“There should be no shame. You chose life over death. There was no other option.”

“Gringos think different than Mexicans. There would be terrible shame.” She pointed to the bed and suggested, “Maybe we could use a sheet to —”

“No, to use a sheet would take time. It has to look like you escaped quickly. If you climb out over the ledge, I will hold your hands and lean out and lower you as much as I can. We are only up one storey. I don’t think you will hurt yourself. Once you are free, I will go out the door and say I am finished with you. Then I will yell as if you jumped out the window. Comprende?”

The woman nodded, but stared at him for a moment and asked, “Why are you doing this? Maybe they will kill you.…” she added, glancing back at the door.

“Consider it an anniversary present. There is one more thing … take this,” said Jack as he handed her a hundred dollars in American money. “It’s so you can call your husband or pay for a taxi to get you away from here.”

“That is a lot of money, señor. Twenty dollars is enough for a taxi.”

“Take the hundred,” said Jack, forcing it into her hand.

She accepted the money and was about to stick it in her bosom, when she paused and looked at Jack. “They need to think you took me to bed.”

“I know,” said Jack, “I’ll mess up the bed,” he added, as he turned and ruffled up the sheet and tossed a pillow on the floor. When he looked back, he saw the woman had turned her back to him and was slipping off her panties from under her dress. She dropped her panties on the floor and a moment later, she tossed her bra on the bed, mussed up her hair, and ripped a couple of buttons off her blouse.

“Thank you,” whispered Jack. “It looks more convincing.”

El Pero was at the bar when Berto nudged him and pointed to Jack, who was leaning out over the railing above with his shirt unbuttoned. Jack waved and gave them the thumbs-up sign, before turning around and yelling, “Hey!” before running back into the room.

Seconds later, El Pero and Berto both burst into the room. They saw Jack leaning out the open window and cursing. El Pero stuck his head out the window, but the woman was gone.

“I am sorry, El Pero,” said Jack. “I never thought she would jump out the window.”

El Pero cursed and kicked her panties across the floor.

Jack breathed a sigh of relief and thought of an old undercover expression often used in response when asked about how an undercover operation went. A few drinks, a few laughs … nobody got hurt. He knew the young woman who escaped would never be laughing, but he felt giddy because she had escaped.

Jack only half listened as El Pero and Berto spoke to each other. His thoughts were elsewhere. It’s been a good night … I’ve done all I can … now get the hell out of here …

“Come on, El Pero,” said Berto in Spanish, “don’t be angry in front of this man. He feels bad already. Besides, tomorrow we have a delivery at Casa Blanca to look after.”

“So?”

“Don’t you still have that red-headed gringo bitch out there to play with? Or have you killed her already?”

Jack tried not to reveal his shock. Did I really hear what I thought I did? He knew some Spanish, but wasn’t completely fluent. He held his breath, listening intently for El Pero to reply.

A rhythmic, pulsating sound from the ceiling fan overhead filled the room, sounding like you were inside a giant pumping heart as the seconds ticked past. Jack waited, resisting the urge to grab El Pero and shake the answer out of him.

El Pero did not respond as he stared at the floor. Slowly he bent over and picked up the panties and held them to his face and inhaled deeply. When he was done he slowly lowered them and looked at Jack and in English said, “I can smell her fear. It is like a good brandy with dessert. She was good to have, yes?”

“Yes,” Jack replied, while fumbling with the buttons on his shirt, trying to look disinterested in whatever was being said.

El Pero turned back to Berto and continued in Spanish and said, “Yes, the red-headed one might still be alive, but I am tired with her. She acts like she is dead when I fuck her. Next time she will be.”

“Do you not give her the choice like the other women? The cattle prod or you. She will be happy to please you.”

“I have used the prod, but she has quit eating and is becoming too weak to please me. It is time to get a new one. I thought tonight we had.”

Jack experienced intense emotions that seesawed back and forth between anger and joy. As he stepped out into the hall, a new plan formulated in his mind.

I’m far from being finished here tonight …

chapter thirty-two

Jack saw Big Al, who was naked, peering out at him from behind a door from another room.

“What happened, amigo?” Big Al yelled to him. “I heard you yell. What is all the fuss?”

“When I was done with the woman, she jumped out the window before El Pero could have a turn,” replied Jack.

Berto came out of the room twirling the woman’s panties on his finger and then threw them over the railing at one of the men below. His aim was good and it landed on the man’s head, bringing a few laughs.

Big Al smiled and said, “Do not worry, Jack. There are many women here for El Pero to choose from. I will get you a ride back to El Paso now.”

“Thanks, but now I feel a little thirsty,” replied Jack.

“Thirsty for another woman?” asked Big Al.

“No,” replied Jack, faking a chuckle. “I think I will have another beer. I have also thought of something I should talk to you about in private before I go. There is no hurry. Maybe meet me at the bar when you are done.”

Twenty minutes later, Big Al joined Jack and they moved to a quiet spot in the room.

“You have something to say to me?” asked Big Al, sounding sober again.

“Yes. You have treated me very well tonight. I know you are the guys to do business with and I am looking forward to many more trips down here to see you.”

“That is good, Jack,” smiled Big Al, slapping Jack on the shoulder.

“However,” continued Jack, “I still have to convince Damien. As I see it, providing your prices are good —”

“They will be,” assured Big Al. “My bosses will not risk losing Satans Wrath to anyone else. You and I will get to see much of each other.”

“Good, but that is not the problem,” said Jack.

“Problema? What problema?”

“All this seems like a fantastic dream. Your talk of taking two years to build a tunnel. Talk of the white house.”

“Casa Blanca?”

“Yes. It all seems too good to be true.”

“It is true,” replied Big Al, sounding indignant.

“Don’t get me wrong. I believe you, but I don’t know if Damien will. He has heard stories of gringos coming here to buy cocaine and being murdered and robbed of their money.”

“We do not plan to go to war with Satans Wrath.”

“No, like I said, I believe you … but I don’t know if Damien will. It might take a few months for me to convince him you are telling the truth and that your organization really can handle the quantities we want. I have met you and trust you … but convincing Damien we should simply believe what you have told me is another matter. It may take time and many more visits … that is all I’m saying.”

Big Al thought a moment before smiling. “What if you saw the tunnel with your own eyes?”

“If I saw the tunnel?” said Jack, while trying to appear thoughtful as he scratched his chin. “Wow … yeah, that would work. If it is as you say, it would easily prove your organization is who we should deal with. Of course, I would have to see Casa Blanca, as well, otherwise Damien might think you took me to a mine shaft.”