Page 34 of French Escapade

Élodie

We leave the room, abandoning the young woman Ken rescued. As we walk away, I’m torn by a maelstrom of emotions. For a moment, just a few minutes ago, I thought the evening was going to turn into a tragedy. I’m safe now, but there’s this girl. This shadow of a young woman we’ve left alone in that room with a man who is anything but a good Samaritan. How many other helpless girls are here in the same situation?

Ken looks at me. He seems to feel that I’m losing it. He takes my hand, opens a door on his right, and pulls me in behind him.

My nose tells me we’re in a large closet used to store cleaning supplies. A weak bulb barely lights the space.

“Are you okay?” asks the handsome military man.

In this small place, I’m pressed against him. I feel his breath on my face and read worry in his eyes.

“Thank you. You just saved my day,” I tell him.

He rests his large palms on my bare shoulders. The unexpected contact makes me shiver. Are you sure you’re okay? “You’re shaking.”

“No big deal. It’s the adrenaline drop. It will pass.”

Or it won’t.

Sure, Arkady surprised me, but it’s not what’s troubling me now. No, it’s my closeness to this green-eyed American.

My reaction doesn’t make sense. When working an op, I concentrate on the task at hand. Right. But somehow my brain didn’t get the memo, unless Arkady’s appearance scared me so badly that I lost a few brain cells.

I try to pull away. Given the size of the closet, it’s mission impossible without stepping out. Ken holds me close to him.

“We’re gonna go back out there,” he whispers. “But take a moment to breathe first.”

I nod like a puppet. I can’t look away. He appears so calm, serene. I guess it’s one of the requirements for his job. Who knows what he’s had to face on duty?

Is he like that in civilian life? When he’s not running after terrorists or men who abducted his sister, that is.

We remain like that for a bit, and then Ken breaks the silence. “I know … no, I’m actually sure now, they are going to auction off the girls tonight.”

“I know.”

He frowns and asks, “You suspected it, right?”

I can’t find my words. Somehow, I feel as if I betrayed him by not sharing my suspicions with him earlier. I wanted to protect him. Will he understand?

I mumble, “Yes.”

He looks away but doesn’t remove his hands.

“I … each time I think I’ve seen or heard the worst, I realize mankind is more evil than I thought.”

“I’m surprised. You didn’t know this type of traffic existed?”

“Knowing it is not the same as seeing it with my own eyes.” He sighs. His tone tells me there are many other things he knows about that I’m better off ignoring.

“Me neither. I have never been in a case dealing with this. I … I had doubts. I had some information, I had heard stuff. You know, I had been told Arkady exported goods and possibly girls. Earlier, when I saw there was going to be a sale, my suspicion grew it was girls. And now it’s confirmed.”

“The guy in charge of security didn’t even try to sugarcoat it.”

“Same for me. Did he tell you about the roses?”

“No.” He’s surprised. “What about the roses?”

“Only the men who wear a red one on their lapel are allowed in the auction room. I was told my presence was tolerated to entertain some of the guests, but only those who do not wear the roses. It’s like a VIP pass, and I’m sort of a consolation prize,” I joke, trying to loosen up the tension.

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