Page 37 of A Distant Shore
The guy squinted at him. “Let me see that badge.”
Time was slipping away. Jack pulled his badge out once more. He raised his voice. “Give me her room number.”
“Someone gave her a voucher.” The guy crossed his arms. “A hotel voucher.”
“Who?” Panic grabbed at Jack. Eliza could be anywhere in the city. “A social worker?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” The man shrugged, still gruff. “Holiday Inn, I think. Or maybe the Courtyard. One of those. If I remember right.”
Jack took off. His heart raced in time with his feet. He drove to the Holiday Inn first, but the young womanat the desk didn’t find Eliza’s name in her records. “Sometimes people give different names when they use vouchers.” She frowned.
He was halfway to the car when he spotted her. She was crossing the street, headed back to the hotel. She wore a baggy pair of jeans and a sweatshirt, despite the sweltering Texas heat.
“Eliza!” He jogged toward her. “Wait!”
She stopped and looked his way. But when she saw it was him, she turned and hurried for the front door.
“Please, Eliza.” This time Jack raised his voice. In case she couldn’t hear him. “I have to talk to you.”
“Why?” She stopped short and glared at him. “So you can lie to me again?”
“I never lied to you.” Jack reached her, but he kept his distance. He didn’t want her to feel threatened.
“You did.” She moved to a patch of grass, away from the door.
Jack followed her. He lowered his voice. “Please… Eliza. I told you I was FBI. I told you we were going to raid the Palace, and I said I needed your help.”
The anger in her eyes was fire.
“Tell me the lie.” Jack tried to be patient.
“You told me you were Luke.” Eliza stepped back. “But on the plane… on the plane the other agent called you Jack.”
He relaxed a little. “That wasn’t a lie. It was part of the job. I go by a lot of names.”
“And what aboutJack?” Her anger faded. But in itsplace came an ocean of hurt and distrust. “Is that part of the job?”
“No. Jack is my name.” Giving her that information couldn’t hurt him now. “For real.” She clutched her paper bag and tilted her head back. Her eyes caught the sunlight. Prettiest blue eyes Jack had ever seen. “I want to help you.”
“Why? The mission’s over.” She looked at the Holiday Inn sign. “I’m free now. Right, Jack?”
Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on him. “Just hear me out. Please.”
For a long time Eliza only stared at him. Then without saying a word, she led him through the iron gate to the hotel’s outdoor pool, and to a table in the corner of the patio. She took one chair and he sat opposite her.
“Talk, Jack. You have five minutes.”
Maybe this wouldn’t work. Jack leaned forward on the table and looked straight into her eyes. “We don’t want you here at this hotel. Or at some homeless shelter.” He exhaled. “You deserve better than that, Eliza.”
For a long time she only looked at him. Then she opened the bag and took out three tacos. “Vouchers.” She didn’t make eye contact. Slowly, meticulously she ate one of the tacos. Then another.
Jack looked out at the pool. Agents around the world risked their lives to break up trafficking rings. But only to treat the victims like this? Three tacos? Was that her dinner? Had she eaten anything else today?
“At least at the Palace they fed us.” She was stillchewing. “We had a bed every night of the year.” She finally turned her eyes to him. “But I’m rescued now, right, Jack? Except… where do I go when I run out of vouchers?”
She was right. Jack laced his fingers together behind his head and stared at her. “The FBI wants to help you. We’ll get you your citizenship and identification, some cash. Something to start a new life.”
“What if I don’twantto be a U.S. citizen?” She sounded less harsh. More matter of fact. “My home is in Belize. Doesn’t that mean anything to you people?”
