Author's note: This is a work of fiction. All characters are fictitious and over the age of eighteen. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Chapter 3
"Sit down, Detectives," Captain Hendricks said. "Do either of you have any idea why I asked you to meet with me?"
"No." Detective Harris fidgeted with the files in his hand and refused to look Hendricks in the eye.
"Is this about our closed file reports?" Detective Espinoza asked. "I think I can explain that dip. As you know, we've both been in court testifying on the O'Mara prosecution. The Assistant State's Attorney has been monopolizing our time this month with briefings and strategy sessions. Every day she's had at least one us tied up until after midnight for two straight weeks. We haven't been out on the street as much as we'd like to be."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Hendricks took off his glasses and glared at Espinoza. "Cadet Alvarado hasn't reported to the Academy in over a week. Do either of you know anything about her absence?"
"No, sir," Harris answered.
"When did it become my responsibility to babysit cadets?" Espinoza sneered. "I have cases to close."
"It just seems rather suspicious to me that the very person you two recommended for this covert operation turned up missing a week before it was scheduled to take place."
"Then I suppose you made the correct decision when you elected not to approve it," Espinoza said.
"Cadet Alvarado did not impress me as the type that would drop out of the program just weeks before graduation," Hendricks countered. "I got the impression that she's made of sterner stuff than that."
"Maybe she had personal issues, you know?" Espinoza looked out the window. "Stuff at home. Boyfriend problems. Who knows?"
Harris' head snapped up. He shot a quick look at Espinoza and then bent his neck again.
"Is there something you want to add, Harris?"
"No, sir."
"Her instructors are baffled. She's near the top of her class, they tell me. Her phone goes straight to voice mail. It makes no sense. Unless she went out of town, for some unknown reason."
"We haven't spoken to her, Captain," Espinoza said.
"Run by her apartment. Talk to her family. Find out whatever you can and report back to me."
"Yes, sir." Harris looked up at Hendricks. His eyes were moist.
"Are we excused?" Espinoza asked.
"Get out of here."
* * * *
Dana sat in the stateroom on Las Casas' boat, picking at the plate of food in front of her. Las Casas was in the house meeting with his advisors, leaving her alone for the third consecutive evening.
After killing Crespo, Dana ran out of the house and holed herself up on the yacht. The twins took turns watching over her, but Dana refused to talk to them or anyone else. She cried herself to sleep that night, not even waking up when Las Casas joined her in the bed just before dawn. She awoke the next morning with his arms around her and his erection poking her in the back, but she did not respond and he did not press the issue.
Dana spent the next day alone on the yacht. The twins continued to check on her, but otherwise she was left alone. Plates of food were brought to her at mealtime, but she ate very little.
In the evening she asked Ana to bring her a bottle of champagne. Ana returned with a bottle of Dom Perignon, which Dana finished in less than an hour. She asked Micaela to bring her a second bottle, which she took with her to the hot tub. Ana found her an hour later, her chin resting on her chest and the empty bottle floating in the frothy water. Ana helped Dana out of the tub and dragged her limp body to the stateroom. The brunette removed Dana's bikini and put her to bed. Dana was snoring before Ana could turn off the lights.
Dana awoke the next day with Micaela sleeping at her side. Las Casas spent the night in the house, and left Micaela to watch over her. Dana spent most of that day in bed with the curtains drawn and the lights off. Her epic hangover was compounded by the gentle rocking of the boat. At one point she considered relocating to the house, but the searing pain she experienced when she tried to stand ended that thought.
It was late in the afternoon when she was finally able to sit up. She didn't stir when breakfast or lunch were brought to her, but by dinner time she was feeling hungry. The twins brought her a plate of churrasco, rice, and tostones. There was also bowl of diced fruit and a basket of bread. Dana picked at the churrasco, nibbled on the tostones, and ignored the rice and bread. She ate most of the fruit, leaving little for the twins.
"
El Jefe
says that if you don't come out of here by tomorrow morning, then we're supposed to drag you out," Micaela said.
Dana looked up from her food and saw Micaela glaring at her.
"Stop lying," Ana scolded.
"I'm ... not feeling well," Dana said.
"We know," Micaela said. "We heard you this morning puking in the head. How much did you drink last night?"
"I don't know," Dana answered. "Two bottles of champagne? Three? I'm not sure."
"First time you ever killed someone?" Ana extended her hand to rub Dana's arm.
"Yes."
"It gets easier," Micaela said.
"Have the two of you killed before?"
"Yes," Ana answered. She dropped her head and looked at the table, then peered out the window. "Several times. The first time was the hardest. Pulling the trigger was easy, but I froze when the body hit the ground. I would have been captured if my sister wasn't there to pull me out of it."
"Who was it?"
"A maggot," Micaela sneered.
"A party politician who was scheming with El General's rivals to discredit him," corrected Ana.
"The world is a better place without him." Micaela said. "El General would have been ruined if my sister hadn't eliminated him when she did."
"My sister is overstating things."
"And if it's any consolation, Lydia, Crespo deserved to die." Micaela looked deep into Dana's eyes. "
El Jefe
was going to kill him whether he talked or not. You did him a service and proved your loyalty at the same time."
"Then why is he still angry?"
"He's angry at the betrayal," Micaela said. "He and Crespo had a lot of history together. Las Casas was a small time dealer in Barranquilla when he recruited Crespo--a 13 year old street kid--as a mule. Twenty years later Las Casas is the biggest supplier in the Western Hemisphere and Crespo is his right hand man. Crespo's treachery was devastating."
"He's grateful for your intervention," Ana added.
"It doesn't seem that way."
"Then consider this," Micaela said. "Tomorrow you start training with us."
"Training?"
