“So, if you don’t show up to the office for this meeting … ”
Aziza zoned out again. Ryan expected her to stay put, but she had matters to settle now. She had to at least show up to be able to collect what was due to her. If her luck didn’t turn, she’d be back before he returned. “I will be down in a while.”
After she replaced the phone, Aziza stood. “Sunita, we have to go out for a short time. Can you change into the sweat bottoms and t-shirt?”
After putting the book aside, Sunita scooted off the sofa.
Aziza went with her to the closet and pulled the items of clothing off the luggage holder. Then she slipped into the Chinese style casual dress she had bought for herself.
The moment she opened the door to the corridor, panic swept over her. The same sensation held her prone to the mattress when she woke at 2:00 a.m. to find that Ryan had not returned. She’d sat up and switched on the light to reassure herself she was not inside the container. Then her thoughts returned to the women who were missing. She said a prayer for them, checked on Sunita, then tried to fall asleep again, but it was dawn before her eyes closed.
Aziza squared her shoulders, gripped Sunita’s hand, and made her way to the administrative block, annexed to the main building.
She waited ten minutes to see the human resources director and ensured Sunita remained in the spacious office with them. She was far enough away not to hear the entire conversation. After sitting like a statue for a minute, Sunita turned and stared through the plate-glass at Durabia’s capital city below.
The Caucasian woman, who identified herself as the HR director, opened a file Aziza assumed was hers. “My assistant said you claimed you didn’t abandon the job.”
“I’m sure the hotel reported me as missing to the police. Isn’t that the case?”
“Well—”
Aziza sat forward. “So, if you know the reason for my absence, why are you giving me a hard time?”
“The hotel’s policy is that—”
“I don’t give a rat’s behind about your policy,” Aziza spat, then glanced toward Sunita. “When I didn’t turn up for work after two days, didn’t it occur to anyone that something must have happened to me, especially since my things are still in the apartment where I live? That’s if you haven’t had my possessions thrown out.”
The woman had the grace to lower her eyes as her skin flushed. “No, we have removed nothing.”
“Did you even check back with the police for an update?”
Valencia Hamilton—according to her name plate—squared her shoulders. “This is not the first time a worker has disappeared—”
“And clearly, none of you cared enough to do anything about it.” Waving one hand, Aziza said, “All that matters to this establishment is money.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way. but—”
Aziza was in no mood to deal with a trite semi-apology that rang hollow. She looked Ms. Hamilton dead in the eyes. “The woman I was sharing the apartment with, is she still working for the company?”
“Of course, both of you signed your contracts at the same time.”
“Since my things are still in there, I need a key to get inside. Mine was stolen.”
“I don’t think—”
Aziza’s patience went AWOL, and she stabbed the desk with one finger. Pain radiated from her still tender knuckles, which made her temper spike. “I didn’t resign, and you know they took me against my will, the least you can do is let me get my stuff.”
Sunita turned from the window to stare at Aziza, who stretched her lips in a tight smile to reassure the child. “It’s okay, sweetie. Auntie is fine.”
But she wasn’t. Nor was she in mental condition to be haggling with anybody. What she needed was peace and the chance to heal from the trauma inflicted on her soul.
Her gaze went back to the dark-haired woman, who leaned forward with both arms on the desk. “I know this may sound strange but here’s what I can offer: since you were missing for a week, we can take you back if you reapply for the job. There are strict employment procedures based on your contract—”
Aziza counted to five before she spoke. “Look, I’m not in the mood for any of this after what I’ve been through. I need a key to that apartment and I’m not leaving here without it.”
With her eyes laser focused on Ms. Hamilton, Aziza stared her down in a silent battle of wills, until the HR director picked up her phone and asked someone to bring her a key.
Aziza was well aware that based on Julene’s duty roster, she was likely to be at home, but the HR director didn’t need to know that fact. They sat in silence, while Aziza glowered at the woman across the desk as she tried to make amends with weak excuses to pacify Aziza. No doubt, she didn’t want Aziza to make a stink about the situation.
When a staff member arrived, and Aziza received the key, she got to her feet.
The slender woman frowned. “So what about the job?”
“Don’t worry about that because I wouldn’t work here, even if you offered me twice my salary. Let me know when my pay for the last two weeks I worked is ready. Plus, the commission.”
She stood, and the woman flinched.
Aziza motioned to Sunita, smiling despite the desire to slap someone. “Let’s go, sweetie.”
As Miss Hamilton kept a wary gaze on her, Aziza said, “You know where to find me.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The doors of the meat-packing facility slid open, and a container truck rolled out. Arabic lettering stretched along the side, but the graphic of sheep advertised that the refrigerated unit contained meat.
Five miles away, Daron and Dro had their gazes fastened to their phones. Through some technological wizardry invented by Calvin Atwood, a Knight of the Castle, Daron had provided the crew of six with an app that allowed all of them to track the movement of
