And it was one of the few services of the year where Alexei could count on having his entire family present.
It hadn’t always been that way. Sacha had missed more Thanksgiving services than anyone cared to count when he’d been captain of theAurora. But now that he was running the shipyard, he’d never need to miss another one. And hopefully Mikhail would never be called away so late in the year that he almost missed the service.
The priest launched into a chant, and the entire congregation murmured their responses in Russian, even Maggie and Jonas and Nathan, none of whom were Russian.
Alexei’s lips moved, his voice low as he recited the prayer. Yes, he had much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. His ship might still be held up by the RCS, but his family was together and safe, and they had three babies on the way. Those were the things that mattered most.
Besides, he’d get theAuroraback in another day or two. The RCS couldn’t keep it forever. And rumor was that the new judge had arrived in Sitka earlier that day. Hopefully he’d hear their harassment lawsuit first thing on Monday morning, and the new governor would be forced to stop his ridiculous searches.
A creak sounded from the back of the nave, and Alexei sighed. The doors had needed oil on their hinges for the better part of the year. If the priest didn’t get it fixed soon, he just might stomp down to the cathedral with a can of oil himself.
Not that the creaky doors usually opened during the middle of a service, though. He turned to see who was joining them so late, especially since the service was almost over.
Marshal Hibbs had entered, his heavy boots now clomping against the wooden floor as he lumbered down the aisle.
Alexei’s jaw clenched. Had the man no respect for the ceremony he was interrupting? The man might worship at the Presbyterian church under Rev. Jackson, but that didn’t mean he needed to disturb services at the Russian Orthodox church.
The door creaked again, and Alexei saw two jail guards follow Marshal Hibbs into the nave.
Mikhail stiffened, then reached out to grip Alexei’s arm before whispering, “Stay calm.”
Stay calm? Why? “What do you know that I don’t?” He narrowed his eyes, trying to ignore the hard ball growing in his stomach.
“I don’t know anything other than that the Caldwells are intent on causing trouble for our family, and a Caldwell died under my watch.”
Mikhail stood, and Alexei leaped up beside him. “No.” He wrapped his hand around Mikhail’s wrist.
The congregation had fallen silent, the priest’s voice fading as everyone turned to watch Marshal Hibbs stop beside their pew.
“Mikhail Amos.” Despite his constant wheezing, the lawman’s voice still rang with authority. “You’re under arrest for the death of Richard Caldwell.”
“He’s done nothing wrong.” Alexei tightened his grip on his brother. “I won’t let you arrest him.”
Whispers rippled through the church, but he didn’t care. The more people who heard him assert his brother’s innocence, the better. Surely this had to look suspicious to the people of Sitka, especially after the ship searches.
The Marshal narrowed his eyes. “Release your brother, Mr. Amos, or I’ll arrest you for obstruction of justice.”
“Alexei.” Jonas had stood and come into the aisle, with Evelina beside him. “You have to let him go.”
“As his lawyer, I’m requesting a full explanation as to why you’re arresting Mikhail,” Evelina snapped. “Surely you’re not suggesting it’s his fault a member of his expedition slipped and fell to his death.”
“That’s for the court to decide.” Marshal Hibbs released handcuffs from his belt and snapped them around Mikhail’s wrist.
He likely would have started leading Mikhail down the aisle, but Evelina stepped in front of him. “What’s the charge? Don’t tell me it’s murder. I’ll file a motion to dismiss and get the case thrown out before anyone can take a breath.”
“Negligent homicide.”
Evelina’s face grew white, and Alexei could see her mind start to race. “But... but you can’t charge him with that. No expedition guide has ever been charged with such a thing. People die all the time in the wilderness. It’s nature’s fault, not their guide’s.”
“Tell your arguments to the judge.” Marshal Hibbs led Mikhail back down the aisle of the church.
He went willingly and without protest, and a lump lodged in Alexei’s throat. First his ships and now his brother.
He hoped Evelina was right, and she could get Mikhail’s case thrown out before it even went to trial.
But that only meant the Caldwells would try something else.
It made him wonder just how long it would be before the Caldwells tried something he didn’t have the power to fight.
