«Thank you so much,» Nina said to Bill Thompson. «I saw an advertisement about cleaning back yards after the dogs, and I was shocked with the prices. If you want, I can clean your yard for free.»
«No.» Bill shook his head. «I’ll be glad to pay you. You can use the money to buy something for your daughter.»
«Wow.» Nina clapped her hands. «It’s a deal.»
A smiling Jeff Menard came close, and Nina said to him, «Thank you so much for your help. You know, Vera talks a lot about you.» The woman did not notice the eyes of the policeman flash with joy and confusion.
«Mom!» Nina heard, looked back and was surprised, as Larisa held a huge toy rabbit almost the same size as the girl. «Look what I won.»
«Really?» Amazed, Nina glanced at the organizer. Smiling, she nodded confirmation, and Nina hugged her daughter. «Do you see how it’s good to be a good girl?»
Larisa laughed and allowed another picture to be taken with the prize and the Easter Bunny without any persuasion.
* * * * *
The house of Bill Thompson was in the same block as the police station, and when Jeff passed by, he noticed a woman cleaning the yard. He recognized Nina Lapina and went close, as he was glad to find a reason to talk about Vera.
The woman heard his footsteps, and looked back.
«I’m a volunteer,» she said hurriedly, and Jeff realized that Lapina had no work permission, and that she was afraid there would be trouble.
«I just wanted to say hi.» He smiled, and Nina calmed down.
«Oh…» she murmured. «Hi.»
Confused, they both fell silent for a while not knowing what to say to each other. Jeff dared not ask about Vera, and a naive Nina did not understand the reason for his coming.
Sighing, Jeff nodded and walked back to the road. Nina continued her work.
Suddenly she sensed something under her right foot, but she had no time to react. The awful sharp pain struck her through her entire body to the top of her head, and squealing, Nina collapsed.
Jeff had taken just a few steps when he heard a scream that turned into a moaning cry. He whirled around and ran back to the woman who was weeping, sitting on the grass and squeezing her shoe.
«Oh…» She swung her foot as if it was a baby. «Oh God, how it hurts.»
«What’s the matter?» Jeff asked, squatting next to her. In the same moment he saw a small board stuck to her shoe, and he realized that the woman had stepped on a nail.
Jeff took her leg and pulled the board off. Nina gasped, her face lost color, and he thought she was going to faint. But she made an effort and stayed in control.