Page 157 of Haze of Obedience
"They killed him." I wipe my eyes and add more soap to my hands.
"Zoe."
"I can't talk about it. I'll break down. Please."
"Okay."
I sniffle. "How are you?"
She catches my eye in the mirror and then focuses on her hands. "Out of the straitjacket."
My pulse increases. "No. He didn't?"
"Yeah."
Silence.
"Penelope is here," I tell her.
"What?"
"They sent her back to Panama. And Julieta...oh God."
"What?"
"She's back on the planes. They..." I swallow the thick knot in my throat, thinking of Julieta's face.
"What?"
"I saw her today. They roughed her up. She had bruises everywhere. I...I hardly recognized her."
Tears drip down both our cheeks.
"No one escaped then? They got all of us?" Vanessa whispers.
"I haven't heard or seen Naomi or Emilia. Have you?"
"Not since Tinkers."
"And Hunter? Is he alive?" I ask.
"He's in the jungle. He...he puts red Hibiscuses out for me every night."
A tear falls down my cheek. "That's great. I like Hunter. I wish...I wish I had a sign that Dirk was alive." I no longer can hold it in and break down, covering my hands over my face, sobbing.
Vanessa wraps her arms around her back. "Why do you—"
A group of women walk into the room, and we straighten up.
"I'm so happy for you. Please let Carlos know that if he wants me to sing at your wedding, I would love too. Sorry, I just get so emotional over weddings!"
"Thank you. I will."
We nod to the others and leave.
I turn and hug Vanessa. "I need to get ready to sing. Take care."
"You too." We part and I quickly walk toward my dressing room.
