“I’d sure like to know who they killed,” Shields said. “If it was one of the journalists, we should know soon. The US government has asked for proof that the two journalists are alive to buy us some time.”
“This is going to be a complicated operation.” Andris didn’t need to tell them that. “We’ve got forty-eight hours to get in there and get this job done. We’ll be wheels up at zero-six-hundred hours tomorrow.”
Hell, yeah.
Shit was about to get real.
* * *
“What should I do now?”Gabriela pretended not to know she had a straight flush.
Somehow, Gordito had gotten them a deck of cards. Because a nun probably wouldn’t have mastered poker, Gabriela had played ignorant, prompting Gordito, who’d gotten sick of watching her lose, to become her coach.
“Call it.”
“I call.” Gabriela set her cards down on the blanket.
Tim grinned. “That’s the third hand you’ve won.”
Gabriela translated this for Gordito, doing all she could to create a bond between him and his prisoners. “You’re a good teacher.”
“I used to play poker all the time.”
“Don’t tell me you gambled, Gordito?” She smiled.
He chuckled. “Are you trying to make me feel guilty,Hermana?”
“If guilt works, then…”
Gordito’s phone buzzed, the smile leaving his face. He drew the phone out of his pocket and answered. “Sí. Sí, Jefe.”Yes, boss.
He ended the call, stood, his expression grave. “Hide the cards. Now!”
“We need to hide the cards,” Gabriela told the others, gathering them up.
Heavy footfalls on the stairs.
By the time the door opened and Pitón walked in, the cards were tucked away in their box and hidden beneath Dianne’s blanket.
Pitón dropped a copy of today’s newspaper on Dianne’s lap. “Have these two hold up the paper while I take a photo. The bastards in Washington want proof that they’re still alive before they release the money.”
Then he noticed Gabriela. “Not you, whore. You stand over there. Nobody cares if you’re alive, not even your God.”
Gabriela stood, stepped away from Dianne and Tim, eagernotto be in the photo. The last thing any of them needed was for her face to appear in US newspapers. People might recognize her.
She watched while Tim and Dianne held up the paper and looked into the camera on Gordito’s cell phone.
Gordito took a couple of images then uploaded them to someone.
Was the person he’d calledJefeLuis Sánchez?
Gabriela wanted to get her hands on that phone.
Then Pitón was gone again, even Gordito looking relieved.
An hour later, one of the men shouted down to Gordito that the hostages’ supper was ready. “Send up the nun to get it!”
“I’m going with you, Hermana. I don’t trust thatmalparido.”