{"id":2429,"date":"2022-09-24T18:25:37","date_gmt":"2022-09-25T01:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2429"},"modified":"2022-09-24T18:25:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T01:25:37","slug":"the-ministers-daughter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2022\/09\/24\/the-ministers-daughter\/","title":{"rendered":"The Minister’s Daughter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Begin your story with somebody getting (or taking) the blame for something they didn\u2019t do.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou sure you don\u2019t want to change your account, Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna Carter shook her head and rested her face in her hands. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDamn it! Ms. Petrova already told us that it was consensual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna looked at the agent with fire in her eyes. \u201cNo. She\u2019s just scared and confused. I\u2026forced her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know you\u2019re lying, Carter. Why?\u201d Special Agent Weaver leaned forward on his elbows, moving into her space. \u201cYou\u2019re throwing away your entire career, your pension\u2026and<\/em>\u2026you\u2019ll be facing some serious jail time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHere, or in the states?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know we\u2019ll try to get you back to the states, but we can\u2019t guarantee it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter, my story doesn\u2019t change.\u201d Brianna crossed her arms and raised her head. \u201cI met Oksana at a restaurant on Tsentralnaya Prospekt and we had a few drinks. The restaurant was closing, and she invited me to her place for drinks, nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce we got there, I forced her, against her will. She thinks I\u2019m CIA, that\u2019s why she\u2019s telling you it was consensual; she\u2019s scared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver sighed. \u201cLook, if you don\u2019t tell me the truth, I can\u2019t help you. The State Department can handle you had an affair with a local. But you\u2019re willing to take the rap for\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna nodded as silent tears ran down her face. \u201cI\u2019ll stick to that story forever, if I have to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver pulled a folder out of the briefcase by his feet and opened it for Briana to see. \u201cThis contradicts your story. You\u2019ve been seeing Oksana Petrova for the last nine weeks. She\u2019s been your guest for several overnights, and already cleared by embassy security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re willing to drop the indecency charge against you, and not turn this into an international incident. But you have to play along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna slammed the folder shut. \u201cWhy would you bring that here<\/em>?! You stupid, dickless, shit-for-brains moron!\u201d Brianna broke down in tears. \u201cThere\u2019s almost no way they\u2019ll buy it now. Do your penance for bringing that in here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to march out of here, right now<\/em>, and convince them that I am a sick, perverted rapist, and that Oksana Petrova is a victim. You got that?\u201d Brianna slammed her palm on the table. \u201cUntil I\u2019ve got word that Oksana\u2019s been released, I\u2019m not cooperating with you or<\/em> the State Department.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I convince them Ms. Petrova is a victim, there\u2019s no way they don\u2019t prosecute you here. You\u2019ll \u2018disappear\u2019 your first week in prison, in some \u2018transfer incident\u2019 and you\u2019ll never be heard from again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBetter me than her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s facing an indecency charge. It\u2019s a maximum sixty-day sentence for a first offense.\u201d Weaver tucked the folder back in the briefcase and leaned on the table close to her again. \u201cWhy would you risk your life?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you think will happen when the daughter of the Minister for Social Morality goes to prison for indecency? Ivan Petrov has already shown a willingness to sacrifice anybody and everybody for his position. Igor Petrov\u2026does that name ring a bell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHis brother,\u201d Weaver said. \u201cYou think he was\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know<\/em> he was murdered. The embassy has video from Petrov\u2019s home. He didn\u2019t go climbing in the mountains and disappear. Ivan gunned him down at the dinner table. That was for a forum post that questioned the Morality Minister\u2019s authority to enact his anti-gay legislation. What do you think he\u2019ll do when he finds out his daughter is in prison for violating it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re willing to risk a major international incident \u2014 not to mention your own life \u2014 to save Ms. Petrova?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a hot second.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have to make some calls.\u201d Weaver groaned. \u201cDon\u2019t say anything<\/em> to the police until I get back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan you promise to get Oksana released today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do everything in my power.\u201d Weaver stood. \u201cCan you promise to keep your mouth shut?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do everything in my power.\u201d As Weaver reached for the door, Brianna called out, \u201cWait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver turned back toward her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBring your phone here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t let you make a call,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI won\u2019t, you will.\u201d Weaver handed her his phone and she entered a number along with instructions in his note app. \u201cIf it\u2019s looking like you can\u2019t get Oksana released today, call that number and get her an attorney. She won\u2019t survive in a cell overnight. Her father will see to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a long hour until Weaver returned to the interrogation room, during which time a few curious local police had opened the door to look in, then left without saying anything. Weaver came in, an argument in Russian blaring from his phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He interrupted the other parties. \u201cThis isn\u2019t going anywhere. I\u2019m sorry for taking up your time.\u201d He hung up before anyone on the call could respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat was that about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMs. Petrova is dual citizen. I thought maybe the Russian embassy could help out. At first, they were willing, until they heard the charge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could\u2019ve told you that would be a dead end. They don\u2019t have the same laws, but the attitude\u2019s not much different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver sat down and leaned close to Brianna. \u201cWhat would happen if we could get her to Russia?