Page 4 of Summer Heatwave
Tala jumped up from her seat and threw her arms around Dylan.Everyone seemed surprised, especially the lieutenant.He uncomfortably patted her shoulder then peeled her off him while he gently told her to sit down.
“Tala, I’m so glad they got you out of that place,” Dylan said as he sat in the chair across the table from her, putting them at eye level.“Why did you want to see me?”
Tala stared at her folded hands on the table for a long minute.Lifting only her eyes, in a quiet voice, she mumbled, “You nice to me an nobody nice in long time.Very long time.”
Dylan smiled.“It was easy to be nice to you.You helped me by telling me the truth and we were able to stop Miss Nami.Now we need you to tell the immigration agents the truth so we can be sure we punish all the bad people.Will you please talk with the agents?”
In a flash, Tala reached across the table and grabbed Dylan’s hands.“No.I talk to you.I need you to help me.”Her eyes darted around the small room as though looking for someone hidden in a corner.Then, leaning over the table she whispered.“More girls.Lots more girls.My friend Perlah.You have to save Perlah.”Tears streaked her pretty face.“Please.Help my friend get away, too, so we can go home, two of us.”
Dylan put his large hand over both of hers.“It’s okay.If you tell the agents where they can find Perlah, they’ll go get her.”He started to stand.“Let me get one of the immigration agents in here to talk to you.”
“No!”Tala screamed and grabbed onto his hand with both of hers.“I talk to you.Only you.You promised to help.”
The pleading look in Dylan’s eyes forced Kam to step around Commander Mike Gallagher and open the door.
Tala hid behind Dylan, never letting go of his hand.“Go away.I no talk to you.”
Kam exchanged a glance with Dylan.He mouthedI’ve got this.
Completely unsure, Kam raised her eyebrows and held Dylan’s gaze.With a slight chin lift, he pulled Tala around to face him, shifting his attention to the trembling young girl.
“Okay, Tala, you can talk to me.”His gaze met Kam’s once again.“Let’s just sit back down and we’ll talk some more.”He steered her into the seat with her back to the door and Kam.“See, the nice immigration agent is leaving.”
“She not nice,” Tala insisted.“She questions mean.”
Taken aback by the young girl’s words, Kam wanted to argue.Instead, she stepped back into the hall.She’d been nice to Tala, or so she thought.Her interrogation techniques were direct, and she expected immediate and honest answers.She didn’t have time to coddle these girls, listen to them cry.Her job was to gather as much information as possible and turn the girls over to the Victim Assistance Program as soon as possible.
“All SEALs are trained in interrogation techniques, especially officers.”The commander’s voice grated on Kam’s already raw nerves.
Whipping her head to the side, she glared at him.“If he lays one hand on her, I’ll personally bring him up on assault charges.”
Commander Gallagher threw his hands up, palms facing her as though he was going to push her back.“Although SEALs are trained to resist interrogations that involve physical pain, they’re also trained to ask the right questions.They have extensive training in reading body language, knowing when to leave a line of questions and circle back to them later.Lieutenant Chaney will get what you need.Give him time.”
Kam didn’t miss the glance of approval from Captain Hubbard as all three tuned back into the discussion Dylan was having with Tala.
“Tell me about Perlah.”Dylan’s question seemed very casual.
“We work in bar many months in Philippines.”
Dylan’s smile was very friendly.“Where in the Philippines?I’ve been there.”
The girl’s dark brown eyes seemed to light up.“I from Panay.Papa have banana farm but when I become woman, recruiter say I can get better job in city.He told Papa I could work in factory, make much more money.Help family.Send money back to Papa.He lied.He took me to Manila, bought me pretty clothes.Lady teach me how to put on makeup.Recruiter say I too pretty to work in factory.I make more money in bar.That’s where I met Perlah.”
“Did you make a lot of money at the bar?”Again, Dylan’s question seemed to be casual and logical.Kam wanted him to move on, but Tala was giving them a lot of information.At least they now knew where she came from.
The small girl’s shoulders rose slightly then dropped.“I’m just a girl and not good with numbers.The recruiter kept my money.He and his lady bought me food and clothes and I lived in apartment with twelve other girls.”Her smile was genuine.“It was fun.Perlah lived there too.Like sisters.I not alone.”The smile fell from Tala’s face as she withdrew into herself once again.She gallantly fought to hold back tears but lost the good fight.With the backs of her hands, she wiped away tears that started to stream down her cheeks.“I missed my brothers and sisters.Miss them much.”
Without missing a beat, Dylan asked, “Did you come from a big family?”
Tala nodded.“Eleven and Mama pregnant again.Probably two or three more babies now.”She put her head back down on her knees.“Too many babies.Too many hungry bellies.”
As though she suddenly remembered her purpose, Tala lifted her head with pride.“I oldest.I have to go to city, work hard, send money back to Papa.”
Dylan nodded his head slowly as though he understood.“You went to work in the bar, and I’ll bet you worked hard serving drinks.Were you expected to do other things for the men in the bars?Things like you had to do at Miss Nami’s?”
Kam was impressed at how he smoothly slid into that line of questioning.
“No.”When she shook her head, her long hair barely moved.“The lady said we could if we wanted to, but I say no.I good Catholic girl.”She sniffed and used the backs of her hands to wipe away tears.“Now I bad girl.I no go to Mass since coming here.”
