Chapter 34: This Is Not Good

Faith

We all struggled with the choice we’d made. It was imperative to get Maria away from the moldy boat, especially given her condition. But that meant bringing her into the violent detritus of a natural disaster where no authorities were in control and desperate mobs were looting and rioting. We couldn’t even be assured of our own security once we landed in Cartagena. Even if we found Zane right away and had his moxie and street smarts to guide us out, it could be very rough going. I made the call.

“Maria, we will help you find your baby’s father, but we have to find our friend first.”

“Okay,” she said.

“It’s because he will be able to help us find him.”

“Okay.”

“And we can’t leave you on the boat with the mold. It’s not good for you or your baby.”

“Okay,” she said. “He go with us too?” she said, gazing up at Cooper, back at the helm.

“Yes,” I said. “Of course.”

“Okay. I go where he goes.”

Walter Gates and Lauren and I looked at each other.