Chapter 5: Ask Me Where I Was

Luka sent Pavel to bed in the back room, and he did it kindly.

He found the old man a blanket and a glass of water and told him he was safe.

Then he came out and closed the door and said, "He's wrong."

I was washing the bowls.

"Luka."

"He's old, he's frightened, he's been hiding for nine days." He stood with his back to the fire. "My father would not do that."

"Mm."

"He pulled me out of a car wreck when I was nine. He taught me to read a ledger."

"He sat up with me all night when my mother died."

"I believe all of that."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?"

I dried my hands.

"He asked where I was," I said. "On the phone."

"He asked because he cares about you."

"You hadn't told him I was with you."

I put the towel down.

"He asked, Is Nika with you? He never asked who had shot at his son."

Luka's mouth opened and closed.

"He was checking," I said. "Not worrying. Checking."

"Don't."

"His men on the stairs saw a girl with a braid. He guessed. He wanted to know if you'd say it."

"I said she's home."

"You did. You lied to your father to protect me, and he knew you were lying."

"He said, Be careful with her."

"Stop it."

"I'm only telling you what I heard."

"You're telling me," Luka said, and his voice was rising now, "that my father is a murderer."

"Because a sweet girl who turns out to be something else has a theory."

"Something else."

"What would you call it?"

I thought about it.

"I'd call it a florist who is good with a pistol," I said. "But I'm flexible."

He didn't laugh.

He walked to the table, planted both hands on it, and bent his head.

"How many?" he asked.

"How many what?"

"People."

"I told you. You get one question and one answer, and I won't lie."

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