"I'll assume you're all guilty until someone proves otherwise."
Yuri, who’s been quiet all this time, shifts in his seat. "Pakhan, that's—" He stops, choosing his words carefully. "That’s not reasonable."
"I decide what’s reasonable and what isn’t.” My father sits back down, calmer now and settling into his chair like a czar reclaiming his throne. "I'm the Pakhan. What I say is law."
He adjusts his collar, smoothing his tie, burying his rage under a disguise of control.
"Now. I'm going to go around this table. Each of you will tell me where you were the night of the fire. If I'm not satisfied with your answers, there will be consequences."
He looks at Sergei first.
"You."
"I was visiting my sister in Zamoskvorechye and stayed the entire night. We went to a restaurant. I can even show you the receipt if you want.”
My father nods, his expression unreadable. He tilts his head toward Pasha.
"I was home with my wife. She can confirm."
My father snorts. "Blyad.Your wife would lie for you as long as you give her money."
Pasha’s face burns red. "That might be true, but I was still at home all night."
Yuri speaks up before my father can ask. "I was going over paperwork at the gas station on Vostochniy. You can check the security footage.”
"What about you?" He points to Alexei.
"I was home sleeping.”
“Alone?”
Alexei chuckles. “It’s good to sleep alone sometimes.”
My father glares at him. “Convenient.”
I wait for his gaze to land on me.
"Roman. Where were you?"
"Zarechny district. I had business to handle."
"What kind of business?"
"I was on Stromynka. The electronics shop there wanted another location. I gave him permission, then I stopped by the restaurant down the block and reminded the manager what happens if he changes his mind.”
"Alone?"
"Who else would be with me?” I shrug. “If you don’t believe me, you can call them
yourself."
"What time were you at each place?"
"The electronics shop around nine. The restaurant around ten-thirty, maybe eleven."
"And after?"
"I was tired. I went home."
