Page 100 of Nacho Boyfriend

Clutching the iPad in my arms, I run out of the office in search of Carlos but I bump right into Rosa, almost knocking heads.

“What’s going on?” she asks frantically. “Carlos just bolted out of here. He said to tell you he had to rush out to take care of something with Señor Fransisco—Pancho One. Is everything okay? He looked spooked.”

“Did he say where they were going?”

“No. Olive, what happened?”

I shake my head, not knowing where to start, and seriously pressed for time. Every minute counts.

“Okay, don’t freak out but… Ignacio’s been kidnapped by a surfer gang. I have his location right here.” I hold up the iPad. “I need you to do me a favor. Call Carlos and tell him where I’m going. I’ll ping you my location as soon as I get there.”

“Wait, what? Are you serious? Kidnapped? Why?”

“I don’t know. But I need to find him.”

“Olive, what are you thinking? Call the police.”

“Rosa, Carlos already called the police. That’s why I need you to tell him my location.”

“Let me get this straight. Nacho’s been kidnapped and you’re going to stroll in there and… what? Rescue him? What exactly is your plan, hija?”

“My plan is to wait outside until the police arrive. And what if it’s not a kidnapping? What if he went willingly?”

Even as the words leave my mouth, I know it’s false hope. I’m ninety percent sure he was taken by force. Quietly and without struggle, but force just the same.

Rosa shakes her head. “I don’t like this.”

“I’ll tell you what. If Ignacio has a find my phone app on this iPad, chances are there’s one on his computer. Do a search for him and let Carlos know. But I have to get going now.”

I wobble out of the restaurant and throw my shoes in the back seat as soon as I reach my car. With the iPad wifi switched to my phone’s hotspot, I follow the map to find my man.

It’s so strange. Other than a quickening in my pulse, I’m not a complete wreck. I feel like one of those badass women in action movies. If only I had the car to go with it. My putt putt economy car barely makes the speed limit. Oh well.

The cursor on the map hasn’t moved in a while, and I find the Volkswagen bus parked in front of an industrial warehouse. Making sure I stop my car out of sight, I ping my location to Rosa and wait. And wait. Aaaand wait.

After what seems like forever, I call Rosa. Maybe she’s not getting my texts.

“Roger roger, birdwatcher, Operation Nacho Cheese is underway. Did you send the location to agent C? I have the scene under surveillance. Over.”

“What the… Olive?”

“Shhh. It’s Agent O. Don’t blow my cover. Over.”

“Niña, Carlos gave the address to la policía. They’re coming soon. Are you hiding?”

“Affirmative. I’m in stakeout mode. My cover is not blown.”

“Ay Dios mio. Get out of there.”

“No! My boyfriend is inside. Afraid. Bargaining for his life. I’m not leaving until I know he’s safe.”

“Okay, okay. Just keep away from the danger, por favor.”

“Roger that. I will stay put until backup arrives.”

True to my word, I don’t budge from the safety of my car. I’m just close enough to the warehouse that I can see if there’s activity going in or out. It’s pretty much quiet, and I’m starting to worry if the police are coming or not. What if they don’t believe Carlos?

Suddenly, there’s shouting and a clanging sound coming from inside the building. My heart catches in my throat.