Perez, whoever he was, would surely look inside the bin, too. Had they hidden themselves well enough?
Footsteps drew near, stopped.
Then a shaft of daylight spilled in—and Gabriela’s heart seemed to stop.
“Dios mío, it stinks!” The lid closed again, footsteps heading the other way now.
“Easy,Hermana.” Dylan’s voice was a reassuring whisper. “He’s leaving.”
They waited for what felt like an eternity before Dylan got to his feet and lifted the lid to peek outside.
“They’re gone.” He shouldered his pack, opened the bin, and climbed out, reaching back to help Gabriela. “We need to find somewhere to—”
“Señor. Hermana.”A boy who couldn’t have been more than seven or eight years old motioned to them from a back door down the alley.“¡Vengan! Los soldados los están buscando.Mi madre puede esconderlos.”Come!Soldiers are looking for you. My mother can hide you.
Dylan cursed under his breath, hiding his pistol with his body until it was back in its holster. “Hey, friend.” Dylan walked closer. “Is your mother here?”
A window just above Gabriela went up, and a woman with short hair stuck her head out, an angry expression on her face. She let loose on Dylan, scolding him in angry Spanish. “Why are you hiding this poor Sister in the garbage, you idiot? Quit talking, and come inside before someone recognizes her!”
“Dylan.” Gabriela whispered his name in warning, doing her best in the few seconds she had to rein in her adrenaline and assess the situation.
There was surely a reward for Dylan’s capture. For families facing hardship, that money would be hard to turn down. Was this a trap?
It was the boy’s guileless eyes that convinced her, soft brown eyes that held no hint of deception.
She looked up at the woman in the window. “Gracias, señora.”
Thank you, ma’am.
Dylan held the door for Gabriela, the child looking up at her as if she were a saint come to life.
She smiled. “What is your name?”
“Yadiel.”
“Thank you for finding us, Yadiel.”
The boy gave her a shy smile that put dimples in his cheeks.
Yadiel’s mother hurried past them to close and lock the door. “I saw you jump into the garbage from my window. Those soldiers are searching for a man traveling with a nun. I recognized your face from the television,Hermana. Yadiel, close the curtains. I don’t want anyone to see our guests.”
“This is dangerous for you, ma’am.” Dylan clearly had the same fear that Gabriela did. “If those men find out we were here—”
“Those devils.” The woman’s face twisted with anger. “You don’t have to tell me that. They killed my husband eighteen months ago.”
Gabriela crossed herself. “I’m so sorry. May God grant his soul repose.”
Grief flashed in the woman’s eyes and disappeared again. “I’m Laura. Let’s see what we can do to keep the same thing from happening to you.”
* * *
While Sister Maríaspoke with Laura and Yadiel, Dylan memorized the location of doors and windows in case they needed to get out in a hurry, his gaze taking in the details of Laura’s apartment. The tidy kitchen. A framed photo of a dark-haired man sitting beside a tiny sculpture of the Virgin Mary. The crucifix on the wall. A row of worn shoes on a mat by the front door.
“I don’t have much to eat, but what I have I’m happy to share.” Laura gestured to the round kitchen table. “Please sit. Can I make you some tea? I don’t have coffee.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I know how hard it is to find food.” Sister María sat at the table. “I wouldn’t want to deprive you or your son of—”
“It would be a blessing to me to help you,Hermana.”