Page 96 of Solid as Steele
She’d asked if Elaina was free, and she’d replied praise the Lord for sending the men. The words made Owen feel good. For a moment only.
He looked at the deputy. “We’re here to get food and water for the women. I’ll check out the kitchen.”
Elaina excused herself to follow Owen to the run-down and dirty kitchen. An old white stove top was caked with food, the refrigerator door and handle held greasy prints, and smelly garbage overflowed the trash.
“Looks like we could catch something in this room.” He put on gloves and gave a pair to Elaina.
She slid her fingers into the gloves. “It is a palace compared to the places the cartel had us living.”
If only he’d taken a moment to think before speaking, he could’ve been more sensitive to her plight. He opened cupboard doors and found a stash of protein bars. “These will be perfect.”
He located a paper bag and stuffed it full.
“There is water under here.” Elaina pulled out a rusty metal chair from a table pushed against the wall covered in stained and worn floral wallpaper.
Tovar had stacked pallets of bottled water below the Formica table. Owen tugged the bottles out and placed them on the discolored tabletop. “Plenty of water. If you can carry the protein bars, I’ve got the water.”
She reached into the bag and freed a chocolate chip bar and took one of the water bottles from the heavy plastic “For Juanita.”
He nodded and let her lead. They stopped to deliver the items to Juanita, who pleaded to come with them.
“Sorry,” the deputy said. “My instructions are to keep you here.”
“We’ll ask the sheriff when we get back if you can join us,” Owen said in Spanish and quickly headed for the door. The muscles in his arms strained under the weight of water, and he couldn’t stand around and still carry the heavy load back to the barn.
Elaina caught up to him.
Owen stepped past Tovar’s red cab. “Tell me how Tovar hid you from customs agents.”
“He has false walls that he builds into a room in the back of his truck. They fold flat against the back wall when not in use.” She shuddered. “The walls are soundproofed, and he also gagged us. He has tie-downs on the floor where he bolted us in place.”
Owen hated hearing the details but he needed them to question and prosecute this man. “How was he able to handle such a large group of women at one time without any of you escaping?”
“The cartel workers helped herd us onto the truck in Mexico. Here, he took us off the truck one at a time. We were cuffed, and he attached a rope that he tied to his belt.” She shifted the bag higher. “And, of course, he was armed. He said he would shoot us if we tried to run.”
“Are you willing to testify in court as to what happened?”
“With Tovar, yes. Specifics on the cartel, no. They have long arms that reach into your country. They would find and kill me.”
“They should pay.”
“Nothing you can do is going to stop them. Why risk my life for nothing? But I can help stop Tovar at least.” She peered at him. “I am more than happy to testify against him, and I know the others will be too.”
They reached the women who were now seated in a neat row by the fence. Owen set down the water and ripped open the plastic. He handed out the bottles, and Elaina followed him with the bars. The women attacked them both.
When he’d finished distributing the items, he faced Elaina. “You need to eat and drink too.”
“I can now that I know everyone is taken care of.” She took out a bar and collapsed onto the dirt. He opened a water bottle for her and helped other women who were struggling to get theirs open.
Wheeler tipped his head at Owen and stepped back. Owen joined the sheriff.
Wheeler planted his hands on his hips. “Social services is five minutes out. We’ll wait to question the women until we get them settled and provide medical checkups.”
Owen relayed the information on Tovar that Elaina had shared. “She said she would testify against Tovar but not share any details on the cartel.”
“Not surprising.” The sheriff looked at the women.
“Are you okay with Juanita joining the other women?”