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHonestly, I would expect them to extradite her back here immediately.\u201d Brianna grabbed Weaver\u2019s hand. \u201cIt\u2019s time to get her a lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver nodded and dialed the number she\u2019d put in the note. He sat quiet for a moment, listening, then answered. \u201cYeah, we could use a good lawyer here at the police station in Kuznezran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA US citizen and a local. \u2026 That\u2019s right. \u2026 She said the hummingbird doesn\u2019t know the words. \u2026 Yeah, sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hung up and looked at Brianna who was staring daggers at him. \u201cIn here? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver sat down and leaned close again, speaking softly. \u201cIf I leave the station, I\u2019ve been told I can\u2019t come back. They\u2019re only allowing me here as a courtesy. As in, as long as I keep trying to convince you to agree to their version of the story, I can be here. Otherwise, I\u2019m interfering in their investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShit.\u201d Brianna laid her head on the desk. \u201cThis is so fucked up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy were you doing\u2026that<\/em>\u2026at her place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t.\u201d Brianna took his phone and tapped out another message in his notes app. \u201cThis is for my family,\u201d she said, \u201csince I may not see them for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The message, however, read, \u201cWent to O\u2019s to get her papers, apply for asylum at embassy. In O\u2019s less than a minute, police kicked down door, false report.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weaver nodded and put his phone away. The two sat quietly until a commotion arose outside the door. \u201cStay put, I\u2019m going to see what this is about,\u201d Weaver said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had no sooner reached for the door than it flew open. A tall, blonde woman in a business suit entered, holding a briefcase in one hand and a bag of Brianna\u2019s belongings, including her shoes, in the other. She tossed the bag to Brianna. \u201cI\u2019m Sasha Makarova, your attorney. Come on, Carter, we\u2019re taking you back to the embassy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot without Oksana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have<\/em> to go, now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna stood and stared at the tall woman. \u201cNot. Without. Oksana.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sasha narrowed her eyes. \u201cAfter this, you owe me one.\u201d She stepped out of the open room and motioned over the station chief. After a high-speed exchange in Russian, she flashed a stack of US currency in the briefcase. He nodded and walked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s on her way. You two, get ready to go. If your shoes aren\u2019t tied, that\u2019s your problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The station chief appeared outside the door again, leading Oksana, still barefoot, and holding her bag of belongings. Sasha looked at Oksana and nodded. \u201cPut your shoes on, quick.\u201d She stepped out into the hallway with the station chief and masked the exchange of money from the hallway cameras with her bag, leaving it apparent to the trio in the interrogation room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oksana slipped her shoes on, and Sasha said, \u201cLet\u2019s go, kids.\u201d She led them to a waiting SUV which sped them to the embassy while Weaver made plans on his phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey took my passports,\u201d Oksana said. \u201cMy Kryznian and<\/em> Russian ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWon\u2019t be a problem,\u201d Weaver said. \u201cYou\u2019ll both be getting on a diplomatic flight out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sasha pulled off her heels and kicked them to the side, then stripped to her underwear and put on jeans, a sweatshirt and a pair of running shoes that had been waiting in the truck. \u201cI hate those things. And those weren\u2019t your passports. That<\/em> Oksana Petrova is currently on holiday in Spain. This<\/em> Oksana Petrova happens to be a US citizen. Seeing how her passports were brought back to the Republic of Kryznia by a tourist, she\u2019s soon going to be considered missing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks, Susan\u2026Sasha,\u201d Brianna said, \u201cwhatever your name is today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSasha\u2019s burned after this, and I doubt I can work in Kryznia again. I\u2019ll be flying back with you under my own name.\u201d She looked at Oksana, huddled close to Brianna. \u201cThis is the one you\u2019ve been telling me about?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d Brianna took Oksana\u2019s hand and squeezed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMom\u2019s gonna be pissed I got to meet her first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, she\u2019s gonna be pissed you were ready to leave her behind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I didn\u2019t have enough of a bribe for the station chief, I would\u2019ve had to. Would have dragged you out kicking and screaming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank god it didn\u2019t come to that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susan looked at her sister with a raised eyebrow. \u201cThis time.\u201d Switching to Russian, she turned to Oksana and asked, \u201cHas Bri told you about the time I had to rescue her from a biker bar in Burbank?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna slapped Susan on the leg. \u201cSusan, no! No you don\u2019t! And it wasn\u2019t a rescue!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susan smirked. \u201cYes I do and yes it was. We\u2019re almost at the embassy\u2026I\u2019ll tell you on the flight. Bri always passes out after takeoff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna growled at her sister while Oksana chuckled. \u201cThis,\u201d Oksana said, \u201cis what sisters do, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brianna shook her head while Susan beamed and said, \u201cExactly!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Begin your story with somebody getting (or taking) the blame for something they didn\u2019t do. available at Reedsy \u201cYou sure you don\u2019t want to change your account, Carter?\u201d Brianna Carter shook her head and …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[214,210,209],"class_list":["post-2429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-drama","tag-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pxT7i-Db","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2429"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2430,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2429\/revisions\/2430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}