“We’ll get you out.”
“Don’t get too confident. If anyone has the power to ensure I’m locked up for half my life, it’s the Caldwells.”
“I am confident. I sat in the kitchen this morning and listened as Bryony gave Evelina a detailed account of what happened in the wilderness. Evelina will get your charges tossed out first thing on Monday morning, and we’ll use whatever gets revealed in that hearing against the Caldwells in our harassment lawsuit. Evelina is already saying she wants to subpoena Marshal Hibbs’s investigation notes and request that his bank account to be audited.”
Mikhail stilled. “She thinks the Caldwells paid Hibbs to falsify the investigation?”
“Don’t you?”
He shoved another bite of pie into his mouth, this time savoring the rich flavors of pumpkin and cream and sugar on his tongue before swallowing. “Yes, and probably not just in this instance or with our family. No one has seemed inclined to do anything about it before.”
Alexei met his gaze. “That’s changing now. The town is talking. Turns out we’re not the only ones who’ve endured some type of retribution from the Caldwells over the years. Three families have approached Evelina about filing harassment charges against the governor since she arrived in Sitka.”
“Three other families?”
“One of them is Henry Evans.”
“The town blacksmith?”
Alexei nodded. “The governor wanted to pay him a lower rate for his ironwork, since he does so much business for the RCS, but Henry decided the amount was too low and refused to do any more work. Now the governor’s office is refusing to renew his business license for next year and is replacing him with a new blacksmith from California.”
“That sounds like the Caldwells,” he muttered.
“I have a feeling more business owners and families will come forward with complaints against the Caldwells after our harassment case becomes public knowledge—especially if we end up winning it.”
Mikhail took another bite of pie, taking his time pulling the fork from his lips. “I wonder if having a Caldwell in the position of governor has tipped people over the edge. Before, everyone knew Preston was powerful and not to be crossed, but his behavior was sneaky and out of the public eye. It affected only a few people, and the rest of Sitka didn’t care enough to do anything about it. But now that Simon is governor, harassment and corruption are much more blatant. It might just be too much.”
Alexei rubbed his jaw. “I’ve had the same thoughts, and Washington, DC, can’t ignore what’s going on here forever. Perhaps the town banding together will be enough to get them to change tactics. Or—in the case of Marshal Hibbs—maybe both the governor and his brother will end up in prison for bribing an officer of the law.”
Hopefully it would be as easy as that, but the Caldwells always seemed to find a way of wriggling out of their predicaments.
“How’s the reading coming?” Alexei nodded at the Bible lying on his bed.
Mikhail scowled. “Great. Other than the fact I can’t read.”
“Oh, right. Sorry. I didn’t know about your word blindness when I gave you the Bible. I can take it back.”
Mikhail glanced back at the Bible. Perhaps he was insane, but having it close by brought a sense of comfort. “No, I’d like to keep it here until I get out—however long that is.”
“Fine by me. So...” Alexei crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing in a way that gave Mikhail the sudden urge to swallow.
He didn’t, though.
“What are you going to do about Bryony?”
“Not a blasted thing until I know whether I’m spending the next ten years of my life in prison.”
“I’m sure she’ll create a nice life for herself while she’s waiting for you, then.” Alexei spoke without an ounce of emotion on his face. “Here in Sitka.”
This time he found himself swallowing. “Is she that determined to stay?”
“She’s asking about rooms to rent and places she might work.”
“I hate being so helpless. I hate being stuck here, unable to do anything other than wait. Wait for court. Wait for you and Evelina to help me. If only I could just...” He gripped one of the bars with his free hand, ignoring the shaking sensation in his palm.
“What? Be invincible, like God? Be some kind of superhuman who never needs to depend on another person for anything?” Alexei tapped his fingers against his crossed arms. “Pretty sure that’s the exact opposite of how God designed marriage to work.”
Mikhail shoved himself away from the bars. “What do you know about marriage? Your fiancée ran off.”
