Josh stayed in the kitchen, knowing full well it would not be smart to follow. He continued with preparing lunch in between sips of wine. He left a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine at the study door that Alix left ajar. Then he returned to their room and stuffed the contents back into the duffel bag and hid it back in the closet. 

He glanced down to see his Russian passport discarded on the ground. Picking it up he stared at his younger self. Josh remembered that day fondly. He had received his acceptance letter from the army, and to celebrate his father took him out. In that dingy bar on the outskirts of Moscow, his father told him ‘Без труда́ не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда́.

[i]Without effort, you can not even pull a fish out of the pond.[/i]


On the edge of the bed Josh planned. At the end of the day, when he spoke those vows to Alix eight years ago, he had made a promise. Josh grabbed his leather jacket and stuffed the handgun out of sight into the waist band of his jeans and made his way downstairs to the study.

“Alix,” Josh called out quietly. It had been several hours since he had last seen her. Placing his head on the door he didn’t wait for her to respond.

“Alix I know this is difficult to take in, but we only have two options Alix.” Josh said through the closed door. 

“If you want me to leave then I will leave. I will walk out that door and you will never see me again. I have five million pounds I will transfer to you account.”

Josh paused for a moment. The very possibility that Alix could choose that option scared him.

“If you want me to stay then I will end this and come clean. I believe I might be able to strike a deal with the Police.”