A Blind Eye: Book 1 in the Adam Kaminski Mystery Series (12 page)

S
ylvia’s workspace
was even smaller than that of her boss, Malak. Standing in the middle of the room, Adam kept his arms close by his side to avoid knocking into the file cabinets that stood to his left or the simple desk that was directly in front of him.

“Adam, it’s good to see you.” Sylvia smiled as Adam ducked into the office, leaning forward to move out of the way as he shut the door behind himself. “I wasn’t expecting you so soon. Do you not have visits planned with the group this morning?”

As she spoke, she tucked the book she had been reading into her shoulder bag.

“Yeah, I do.” He smiled back at her, truly happy to see her again. “I’m going to meet up with them in a few minutes. I just wanted to stop by and see if you’d had any luck with that favor I asked you.”

“Ah, that.” Sylvia frowned. “Adam, it’s only been a few hours. I haven’t even thought about it yet. I did tell you that it’s unlikely I’ll be able to help you. You understand that, right?”

“Of course, of course.” Adam nodded as he looked around the tiny office.

Snapshots and newspaper cuttings were pinned to the wall, just like in the office next door. And just like those, these, too, featured Tomek Malak in various poses of success. Except that in these, Sylvia also appeared, sometimes standing next to Malak, sometimes in the background.

He turned back to Sylvia and smiled. “Then, while I wait for your answer on that, maybe you can help me in a simpler way this morning?”

“Perhaps.” Sylvia stood and walked out from behind her desk.

Suddenly the office seemed even smaller than it did before as Sylvia perched on the rickety desk immediately in front of Adam. Her knees rubbed against his legs and he knew he only had to lift his arm slightly to run his hands through her loose hair.

As if reading his thoughts, she put a hand up to push her hair back behind her ear and smiled up at him. “What can I do for you?”

“Right.” Adam brought his attention back to the matter at hand. “I was hoping to meet again with
Pan
Malak, Minister Kapral and Minister Novosad. They were so helpful yesterday, I thought they might have some insight to share on this problem I’m trying to solve. And I’d also like to speak with Laurienty Szopinski.” At Sylvia’s look of confusion, he added, “There’s something about him and his relationship with Kapral. You mentioned it yourself. I just want to dig a little bit there and see what I find.”

“I still don’t understand what you hope to accomplish.” Sylvia shook her head. “You are digging, as you say, into a problem that doesn’t exist.”

Adam shut his eyes and nodded, taking a deep breath. “If you don’t want to be involved, I understand. I won’t push you.”

Adam turned to put his hand on the doorknob, then paused. Waiting. Hoping Sylvia would change her mind.

She did.

Sylvia stood and walked back around her desk, her hand brushing against Adam’s arm. He tried to step back to give her space, but there was nowhere else for him to go. She didn’t seem to mind the closeness.

“Just give me a moment.” She leaned over the desk, her hair falling down around her face as she grabbed the phone.

Adam recognized the now familiar scent of lavender and took a deep breath, losing himself for just a moment. With a shake of his head, he frowned and turned his back to her. He wouldn’t get very far in this investigation if he could be distracted so easily.

After a few short conversations in Polish, Sylvia stood. “I have made some arrangements.” She smiled, adding, “And I will be able to join you for the last meeting, so I can help in your discussion with Kapral.”

Adam had his doubts as to the wisdom of that, but simply nodded as he opened the door. “Then let’s see what I can find out.”

T
he force
with which Malak’s fist hit the desk shook the surface. A pile of files that had been stacked neatly shifted and slid away from him.

“No.” Malak’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head roughly. “You ask too much. My job is to protect the people of Warsaw, not expose them to your base curiosity.”

Startled by the strength of the man’s response, Adam tried to repeat his request more gently.

“I’m not trying to pry, I promise you,
Pan
Malak,” he explained, feeling like a fool for not expecting this sort of response. “I’m interested in learning more about my own family’s history. I understand these files are very sensitive and I wouldn’t dream of reviewing information that did not relate to my immediate relatives.”

Malak’s frown softened and he dipped his head. “I appreciate that,
Pan
Kaminski, and I apologize for my outburst. The way you phrased your request sounded as if you thought these records were simply an interesting novel that you could peruse. Of course that is not the case.”

Malak shook a finger at Adam as he spoke. “You must be very careful how you talk to people about the past,
Pan
Kaminski. These are treacherous waters you are wading into. You may find some sharks waiting for you there. And you may also find that people are not willing to jump in and help you.”

“Have you seen these files,
Pan
Malak? Do the records hold information you want to keep secret?”

“Of course! I would prefer to destroy these records. I see no benefit in keeping them there. I am pleased the courts struck down parts of the lustration laws and I hope they eliminate them altogether. They do nothing more than keep alive the resentment that too many people still hold against the past. No.” Malak closed his eyes and shook his head sadly. “No, the past is done. We cannot go back, we cannot change it. But we can move forward. We must move forward. It is the only way.”

