Page 5 of Depths of Destruction

His face hardens more. "You interfere with my business."

I swallow hard against the knot in my throat.

"You have knowledge of your politicians accepting money from both Torres's and my cartel?"

How does he know? I've been so careful.I look away.

He jerks my chin back toward his face then screams with saliva flying out of his mouth, "Answer me."

"Yes."

He spits at my feet then spins to one of his thugs and says in Spanish, "Take her to the pit."

I'm whisked to a hole in the ground. A boy who appears to be fourteen or fifteen drops a ladder in it.

"In, now."

I don't argue. I climb down into the hole. My feet hit the ground, and the ladder rises.

For several moments, I don't move. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I stare at the dirt wall, smelling the earth surrounding me. When I spin, I'm horrified.

The space is no bigger than a ten-foot diameter. Four women sit crouched together. Dirt and exhaustion riddle their faces. Every single woman I recognize. They are prominent throughout South America and have been missing for the last four to eighteen months.

Zoe Diego, a famous Latino pop star who went missing fourteen months ago when she was on tour in Mexico, glances at me. “Hi,” she says in English then starts softly humming one of her songs in Spanish.

Penelope Chelton, a secretary who worked for the British ambassador, went missing eighteen months ago. She sits with her back against the wall, sifting dirt between her fingers.

Julieta Macaca, a Costa Rican airline stewardess who was kidnapped four months prior, sits on the floor, hugging her knees and rocking. The last time she was seen, she flew to Venezuela and never returned. She also is bi-lingual in both English and Spanish. She glances up and mutters in English, “Welcome to the pit.”

The last woman, Vanessa Castillo, is the girlfriend to a prominent cabinet minister in Belize. She has been missing for eight months. She gives me a sympathetic look and says, "Naomi Salazar."

"Vanessa Castillo," I reply.

Vanessa kindly smiles and pats the floor next to her. "Sorry to meet under these circumstances, but have a seat. There's nothing you can do right now."

I take a few steps before sitting on the cold dirt.

"Did they hurt you?" she asks.

"Bumps and bruises. I'll be okay."

"Did they tell you why you are here?"

"I have information."

"On important, high ranking, in-the-spotlight people?"

Goose bumps break out on my skin. "Yes. How did you know?"

She points to the other women. "Join the crowd."

For hours, I rotate between sitting next to Vanessa and pacing the small area, trying to figure out how to get out of this situation. I'm talking to Vanessa when the ladder lowers into the hole.

"Naomi Salazar," a gruff voice barks.

I freeze. My gut flips and insides shake.

Vanessa puts her hand on my arm. "Go now, or it will be worse if you make them wait."