Page 158 of Depths of Destruction
"She worked on both. Her airline had a private sector, and she went where they told her to go. Zoe didn't remember her, and Julieta informed Zoe she had been on at least a dozen private flights with her."
"But Zoe didn't remember her?"
"No."
"Was she high? It wouldn't be the first time a musician was too doped up to notice the people around them. Or maybe she's just pompous?" Blaise asks.
"Zoe didn't seem like a drug addict to me. And I know she's a bit high maintenance, but she wasn't arrogant," I say.
Naomi stops pacing. "No, but she wouldn't take the pain medication, even though it wasn't a typical habit-forming narcotic. Maybe she's had fourteen months to detox?"
I take a deep breath. "So, Zoe knew two of the three women and would have potentially met Penelope had she not been sick?"
Naomi nods. "Yes. It could be a coincidence, but..."
Blaise puts his arms over his chest. "Zoe hadn't met you or your sister?"
"No."
"Ryker thought things were connected. He didn't think it was a coincidence all six of you were in the pit together. Especially after months of the other women missing," I inform them.
"Zoe is connected to everyone but Naomi or Emilia," Blaise points out.
"But what if there is a connection? What if my story is the connection?"
"What do you mean?"
Naomi holds her cheeks. "I don't know yet. But Vanessa's ex is in the cabinet. My story involves him, but it involves his acceptance of drug cartel money."
The room goes quiet except for Naomi tapping her fingers on the counter.
Blaise's eyes widen. "Naomi, what if your story isn't about politicians illegally funding their campaigns?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hear me out on this, but what if that's just the surface level?"
My pulse increases. "And?"
"Besides the financial gain, why else would they accept drug cartel money? And why would they have Nicolas Gómez locked up if they accepted money from Santiago?"
"I don't know. I've been...oh..." Naomi puts her hand over her mouth and stares at us.
"What?" I ask.
"I can't believe I never saw this."
"What?" I repeat.
"Behind closed doors. Blaise is right. Ezra was trying to tell me I needed to look beyond the obvious."
"What else do you believe could be going on?" Blaise asks.
"The guerrillas kidnapped Vanessa and then sold her to Santiago, which could mean the guerrillas and Colombian cartel are working together. But what if there's a shift in power going on? What if the Belizean politicians are helping Jonas Torres and his cartel take over the international drug trade? What if they have their hands in his cartel so they directly profit from it?"
"If they weren't planning on taking more of Gómez's money, that would explain why they have Nicolas locked up," I say.
"Julieta also said the airlines were aware the cartel is transporting drugs through commercial flights."
