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I washed my face, brushed my hair and pulled it back in a low pony tail, and repacked my purse, adding the pad and pen before stuffing the folded-up list in my jeans' pocket. There was a moment of fear when I reached for the doorknob, but it turned freely. I stepped out into the hallway. I saw the woman who'd shown us to our rooms, at the far end, but her back was turned. I crossed to Cassie's door and knocked lightly. She opened the door and pulled me inside, shutting the door quietly behind her.
She motioned for me to follow her into bathroom. After the door was closed and the exhaust fan turned on, she asked, "What the hell is going on?"
"I was hoping you'd know. Do you think our rooms are bugged?"
"I don't know, but I'm taking precautions where I can. I'm sure you've got a pad of paper in there somewhere," she said, nodding to my purse. "Let’s list what we know."
It was disturbing to think we'd actually had experience with this sort of thing, but we both felt this was too similar to what happened with Randerran when he kidnapped us from Dr. Belamy's cabin in Arkansas.
We talked about the people we'd seen, the airstrip, the location, the facility. When our list of known facts was drying up, we turned our attention to questions.
"Do you think there's any significance to the fact that Gracie's room is away from ours and has a double letter designation on the door?" Cassie asked.
"I'm thinking she's sharing that room with Wainwright. The double letters might signify a suite or an upgraded room of some kind. When we finish here, let's go find out?"
"It seems like we can come and go as we want," Cassie said.
"I saw that woman at the end of the hall, but she wasn't looking this way. We'll only know how far we can go if we try."
"Let's go check out Gracie's digs, then go find out where Chance and Jared are being treated. I'm not taking no for answer this time. I'm going to demand to see my husband."
I gave her a high five, and she reached for the door. "Wait a second," I said. "Even without her romantic interest in Dr. Wainwright, Gracie Layne's not as paranoid as we are. We need to tell her to take precautions like this," I said, waving my hand to encompass the fact that we were having a discussion in the bathroom.
She nodded and opened the door. I opened the door to the hallway and looked both ways. I didn't see anyone. We walked to room AA and knocked on the door. Gracie Layne opened the door and stepped back to let us enter. "Isn't this lovely," she said, nodding toward a suite which had a small kitchen, a living area, and doors that I suspected led to the bedroom and bath.
"Your room is much larger and nicer than ours," I said. "Have you seen Mark since we arrived?"
"No. He must be busy with Chance and Jared."
While we talked, Cassie opened doors and looked inside. She must have found the bathroom because she was leaning back around the door and motioning to us. I pulled Gracie Layne along, trying to shush her complaints.
The bathroom was nearly as large as my entire room. There was a large walk-in shower, a soaking tub, and a long counter with double sinks. I pulled Gracie Layne to an upholstered chair and pushed her into it.
"What is wrong with you, Em?" Gracie Layne asked.
"We are taking precautions and so should you," Cassie said. "There could be microphones or cameras even in here, but it's less likely."
"Do you think we've been taken hostage again?"
"We aren't really sure what's going on, but there are lots of things about this situation that don't make any sense," I said.
"Like what?" Gracie Layne asked.
"Why take our phones and laptops? Why haven't we been allowed to see the guys? Why are we not in the US?"
"How do you know we're not in the US?"
"Nowhere in the US has jungle like this," Cassie said. "I think we're somewhere in Central or South America."
"Why?" Gracie Layne asked. "Even if you're right, that doesn't mean something's wrong. Mark said we were going to a private treatment facility. Maybe it's something the US government doesn't want on US soil because they treat dangerous diseases. Maybe it's safer if its isolated."
"I don't believe that's true," I said, "and if it is, that doesn't make me feel any better about what's happening with Chance and Jared."
"Sorry," she said. "What's the plan?"
Other than the fact that she had a suitcase full of clothes and a suite, it appeared Gracie Layne was being treated the same as the rest of us. She didn't have a phone or laptop either, though she'd had both on the plane.
"I'm going to find my husband," Cassie said. "Anyone want to come along?" We both followed her out into the suite. She detoured through the kitchen, and I followed. After she opened and closed drawers and cabinets, I realized she was looking for knives or something else that could be used as a weapon. We didn't find anything.
We had discussed the fact that we needed to act as normal as possible, so we chatted and talked as we walked down the hall.