Malak opened his eyes and looked directly at Adam. “I have seen these files,
Pan
Kaminski. I have not studied them in great detail, you understand, but I have had reason to review them on several occasions. Your family is not from Warsaw, I believe. Not involved in politics?”

“No, that’s right. My great-grandfather came from the Poznan area. He was a teacher as well, like I was.”

“I do not recognize your name,
Pan
Kaminski. I do not believe your family has anything to fear from these records.” Then he added more softly, “I do understand your concern, sir. I know how hard it is to have questions and doubts, to not know for sure about the people you care about. Yes.” He stood and offered a hand to Adam. “I wish you luck in searching for your family here in Poland and getting to know them. This is an admirable and understandable quest. It is important to know where you come from, in order simply to understand yourself.”

Adam saw he was being excused so he stood and shook Malak’s proffered hand. “And you, sir, how do you propose to move forward?”

Malak smiled. “I will do my best to ensure that Warsaw and Poland leave the past behind. There are some evil men, to be sure, and perhaps some of them are still involved in the government. I do not know. I do know that our best hope for the future is to leave the past where it belongs. And” — he raised a hand to highlight his point — “to forge stronger bonds with the West. So in that regard, I wish you and your team the best of luck. I hope the result of your visit will be a stronger relationship between Warsaw and Philadelphia.”

A
dam followed
Sylvia to the cafeteria
,
where she found Laurienty Szopinski. The clink of dishes and glasses carried from the lunch counter at the far end of the room, where women in aprons and head scarves served up coffee and cakes for delegates on breaks between sessions.

Szopinski sat alone at a table along one wall, looking very young as he flipped through piles of files that surrounded him on the table, light glancing off his glasses as he moved his head back and forth across the pages.

“
Pan
Szopinski,” Sylvia interrupted him and he looked up. “I would like to introduce you to
Pan
Kaminski, from America.”

Adam put out his hand and Szopinski stood to shake it. “A pleasure.
Bardzo mi miło
.” The plate Szopinski had pushed to the side to make room for his paperwork was empty, but traces of poppyseed and the crumbs of a heavy babka suggested Szopinski had enjoyed a
drugie śniadanie
this morning, the midmorning snack referred to as a second breakfast.

“Nice to meet you, too,” Adam responded, taking a seat across from Szopinski and glancing at the paperwork that surrounded the man. “I see you’re busy right now, so I won’t take up too much of your time.”

Szopinski frowned but sat again and looked expectantly at Sylvia, who still stood at the side of the table. “I will not stay with you, Adam. We only have a few minutes before we must leave for your next meeting. I will wait in my office.”

Adam nodded and Sylvia turned to leave, waving a few hellos to staff sitting around the large room.

“
Pan
Kaminski, I’m afraid I, too, do not have much time.” Szopinski indicated the folders in front of him. “I must review all of these files before the minister’s afternoon session, to provide him with a summary. I am sorry that I did not have a chance to meet with you and your group while you were here yesterday.”

“Yes, I’m sorry about that, too. I must admit I was quite curious to meet you. Tell me, what exactly is your role here?” Adam smiled at Szopinski and tried to look innocently interested.

“Well, I support the minister, of course.” Szopinski’s brow furrowed. “I am on his staff, you see. Not an elected position. Now tell me, how is this relevant to your work here?”

Adam shook his head. “I’m just curious, that’s all. Does he have a large staff? How did you manage to gain this position?”

“You ask very personal questions,
Pan
Kaminski.” Szopinski smiled even as his eyes showed his displeasure. “Since you ask, I have known Kapral for many years now. I met him while I was at the university. I was involved in
Młodzy Demokraci
, the Young Democrats. I’m sure you don’t know what that is.”

Szopinski grinned at Adam in satisfaction, but his grin faltered when Adam nodded, “Sure, I’ve heard of it. It’s a chance for students to get involved in politics, here and in other countries.”

Szopinski’s eyes flitted about the room. “Yes, that is true. I was not so lucky, however. I remained in Warsaw.”

Adam nodded his understanding. “And now you work full-time for Kapral?”

Szopinski lifted his chin and frowned. “Yes. So? It is a position of much responsibility that I take seriously,” Szopinski added, frowning at the files in front of him. “And it takes much time,
Pan
Kaminski, as you see. So if there is nothing else?”

“Yes, I see that.” Adam ignored the question. “Tell me, I’ve heard of another young student who was recently hired to work here; perhaps you know her. Basia Kaminski?”

