No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [3]
“And Chavez is head of the drug faction?”
“One of them. After the breakup of the Cali drug cartel, there was no longer a kingpin. The drug trade decentralized into several groups, which was just as profitable and safer. Keeping a low profile and using the Internet is the name of the game these days. Everything’s under the table. The only clear fact is that there’s hardly anyone in that entire country you can trust. Because almost everyone is on the take.”
“It does sound a little suspect that this Elena Kyler would choose Forbes to ask for help.”
“That’s the only part of this story that makes sense to me. Forbes has turned down promotion after promotion because he doesn’t want a desk job that would prevent him from personally tracking down drug suppliers. The DEA respects him and lets him run his own show, and his honesty is legendary among the guerrillas and paramilitary groups in the hills.” He smiled crookedly. “Believe me, they know who’s corruptible and who’s not. He’d be the obvious choice for Elena Kyler—if she was for real.”
“Which, of course, she’s not.” Logan stood up and followed Galen over to the window. “Water looks a little choppy. Maybe it’s not a good week to go fishing.”
“It looks fine to me. For God’s sake, do you know how many extractions I’ve done in Colombia? The blasted place has more kidnappings than anywhere else in the world. This is not my business, Logan. Hell, Forbes can’t even pay me.”
“You’ve got enough money.”
“Coming from a billionaire like you, that borders on the ridiculous.”
Logan laughed. “It does, doesn’t it? Well, I need it more than you do. I have a family to support.” His smile faded. “The point is, you want to go.”
“The hell I do.” He scowled. “It’s not my business. It’s all a bunch of lies. It’s too convenient that Chavez is in Mexico. That so-called evidence is probably bogus. The woman was more than likely bribed to lure Forbes.”
“So Elena Kyler is not in that prison cell in Belim?”
“Is that supposed to bring up a pitiful picture and rouse my protective feelings? Bullshit.” He stared directly into Logan’s eyes. “She’s probably shooting up in some luxury flat paid for by Chavez. There’s no way Elena Kyler’s in that cell in Belim.”
Belim
It’s only my body, Elena told herself. And I am not my body. I am mind and heart and soul.
“Good.” The guard plunged deep inside her, pressing her into the hard concrete cell floor. “Good little whore. You like it, don’t you?”
“Yes.” I am not my body. I can accept this defilement. It wasn’t as bad as the time she was raped, because she’d chosen this. “I like it. You’re a bull, Juan.”
Block it out. Go to another place, as she had during the rape. No, she couldn’t do that. She had to be ready.
I am not my body.
“Christ.” He arched with a guttural cry as he released within her.
The moment of greatest weakness.
Now.
She lunged upward with a cry, her arms going around his neck. “Juan!”
He was panting. “I pleased you. I made you come, didn’t I?”
Her arms tightened around his neck. “What a man you are.…” She pulled him back down. “Come here.…”
“You’re holding me too tight.” But there was smug satisfaction in his voice. “Give me a little time and I’ll be ready ag—”
She gave a twist and broke his neck.
He went limp on top of her. Jesus, he was heavy. She pushed him off and jumped to her feet, then pulled him into the shadows across the cell and draped a blanket around him. No use putting on clothes. As soon as the other guard came, she’d have to lie down with Juan and find a way to lure the man into the cell. He should be here soon. They’d flipped a coin to see who would go first with her and he’d been very disappointed.
She huddled against the wall of the cell and tried to stop trembling. She felt hurt and bruised and violated. And dirty. Sweet Jesus, how dirty. She forced back the tears.
I am not my body.
I am not my body.
“Meet me at the airport in twenty minutes,” Galen said curtly when Forbes picked up the phone. “You’ll do it?” Forbes said.
“Private hangar. We’re taking