Page 28 of Pax

“Juan, how long have you worked here? You’re very good at your job.”

“Thank you,” he smiled. “I’ve been at this restaurant for ten years now but also work shifts at the other hotels on the island.”

“That’s so wonderful,” said Alice. “I know how expensive it can be to live in San Diego.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am. I don’t live here, though. I drive back and forth across the border every day. I don’t live that far. It’s just that the traffic is so bad. The border agents know me now, so it’s pretty easy to come back and forth. I know a lot of people who do it. The pay is good here. The cost of living is good there,” he smiled. “I’ll be right back with that bread.”

“What do you think?” asked Deanna. “Should we ask him some questions?”

“I don’t want to get him into any trouble or put him at risk,” said Alice, “but maybe we can get him to speak to us in a low voice.”

A few minutes later, Juan returned, setting the warm bread on the table and refilling their iced teas.

“Juan?” whispered Alice.

“Yes, ma’am?” he smiled, kneeling beside her, leaning in with a smile.

“Juan, keep smiling.” He nodded with a big smile. “Juan, do you know anything about what’s going on with the boats that have been sinking with people chained to them.”

Annie and Alice stared at the man, seeing the pained expression on his face as he struggled to maintain the smile.

“Beautiful ladies such as yourselves shouldn’t talk of such horrible things,” he said, still kneeling.

“I know, but we want to help to stop this,” said Deanna.

“Miss, I don’t think you understand. No one can stop this because no one really cares. No one here,” he whispered. He was still holding tight to that smile on his face. “On the other side of the border, others don’t really care either, but for different reasons. They’re doing this intentionally.”

“Honey, we know they’re doing it intentionally, but why? These people pay their money to come across, and then they kill them. They could just let them try to survive and charge them a second time, or third.”

Juan slowly stood, still holding that smile. He looked around the outdoor deck, his fellow waitstaff running from table to table, tourists drinking too many cocktails in the sun, and locals bitching about the tourists.

“The U.S. government wants to control immigrants coming into the country.” The women all nodded. “Some in your government think it should be easy to come through, that you should welcome all immigrants with open arms. What’s the saying, ‘give me your tired, your poor, your hungry.’

“They understand that Americans can be very, what do you say, soft-hearted at times. If children, women, anyone is dying on a boat destined for this country and enough die, they’re hoping that people will come to their senses.”

“That’s insanity,” said Deanna. “How many people have to die before they realize that won’t work?” Juan stared at her and nodded.

“How many people had to die in concentration camps before something was done?” He walked away from their table, and the women all stared at one another, shaking their heads.

“Could he be right? Is someone in our own country manipulating this horror show?” asked Alice.

“It’s not like we haven’t seen it before,” said Annie. “The problem will be that Luke and the others all agreed to not get involved in government issues any longer.”

“No, they agreed to not take jobs from our government any longer,” said Deanna. “This sounds to me like a humanitarian mission. At the very least, we need to stop what’s happening before more people lose their lives.”

Juan returned a few moments later, quietly refilling their drinks. The women said nothing, just trying to give a smile to him. He stopped, staring at them.

“I apologize if I was rude,” he said.

“You weren’t rude, Juan. You’re upset by this, so are we. Our husbands are looking into this.”

“Are they police?” he frowned.

“Not exactly, but it’s something their business often does. We investigate things that others will not.” Juan nodded and smiled at the women.

“I hope they are very powerful because no one has been able to stop this yet.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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