Page 3 of Cavern of Silence
I wipe my tears and blow my nose then put my clothes back on. Only a few minutes pass, but I pray it wasn't so long he gets angry.
The rest of the flight is uneventful, except for Jonas periodically making me tell him he owns me. When we land, they get off the plane, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
The pilot leaves right away, which is what he always does the minute we land. The rest of my shift, I clean up the mess they made and gather my belongings.
A car pulls up to the runway when I step out of the plane. It's not abnormal. There is usually a car to take me to whatever hotel the airline booked for me to stay at.
It's late and dark outside. I walk toward the car but then freeze. It's not a taxi. It's a black private car. The door opens, and a man holds a gun at his side. In Spanish, he says, "Julieta Macaca?"
"Yes."
"Get in."
"Who are you?" I barely manage to get out.
"You don't know who I am?"
"No. I'm sorry. Should I?"
He steps forward so quickly, I don't have time to run, and he grabs my hair. "You don't know who I am?"
"I'm sorry, I don't!"
His eyes turn colder, and his breath turns to fog. "I'm Santiago Gómez."
The head of the Colombian drug cartel.
The blood drains from my face.
"Ahh. I see you've at least heard of me."
I stay silent.
"Get in the car," he repeats.
"Why? What do you want from me?"
He yanks my hair hard, and I scream, but no one is around to hear my wails. He shoves me in the car and climbs in after me. The door slams shut, and the car takes off.
"What do you want with me," I repeat.
"Your secrets."
"My...what?"
"How long have you been the flight attendant on these private planes?"
"They moved me a few years ago."
"How many flights has Jonas Torres been on?"
"I... I don't know."
"Liar."
"A lot. I don't keep track."
"What about the British ambassador to Panama?"
