"They could be in Florida or California or Nebraska. They didn't say we'd make the trade in New York. And even if they are in the city, how do you propose we find them?"

"At least we could try. From Boston—"

"We're not going to Boston. I couldn't get a flight from Mexico City to Manchester without a wicked layover. We're going to New Hampshire."

"To your hometown?"

"We'll be safe, and nobody will know where to find us. We can figure out where to go from there."

"But..." She wanted to argue, because she felt in her bones that Ana was in New York. She wanted to be near her little girl. But Nate's argument was sound, and anyway, she couldn't think straight enough to plan.

"Go to sleep, Marisa." He stepped out of his seat, searched in the upper compartments, and came back with two pillows and two blankets. "Here." He handed her one of each. "We both need to sleep."

"I won't be able to."

"Please, try."

She stared out the window until the flight took off, trying not to think about Ana and unable to think about anything else. After they'd leveled off, she draped the blanket over her jeans and sweatshirt, which she'd changed into in the airport in Mexico City. She slid her braid over her shoulder and propped the pillow against the window. She closed her eyes. The trip to her village, this flight, the airports—it all felt surreal. Just two days earlier, she and Ana had hitched a ride to Chilpancingo. And now... How had she gotten here? Tears dripped down her face and off her chin.

"Hey." Nate touched her arm.

She opened her eyes to find him watching her. He lifted the armrest between their seats and patted his shoulder. "Try this. It's soft."

She shifted, leaned against Nate. The tears kept coming, but finally she drifted to sleep.

* * *

AT LOGAN INTERNATIONAL in Boston, Marisa reached for the duffel Nate had purchased for her, but he lifted it from the baggage carousel first and slung over his shoulder. He pulled his and Leslie's suitcases toward the doors.

"I can help with that,” she said.

He turned, his eyes kind. "I got it."

The area was packed with people, most speaking English. Any feeling of joy at being home was tempered by the circumstances.

She followed Nate, who still looked as good as he had that first day despite so little sleep. They'd both slept much of the nearly seven-hour flight.

The door to the street opened automatically. He let her go first and followed her to the sidewalk.

She shivered and folded her arms. "I'd forgotten how cold the air could be."

He just smiled and led her to a bench. "My friend will be here soon."

"I feel bad he had to drive so far."