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Victoria Embankment
Between Waterloo and Hungerford Bridges
26 January 2012
Pierce walked briskly along the Embankment, slowing when he spotted the large figure standing near the railing. Boskovic looked more like his old self now, the dressy suit exchanged for jeans and a football sweatshirt. Pierce felt overdressed in his own suit, but at least he had the excuse of having been at work.
He had to admit he’d been nervous when he got the message from Bosko to meet him here. After everything that went down in Piccadilly, Pierce hadn’t seen the man or spoken to him, not out of any spite or avoidance... Even when he and Kate had stopped at Roca’s funeral, he hadn’t attempted to talk to Boskovic, making the excuse to Kate that he didn’t want to intrude on their grief. He could tell by the look on her face she hadn’t bought it, but she mercifully said nothing. Since that night, he simply hadn’t had time. Truthful as it was, that never came off as a valid excuse for people, though... Not in this age of instant messaging and voice texting and the lot.
“‘London, thou art the flower of cities all.’” Boskovic turned, leaning back against the railing in a casual and relaxed pose. “Well, after Dubrovnik. You remember the sea organ?”
“Of course.” Pierce couldn’t help but chuckle... It seemed ages ago the first time they’d heard it play, and at the time Newcastle had made an uncharacteristically crude joke about the ‘Great Organ of Dubrovnik’... Pierce saw the twinkle in Boskovic’s eye and knew he was recalling the joke as well. They were silent for a moment... then Boskovic spoke.
“Thank you for being there... for Stefan.”
Pierce nodded. “I thought it right to pay my respects.”
“Yes.” Boskovic turned around again, looking out over the Thames. “I wish... I could have been there... for...” He trailed off, his voice catching with emotion. Boskovic swallowed hard, perhaps an attempt to steel himself and get the words out. “Josh... was my brother... like you, like all of them... I should never have involved him in something so—”
“Stop!” Pierce held on to his own emotions, focusing his attention on lighting a cigarette. He offered one to Boskovic, who shook his head. Pierce lit the cigarette, and blew out a puff of smoke before continuing. “None of this was your fault, Bosko... None of it.”
Boskovic nodded. “I’m surprised that you came. Or do you just want to make sure I’m on that train this afternoon?’
Pierce chuckled. “So, you are leaving?”
“London is not my home. And after this...” Boskovic shook his head. “No, back to Croatia I go. I just wanted to see you... See how much you have changed.”
“I’m still the same person, Bosko.”
“No, you have changed... But for the better, I think.” Boskovic gestured to the cigarette in Pierce’s hand. “You need to stop that, though... It’ll kill you.”
Pierce chuckled. “Yeah, well, eventually something will anyway.”
“True.”
“Bosko...” Pierce tossed the remains of his cigarette into the Thames and faced the other man. “I haven’t forgotten who I am, I haven’t forgotten a thing. And some days, all I want is to go back to that place, to just turn on and drop out of... Life. I think that’s why I didn’t phone you back... or Josh. I couldn’t... I didn’t want to go back to that place. No, no, that’s wrong, I do want to... that’s why... I was afraid to let you in again.”
Boskovic was silent for a moment, then smiled. “So, you are here to make sure I leave.”
“Maybe a little.”
Boskovic glanced at his watch, then stood. “I should go. My train is in two hours.” He looked at Pierce for a moment before offering his hand. “Thank you.”
Pierce frowned slightly as he shook Boskovic’s hand. “Thank me? For what?”
“Everything. You know.” Boskovic smirked as he released Pierce’s hand and turned to go. “Take care of yourself, my brother,” he said over his shoulder as he walked away toward the Hungerford Bridge.
“A ti, brate... I ti,” Pierce murmured in Bosnian as Boskovic walked away... And you, my brother... And you.