Page 83 of Canyon of Deceit

I toyed with telling him about Daria and Falin’s affair. “Let’s go back to the document mailed to Moscow. Who was the recipient?”

Rurik paused, obviously not wanting to respond.

“Who was the recipient?”

“First deputy prime minister of Finance, Economy and National Projects.”

“Looks like you’re a member of the ROC, guilty of falsifying documents to leave the US, and involved in criminal activities to support the ROC.”

“No need to say how it looks, but I’m innocent.”

“Rurik, if your case reached a US court, there’s enough evidence to convict you of spying, terrorism, and murder. The sentence ranges from prison to death.”

“I’m a dead man whether I face your justice system or Russia’s.”

I leaned in. “Not if you leave the US on next Wednesday’s flight.”

Rurik shifted uncomfortably. “I won’t leave this country without my daughter.”

Ah, new info. “Is Alina scheduled on the flight to Moscow?” Rurik nodded, and I continued. “What name is her ticket under?”

“Larisa Mishin.”

“In the event of your inability to care for Alina here or in Russia, who has custody?”

“No one. My sister in Russia is in poor health, and neither does she have an interest. That’s why I asked Therese to adopt her. My sister claimed I betrayed her by leaving Russia to teach in Houston. She needed financial help. However, I have sent money to her while living here.”

“On a professor’s salary?”

“My wife had inherited her family’s wealth.”

“What about Falin?”

“The other side of the family.”

“In the event of your death, the money transfers to Alina?”

“Yes. It is a reason for my demise.”

“Would Falin have the role of Alina’s legal guardian?”

Rurik clenched his jaw. “Yes. Another reason I placed Therese as her guardian and future adoptive parent. I regret the loss of life and the suffering, but I don’t regret anything I’ve done to keep her alive.”

Therese touched her mouth. Alina had no quality of life without a rescue. Neither did a future with Rurik nor Jurg Falin hold much optimism.

FORTY-EIGHT

THERESE

Blane and I left Rurik’s home the same way we entered—through the garage. I backed out the rental through pouring rain, splashing against the windshield faster than the wipers swished it away. The weather matched my mood. The more we learned, the more it rained disillusion.

I pulled into a Starbucks drive-through. “I need coffee and truth.”

“Yes, to both. I have the location in Baytown where Rangers found Alina’s necklace. An FBI team swept the place and found nothing.”

“But you want to see for yourself. No coincidence Alina’s necklace was found in the vicinity of the next scheduled crime.” I ordered our coffees, and we drove to the east side of Houston to Baytown... and the ship channel.

Blane sent the interview recording with Rurik to Major Montoya. We talked about the conversations and our analysis. Mostly I listened since Blane had the expertise.