“Christ, Jaco. That’s a hell of a risk for the Director.”

“That’s right, it is. But I told Cage to stay home. He refused, so I’m gonna make the best of it and use him to bag my prey. And that means you and your men better be on bloody point, because this bastard’s got the skill to take out your principal if you let your guard down for an instant.”

“We’ll be ready,” Hall said.

Verdoorn hesitated a moment, then said, “I can hear it in your voice. You’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk.” Hall swigged another sip. “But I’m drinking. The boss is covered, why not?”

The South African snapped back, “Keep your fuckin’ head, Hall! I see any evidence you aren’t one hundred percent in Italy, and I’ll tell the Director about your little problem with the bottle.”

If Verdoorn expected Hall to melt in fear of this threat, Hall surprised him by saying, “I can hear it in your voice, Jaco.”

“Hear what?”

“I can tell that you are excited by the prospect of going after this Gentry. Just make sure you don’t put my principal in unnecessary danger to draw him out.”

“Your principal, my employer, put himself in unnecessary danger. You and I will untangle him from it. It’s what we do as professionals, Hall. You’re the shield, I’m the sword. We’ll both do our jobs.”

“Yeah, right,” replied the American. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

TWENTY-SIX

   Roxana slept fitfully for a few hours, but after waking and eating the best meal she’d had in years, she was told she needed to dress for a meeting with Dr. Claudia.

She didn’t have a clock, but through the portal she could see that the sun was high in the sky, so she assumed it was early afternoon when the American entered, the woman’s light but not altogether trustworthy smile on full display.

For an hour Claudia asked questions of the young Romanian woman, about her life, her education, her hopes, and her dreams. Roxana kept her answers short, clipped, and often noncommittal; sometimes she outright lied. In between, she asked questions of her own about the pipeline, none of which were answered by the psychologist.

Then the older woman began talking about money and glamour, told her how excited she was that Roxana—she called her Maja, of course—would soon be taken in by a powerful and successful man who would shower her with attention and adoration.

Roxana just stared back at her. “Are you trying to brainwash me?”

Claudia’s smile faded a little. “I don’t look at it like that. I’m here to appeal to you, to get you to understand how lucky you are.”

“I am being forced into sexual bondage. The other women on board are going to be sold into sexual bondage. You understand that, right?”

With a frustrated sigh, the American responded with, “You need to see this as your liberation.”

“My liberation?”

“Of course. You will come to America, live like a princess, and experience things you never would have had the chance to experience without this opportunity.”

“Like rape? I’m sure I could get that at home.”

Claudia frowned. It was clear to Roxana that this line of reasoning from the doctor had worked before, and the older woman was frustrated by Roxana’s reluctance.

The doctor said, “We will need to spend quite a lot of time together, you and I. I promise, by the time you reach your destination, you will be so happy about everything that has happened to you, and thankful to me for helping you digest it all and appreciate it.” She smiled broadly. “You have to be at least a little excited that you’re getting to come to America?”

“What makes you think I want to come to America?”

“Every little girl’s dream where you come from.”

Roxana cocked her head. “Maybe my mother’s. Not mine. Romania is actually a very nice country now.”

“I’m certain it is, dear.” It was the most disingenuous-sounding thing Dr. Claudia had said so far. “But the West Coast is magical, you will see.”

“Does every American think that the rest of the world is just dying to immigrate? I’m not. I was in school; I come from a good family. I didn’t want to be kidnapped.”

The American woman sighed. “It is so crucial that we make progress. There are eyes upon us.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, if you come along in this process with a more positive attitude, then it will only help you.”

“So . . . I should play a role in my own abduction?”

Claudia looked to the ceiling, obviously frustrated. She said, “Good things are in store for you, young lady.” Then she darkened considerably. “But, please, for your own good, listen to one piece of advice from me.”

“Which is?”

“The South African. John. Do what he says, when he says it. He is not a gentle man. He would fall in great disfavor with the Director if anything happened to you, but the Director would forgive him in time, and John knows it. The organization needs him to keep the operation running smoothly, so that won’t protect you. Trust me, John is the cruelest person I’ve ever met and, frankly, dear, in this organization, that is saying something.”

She added, “I am here to help you along your path, but this path will have some bumps along the way. John, and the Greek who owns the yacht, they are the bumps you’ll have to contend with before I get you to your final destination.”

Maja didn’t know what the doctor meant by any of this, but she knew it was nothing good.

* * *

• • •

I sleep like the dead until my alarm goes off—no dreams about the girls, but they are the first thing I think about when I wake. I feel the aches and pains of the fight in Dubrovnik, the fatigue of the days of little rest, but at least I’m doing better than I was when I got to town.

I stumble into the bathroom and toss water on my face, then go check on Talyssa. I find her awake, but lying in the fetal position on the bed.

“You okay?”

“Everything hurts. My neck, my shoulder, my arm, my back. I can barely move.”

“Some asshole must have flipped your van over last night.”

She smiles a little at this and makes herself sit up. We both take anti-inflammatories, drinking them down with bottled water, and then she brews coffee in the pot in the kitchen, which we consume quickly, purely for the caffeine.