“HURRY! THERE'S SO LITTLE TIME!" Juarez insisted. "Janet, are you able to move? Good! That’s your job, Charlotte, to take care of her. Andres, help me move Stedman over there.” He pointed to the far corner. “No one should see him until they’re well into the room, and by then, it will be too late.” As they dragged Stedman to the corner, he noticed Nadia’s involuntary shiver. “You’re not going to be bothered by anyone the likes of him again,” he reassured her. He along with Andres covered Stedman’s body with empty potato sacks and baskets. “Charlotte?” he called out, “Do you know how to handle a gun?”
“I’ve fired one, if that’s what you mean. Juarez,” she replied, distracted by Carmella's moans.
“Good.” Juarez quickly went to the first-aid kit and pulled out a bottle of water and a couple of pills and helped Carmella to swallow them. “You must keep her sedated until she’s safe. As you can see, her hand’s severely mangled. Here, take this bottle of water and the rest of the pills from the kit. Charlotte, get Stedman’s gun, there on the floor. Kill any sonofabitch that gets between you and freedom. Do you think you can do that?”
Charlotte stared at the Glock in her hand and began to shake. “I…I… don’t know.”
“I hate to state the obvious," he continued "but there's a strong likelihood you may have to do just that, if you hope... to get out alive.”
Janet moseyed up alongside Charlotte. “May I, dearie?” she asked, holding her hand out for the gun. “Unlike you, I’ve handled weapons most of my life. I’ve been a hunter and know what it’s like to kill a living creature.”
“It’s not the same...killing a human being. The first time is often quite traumatic,” Juarez cautioned.
“What's important at this moment is that I know I can pull the trigger when I must.” Janet eased the Glock from Charlotte’s hand.
“Let’s hope you don’t have to, and the cavalry gets here in time,” Juarez replied.
“Cavalry?” Nadia asked.
“If everything is still on schedule, this place will soon be crawling with cops,” Juarez replied.
“Don't you think it would be safer to wait it out until it happens?” Janet queried.
He replied, “Honestly? No. There's always a chance that the operation doesn't go according to plan. My experience tells me to get you all out now.” He glanced over at Andres, who was kneeling beside Jennifer. “Andres, are you ready? Have you got your story straight?”
Andres smiled and nodded. He helped Jennifer to her feet. “Nadia, do you mind?” Carefully he transferred Jennifer to her. “It will only be for a moment.”
“What’s this about keeping your story straight?” Nadia asked, maneuvering an arm under Jennifer’s to brace her up.
“Later,” Andres replied, turning around and reaching into the front of his pants.
“Ooh, what are you doing?” exclaimed Janet and Charlotte in unison.
Andres’s face beamed as held up a scrotum guard, which he flung into the corner beside Stedman’s body. “Considering the number of times I’ve been kicked in the nuts by my brother, I decided a long time ago to protect myself and feign the rest.” He regained his position beside Jennifer.
Janet muffled her laughter. “The way you writhed in pain on the floor sure fooled me,” she said.
Andres smiled: "Lots of practice makes perfect."
“Jennifer, can you walk on your own?” Juarez asked.
“I can stand on my own. I’m all right, really.” she reassured them.
“Good,” he replied. Picking up Carmella, he carried her toward the steps. Andres ran ahead him and disappeared through the door at the top of the stairs.
A few moments later Andres poked his head back in. “It’s clear, Juarez, but I don't know for how long.”
Quickly, with Carmella in his arms, he ascended the steps, barking out instructions as he went. “We’re heading for the pickup parked just outside. Once under the tarp lay perfectly still—not a word. Andres will know what to do once the time comes.”
When he and Andres had finished arranging the tarp over the five women, they strategically placed filled egg-cartons and cages with hens in them in the flat folds of the cover.
“Remember, not a word or any movement!” Juarez whispered to the girls. “You’ll be out of here soon.” And he closed the back-gate on the truck.
“What are you two doing out here? Uncle told me that you're supposed to remain inside until you're relieved.”