by Nana Prah
Yeah, that would do it. “Oh. What were you doing during that time?”
“What everyone else does, making money. I didn’t think they’d come after me. Who am I in this gigantic country that I’d register in their system?”
Berlinda’s strong Indian accent forced Sarita to focus on every word she spoke. All of a sudden the hairs on the back of Sarita’s neck stood up. She turned to the left and her gaze clashed with Carter’s. Without permission her right eye closed. Crap. Did she just wink at him? What in the world?
She forced her attention back to Berlinda, hoping the heat flooding her face didn’t register as a blush.
Berlinda tapped her index finger against the board. “We have fifteen minutes left. Are we playing again?”
“I have no need to be beaten three times in a row.” Everyone had a story and tended to enjoy telling it, but how much could be counted as the truth versus ego preservation? After all, they’d landed themselves in jail. “How did they get you?”
Berlinda’s eyes took on a faraway look. “It happened on my day off. After settling in to watch my favorite soap opera, they knocked on my door.”
“Better to be taken at home than at work.”
“They didn’t get me at home.” Berlinda pointed an index finger towards the ceiling. “The chase only began there.”
Sarita crossed her arm on the table realizing she’d never heard this story before. “What happened?”
“My boyfriend answered the door. As soon as they bellowed ‘Immigration,’ I snuck out the back door and ran up the stairs of my apartment building.”
“You’re kidding!”
“Do I tell a lot of jokes, Sarita? I knocked on one of my neighbor’s doors and asked if I could hang out with him for a while. We were friendly so he didn’t think anything of it. Otherwise I would’ve been screwed.”
“They didn’t look for you upstairs?”
“I didn’t know it at the time, but from what I’ve learned here, they don’t work like that. Once they search your apartment, they go away and try to find you on another day, usually at work.”
Why didn’t they post someone at the back door to avoid her escape? ICE hadn’t covered all their bases. “Then what?”
“My boyfriend came for me. We packed up our things and hauled ass to Canada.”
“First of all, I can’t believe you said, hauled ass. Second of all, Canada? What were you thinking? They’re almost as tight about immigration as the US.”
“I know. You try coming up with a plan when you’re under a tremendous amount of pressure. I had no intention of going back to India.” Berlinda placed a fist over her heart. “In here, I am more of an American than some people who are born and bred in the States will ever be.”
Sarita didn’t doubt the sincerity of her words. “What happened in Canada?”
“We never made it across the border. By the way, here’s a tip. If you’re ever crossing the US border into Canada, don’t say you’re going for a weekend visit when you have most of your worldly possessions with you. It looks a little suspicious. They pull you over, take your prints, and then send you to jail. Not fun.”
“Sorry.”
They sat in silent contemplation for a minute.
“What are you going to do when you get back to India?” Sarita asked.
“I don’t know. I never fit in there before I left and I know for sure it won’t be any better when I go back. My parents will try to marry me off to whoever they think is their best choice, but I won’t marry anyone I don’t love.”
“Maybe you’ll find love in India. It always happens in those Bollywood movies.” Sarita clapped her hands, wiggled her hips, and hummed the only Indian tune she knew.
Their laughter earned them a few glances from the inmates.
The smile dangling at the corner of Carter’s lips didn’t escape her notice before he turned away.
“You’re nuts. Besides, life is not a movie.”
In all her life Sarita had never been in a relationship lasting more than a year. The concept of romance claimed her heart, even though it would never rule her life. “But maybe you could find love in India if you opened your mind to it.”
Berlinda’s cheeks tinged with pink. “I’ve found it here. My boyfriend is wonderful.”
“Anyone who would try to smuggle you out of the country is a keeper. What does he think about you being in here?”
Berlinda’s jaw clenched. “He’s upset with the government and is trying to get me out.”
“Tell him scaling the fence could get him electrocuted, so he’d better have a good plan.”
Berlinda rolled her eyes. “He hired a good lawyer. I still have to return to India before anything else can be done.”
Sarita wanted to comfort her with a pat on the shoulder, but it was against the rules. “It’ll all work out.”
“I know, but I wish I didn’t have to be in here.”
“You and me both.” A sense of guilt about their extremely different reasons for being locked up made her break eye contact with Berlinda. I’d still rather be on the outside of this building, ignoring it as I drive by.
Marianna came over. “Let’s go talk to Carter. He looks all lonely sitting there by himself.” The short, cute, chubby woman in her mid-forties from Venezuela had a peculiar way of getting into and out of trouble.
Sarita crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to budge. “He wasn’t lonely a couple of minutes ago with Jessica flirting with him.”
She didn’t miss the glances Berlinda and Marianna exchanged.
“It sounds like someone’s jealous,” Marianna sing-songed.
“I am not. He’s a free man.”
Marianna fanned herself. “You mean a hot man, don’t you? Damn, it’s been a long time since I had a piece. Why do they assign hunks to watch over the women? Doesn’t make any sense.”
Berlinda and Sarita nodded at the astute observation. Perhaps they factored it in as part of the punishment.
