Alonso's legs buckle beneath him, and he drops down to sit on the couch behind him. He puts a hand to his mouth in shock but doesn’t say anything.
“He stayed here to try to help. He wanted to tell me what was going on, and the disgusting people treating these girls worse than animals slaughtered him to make sure every other man who ever stepped foot in this resort knows to keep his mouth shut. And the same thing is going to happen to every one of the other girls if you don't tell me where to find them.”
“I don't know,” he sighs. “I would never do something like that.”
“You’ll traffic drugs but not girls?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says emphatically. “A person who wants to do drugs is making a personal choice. It's recreational. Something to enhance their trip. Many of our clients come from all over the world, where such drugs are perfectly legal. This is not the United States. I don't do it, but it's not my choice. It's theirs. But I would never sell them a person.”
“Then what was that nonsense about suggesting I go to what is apparently the most dangerous place on the island? You were going to send me up there, hoping I would get hurt and wouldn't be able to talk about what I was uncovering?” I say.
Alonso shakes his head, looking down at his lap.
“No,” he says. “I know Cascada Esmeraldas well. Yes, it can be dangerous for those who don't know the area. But it's also the most beautiful place on the island. I wanted you to ask for directions on how to get there because I was going to meet you up there once Joshua gave you the directions.”
I'm not sure how to process what he just said.
“Why?” I finally ask.
His eyes lift to me.
“Because I'm interested in you, Emma. I didn't know how to approach you. I thought if you went to the falls and I was there, we could spend some time alone together. I could show you around and tell you the stories of the island. We could get to know each other better,” he says.
“The stories of the islands,” I say under my breath as thoughts streaming through my mind drag my focus away.
“What?” he asks.
My eyes snap to him.
“Frederick was giving the new staff the tour of the resort. Is he the contact with the staffing company?"
Alonso nods. "Yes."
"Who puts the menus under the door every morning?"
"Paul. That's just one of his responsibilities. He helps with luggage, does deliveries, escorts the female staff, generally whatever is needed."
"And is he the one who delivered medicine to Emmanuel’s room after he’d died?"
Alonso shakes his head.
"I’m not sure.”
“It must have been him. According to Constance, Paul is the only one allowed to deliver to Emmanuel’s room.”
Alonso cocks his head curiously and frowns. “What are you talking about? We’ve never had a rule like that. Maybe if you ask who was on duty yesterday.”
"Constance told Bellamy, Catherine gave her the instructions," I tell him.
"Catherine?" he asks.
"Crap." I cover my eyes with my hand and shake my head. When I take my hand down, I look intensely into his eyes. "You need to listen to me carefully because I am doing everything I can right now to see the humanity in you and give you the benefit of the doubt. It is not easy and trust me when I tell you if you take even the slightest step out of line, I will make you wish to be dipped into the general population. And be assured that is not a threat; it is a disclaimer."
"What do you need?" Alonso asks.
"I need to figure out how they are pulling this off, and you're going to help me. If you do, I'll think about what I'm going to do about your role in everything. You don't want to go down for human trafficking. Running drugs is not worth lives, and whatever it is you get out of being a part of this, it's not worth the risk."
"I'll help you."
I nod.
"How quickly does Frederick process girls? When he finds one he wants, how long does it take him to get her here and put her on leave?" I ask.
"I've seen him get an application and have the girl here by the next day," he says. "He always says it is because of her ‘unique offerings’."
"She's a special request," I say, remembering the wording on the expense reports. "So, if I was able to ensure that a specific girl applied for a position here and fit the description for a very wealthy VIP client, you think he would be willing to expedite her getting to the island?"
"That's possible," Alonso said.
"What if she is already a guest here? Has he ever hired someone right off the island?"
"Yes. There have been a few occasions when he offered an on-the-spot position after he was particularly impressed by a girl he saw at the pool or on the beach."
"Or after a high roller put in a request," I say. "Let's see how loud money talks."
"What do you need me to do?" Alonso asks.
"Get me an application for the staffing company. Make sure it will go to Frederick so he will hire her. When a reservation comes in for Sam Johnson, talk him up. Make him seem extremely important and powerful. Someone Frederick would want to have on his list of VIP guests."
"I can do that. What else?"
"Keep your mouth shut. Go about everything like normal. Don't say a word about Rosa. Don't say a word about Emmanuel. Cooperate with the police, no
