Page 107 of Stains of Desire
"Months? I don't have months. My daughter needs to be rescued," Penelope frets.
My stomach twists. I knew this wasn't going to be convenient for our travels, but this is another obstacle we don't have time for.
Keep Penelope calm.
I cup her cheeks. "We'll find her."
"Tinker, you've gotta know someone else who can get us passports faster," Dirk says.
"Give me a minute. I need to make a phone call." Tinker leaves the room.
"I can't wait months. Who knows what they're doing to her," Penelope whispers as tears fall down her cheeks.
Her pain tugs at my heart. "I promise you. We will find her," I reiterate then pull her into my body when she sobs.
Tinker finally comes back into the room. "I have good news and bad news."
Dirk sighs. "Lay it on us."
"My guy in Nicaragua has three passports. His supplies were coming from Honduras, so he thinks it will take a long time to get any more materials. But it's only about eleven hours away."
"There are four of us," Zoe mutters.
"I have another option, but I don't think you'll like it."
"What is it?" I ask.
"My other guy in Valladolid, Mexico, has enough for all of you."
"Zoe isn't going back to Mexico. It's too dangerous," Dirk insists.
"Valladolid, Mexico will take days, if not weeks, depending on borders," I point out.
Penelope puts her hands over her face, and I tighten my arms around her.
"I have guys at the borders. It shouldn't take longer than a few days," Tinker insists.
Zoe looks at Penelope. "Dirk and I will go to Mexico. You go to Nicaragua."
Dirk scowls. "Zoe! Did you not hear me say it's dangerous?"
"Penelope's daughter is missing. We can't wait around here for months, and I'm not going to make her wait to get resources she may need to find her daughter."
"I'm not saying that she should. I'm just..." Dirk blows out air and closes his eyes.
"Can you still get the contacts and hair dye?" Zoe asks Tinker, referring to their conversation the previous night, when she asked for items to help her create a disguise for her passport picture.
"Yes, ma'am. It's in the bag." He points to the table.
Zoe picks it up and grabs Penelope's hand. "Come on."
"Where are we going?" Penelope asks.
"You're going to dye my hair before you leave. I'm not going to let Dirk near me with hair dye."
Dirk growls, "Zoe—"
Zoe drops Penelope's hand. "Excuse me for being rude." She turns to Dirk, and they have a heated conversation in Spanish.
