Dima fell in love with Lidia — for a lifetime, passionately and selflessly. After living to twenty-seven years in complete solitude, he matured precisely for that kind of love… Lidia planned to leave her husband, but the thought of money stopped her. A beautiful life costs a lot, and she didn’t want an ugly one… Right before New Year, Dima and Lidia broke up: they thought for a few days — it turned out to be forever… The festive ball at the city hall was in full swing. Guests were having a wonderful time, and only businessman Yuri Rogov was worried — he couldn’t find his wife. She lay on the floor under the staircase. Lidia’s neck was tightly drawn by a long, shiny scarf — red, matching her dress.
The dead woman was beautiful… Like a mannequin in an evening outfit that someone had recently hung on a tree near a shattered boutique window in the very center of the city…