Isabel screams and kicks and slams the back of her head into Jerónimo’s chest as he watches the freight crawl past. He counts its cars in an effort to calm himself. The train seems endless. It’s another trial, Jerónimo reflects, another misery to be endured, like cold rain or a sleepless night. His first thought was that they’d wait for Luz at Carmen’s place and grab her when she showed up to see her daughter. But while talking to Carmen, he began to worry. If Luz went to the police or got help from somebody else, he and Thacker would be sitting ducks at the house. Better to take the kid and go, and then use the little girl to force Luz to meet them at another location.“We have to get the child out of here,” he said to Carmen. “Right now.”“What?” Carmen said.“For her own safety.”“No.”“We’re not going to hurt her,” Jerónimo said. He turned to Thacker, who was standing against the refrigerator. “Do you have something to write with?”
