He tugged her off the ATV dragging her several feet away.  Jazmine considered trying to fight; she sobbed feeling helpless and lost, not knowing what to do.  The man removed a tarp from the ground exposing a large hole.  Jazmine’s eyes grew wide with fear - this was her grave.  He withdrew a rough home-made ladder from the growth of plants nearby.  The soldier dropped it carelessly into the hole, ordering Jazmine to crawl down.

She backed away refusing to go near the edge.  She turned and bolted into the trees but the soldier quickly apprehended her.  He thrust her towards the opening, stating, “Either you get in, or I throw you in.”  Overcome with dismay, she grasped the edge of the rickety ladder and wearily began the descent.  It was awkward going with her hands tied together; her captor was very impatient.  When she stepped off the last rung the man whipped the ladder out of the opening and walked away, leaving her stranded.

The damp smell of earth overtook her nose and crept into the back of her throat.  She expected the guard to start shoveling dirt down on top of her at any moment, asphyxiating her under the soil.  Unexpectedly, the whine of the 4-wheeler sounded and she listened as the man pulled away from her earthen prison.  She diligently watched the opening hoping to see anything helpful, but all she saw was the overhanging tree branches fluttering in the soft breeze.  Overcome with emotion Jazmine fell back against the hardened dirt wall and crumpled to the floor. 

~       ~      ~     ~

Anthony woke early in the morning; lingering thoughts about the nightmare of Jose’s decomposing body tormented his mind.  He thought about Jazmine, too.  Could she really be locked away as a slave right now, or was Hugo lying?  He didn’t think the man could be trusted.  The minutes ticked slowly away as he waited for the clock to strike eight.  As soon as it did, Anthony dialed the number to Agent Monroe.  The phone rang and he waited impatiently.  Monroe’s voice mail picked up so Anthony left an insistent message.

Almost immediately the phone rang; it was Monroe.  Anthony rushed out of the apartment and raced toward the police station.  The agent said he’d received another link to a new interview with Hugo.  Anthony shuddered in fear of what Hugo might say - but he had to know what happened to Jazmine, or where she was.  Lost in a daze of thoughts Anthony bolted through the intersection after the light turned red. 

A quick moving SUV laid on the horn as Anthony drove straight into their oncoming path.  The SUV swerved as Anthony stomped on his brakes.  Both cars skid out of control narrowly missing each other.  The SUV recovered into its lane and continued onward.  Anthony sat frozen in the middle of the intersection for a split-second, before rushing on his way.   

The day was beginning badly, already; this wasn’t a good sign.  Soon after the mishap he pulled into the parking lot of the police station and shut off the car.  As he walked toward the entrance Anthony took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves.  Hopefully today he’d get some answers; something solid to clear his name and tell him where Jazmine was.  He needed some type of hope and optimism in his life right now. 

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