The next morning the girls were very hungry and went downstairs for the complimentary breakfast before Leah’s parents were ready. Lorenzo, the hotel manager, approached them with a piece of paper in his hand. “Miss Amanda, I have here a message for you.”
“For me? Are you sure?”
“Oh yes, Senorita. It is for you.”
He handed her the piece of paper which said, We have your rucksack. Please come to the fourth floor of 125 Almede Street to collect it.
Amanda handed the note to Leah. “O-M-G – I can’t believe it! Let’s go and get my backpack right now. It can’t be that far. Won’t your parents be blown away when they see my backpack has been returned?”
“Perhaps we should tell them first,” cautioned Leah.
“No, no – let’s surprise them. I can’t believe my luck.” Amanda grinned from ear to ear. “Where’s Almede Street?” she asked Lorenzo.
“It is two blocks right and one block left.” He pointed the way. “It is very close, you will not get lost.”
“Let’s go. Right now!” Amanda ran out of the hotel with a bewildered Leah close behind.
They followed Lorenzo’s instructions, easily found the old building and entered the huge wooden front door. They could barely make out the two identical marble staircases that spiraled up each side as they entered the dim foyer. A rickety, old elevator did not look very reliable so they decided to take the stairs to the fourth floor.
They rang the doorbell and caught their breath while they waited. An older man answered the door.
“I’m Amanda and I have come for my backpack.”
Without a smile, the man nodded and motioned the girls to follow him into another room. The missing backpack waited for her on a high-backed chair. Amanda rushed to pick it up when a big hairy arm reached out to stop her. Her eyes followed the length of the arm. It was attached to a man with a mean grin. She felt sick. She recognized the man – he was the man with the ponytail.
“Gotchya now, you meddling little brat.” He grabbed her around the waist and carried her kicking and flailing to another room. The last thing Amanda saw, before he threw her in the dark room and slammed the door, was Leah’s puzzled eyes.
She soon became accustomed to the dark and, to her astonishment, made out Francisco, in a corner, tied to a chair.
“I am sorry Amanda.” He looked down in embarrassment.
“You should be,” retorted Amanda as she looked around for a way out of the room.
The older man who had answered the door came into the room and tied Amanda to a wooden chair. ‘What will happen to us now? And where is Leah?’ was all she could think about.