“And what’s this?”
Her vision blurs. Words won’t come. Her knees begin to buckle.
“And in your pocket, Roshaan?” He reaches for her pocket. She recoils, but he pins her against the wall and slides his big hand into her pocket. He scoops out the other bugs.
He scatters them into a small pile on the bar counter, along with the one she just pried loose. He adds another from his jacket pocket.
“Six,” he says pointing. “Are there more?”
He waits.
She’s too terrified to speak. All she can hear are Theo’s words.
We can’t have him trace the cams back to us. At any cost.
“Are there more surveillance devices, Roshaan?” Avi repeats the question. Eyes hard. Face cold. She thinks again of a garrote in his pocket, of lethal injection pens.
“No,” she whispers. “That’s all of them.”
Roshaan
Roshaan doesn’t want to die. Not for this. She still has a hope of a life ahead, doesn’t she? She can still turn everything around—she wants to. Needs to. She just wants to live. She wants to see her village again, hug her mom and dad. Laugh with her brothers and sisters.
Her entire world seems to shift on its axis as she stares into this big man’s cruel face.
“I didn’t hear you, Roshaan.”
“No.” Her voice comes out a croak. “No other devices.”
He regards her. Minutes tick by. She feels the motion of the ship as they plow toward Kusadasi.
“Why are you watching us, Roshaan? What are you looking for?”
She tries to swallow. “I-I’m not watching. It’s not me.” And she realizes she’s backed into a corner.
“If not you, who?”
Theo’s voice echoes in her head.
If you turn on me, they’ll kill me. And maybe you. You can’t back down.
She says nothing.
Avi raises his meaty hand. She flinches and turns her face away before the strike lands, but he simply runs his hand over his buzz cut.
Her heart is beating so fast she thinks she will faint.
“Sit,” he orders.
Her gaze flares to the door, to escape.
A hard smile curves his mouth. “Sit, Roshaan.”
Gingerly she seats herself on the edge of the bed.
He pulls up a chair, sits opposite her, leans forward.
“Here’s what I see. A nice-looking woman named Roshaan DaSousa. I think she’s a good woman. A fine employee. Someone who tries hard to do the right thing, always wanting to please others. But sometimes you sacrifice too much for other people. Is this right, Roshaan?”
