Niko sat on the edge of the grimy bed. He didn't know how long he was sitting there, contemplating his ultimate demise, when one of the agents returned. "You got a visitor."

"I'm allowed visitors?" Niko raised a brow.

"I guess the proxy is taking pity on you." The agent stepped aside to reveal a familiar woman.

"Eva," he said as Leo's wife approached the bars.

"Niko, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, a little beat up. I'm sorry Leo got dragged into this."

"Don't worry about us, we will take care of ourselves. You're the one I'm worried about. They don't know, do they?"

"Shh!" Niko shook his head. "They only know I painted on some posters, that's all."

"Are you sure? You know what could happen if they find out."

"They won't. I confessed, the investigation is over."

Eva smiled. She glanced over her shoulder and Niko looked as well. He could see that they were alone. "Take this with you." Eva removed a ring from her finger and placed it on the vertical cross bar of Niko's cage door.

"I can't."

"You can. Just... I don't know, put it on your toe. They won't see it. You can hide it when you get to the camp."

"This is a woman's ring."

"That's the point. It'll keep you strong while you're imprisoned."

"They'll probably search me when I arrive at the Patriot Camp."

"No, the proxy promised your father you'll be treated with dignity."

"No deviant is treated with dignity."

"You will be, as long as you cooperate."

Niko picked up the ring and looked it over. Just holding it made him feel more secure, more powerful. "What will you tell Leo when he notices it's gone?"

"Oh, I'll make something up." She smiled. "I needed to thank you for accepting me into your home when your father was so cruel."

"It was the least I could do, you've been such a good and understanding friend to me. Thank you for keeping my secret."

"Of course." Eva put her hand between the bars and Niko held it. "I should go now."

"I'll see you when I'm out?"

"You'll know where to find me." Eva left and before the MEC agents could see the gift she left for him, Niko slipped off his boot and placed Eva's ring on his toe. It was far too big, but with his sock and boot on he knew it would stay in place. It could be dangerous if the agents discovered the ring but Niko figured that risk was part of the reason why it excited him so much to be wearing it.

Niko slept as well as he could and in the morning he was already awake when the MEC agents returned to take him to his sentencing hearing. He quietly allowed them to cuff him and lead him out of the cell. With each step he could feel Eva's ring move and it reminded him of the secret that gave him power. He allowed the agents to secure his wrists to the table again and waited for Yuri to join them. When the door opened, the old man looked even more menacing than the day before. He took his seat across from Niko and Niko allowed his gaze to rest on the silk around his neck.

"Well," Yuri said and there was venom in his voice. "I was under the assumption we had made a deal. You told me you would confess."

"I did."

"Did you? Did you confess to everything?"

Niko gulped.

"I have another witness to call."

"No!" He tried to stand up but his restraints prevented him. "You can't, I confessed! You're gonna go easy on me, remember?"

"I could go easy on you if all you did was paint on some posters. That is a minor crime but there's more to you than you let on. Today I'll be calling on Eva Sirminov, wife of Leo Sirminov."

When Eva entered the room she wasn't looking at Niko. "Eva, no," he said and still she didn't look. She took her seat and waited patiently for the proxy to question her.

"Eva, you are a more recent addition to the Sirminov family, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"And how do they treat you in their home? Leo is your second husband after all."

"They treat me well. I am happy to be a part of their family."

That was a lie, Niko knew it. Although his father smiled publicly and announced that he was proud of his son for helping a widow in need, he saw their marriage as a slap in the face.

"And the accused? How does he treat you?"

"He steals my things and threatens to hurt me if I tell anyone."

"He steals your things?" Yuri asked, pretending to sound surprised. "Why would he want to steal a woman's things?"

"He likes to pretend he is a woman. He wears my clothes, my jewelry. When I caught him he threatened me."

Niko felt the world collapsing in on him. "No! She's lying! I don't do that!"

"He would steal my rings and wear them on his feet. He said it excited him to be so deviant in public without anyone knowing."

"No!" Niko screamed, he couldn't think of anything else to say or do.

"Take off his boots." Yuri said and the agents moved to follow his orders.

"Why are you doing this?" Niko demanded. "Eva! Why would you do this to me?"

Eva looked at Niko with watery eyes as his boots were forced from his feet. He tried to kick against the agents but they were too strong. "We all have secrets," she said, "Leo and I must protect ourselves, for our children's sake."

Yuri held out a hand to Eva and she looked down at the floor. "Thank you, Eva, for coming to me. Your testimony is invaluable to us."

"And my husband? You will not investigate our marriage?"

"Your cooperation will work in his benefit, I assure you."

"Sir," One of the agents had successfully removed Niko's socks to reveal the gold ring hanging loosely on his toe. "She's telling the truth."

Eva stood and Niko saw that she was purposely looking away from him. "Thank you, sir," she said, ignoring Niko's rage. "With your permission I'll be leaving now."

"Yes, of course," the proxy said and Eva walked out of the room. She looked so nonchalant about her betrayal, it hurt Niko to realize how terribly wrong he had been to trust her.