This stage of silent communication lasted for about five seconds .

– We sent him for psychiatric examination, – apparently, not waiting for a burst of emotions, calmly, as before, answered the officer of the law, after which their dialog again passed to the stage of silence.

It is not known for what reason the late professor's wife kept silent, but the silence of the investigator was apparently related to what he said next.

– Unfortunately, he got away.

Now the woman still e opened her mouth. The inspector continued in his serene manner:

–And since he never showed himself or contacted you again, we had no reason to look for him. It's still the duty of the Internal Affairs Department.

Seeing the boundary of the visitor's outburst of emotion, he hastened to clarify the situation:

– And sorry, but… – he hesitated, anticipating the imminent end of her silence, – I understand you understand, but… – now he took a note of silence, – agree, we can't arrest everyone who is talking nonsense, excuse me, who was pointed out by a citizen. And I'm sure the police department won't be looking for every crazy person either.

Suddenly she spoke out calmly, albeit in a slightly elevated tone:

– But he came and told me everything my husband knew. All my secrets. That…" she stopped talking, looked away, and finished quieter: – There was no way he could have known that.

The next thing she said in a whisper:

– Could you set me up with a so-called crazy person?

– No," the investigator replied dryly. – What's your point?

She stared at him intently, studying him . The investigator involuntarily became embarrassed and looked away.

– See, I feel like I'm him… like he's not him.

– How's that?

– It felt strange, like I'd met him somewhere before.

Now Moiseyevich studied her facial expression with a slightly amazed expression, as evidenced by the slightly bulging and slightly slanted eyes.

– I'd like to be examined. I'd like to get an expert opinion.

– Why do you need an expert opinion? There was a doctor's report. First of all, your husband worked in a secret research institute called ZASLON, and there's no right to take classified materials out of there. No one would have left you the chip. It was removed. That's right. This lunatic didn't have one. And the fact that he made up some nonsense, I'm sorry.

– What nonsense? He even told our intimate secrets.

– I don't know," said the investigator, – maybe your husband drunkenly blabbed something to him from .

After saying the visitor became agitated, the mask of indignation again appeared on her face:

– You know, I'm very unhappy with your attitude.

– Excuse me, – the investigator said in his serene manner, – what can I say, it's an assumption: there came an unknown type, started to say something to you, you somehow think he's blackmailing you. What was he blackmailing you with?

– He allegedly conveyed to me the husband's request, which he said was for insurance purposes. Allegedly he had contacted him just before his mysterious disappearance.

– Sorry, a mysterious disappearance to you. For us, it's all very clear.

– Okay? Why is that? My husband wasn't an agent- conspirator.

– Oh yes … apparently you didn't know him well.

– I would ask you.

– I'm sorry, I'm sorry, but, uh.