Page 105 of Canyon of Deceit

“Yes, ma’am. The names keep us safe from the bad people who killed Daddy.” A flicker of something flashed in her eyes. Was she running from the people who wanted to hurt me?

“Sounds like your uncle is taking good care of you.”

I glanced up at him, and he touched my cheek. “He is.” Until I learned the truth, I must make him think I believed everything he said.

“You two can keep each other company while I’m gone,” he said. “I’ll bring your dinner back. Is a grilled chicken salad all right with you girls?”

“Perfect,” Therese said. “Ali... Larisa and I will have a great time together.”

Uncle Isaak kissed my forehead and left. The click sounded on the door, and I double locked it from my side.

Therese’s visit confused me. My hands shook and I dug my fingers into my palms. “Thank you for coming.”

She sat on the bed in front of me. “I am your friend. I asked to spend time with you.” Therese put her finger to her lips to quiet me, and I nodded. She mouthed,Your uncle is listening to us.

I would not upset my uncle. “What sounds fun to you?”

“How do you spend your time alone?”

I explained all the things to keep me busy. “... and I finished my schoolwork. I can show you on my iPad.”

“I’d love it.” Therese looked at my math, and her eyes widened. “You’re doing precalculus.”

“I like numbers.”

“I’d like to look at what you’ve done.” She touched my arm and then her lips. She mouthed,Have you been hurt?

I shook my head.My daddy is dead.

Therese wrapped her arm around my shoulder.Your uncle told you?

I nodded. It must be true. I swiped at a tear, and she drew me into her arms. I tried to stop but still I sobbed.Oh no!My uncle would hear. Think fast. “I’m sorry to cry. But it is good to see you.”

She bit her lip and hugged me tighter. “Friends cry when they haven’t seen each other for a while.”You will be okay. I promise. God loves you.

Therese saidGodagain. She must believe He’s real. Daria said there was no such thing as God. People who believed were weak and had forgotten how to use their heads. I hoped Daria had made a huge mistake.

Why would a God who loves you kill your daddy?

SIXTY-TWO

THERESE

Blane had spent his birthday alone with a broken arm and a concussion. He’d survived. My surviving to my birthday tomorrow was contingent on Jurg deciding if my life held any merit. I clung to my faith with both hands and the vision that God always had things under His control. But my insides cowered.

This hotel was a new property built near the ship channel, east of downtown Houston. A barge moved across the waters in the distance, and sailboats and yachts dotted the afternoon sun-kissed view.

Before we had left McDonald’s earlier, he’d given me a baseball cap and adjusted it over my eyes to wear from the moment we exited the car and up four flights of stairs.

“One word to anyone, and I will pull the trigger on you and anyone else nearby,” he’d said.

“Why would I want to spoil my end of the bargain to jeopardize Alina’s release?”

“Your impulsive nature is not foreign to me.”

I greeted a maid in the hall while Jurg swiped a room key over door 412. That’s when I discovered Alina’s prison was an adjoining room.

Now Alina and I ate our salad dinner and watchedBeauty and the Beastin Russian. She crawled into bed and I took the sofa. Her soft,rhythmic breathing gave me peace. At times, barely audible moans interrupted her dream world.