"Keep calling the other numbers. She is the only other person I will answer calls from. Forward all else to Arturo Estes. Let him handle things for a change."
Yes Ms Andi...."
Before Gloria could finish the line went dead.
Raisa was pacing like a caged tiger. She faced the window and her emotions were as dark as the raging storm.
The phone rang and Raisa pounced. "Hello."
"I have the information you requested."
"You know the name of the woman in the car?"
"Yes, Ms Andieta."
Raisa took in a long deep breath and sat. She held her breath.
"What is it?" She said unable to recognize the tremor in her own voice.
"Her name was Maria Santisnero..." Raisa heard nothing else after that as her eyes closed in relief. "She was with her daughter Maite who was 6yrs old. Apparently the two women took turns driving the children back and forth to school."
"Ramiro, have you found me Carolyn Stenbeck?" Whispered Raisa.
"We are still searching Ms Andieta. The city is in chaos. The list of people missing is growing as we speak. I have all my men looking for her. I wanted to give you an update."
"Ramiro, find her. Find her and I will give you 50,000 American dollars."
There was only shocked silence on the other side.
"Find her Ramiro. Find her for me."
"I will find her Ms Andieta." The line went dead.
Raisa sat behind her big desk and waited. Suddenly she realized that no one was calling for her. There was no one worrying whether she was home or not.
Most of the staff in the building stayed in not risking going out into the storm. The building had been built to withstand all kinds of storms. If nothing else Raisa Andieta liked efficiency. Everything had to work. The building had its own water system underground so it did not depend on the unreliable water system that serviced the city. It was also equipped with its own generators for emergency power. Power outages were common but they did not effect the production of Copeco Oils Headquarters. She had even gone as far as to set up there own separate phone systems to keep on top of news not only out of the country but also within. Raisa knew power and how to wield it. And yet, with all this power on her disposal she could not find one single woman in a city.
A jeep had been kept waiting in case she had to move quickly. Another 6 six hours and still no news. Raisa looked out into the storm.
"Carolyn where are you? What have you done to me?. God how I hate you!"
She walked over to the credenza and with one swipe of her arms all went flying. The crashing of crystal brought a frightened Gloria into the private office.
"Ms Andieta?"
Raisa leaned against the glass of the window. She closed her eyes and repeated softly. "I hate you, Carolyn."
"Ms Andieta?"
Raisa did not acknowledge her presence. Gloria walked over to her boss cautiously. "Ms Andieta?"
Raisa remained silent. Gloria stood next to her now and touched her arm.
"Ms Andieta? Are you all right?"
Raisa looked at Gloria as if for the first time. She took a step away from the wall. She turned her back to Gloria and walked over the mess she had created. She sat down behind her desk and finally looked at Gloria.
"Get maintenance to clean this up." She then started looking at some papers on her desk.
Gloria stood silently for a moment then rushed out to handle Raisa's request immediately.
~~~~~~~~~~
One hour later Raisa's phone range again.
"Hello!"
"I found her Ms. Andieta, she checked into The Caracas Hilton an hour ago."
"Thank God," she said as she sat down and covered her face with her hands.
~~~~~~~~~~
Carolyn could not believe she had made it this far. Luckily she had the foresight to grab her bag as she and Simon abandoned the car at the Autopista. There was water everywhere. She had heard that some people had actually drowned. She had managed to get a lift and then walk the rest of the way to the hotel. Simon was exhausted and frightened to death, the poor child. She had tried getting in touch with Matt but the phone lines out of the hotel were down.
Carolyn had walked into the Hilton carrying an exhausted child. They had both been drenched to the bone and must have looked like two indigents. For a moment the desk clerk almost turned them away. Carolyn immediately showed her a credit card and booked a large suite and that, as always, took care of everything in Caracas.
She had taken care of Simon first. Bathed him and ordered room service. She showered and both were wearing terry cloth robes from the hotel. Almost before he finished eating he was sound asleep. She carried him into the second bedroom and shut the door as she walked out to the sitting room.
Carolyn finally allowed the toll that they day had taken to come out. She no longer needed to seem strong for Simon. When she and Simon jumped out of the car she was faced with chaos everywhere. People were screaming that the street was collapsing and the running almost knocked them both down. She had never been more terrified in all her life. Then as they slowly made their way, the darkness started to cover everything. Some parts of the city lost power and it all became more frightening.
They had walked for hours until she had to start carrying Simon because he was too tired to walk anymore. They had a guardian angel because although they had somehow walked in the storm through the most dangerous parts of Caracas they had not met with any other problem then that caused by the storm. As they got closer to the middle of town some streetlights were actually lit. By good fortune she had seen a cab and it stopped. She offered $100 to take her to the Caracas Hilton. It took them one whole hour to arrive but at last they were safe and indoors.
Carolyn sat down and raised her legs up. She curled up like a frightened child and allowed her self to cry. She was tired and exhausted and her emotions were raw. But mostly, she felt alone.
She became oblivious to all around her until a constant buzzing broke her concentration. She looked at the door and realized that someone was calling her name.
"Carolyn, Carolyn for god's sake open the door!"
Carolyn got up and almost ran. She swung the door wide open. Neither woman knew who had moved first. But within a second Raisa was holding Carolyn tightly to her.
Carolyn's body started shaking as she began to sob.
"You're safe now, Cara. You're safe," Raisa whispered into her hair. "It's over. It's over." Carolyn raised her face and looked into Raisa's eyes.
Raisa's thumb caressed the tears away as her mouth lightly brushed Carolyn's lips. She then pulled her again into her embrace. "You are exhausted; come Cara, I will take care of you," Raisa said gently.
Carolyn was exhausted. She had reached the limits of her grip on things. She buried her face in Raisa's neck and allowed the warmth of the arms that held her and the softness of the body against her to just take over.
"Where is Simon?" Asked Raisa gently.
"He's asleep. Raisa, we almost drowned. It was horrible." Carolyn began to weep again.
"I know Cara, I know. But you are safe now." Raisa turned and closed the door to the suite which had remained open. "Which bedroom is he in?"
"That one," Carolyn answered with barely a whisper as she pointed where Simon slept. "He was frightened to death. I hate living here. I want to go home. I hate living here."
Carolyn again allowed herself to be led in a protective embrace into the bedroom.
"We can talk about where you want to live tomorrow Cara, tomorrow. I want you to lie down Cara, what you need right now is rest." Raisa said gently as she stood before Carolyn in the dark. As Raisa stepped away Carolyn reached for her in fear.
"Don't go! Please, don't go."
"I'm going to stay with you. I'm not leaving you." Raisa reassured her as her hand caressed Carolyn's face softly.