— his voice was sharp. — Alexandra, that’s your family, isn’t it? Did you lead them here? Did you think this was an easy score?
Shura froze, grabbing the back of the sofa. She felt her face burn with indignation. She wanted to say something, but a spasm seized her throat. At that moment, a police officer entered the living room.
— Kirill Borisovich, look at this, — the officer held out a clear evidence bag. — We found this in one of the detainee’s pockets.
The man took the bag and peered at its contents. Inside lay his own business card—the expensive one with gold embossing. It was crumpled, stained with dried brine and gray road dirt, but still perfectly legible. Kirill Borisovich stared at it for a long time, and Shura saw his expression change. The clenched muscles in his jaw relaxed, and the anger in his eyes was replaced by a heavy, sincere shame. He realized that he himself had dropped the card yesterday into the mess of broken jars and cucumbers, right at this girl’s feet.
— So, they picked it up off the ground, — he said in a hollow voice. — Forgive me, Sasha. I’m ashamed. I… I shouldn’t have thought that.
He took out his phone and unlocked the screen. For a while, he stood in silence, looking at it.
— I saw them break in through the app, saw them smashing the cameras in the hall and the kitchen, — he said, still looking at the screen. — Then everything went dark. I called the police right away. One camera survived, in Liza’s room. — He paused, then looked at Shura, his eyes glistening. — I just watched the archived recording from it. You stood your ground until the end, Sashenka. You didn’t give my daughter to those people. You risked yourself for her.
The housekeeper spoke up:
— She saved Lizonka twice in two days. I think it’s fate, Kirill Borisovich. We certainly won’t find a better caregiver.
Liza, who had been standing next to Shura the whole time, hugged her savior. The wealthy man watched them, and his eyes grew moist.
— Sashenka, stay with us. I don’t need an employee with a diploma in this house, I need a person with a heart. Stay. You’ll be Liza’s caregiver, officially, with a good salary and all the rights. And I can see that Liza won’t let you go.
— I won’t, — the girl confirmed, hugging her friend even tighter.
Shura looked at Liza, then at Galina Vasilyevna, who nodded in approval, and finally at the master of the house.
— I won’t leave you, — she answered quietly. — Where would I go from you now?
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