Page 38 of Canyon of Deceit

THIRTY-SEVEN

ALINA

The people who tried to rescue me were all hurt or dead except Therese... and she had no water or food. How sad. On the awful day the big trouble started, Daria had picked me up from school for the first time. On the way to her car, I’d asked her why, and she didn’t answer.

“Is Daddy okay?”

“Yes. He’s busy and I offered to pick you up.” She took my hand, and she’d never even hugged me before. Something sweet and warm flowed through me. “Want to make cookies when we get home?” Daria said.

“Oh yes, thank you.” Why had she changed?

We’d never made cookies. But I didn’t want to ask and spoil our time together.

What if we were going to be like a real mom and daughter, like my friends at school?

Nothing would replace my real mommy, but I wanted life at home to be better when Daddy wasn’t there.

If I’d refused to go with her, Daria would be alive and the others too. We might even be friends. I kept going over what had happened in the cave. Therese hid my eyes from Mr. Falin shooting Mr. Chandler, but my T-shirt had blood down the front of it. I’m glad I listened to her.

Where was Mr. Falin taking me? I wanted to ask, but he might hurt me.

In the cave, I trusted he might take me back to Daddy, until he shot the really bad man.

Trusting Mr. Falin wasn’t smart. Daddy warned me about some people being nice until they got what they wanted.

He said I should make people prove they were nice, and that took time.

Mr. Falin used to come to our house and have dinner or drinks with Daria and Daddy.

They sent me to my room as soon as I finished eating. I never heard what they talked about.

Mr. Falin’s voice jolted me back to now. He spoke in Russian to someone on his phone, but he didn’t use headphones. I’d been in a helicopter with Daddy and Daria, but it wasn’t like this... much smaller and loud.

I listened to every word. “They’re dead or bleeding out. I have the kid.” He paused again. “Right. Ivanov either follows through or I’ll kill the kid in front of him. Then blow a hole through his cowardly heart.” He brought the phone away from his ear and put it in his pants pocket.

I shook all over. What did Mr. Falin want Daddy to do? It must be something horrible. My daddy would never do anything bad... even to save me.

Mr. Falin turned to me and said in Russian, “Alina, if you want to live, you’ve got to do everything I tell you. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” I’d not show fear and touched my necklace.

“What is that?” he said.

“A ballerina necklace my daddy gave me.”

He turned the ballerina over in his hand. “You better bank on your dad keeping his word or you won’t live much longer.”

I swallowed hard and carefully put my question together. “Mr. Falin, where are you taking me?”

“Does it matter?”

“I suppose not, sir. I’m curious.”

He chuckled and almost sounded nice. “I like you Alina, always have. Except I have a job to do. Let me say we’re going to a place where you’ve never been.”

“Will my daddy be there too?”

“Maybe.”

I hated the way he said “maybe.” Nothing good ever came from it.