“It still sounded like you were jealous to me,” Marianna persisted.
Sarita sucked her teeth. “There’s no reason for me to be jealous. What do you have to say to him, and why do you need me to go with you?”
“Nothing. I want to bother him and I know you have a crush. Being a kind sen͂ora, I thought I’d give you the opportunity to stare into his face up close and personal instead of far away, like you’ve been doing for the whole rec.”
Sarita’s muscles tensed. Were her feelings that transparent? “I have not.”
“Lies do not become you, my Columbian friend,” Berlinda said with a wag of her head.
Why did everyone keep telling her that?
Marianna put her hands on her hips. “You either walk with me willingly, or I drag you over there. And I’m sure that would look a little suspicious.”
“Fine, let’s go.” Sarita took the lead and strode over to the guard’s desk.
When she reached it, she looked back only to find Marianna and Berlinda sitting at the table giggling.
“I’m going to get you,” Sarita mouthed.
“What do you want?” Even when he tried to sound rude, his voice smoothed over her body like fine silk.
When she rotated and stared into his eyes, all brain functioning ceased. “Um...”
He waited.
“What’s the activity for today?” That’s all she could come up with? Lame.
His chuckle caused her to grab onto the desk so she wouldn’t further embarrass herself by collapsing onto the floor as her legs failed to support her full weight.
He pointed to the wall near the telephones. “The schedule is over there, Cerez.”
She tried for sharp and composed. “That’s right. I’ll take a look.”
“You get along with everyone in here,” he said before she could push herself away from the desk.
She angled her ear toward him, not sure she’d heard him correctly. “Pardon me?”
Did his complexion just turn ro
sy under his light brown skin? “You seem to be friendly with everyone,” he repeated.
She cocked an eyebrow. “I try. What should I do? Start fights?”
“I couldn’t see you in a fight.”
“You’d be surprised. I can hold my own when I have to.” She noted the corner of his luscious mouth tweaked upward.
“I don’t see you as a fighter. You’re too cute to--”
Her heart thudded in her chest so hard she’d have to go to the infirmary if it didn’t let up. “I’m too cute to what?”
He cleared his throat. “You’re too short to be a good fighter.”
“Hey.” She straightened to her full five-foot-five inches pulling her shoulders back. A perverse pleasure filled her as his eyes glanced down at her breasts. “I’m of average height. Just because I’m not a giant like you, doesn’t mean I can’t kick ass.” Her gaze slithered over his body.
“Six feet is not a giant.”
“You seem taller.”
“That’s because you’re tiny.”
Sarita snickered. “No one has ever called me tiny before. I have too much hips to fit that category.”
“You’re perfect.” He cleared his throat before picking up his clipboard and writing, effectively cutting off the conversation.
In a state of shock she shuffled to the far wall to look at the schedule. She had already planned on going to the library this afternoon. She stared unseeing at the activity schedule and smiled, replaying the conversation.
He’d proclaimed her as perfect. She released a contented sigh.
Then the reality of the situation hit like a hook punch from Evander Holyfield. She’d ended up in freaking prison with irresistible Carter as her guard.
What the hell?
Chapter 4
The philosophy section of the library called out to Sarita as Corinth’s words played back in her head. Did the inmates have a clue about how lucky they were when it came to the extensive nature of the library? As an avid reader, she broke the boredom and monotony of jail life by delving into the fictitious lives of others. Similar to how she lived on the outside.
This evening she sought a message. After a minor search through the shelves she plucked off The Life and History of Plato. Angling her body to block anyone who came near, she thumbed through the pages until she found a piece of paper labeled only with the letter C.
Gossip flowed on her unit about the illegal deals which went down through the library mail system. It was a known fact that people slipped letters into books and for a small fee, the librarian would tell the recipient where the note had been hidden. The intricate message center of the jail fascinated her. Being against the rules didn’t stop inmates from taking the risk. Sometimes, the correspondence flowed from the opposite sex.
She belonged to neither of these groups. Her message came from a source which could infiltrate any system in the world. With deft fingers, she removed the paper, slipped it into her bra, and then placed the book on the shelf.
She belonged to neither of these groups. Her message came from a source which could infiltrate any system in the world. With deft fingers, she removed the paper, slipped it into her bra, then returned the book to the shelf.
Unable to resist the romance novels calling to her, she selected two books to join the one sitting on her bed. With thirty minutes left before the guards marched her unit upstairs, she sat with her back to the wall, pretending to read, all the while observing the other jailees socializing.
***
Sarita exchanged small pleasantries with Monica when she returned from the library. Scrambling up onto her bed, Sarita settled on her stomach, facing the wall where there should’ve been a headboard. Opening her book to use as a shield, she removed the note from her bra and read: The bulb has been found and the light in the house will be switched on in three days. Special order from Nevada.
After reading the message twice, she put it in her mouth and chewed until it congealed into a paste. Swallowing would’ve been easier with a cup of cold water. She had to be satisfied with washing the note down with her saliva, because she had no intention of climbing down.
