On board of the plane

Syd couldn't believe her eyes. There in the tail section sat four other women. They were all naked and all chained to the floor. "You kidnapped these women?" she asked.

"We did not kidnap anyone. They will have a better life in Mexico than they would here in the states. All four of them were street urchins. They were starving, homeless, wannabe actresses we gave a better offer to. They were already selling their bodies on the street when we found them. Now they will work for us and have a better life with a roof over their heads, and food on the table. The Cartel takes care of those who are willing to join us."

"Right," came Syd's skeptical reply.

"Don't believe me?" the thug pushed her toward the chained women. He pushed her down next to a very cute redhead who was extremely well built. She could have been a fashion model. Syd's feet were quickly shackled to the floor and her handcuffs were removed. "Now you have all the time in the world to ask them if it's true or not."

"Like they wouldn't be afraid to say otherwise," Syd shot back.

The thug shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever, Puta." he walked away towards the front of the plane, and sat down.

The redhead looked at Syd. "Honestly, all of us knew what we were getting into. We weren't kidnapped. Our lives before were far worse than anything that might happen to us in Mexico. You see Fran over there?" She pointed to a young girl who looked like she was barely eighteen. "She had a pimp. He was very sadistic, and he beat if she didn't make enough money for him. Then there's Eileen next to her. Her pimp cut out her tongue for talking to the wrong person. She had no idea she was dealing with an undercover cop. Then there's Barbara, on the other side of me. Her pimp was into some really sick stuff and wanted her to be as well. At first he treated her well. But after he gained her confidence, he destroyed her. She'll never have children."

Syd could tell the woman wasn't lying to her. "I feel bad for all of you. I had no idea how bad things were on the streets. At least I didn't think they were this bad."

"My name is Henna," the redhead told her. "You tell me your story and I'll tell you mine."

"Nice to meet you seems like a very awkward thing to say. My name is Syd. I'm a detective with the LAPD. I came here to rescue my partner. I guess I got here a little too early. I was spying on the plane from what I thought was a safe distance, when the three up front ambushed me and made me strip."

"Tell her about your Care Bear undies!" the head thug teased Syd. They all laughed at her expense again.

"Shut it!" she replied. "We're trying to have a serious conversation here." She was sick of hearing about her Care Bear undies. She turned back to Henna. "But, that's my story."

"Your partner must be very special to risk being caught like this."

Syd smiled for the first time in a long while. "Yeah, she is. She's a one in a million. We make a great team."

Henna smiled back at her. "The look on your face tells me both of you might also make a great couple."

"No," Syd responded, "she's very married and I'm no home wrecker. But if things were different, I would consider her as more than just my partner."

"I bet she thinks the same way of you. It sounds like both of you found an instant chemistry with each other. You probably clicked the first day you met. You mind telling me her name?"

"You're right, we did click right off the bat." Syd smiled remembering the first day she saw Nancy. "I have to admit she does get my juices flowing. Her name is Nancy McKenna."

"I know her!" exclaimed Henna. "She saved me from being ****, and told me I should find a safer profession."

The thugs now had their eyes on the monitor before them, watching as a black luxury van made its way down the path. "Well, it looks like the rest of our company has finally made it. Hey Chico! Prepare for takeoff. They're not gonna want to stick around here! Come on, guys. Let's go greet them and ditch that nosey detective's car."

The three got up and started to leave, when one of them turned to the head thug, and said, "Mind if I bring back her Care Bear undies?"

"SHUT IT ALREADY!" screamed Syd.