Page 114 of Haze of Obedience

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Tears fall down Penelope's face. "No. I know nothing. She was with me for two weeks, then they just came into the room and took her."

"The same room you talked about?" I ask Zoe.

She nods.

"Where was it?"

"Santiago's compound in Colombia, I believe."

"Could she still be in Colombia?"

Penelope wipes her face. "I don't think she is. After they took her, I could feel her getting further and further away from me. And I keep having dreams of her in snow."

"Snow?"

She sniffles. "Mm-hmm."

"She could be in the mountains then."

"Or far away from here," Penelope rises. "Sorry I need some air." She steps out the back door, and Axel follows her.

"What kind of sick bastard takes a child away from their mother," Tinker barks.

"Santiago," Zoe replies and shudders.

I still don't know what he did to her, or Penelope, or any of the other women, but if I ever see him again, he's dead.

Tinker sits and points. "Eat your food, and let's figure out your passport situation."

Zoe picks up her fork and plays with her tamale. "Can you get colored contacts?"

"Honey, I can get anything I want. By the way, I'm a big fan of yours."

"Thank you. Do you speak Spanish?"

"Not very well, but you have the voice of an angel."

"Thank you. Didn't take you as a Latin music fan."

"Honestly, when I got to Honduras, I heard your song on the radio. I already knew the words since Dirk's obsessed with you and wouldn't play anything other than your music. Any free moment we had in our room, he had your songs on. Of course, that included staring at your pictures too."

He didn't.

"Shut up, Tinker."

Zoe tries to hide her smile. "Really? Should I be concerned?"

"I would be. He used to compare his dates to you."

"Tinker! Stop making crap up."

Okay, maybe he isn't.

But that was only in my mind.

He doesn't know that.

He always has to stir the pot.

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