CHAPTER NINETEEN
When I arrive at Mario's house, everyone's already huddled on the front lawn—Ralph, Jeanie, Mario, and Delva.
"Mi amor, como te sientes? Are you okay?" Delva asks, hugging me and patting the back of my head like I'm some wandering mutt.
"I'll be all right." I glance over at Ralph and Jeanie. "I need your help."
Jeanie nearly pounces on me. "Have you heard from them? Is Edwin okay?"
"Yeah. Let's go inside. I'll explain everything."
We hurry inside and into the living room.
"Okay, here's what's happening. Naima visited me last night. Edwin is completely safe. I spoke with him again—"
I glance at Mario and catch his grateful smile.
"You spoke with him again?" Jeanie says, almost resentful. "What'd he say?"
"He doesn't even really know he's in another country. He's all right. Not hurt. But here's the deal ... no one can stay behind with me. They want me. To trade him for me. Ralph has to come with me, and they'll release Edwin to you guys. But I stay. What they want is me."
"Dude," Mario puts in, "we're not going to let you do that—"
"Decision's been made. It's my call. She said we can communicate with her through a device she gave me to confirm that he's all right. So far she's kept to her side of the bargain."
"Call him now. I need to hear his voice," Jeanie urges. "I need to know he's okay."
"Please?" Ralph adds.
"Sure." I open the device and press my finger to it.
"Aren't we a bit needy?" Naima's frosty voice answers almost immediately.
"His family wants to hear his voice. They deserve that much."
"Very well." There's a moment of silence and then the three faint clicks. "Axel," she says, "let the boy talk."
Axel hollers something out in French.
"Hello?" Edwin answers, his voice still sounds tired and disoriented.
I hand the device to Jeanie.
"Edwin! Are you okay? Papi, are you hurt?" She's trying her best not to choke up, but she fails. "Here, talk to Ralphy. I love you so much."
"Edwin, listen to me," Ralph starts. "We're going to come get you, okay? In just a few hours you'll be back with us. Be strong." He listens for a moment, then shuts his eyelids and chokes out, "I love you, too ... No, you're not going to die ... Yes, I promise ... I'll explain everything when you're back home—Hello? Edwin? Put him back on, please! If you hurt him, I'll murder you myself!" He gives me the device back. "She's demanding to speak to you."
"What do you want?" I say.
"Remember our terms," Naima says. "No one is to stay behind. We have several contingency plans in place if you break the terms of our agreement."
"Everything will be delivered as promised. Me for Edwin. I get my passport tomorrow, then we leave. Ralph will accompany me for the exchange, but he'll leave with Edwin. It's a done deal."
"Then I'm sure I will be hearing from you shortly." The line goes silent.
"What did she say?" Mario asks.
"Something's not right. I want to get over there and know that Edwin is safe."
Jeanie is an uncontrollable mess. "He sounds like they've drugged him or something. He doesn't sound like himself!"
