Page 96 of The Doctor's Twins

“Parrot? What parrot?”

“The parrot that rather fancied me,” he grinned.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I can only imagine that Mateo must have been tired of arguing with himself,” I said and rolled my eyes. “Either that or his next unsuspecting victim was a parrot fanatic.”

* * *

“Are you comfortable?” Ben asked me before he closed the lid.

“Yeah, I’ll be okay.”

I was tucked away in a smallish box under the backseat of the car. The built-in box was snug, but I could breathe and if all went according to plan, cross the Mexican border back into the US without being detected. I had to admit that I was overjoyed that it would be the last time I was smuggled out of Mexico!

We’d stopped near the border post so that Ben could hide me from sight. I couldn’t wait to get home. It would be a very long time before I’d travel anywhere again, on purpose, anyway.

Ben started up the engine and drove. I could hear his voice still, so he kept me posted as to how far away I was from freedom.

“Okay, I can see the queue. Not a peep now, my love.”

My heart rate was soaring, but I tried to keep my breathing steady. The car slowed down and soon we were stationary.

Please, Lord. I promise never to come back to this Godforsaken place again. Just let me get home safely.

I heard the official’s voice, very faintly, from my cocoon. Then I heard Ben’s. It felt like we stood still for hours. Ben switched off the engine and then the car door opened, and someone ruffled around in the back of the vehicle.

Fuck, fuck, fuck…

If they found me, both Ben and I would rot away in a Mexican prison forever. I’d watched plenty of reality TV shows of people caught smuggling drugs. What would they do to a man who was smuggling the wife of a murdered man out of the country? Ben would get the chair for sure! What was taking so long?

The car door closed, and the engine started up.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Freedom!

I was too afraid to speak, so I waited for Ben to signal that all was well. I didn’t have to wait long. The car came to a stop again and I heard Ben fiddle with the catch on the box. Then, daylight!

“Hey, gorgeous? Wanna go on a date?” Ben grinned.

“What do you think?” I answered. “But can I just take a bath first? I’m seriously over Eu De Basement by Mateo fucking Garcia.”

“Sure, babe,” Ben laughed and helped me out of the box.

* * *

“Peyton!” Mom yelled when I opened the car door. “Oh, my angel child.”

“Hi, Mom,” I said and hugged her tightly while she cried tears of joy.

“My sweetheart,” Dad said and wrapped his arms around both of us.

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“Don’t you dare,” Dad insisted. “You did nothing to be sorry for.”

We stood like that for a long time before Dad spoke to Ben.

“I don’t know how to thank you, Ben.”

“No thanks needed, Frank. I’m as elated as you are to have Peyton back safely.”

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