It’s about time they found her. Sarita had been on the edge of calling her boss, wanting out of the mission. She scoffed at the ridiculous thought. She’d be on the job until completed.
The past few days seemed like an unnecessary waste of time as she waited. Her job? Protecting the spoiled South Korean child of a major dignitary. She developed a tick under her right eye every time she thought about how she’d been roped into an assignment she would never have volunteered for...
***
When her boss, Corinth Gladsone, called Sarita into the office, she didn’t think anything of it. The three strangers already seated touched something off in her gut. Her external presence had been one of calm and nonchalance. In the short amount of time it took her to walk into the room, she would’ve been able to describe each individual to a sketch artist with absolute accuracy. She settled into the last remaining chair.
Of course, Corinth sat in the seat of power behind her uncluttered desk. “This is Sarita Cerez. Sarita this is Mr. Lee, Mr. Phung, and Ms. Henney.”
They offered curt nods, but no handshakes. “They are representatives of the South Korean government,” Corinth said. “The daughter of their president came for a visit to the US. Her travel plans stated she’d be here for two months. Somehow she slipped past her guards and travelling companion with the supposed assistance of a friend. She’s been missing for the past three months. The various agencies have been attempting to find her. As of now she’s still at large, but they’ve discovered a lead.”
What was her role in this meeting? A sense of apprehension flooded her. Never a good sign.
Corinth’s monotone reporting voice continued. “We have reason to believe she’s alive and unharmed after gallivanting around the country, leaving traces of her presence. By the time the authorities arrive at that location, she’s gone.”
Mr. Lee nodded and added in a heavy Asian accent, “Her freedom as the president’s daughter is limited in South Korea. We are afraid she is taking this ill-advised excursion as a rebellion of sorts.”
“There’s no doubt she’ll be found safe and sound.” Corinth attempted to reassure the delegates. “But the issue now lies with her illegal presence in the US. She will have to be deported.”
It took all of Sarita’s energy to prevent her eyebrows from rising. Deportation of a dignitary? Surely an unprecedented event.
Before she could speak, Corinth jumped in. “Her visa expired a few days ago. Although she’s the president’s daughter, she has violated the immigration rules of the United States government. She’ll be detained and deported as soon as she’s found.”
Corinth’s words hadn’t clarified anything. As a member of the Secret Service branch of Homeland Security, Sarita specialized in protecting foreign diplomats. She didn’t like the disturbing conclusions rolling through her head.
Perhaps if she’d eaten breakfast that morning, it might not have taken so long for it to all click into place.
Then Corinth dropped the bomb. “We need you on the inside to protect her while she’s being detained.”
Sarita’s stomach lurched. “Inside?”
“We’ll set you up in the Washington D.C. medium security prison as a detainee awaiting deportation. While undercover, you’ll watch over Rhee Hana until she’s fully processed and deported.”
For the first time during the meeting, she shifted. “Why can’t she be detained at a private establishment until she’s ready to be flown out?”
Ms. Denny spoke. “Miss Rhee is a troublesome young woman. For years she has been in various compromising situations, but because she is the daughter of the president, the repercussions were light. The discipline she received was inadequate. The president wants to take this opportunity to thoroughly punish her for her actions. He considers this last act of rebellion selfish and believes that if she does not pay the
consequences, she will never learn.”
Damn. I’m going to jail to teach this spoiled brat a lesson?
Desperate to get out of the assignment Sarita brought in another angle. “Won’t being deported from the US look bad for your country?”
“Arrangements have been made with immigration,” Corinth answered. “The US will undertake the process of deporting her. Once she’s out of the country, all evidence of her deportation will be destroyed and no one will be the wiser.”
Sarita shook her head. “Why not fly her back when you find her and cane her when she gets home?”
Her question caused a rumble of laughter to erupt among the three South Koreans. Mr. Lee recovered first. “It has crossed our minds, but after a discussion with the president, we have decided this is the best course of action. We are hoping she will, as you Americans say, straighten up and fly right. We only need you to protect her and see that no harm befalls her while she is detained.”
Sarita wheedled for a get out of jail free card. “How do you know she won’t tell everyone about her experience when she gets home?”
“Hana is unruly, not stupid.” Ms. Denny crossed her legs. “She will not boast about the experience. The people would look down upon her. Until now, they have taken her behavior to be that of a child rebelling. They would not tolerate knowing she has been to jail.”
“I see,” Sarita lied. None of it made sense.
“Ms. Gladstone has told us you are a wonderful agent and will protect her well,” Mr. Lee nodded once. “We have confidence you will do as she says.”
“I’ll do my best,” Sarita replied.
Mr. Lee stood. “Thank you. We will be in touch Ms. Gladstone.”
“Of course.”
Corinth stood with the others and walked around her desk to shake their hands and display bows of respect. Protocol and etiquette dictated that Sarita do the same.
After the trio exited, she took five, intentional deep breaths before she felt ready to speak to Corinth. “What’s this all about?”