Page 25 of Risks of Temptation
I ask in French, "Why did he take the sixth woman?"
"What woman?"
"The journalist's sister. Why did he take her?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Louis told me five women."
My heart beats faster. "There are six. All had folders."
The line goes quiet.
Why would the head of Interpol not tell us about this sixth woman?
"They all had a purpose to him. What is hers?" I ask.
"I have no information. I will speak with Louis."
"There's another thing."
"What?"
"The journalist is supposed to go to the U.S. We've not been sent the coordinates to deliver the other women."
More silence, except for the bats flying above my head.
His voice lowers, and a sense of dread fills me. "The U.S.?"
"Exactly."
"When is delivery?"
"Another thing we have no orders for."
Gustave sighs. "Why would Louis risk their safety? They are all valuable."
"You tell me."
"Let me look into this."
"Thanks. Bye." I hang up, and my head spins. Something feels off. Emilia should never have been with Santiago. Interpol knew everything about the women, including when Santiago's thugs were abducting Naomi. I didn't find anything out until yesterday, and I don't know how long Louis knew.
It burned me when I found out how long Penelope and the others had been with Santiago. When I questioned Gustave, he said Louis only got the intel a few days ago.
But something is nagging me. It's as if it's right under my nose, but I can't see it.
I pace the edge of the jungle and finally go into the tent Andre took Emilia and Naomi to. Andre is on the ground next to Naomi. She and Emilia are on the air mattress with a blanket over them. Naomi faces Andre. Emilia stares in the opposite direction.
I pause briefly, worried I might scare her. Her eyes are wide open, so I move slowly, hoping she knows it's me and doesn't freak. I get several feet in front of her, and she inhales deeply, closes her eyes, and inhales again.
I lean into her ear and murmur, "It's only me, ma belle."
She exhales and nods.
"I'll be right here if you need anything." I lay my head on my backpack and spend the rest of the night watching her, only sleeping a little here and there.
All night, I wonder why Santiago kidnapped her, and why she wasn't on the original list, yet Interpol still knew about her. Kalim would have gotten the folders before he left. His team arrived in Belize as I got the five folders in France.
Kalim left France with six.
