Page 59 of Unleash You

“Oh no, thank you. We don’t want to impose.” I reached out to touch her arm.

“Not an imposition at all. More of a government mandate. You’re to stay with me at all times.” She gestured for us to follow her.

I exchanged a meaningful look with Wesley. He reassured me with a slight shake of his head. How did he do that? How could he stand here in an unfamiliar place with such an impossible mission and be calm?

“Will Mack know to find you at her place?”

“He’s already there.” Luisa opened the door to her SUV for me.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” She squeezed Wesley’s arm when he climbed in the car.

The ride to her house was pretty. Maracaibo was like any other touristy city with trendy shops and restaurants. I sat back and relaxed a bit, feeling out of place in my Dora the Explorer ensemble. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at her home, which was yet another surprise for me. Luisa lived in a big house with a beautiful courtyard.

“Were you expecting a hut on stilts?” She winked at me.

“You have a beautiful home.” I fell into step next to her. Even in her high heels, we were about the same height. “Thank you for all you’re doing.”

“Wesley is a friend. Things are rough, but we manage.”

I followed her past the living room, which was furnished with a sofa with chunky arms. There was tile throughout but no area rugs, which gave the house a beachy feel to it. She had us sit at the kitchen table, then got started on coffee. A second later, an American guy who had a military thing about him strolled in eating a pastry.

“Boss, you made it.” He hugged Wesley hello.

“Good to see you. This is Anabelle Cole. My wife.”

The introduction took me by surprise, but I recovered quickly. “Nice to meet you.”

“Same. Mack.” He offered me his hand, and I shook it. “Wife, huh? I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Neither did I.” Luisa leaned her hip on the counter, meeting Wesley’s gaze. “Well, guys, help yourself to some coffee and cookies. I’m going to tend to my plants.” She left through the back door. The less she knew, the better. Luisa was already risking a lot by vouching for us.

“Tell me you have some good news,” Wesley asked.

“I have good news.” Mack shrugged.

“Funny. Just tell me.”

“Charlie was in town but left last night. I tracked him down to Catatumbo. It’s not far, a six-hour drive or so.”

Wesley rubbed the creases on his forehead. “I know. How do we find him? Hop on a canoe and go up and down the Catatumbo River?”

“Pretty much, yeah. That’s how I found him before. He camps along the river. I have a tent set up with two locals who keep an eye on my stuff when I’m not there.” He shifted his body toward me, his gaze darting around the room. “Would you be joining us? I mean, it’s rough.”

In his letters, Wesley wrote about the families that lived in the jungle. They lived in poor conditions, but in general they were kind and intrigued by foreigners. “Rough doesn’t scare me. I know basic survival skills.” I wasn’t sure if my three months in Zimbabwe compared to what awaited us, but I was prepared to tough it out for Charlie.

“I’m not leaving her here by herself. Luisa is a friend, but her influence only goes so far.” Wesley finally understood we were in this together.

“Okay.” Mack shrugged. “I was hoping Charlie would hang around town tonight. He’s done it before.”

“That would’ve been helpful.” Had he left town because of us? Did he know I was here? “When can we leave?” I was tired of waiting and wondering if this plan was the right plan or the plan to get me killed.

Mack chugged his coffee. “Right now.”

Wesley picked up his duffle bag and swung it over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“What about Luisa? Didn’t she want us here?” I followed the two of them out, back to the living room and out into the courtyard.

---