Szopinski frowned and looked down at the table. He ran a hand over his hair, then adjusted his glasses on his nose. “Yes, I knew her, of course. She was also a member of the Young Democrats. It was very sad. Very sad.” He looked up at Adam. “Why do you ask about her?”

“She was a distant relative of mine. The daughter of a cousin. I only just found out about her, and about her sudden death. I was hoping you could tell me more about what happened.”

“Well…” Szopinski stretched out the word, “there is not much to say. She was a very bright young woman. Great promise. But this job” — he shrugged — “it is high pressure. Very difficult, in the public eye. It is easy to make a mistake. And easy to take the work too seriously.”

“And do you think that’s what she did? Take her work too seriously?” Adam asked.

“I believe that’s what happened, yes.” Szopinski nodded, still frowning. “I know that she took her own life, and I can only imagine that that was why. I can’t explain it,
Pan
Kaminski, I can’t give you the answers you are looking for.”

“Let me ask you another question. My interest is not only about Basia. I also want to find out what happened to her father, my cousin, Łukasz Kaminski.”

Szopinski’s face showed no recognition of the name.

Adam continued, “He is a journalist, you see, here in Warsaw.”

“And he is missing? You are looking for him?”

“No, nothing like that. He’s here, he’s safe. But he has been attacked. Two times now. And I want to find out why.”

The loud clatter of a pile of dishes being dropped distracted Adam for a second and drowned out Szopinski’s response, so he repeated it. “And how can I help you in this search?”

“I’m not sure,” Adam responded. “You seem to be in the know here. In fact, I could have sworn you knew Łukasz. Just yesterday, you helped him gain entry into the building.”

Szopinski looked at Adam in confusion, then his face cleared with understanding. “Ah yes, that reporter. Of course. I did help him get into the building. I had no idea he was Basia’s father.” Szopinski smiled. “I only knew he was a journalist. Our guards are very strict, sometimes. That does not help our cause. No, we value openness in our politics. We want the press here, to see what we are doing. I would have done the same for any journalist trying to gain entry, you see.”

Szopinski paused, looking expectantly at Adam, probably hoping Adam was about to leave him to his work.

“I just have a few more questions.”

“Of course.” Szopinski’s mouth turned down into a tight frown.

“I’m curious to get your opinion on the ministers you know and work with. Your boss, Minister Kapral. Basia’s boss, Minister Novosad. I’d also be interested in hearing your thoughts on Tomek Malak.”

“Psht.” Szopinski made the sound under his breath as he looked back down at the files. “Kapral. He is a busy man, yes? A powerful man. But where is he now, when someone needs to do all the work?” He gestured to the piles of files.

“You don’t like him?” Adam asked, cautiously.

Szopinski looked back up at Adam and shrugged. “He has some good ideas. So I work for him. I expect the time will come when I will be in the position of power, not him.”

“And the others? Do you feel the same way about them, too?”

Szopinski took a deep breath and smiled. He had been waiting for the opportunity to share his opinion, Adam could tell. Adam knew his type — convinced he was better, smarter than the people around him. This was a man who wanted nothing more than to be asked his opinion of others. “Novosad is a Russian. He will always be a Russian. Not a Pole.” Szopinski’s eyes narrowed as he grinned.

“I was told he is Polish.”

“As a citizen? Yes, of course. But where is his family from? Where are his roots? Think about that. Whose best interest is he working for? Well, not for much longer, I can tell you.”

“Novosad is at risk of losing his position?”

“Of course. He is not a true Pole. The people know this. He switches parties because he thinks it will help him get elected again. It will not. He will lose.” Szopinski smirked with satisfaction at the thought of the older man’s loss.

“And Malak?” Adam pushed, knowing Szopinski had more to say.

“Malak is a good man,” Szopinski surprised Adam by saying. “Simple, perhaps. He means well. He simply is not in a position to get anything done. In the future, perhaps. Many of us believe he will be the next president of Poland. I would be happy to work with him on his campaign and once he is in office. His success will be good for many of us — including your friend Sylvia.”

Adam waited to see if more information was forthcoming, but Szopinski’s gaze had returned to the pile of paperwork in front of him. He looked back up at Adam. “I really must return to my work now,
Pan
Kaminski.”

“You’re right, of course.” Adam stood. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. Thank you for your time and for answering my questions.”

“Of course.” Szopinski did not stand and did not offer Adam his hand again. “You do not have much time left in Poland, I believe. Does your group not leave tomorrow, on Saturday?”

Adam’s eyebrows went up in surprise that Szopinski was so well informed about their visit. “That’s right, we are scheduled to fly out on Saturday. This was just a short visit to Warsaw, I’m afraid.”

“You will have to come back another time,
Pan
Kaminski. Goodbye.”

Adam nodded, then walked out of the cafeteria. Behind him, Szopinski watched the closed door for a few minutes more before shaking his head and turning back to his papers.