Page 144 of Cavern of Silence

She wears white designer pants, a navy-blue, short-sleeve sweater shirt, and Jimmy Choo pumps. Her neck, ears, arms, and fingers display expensive gold jewelry. One of the biggest diamonds I've ever laid eyes on sits on her ring finger next to a wedding band. With a French accent and glistening eyes, she says, "I'm Emilia." She points to a little girl who is asleep on her shoulder. I can't see her face because a pink and purple blanket is over her and only see the pink shoes, which probably cost more than an entire day's wage. "This is my baby girl, Darcey, and my husband Malin." She turns to him. "Where is your brother, Gustave?"

Malin smiles and kisses Emilia on the cheek. In a French accent as well, he says, "Talking to the pilot. Let's get inside, Emilia."

Emilia and the child pass me, and Malin holds out his hand. "Nice to meet you," he focuses on my name tag, "Julieta."

What is happening here?

Why does she have a child?

The man he says is his brother, Gustave, enters the plane with Roman behind him. The paperwork states that Gustave is a French ambassador stationed in Mexico. He's a few inches shorter than Malin, is wearing a black beret, and has a short salt-and-pepper beard. His cheeks have a slight red tinge to them, as do his blue eyes, as if he's tired.

"Yes. Nice to meet you," I manage to recover.

He passes and sits where the men typically do in the back, and Gustave checks me out without saying a word when I greet him then joins Malin.

Roman boards the plane. "Julieta, you okay?"

I nod and snap back into it. "Yes." I go to the back, and Malin and Gustave order glasses of Bordeaux. I fill their drinks and distribute them. Gustave licks his lips and pats my ass when I turn.

I freeze then take a deep breath.

Who is this guy? Why are Malin and Emilia with him? Why did Malin let him touch me?

What do you expect? You don't know what is happening right now.

It's a regular occurrence in my day. Almost every flight I'm on at least one of the men touch my ass. Miguel may have promised to protect me, but the wandering hands have never stopped.

I return to the front of the plane where Emilia sits. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Would you mind sitting down for a moment? I need to get something out of my bag, and I don't want to disturb Darcey. If you would just hold it open on your lap, I can pull it out."

"Sure." I sit and put her oversized tote on my lap then unzip it.

Her eyes widen, and she taps a handwritten note, then keeps her hand stuck in the bag. "It's in here somewhere."

The note says,

You must take Millie.As soon as the plane lands, get in the car with us. Malin has arranged it.

Tell my sister to wait and not to do anything until she sees me. Don't be scared over what happens next, but act how you normally would.

I re-readthe note several times, my gut flipping with the unknown, and nervous adrenaline swirling in my veins.

The little girl is Penelope's.

"Don't forget your promise. It will lead you to the solution,"the Irish woman in my dreams voice says.

I promised Penelope I would do anything I could to help find her daughter and get her to safety.

Emilia says, "Got it." She pulls out a handkerchief and wipes her nose. "These climate changes get to my sinuses. I don't know how you travel so much and still have a nose left. I'm sure mine is red as Rudolph's."

"You look perfect, Mrs. Cox. Can I get you a drink?"

"I'll take a bottle of water, please. I've had a little too much with all these parties lately."

Pull it together and act normal.

I rise and put the bag on the seat. "Sounds fun."