After freshening up, they went to the hotel restaurant for dinner together, indulging in a couple of drinks while they were there. Neil came in just as their orders arrived, and simply ordered an appetizer so that he wouldn’t have to wait.
“Well, the Moose is currently winging his way toward Dallas,” he said. “I had to twist some arms, but they’ll make sure he gets to his gate in time to board his flight to Dubai. Queen Allison called and filled him in on who to contact when he gets there, so he’s got backup.” He shoved a taco into his mouth. “Now, as for your little Mexican girlfriend, I went on the assumption that you’re serious about getting her out. I’ll have some new ID for her before you head out tomorrow, proving that she was actually born in Odessa, Texas. I didn’t bother trying to change her name, I figured that would just confuse her. Once we get her into the states, then someone from DOJ will take over and help her get established in a completely new identity. That work for you?”
Noah nodded. “Sounds good, she needs a break. Assuming she was telling me the truth, the poor kid’s an orphan who got snagged off the street and turned out by her previous pimp, but Eduardo bought her a few months ago. I’m guessing she’s probably been in prostitution since she was twelve or thirteen.”
“That’s disgusting,” Sarah said. “No wonder you feel sorry for her.”
“Yes, well, she’s actually been one of the lucky ones,” Neil added. “Girls like her who get snatched off the street in Juárez usually end up dead within a few months. The only hope they’ve got is to be pretty enough to get into a bar or a whorehouse, and even then they don’t usually live past eighteen or so. Your girl is lucky she hasn’t gotten caught up in drugs, or she’d probably be dead already.”
“Her luck came in when Eduardo spotted her, and decided he wanted her in his stable. From what she told me, she had been doing meth and crack up until then, but he doesn’t allow his girls to use drugs, so he got her off that shit. It’s sort of ironic that her pimp may have saved her life, but at least it gives her a chance.”
The three of them sat and talked for a little while, and then went back to their rooms. They each had a room of their own, but Noah wasn’t terribly surprised when he heard a knock on his door a half hour later.
“Come on in,” he said. “I left it unlocked for you.”
The door opened, and Sarah walked in. She closed it behind her, then just stood there and looked at him for a moment. “Yeah, I know we’re not supposed to do this when we’re out in the field,” she said, “but I just don’t want to be alone. Do you mind? I mean, I know I’m not your little Mexican girlfriend, but…”
Noah was lying in his bed, reading a book. He laid it on his nightstand, then reached over and flipped the covers back on the other side of the bed. Sarah walked over to stand beside it, unfastened her jeans and slid them down her shapely legs, then pulled the shirt she was wearing over her head. She reached behind her back and unfastened her bra, let it fall to the floor, and then pushed her panties down and kicked them off. She climbed into the bed and pulled the covers up over herself as Noah reached for her, but she put a hand on his chest to stop him.
“You, um, you have been using protection with her, right?”
Noah grinned. “Every time,” he said. “Condoms, plus the special cream they gave us. I’m not taking any chances, that’s just not logical.”
Sarah smiled and slid a little closer. “Okay, then,” she said.
“So, what brought this on?” Noah asked. “You’re not jealous over Felicita, are you? She’s nothing but a tool I’m using.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not jealous, not really. I told you, I just didn’t want to be alone. Besides, while you’ve been having fun with your little se?orita, it’s been a while since I’ve gotten laid. If you can handle an American girl, I figured it’d be nice to get back in your bed.”
Noah kissed her deeply, and pulled her close. “Everything I’ve done with her has just been part of the act,” he said. “Would it surprise you to find out that I was thinking of you the whole time?”
Sarah laughed. “Not really,” she said. “Now, shut up about her and show me what you want to do with me.”
They stopped talking.
TWENTY-SIX
The morning sun woke Noah as it always did, and he found himself cuddling Sarah close. He kissed her cheek until she woke, then rolled over and climbed out of bed.
“I could use some breakfast,” he said. “Want some?”
Sarah nodded as she sat up on the edge of the bed and reached down for her clothes. She slipped into them, then said, “I’m gonna run back to my room and get a quick shower, meet you down in the breakfast room.” She blew him a kiss and was out the door.