Chapter 17
“What?” David’s mind couldn’t keep up. Zita had returned with a nasty red mark on her cheek and he wanted to know who the hell had put it there.
“I need you to go into the brothel and hire Manuela. It’s the only way we’ll get her out.” She pulled him toward the car. “I’ll be with you as your translator. We can pretend you’re into young girls and want the youngest they have.”
The mere idea made him feel ill. “There’s got to be another way.”
“There isn’t.” She glared at him. “You said you wanted to help.”
This was his fault. They wouldn’t be in this mess if he hadn’t recorded all of the information. “What’s the plan?”
Zita kept walking, pointing to the hostel across the road. “First, we need to get a room.”
A few minutes later, they were in a private room in the hostel. Zita dragged a change of clothes out of her backpack.
“We’ll go into the brothel together,” she said, stripping off her T-shirt. “I’ll tell them you heard you can get young girls there. You’re looking for the younger the better, and for a virgin you’ll pay top price.” She shrugged a new top on. “This is Manuela.”
Zita took a passport out of her backpack and showed him the photo. The girl looked similar to Teresa, and was so damned young. David felt ill. How could anyone do that to her?
“You’ll choose her and then what happens next will depend on what they do.” She changed her skirt for jeans. “I don’t know if they let the girls leave the brothel. If they want you to stay there, you need to make a fuss, say you’ve got a clean room here and you want privacy or something like that.” She waited for his response.
This was real. He had to hire a twelve-year-old girl from a brothel. His stomach swirled as he nodded.
“Then we’ll take her straight to the car, grab Johanna on the way past and get out of here.”
“What if they send someone with us?” He doubted the gang would let Manuela go alone.
“Then you’ll have to come here.” She paused, glancing around the room and then went to the window and peered out. “You can climb out.”
David walked over and stuck his head out. The room they were in was part of a row of three, and they were at the far end. There was a small strip of grass between it and the next row of rooms. He and Manuela could climb out, walk along the back and then dash between the two rows, hoping the person guarding wouldn’t see them. “It’s a long shot. Manuela won’t trust me, and I don’t speak enough Spanish to tell her what’s going on.”
Zita bit her lip. “I’ll write a note, and I have a photo of Teresa on my phone. I’ll send it to you.” She pressed a few buttons on her phone.
David opened the door as he thought it through. The distance between the rows of rooms was at least twelve feet. “If the guard is looking our way, we’re screwed.”
Zita came out. “I’ll distract him. I’m sure I can talk to him for a few minutes, wait until you go past and then make my excuses.”
“Hell no.” He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you alone with any gang member.” There was no telling what they’d do to her.
“Have you got a better idea? I can’t come into the room with you.” She moved back inside and he followed her.
She was right. He couldn’t think of another way around it. “Then what?”
“I’ll meet you at the car and we’ll get Johanna.”
“And if someone else spots us?”
She took his hand. “Your priority is Manuela. Get her away from here. If we’re spotted, or have to split up, head for the airport.”
There was no way he would leave Zita behind. David shook his head, opening his mouth to refuse, but she covered it with her hand, pleading with her eyes.
“I speak Spanish, and Johanna knows this neighborhood. Chances are if you get spotted, people will chase you and not remember Johanna until after I’ve got her.” Zita took her hand away. “The laundry is on the other side of the market. We can blend in there, then get a ride out to the airport. We both have our phones, so we can meet up there.”
David’s chest was so tight he could barely breathe. “I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, but it’s the best I can come up with. Are you ready?”
He was never going to be ready. He wanted to tell Zita how much he loved her, but it would sound like he didn’t think they’d get out of there alive. He nodded once. “Let’s go.”
