Take heed, watch and pray… Mark 13:33
Wiped out but contented, Asia arrived at her hotel. Since she had a flight to catch in the morning on New Year’s Day, she packed her belongings which had been gathered from the two previous hotels and consolidated into suitcases in the current hotel.
Grateful for warmth and safety, she took a long shower, then stepped from the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. Steam clouded the bathroom mirror. She wiped the mist off and stared at her reflection. The rows of her braids were smudged. She took a tail comb and loosened them, stepped back in the shower and washed her hair, conditioning it with the hotel’s complimentary conditioner. Using a blow dryer, she dried her hair, then pulled out her hair straightener.
“Time for a new look.” She used the tail comb, partitioned her hair, and sprayed some heat protector and began easing heat onto the roots to the tips in rows until she finished her entire hair. She sprayed on hair spray she’d made herself from Vitamin E, argan oil, and pink oil. Running another round of straightener in bigger chunks of her hair, she made a curve that was more like a bang at the front, then swept the rest of her hair back. She smiled at her reflection, liking the new look, and set down her tools, leaving her hair straightener to cool. She’d pack it sometime before she left the hotel room.
The past couple of weeks had taught her new things about herself, about God, and about her possibilities. She had encountered some difficulty. But also great victories. Finding these fourteen girls—more, counting Cindy and those rescued with her—capped her year, the accomplishment verifying this was what God intended her to do. Asia saluted her reflection. “Mission accomplished. Rebecca is safe. And she’s heading home. And so I’m heading home soon, too.”
A rap on her door had her hurrying to put some clothes on. “One moment, please.” Tightening her slacks and pulling over a large tee, she strode out.
When she opened the door to Ramirez standing there with two police officers, she frowned. “What’s the problem?”
He ordered the two officers into her room, and they threw her belongings inside, then zipped and grabbed her luggage. “You have to leave now. You’re in danger.”
As they drove, Asia tried to fix her mind on her coming flight back home and not on the panic climbing her heart. Just when she’d settled in her mind that everything was done and she was fine, something had to come up. Ramirez’s face was hard as a rock, an opposite of the happy look he’d sported after the news conference a few hours ago. “What did you say the message said again?” she asked.
Instead of repeating himself, he pulled out his phone and held out the image as she winced. It was her face with a message underneath it. “GO HOME, AND YOU DIE.”
Asia massaged the ache throbbing at her forehead. Yes, she needed some sleep. If she wouldn’t get killed in the process. “I’ve been threatened for a lot of things but never for going home.”
“Well, if they thought they could attack you in Mexico, not on my watch. Asia, you are one of us now. We won’t let anyone hurt you.” He tucked the phone back in his pocket and tugged at the sleeve of his jacket with more force than necessary. “They thought you were still at the station. They hit the station with an explosive and damaged part of the building.”
Asia’s gasp echoed within the unmarked police cruiser. “Why didn’t you tell me that first?”
“I didn’t want to scare you. But this is serious. The traffickers know you’re working with us. They know you’re partly behind these girls’ rescues, especially since they’d captured you twice before. I’m sure they want to knock themselves for your escape. And they’re determined to take you out now.” Ramirez curled a hand around his knee, turning his head slightly. “Maybe you should stay in Mexico. Just for a few weeks. Until we are sure it’s safe for you to go home. What do you say?”
Asia didn’t speak until they reached the new hotel. She waited until they entered it and an officer was conversing with the registration desk on her behalf. She paced the welcome lounge of the new hotel—now the third or fourth hotel—she lost count. She pressed her hands on her hips and kept walking back and forth, thinking through her options.
“Give me a minute.” She thought about her sister and her entire family. If she didn’t return home, she had no guarantee the traffickers wouldn’t go after her family. If they were going to attack her family, she’d rather be there.
“I’m going to start calling to make arrangements in case you want to stay,” Ramirez offered.
“Thank you, but no.” She squared her shoulders as determination wound around her heart. “I’m not staying in Mexico. And I won’t—will not—be threatened away from going home. I’m going home.”
“Are you sure?” He searched her face. “It could be dangerous.”
“Final decision. I won’t put you and your team in any further danger.” Asia locked her gaze on the wall clock. Was it truly three o’clock in the morning already? “Yes, Ramirez, I leave Mexico today.”
“You’re a stubborn lady, but if I must admit it, I would do the same.” He must’ve seen the fierce determination in her eyes. “Alright then. Let me start getting your security ready and send your flight details to the team in readiness for the airport. We’ll see you there at noon.”
As he and the officers departed, leaving two at the door watching her room, Asia settled down for the wait—with a gun Ramirez gave her, her back to the wall, and no plans for a wink of sleep. If the traffickers were out for war, that was exactly what she’d give them.