Page 27 of Canyon of Deceit

TWENTY-SIX

ALINA

Daddy had taught me about guns, how to clean, load, fire, and be very careful with what he called handguns and rifles.

He told me guns were like people and to respect them.

Guns in the wrong hands could hurt and kill others, and he said never point a gun at anyone unless I wanted to face the consequences of shooting them.

I didn’t understand the big word consequences , but Daddy said it was like me doing something bad on purpose, knowing I’d be punished.

He also told me not to tell anyone that he’d taught me these things, not even Daria. Why? He kept his guns in a secret place in our house, and he and Daria each had a key to unlock it.

I missed Daddy so much.

The sun hadn’t come up, but I watched the two men who’d kidnapped me. Mr. Chandler, the man who used lots of bad words, gave the orders. I was more afraid of him than Mr. Falin, who’d been nice to me back home in Houston. Each laid guns at the cave’s opening and packed water into their backpacks.

They must be planning to hurt someone. Maybe the people who were looking for me... or my daddy.

Mr. Falin bent and studied me. “You haven’t been much trouble,” he said in Russian, and I looked into his dark-blue eyes. “Rurik taught you well. If there was a way to spare you, I would, but too much is at stake. Rurik allowed this to happen by being a coward. Your father is glupyy .”

My daddy wasn’t stupid, but I said nothing, only listened. What did the men really want? Maybe I could get my hands untied while they were gone, then I could run away.

“Can I ask you something?” I said in Russian.

He frowned. “ Da . Keep your voice down.”

Mr. Chandler strung a wire across the cave’s opening.

“What has my daddy done to make you mad?”

He huffed. “It’s what he hasn’t done.”

“If he does this thing, will you let me go?” I believed he’d take me home, but I wanted him to say it.

“Maybe.”

“Have you asked him?”

“He refused in the past, but he didn’t anticipate we’d snatch you.”

“Have you done something to Daria?”

“She’s dead.”

I choked back throw-up. One of them had killed Daria?

He pulled a bandana from around his head. “Open your mouth.”

I did as he asked, and he placed the dirty bandana in it and tied it around my head.

The dirt taste and sweaty smell rolled around in my tummy.

I tried to spit it out, and he laughed. “Can’t have you screaming and ruining our plans.

The irony is if someone enters the cave, they’ll trip, setting off an explosion and blowing you and them to pieces. ”

Mr. Chandler walked into the cave and stood over me like a shadowy giant. He tossed me my backpack. “Untie her. I have an idea.” He glared at me. “Do exactly as I say.”