Read Online Mercy Killing (Affairs of State Book 1) by Kathryn Johnson - Free Book Online

if the police and the Americans didn’t get in his way. If that happened—well, he hated to consider the consequences.

 
     
     
     
    7
    Peter Davis broke out his laptop from the overhead compartment, as soon as the Aeromexico flight attendant gave permission for the use of electronic devises. No small talk with his wife sitting beside him. No excited sharing of dreams like they used to do. He disappeared into his hard drive.
    Rather than feeling offended, Mercy donned her Bose headphones and savored the serenity of noise-reduction stereo. Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor backed by the distant grumble of jet engine. Sheer bliss.
    This was the first time in weeks she’d been able to sit in one place and do absolutely nothing. Ah, the joy of laziness! A rare experience in her frenetic life. She’d survived the madness of overseeing the shipping of items they’d need in Mexico, storing those they didn’t, and Goodwilling furniture and clothing they’d likely never use again. Through it all she labored beneath a sooty cloud of worry over two of the things most dear to her: her mother and her marriage.
    Days earlier she'd asked Peter if he had followed up on his promise to look into her mother’s whereabouts.
    “I’m taking care of it,” he assured her before re-burying his head in paperwork.
    After another week with no word from the State Department, or any other government entity, her anxiety had doubled.
    She decided, as a back-up plan, to apply for a Ukrainian visa, despite the Senator’s warning. What did it matter if she didn’t know that language or her way around the country? That was what translators and guides were for. But that still didn’t solve the problem of where to start looking for her mother. Lucius Clay had the power to help her there. At least, he claimed he did.
    By working with him, she’d also serve a humanitarian cause and help stop a dreadful form of abuse. He’d repay her by feeding her information through his international contacts. If there was no other way, it seemed a fair tradeoff.
    Before she’d left D.C., they met a third time. He gave her a list of names—people he encouraged her to include in social situations once she was settled in Mexico City. Suspects, she assumed. Mercy took out her notes while she waited in the airport lounge for their flight, and memorized each of their names. Then she used much of the flight to plan her strategy.
    She would begin by hosting a series of parties. At each event she’d invite one or more people from The List . An invitation, once accepted, obligated her guests—at least in theory—to return the favor of hosting her and Peter at their events, thus establishing a social bond and enlarging her social network.
    Once in the home of a suspect she would watch and listen and poke around for evidence of involvement in human trafficking. She wasn’t yet sure what that might be—overheard conversations, maybe even letters or financial records,. Perhaps she’d discover illegal workers among the household staff. Would she recognize valuable information if she stumbled over it? Clay had encouraged her to believe she would.
    In addition, he explained, that although most of the names on his list were male, she could use the man’s wife or girlfriend as an entrée. Women joined gyms, spas, clubs, committees to support the fine arts and charities. She would join too. Mercy drew up her first three guest lists, and then moved on to compile sample menus for discussion with a caterer.
    By the time their plane landed at El Aeropuerto Benito Juarez , Mercy and Peter had exchanged fewer than a dozen words, but she felt well organized for her mission. They were met by a car and driver sent by the embassy. The trip into the city took forty-five minutes, time enough for her to absorb the sprawling, sun-bleached city with its network of highways and modern architecture. Located on Paseo de la Reforma , the American embassy was a six-story building tucked