— Mom! Mom! There… There… — the little girl struggled to say something, but it wouldn’t come out.
— What is it, sweetheart? What happened? — Alice crouched in front of her daughter, reaching out and feeling her arms with concern. — Who scared you?
— There’s Dad — the daughter gasped, and then a voice of Rodion rang out:
— So you’ve been caught, you little devil!
Alice slowly turned her head toward the voice, and her blood turned to ice in her veins.