Mumbai

There were already accommodations made for me at the hostel where the two previous agents had stayed, the Star Dormitory. There had to be some kind of a connection between bin Saladin and that particular hostel which made it easier for destitute female backpackers to become porn stars in Mumbai. The task **** figured it had to be someone who worked there, or someone who hung around there a lot that helped recruit women for bin Saladin's porn films.

The fake robbery was staged right outside the Star Dormitory, which brought the desk clerk and the bellboy to my rescue. The desk clerk stayed with me while the bellboy gave chase to my assailant. "Are you all right?" he asked me.

"I'm fine, but everything I had was in my backpack. I have no money and no clothes except for what I've got on." I played it up as best I could. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm lucky I booked a room here in advance."

"You say you have a room booked here in advance? What is your name?"

"Chloe Breedlove. At least they didn't get my passport." I reached into the side pocket of my khakis and produced it for the clerk to see.

The desk clerk looked at the passport with keen interest. "Very pretty name for a very pretty lady. You have nothing to worry about. I was the one who took your reservation, and it is paid up two weeks in advance. I will, of course, need to hold on to your passport for verification purposes. I'll make sure to get it back to you."

"That's fine. Now I have to wonder how I can make money to eat on, and to buy a ticket back home."

It was then the bellboy came back carrying my backpack. He presented it to me. "They threw it at me as I closed in on them."

I opened the front pouch where I knew my wallet once was. I looked at the desk clerk and the bellboy. I sighed deeply. "Well, they got my wallet, which had all my money and credit cards in it." I rubbed my forehead, trying to act distraught.

"Young lady you should not worry so much," the desk clerk said. "This is Mumbai, and there are lots of well-paying opportunities here. You're free to check our bulletin board for anything that might interest you." He took my backpack and handed it back to the bellboy. "Rahim will show you to your room while I verify your passport. And don't worry about food. We will take care of you since you paid in advance."

"That's very kind of you," I smiled.

We all went inside and the clerk gave Rahim the keys to room 225. "Make sure the young lady gets to her room with no further molestation."

Rahim bowed. "Of course, sir."

What I didn't see happen after Rahim and I left the desk was the desk clerk faxing my passport photo to someone who took great interest in me. I also didn't see him pull down most of the help wanted ads on the bulletin board in favor of one ad he put up in their place. The wheels of fate were turning. Which way they were turning for me, I could not say.

Upon reaching my room, I decided to take a nap.