On April 23, 20 ... at 8.30 am Egor Belousov, a retired investigator of the Babushkinsky District Department of Internal Affairs, came to work at the detective agency "NYuH".

He was scheduled for 9. 00, but Egor used to get up early. There was nothing to do, and he decided to come early to watch the people flashing at his new place. In their own way, they would have told him more than any resume.

So far he knew about his new work only that:

- it is headed by a certain N. Yu. Khalyavko, Ph.D. in Law;

- after a year of part-time work and lack of money, he suddenly got a call from the bay-barge and was offered a place in the “NYuH”;

- the site "NYHH" is no worse than other sites, judging by the advertising quirks.

N. Yu. Khalyavko’s search in Google, Yandex and other virtual places did not give anything. This could mean anything — for example, the fact that N. Yu. Khalyavko had not yet had time to become famous, even with his dissertation. Yegor was too lazy to look for the last.

Approaching the “NYuH”, he saw a fluffy crown, bouncing over the back of the bench.

The top belonged to a girl who played some kind of game on a tablet. Grinning, Yegor sat opposite.

The girl hardly had anything to do with his work, but it was so nice to look at her, that Yegor did not deny himself this pleasure. Her cheeks were red, her ears were even redder, her hair was disheveled, her eyes burned like a cat on a hunt, and she was like an agitated spring sparrow.

She looked about twenty years old or less. She was one of those whom, when they want to praise, is called a “sweetheart”, and when they want to be cursed - a “gray mouse”: with a pretty face and eyes, but without any pretensions of being a woman. She was dressed in a completely boyish way, her short, ashy hair was shaggy, and there was not a drop of makeup on her face. However, the colors with which she painted the spring and excitement were a thousand times better than any cosmetics.

For a while, she tapped her fingers on the display, moving her lips. Then she smacked and smiled, looking triumphantly at her piece of iron. Immediately, as if by magic, the sun crawled out from behind a cloud, and the wet asphalt flashed like her eyes.

- Who has won? - loudly asked Yegor.

Eyes ran on the square, trying to understand who, besides them, can exist in this world.

Then they stopped at Egor.

- Like who? Friendship, of course, ”said the girl, after a pause.

Her voice, against expectations, was hoarse, almost boyish.

“However,” snarled Yegor.

- What?

- Frankly, I thought you were a fool. But your answer showed the opposite.

- Seriously? What else did you think about me?

- Well ... what to tell?

- Go ahead.

- Indeed?

- In the very.

Actually it was wrong. But the sun shone so bright, and the girls cheeks shone even brighter, not to mention the eyes ...

- Persuaded. You ... from a poor, perhaps even a poor family - are you offended? ... but have been making your way for quite some time in this life. Not so, really, to embark on all serious things, as almost everyone does. You live alone, without parents, without a man. Of course you have no children, and you don’t even imagine what it is. You have a cat at home ... no, two. However, the second rather lives in an apartment where you have been recently. Namely - last night. You are an extremely enthusiastic person and, accordingly, inaccurate, although I am sure that you are doing everything to make the world think the opposite ... Continue?

The eyes shone like two spotlights.

- How did you find out? She asked, wheezing with excitement. - Are you following me? Or are you Sherlock Holmes?

- So they called me in mentovka when I worked there.

- Worked? Not working anymore? Why?

- A boring story. We had a boss with how to say this ... a different look at some things.

- And ... uh ... Well, well, - the girl shook her head. - About cats, for example, it’s understandable: one coat, another ... But how did you know that last night? And what is not with me?

- Elementary Watson. It is unlikely that you, with your lifestyle, will pull two cats. One thing - still okay, this is holy.Yours - shorthair and harmful, like a crocodile, and a friend ... yes? - a friend has someone elite and fluffy, like a Persian. If on the contrary - you would have twice as much fluff. Nevertheless, it is enough to ensure that it was not earlier than yesterday evening. Today you would hardly have had time to go to a friend so early in the morning and take out her cat. You are not exactly a slob to clean the dirty spots on your pants before going out to people, but not enough to scrape them off. Not to mention cat fur.

The girl looked at him with open mouth.

“That's awesome,” she said. - Simple as that. Well, why am I making my way in this life?

- It's even easier. The rich dress differently - and when they live with their parents, and when they live by themselves. The poor, when they live with their parents, also dress differently. A girl of this type, like you, my mother would surely have been kutala in something traditional, noble, a la Aristocrat of the Spirit. You don’t look like a rebel: they don’t rebel. Nafig cut off her beautiful hair ... and why? Because it is more convenient. To shade a woman to such an extent is possible only in two cases: either if you have been married for a long time and all with your head in the kitchen and children, or if you don't give a damn about men's attention. Why not give a damn? Because you are a passionate person. Your life and so full to the brim. Most likely, you are from the province, but in Moscow for several years. I entered the university, got a job ...

- Cool. Go on.

- Are you sure?

- Of course. Uncover all my secrets.

- Okay. You must have fallen in love, but no one but you knew about it. Yes, and you're a virgin.

- Wow! Why is this?

- You know better. What is your name?

- Guess.

- I'm not a fortune teller. Thoughts can not read. Because?

- And you?

- I asked first.

- And I am the second. And I am a lady. Who should be introduced?

- Ok, your took. Yegor Belousov, a senior retired lieutenant. Now you ... wait. I think it is unlikely you are called by some ordinary name - Masha, Dasha and te te. Likely, what-thread cute diminutive? Well?

- And you say you do not know how to guess ... My name is usually Tasey, and some are Saasias. So I called myself in childhood.

- Well, Xia. Despite all your efforts, you are a real beauty, even though she herself, it seems, has not yet understood it. It was nice to meet you ... elah-burns! Without three nine! I never was late in my life ...

- Wow! Is that a compliment to me?

- Yes, apparently ... Farewell, Xia!

- Are you in "Nyuh"? - she threw in pursuit.

- Why did you decide? - turned to her Yegor.

- Elementary, Holmes. The former detective goes to a detective agency ...

- And what if he goes to ... - Egor glanced around the collection of signs above the entrance, - to the real estate office of “Durov, Umnitsky & Co?”

- Noooo ... Exceptions and accidents are rare, we consider them as the last thing ...

"Oh, what are you," thought Yegor, running up to the third floor.

She herself didn’t know, Xiaяa formulated his main method, which had never failed Egor.

***

“Very nice, Yegor Dmitrievich,” the plump blonde in the shafts told him. - I am glad to welcome you in a new place. Your first customer is already waiting for you.

“Wow,” said Yegor. - flattered. Sorry, but ...

- Yes?

- You are N. Yu. Khalyavko?

- No, I am the secretary of the chief. My name is Love Feoktistovna.

- Can I see the chef?

- Now is not, but sooner or later it will happen. Come on!

The client was a good-looking snob with glasses. When Egor entered, he turned off the smartphone, but Egor managed to notice a piece of video - some kind of BDSM scene with a naked girl covered in blood and bruises.

“Good afternoon,” the client greeted majestically with Yegor. - You kept yourself waiting. But it is not important. The work that I want to offer you is very difficult and, let's say, delicate. It's about kidnapping, uh ... one thing. This thing is extremely valuable ...