There had been another woman in the car....

She called Carolyn's house and the phone seemed to ring forever. Suddenly, someone picked up.

"Residencia Stenbeck, buenos dias"

"I want to speak to Mrs Stenbeck."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Stenbeck is not home"

"When will she be back? Do you know where she is?"

"She went out this morning and has not returned. I don't know when she will be home."

"Do you know if she spoke with Ester Curbelo today?"

"Who is this?" The maid asked suspiciously.

"Listen to me very carefully. I am Raisa Andieta. Do you recognize the name?"

"Yes of course Ms. Andieta."

"Then stop asking stupid questions and tell me if Carolyn spoke with Ester Curbelo today!"

There was a brief pause. "Yes Ms Andieta she did."

"Dios Mio...." God, escaped Raisa's lips. "If you hear from Mrs. Stenbeck tell her to contact me immediately do you understand?"

"Yes, Ms Andieta."

Raisa switched phone lines and dialed directly to the person she had inside the police department. She kept telling herself that she was overreacting. Just because Ester Curbelo had spoken with Carolyn this morning meant nothing. And yet she felt her heart beat picking up and her breathing was becoming agitated.

The phone seemed to ring and ring. The longer it took before someone picked up seemed to agitate her more and more. Finally...someone picked up the receiver.

"Ramiro, it's Raisa Andieta."

"Ms Andieta, what a pleasure it is....."

"I want to know the names of all the people that downed in my company car out at Las Lomas."

"Ms Andieta, please hold on and I will get that file."

"Fine, hurry."

Raisa waited tapping her fingernails on her desk. A few minutes later she was still waiting and the more she waited the more anxious she was becoming.

"Ms Andieta?"

"Yes, I'm here"

"We have an Ester Curbelo and her two sons Paulo 6 years old and Andres 4 years old. There is another woman and another child in the car that have not been identified as of yet."

"Ramiro, this is a priority. Find out who this other woman is. But most importantly I want you to find someone that is missing. Put all the men possible to this effort."

"Ms Andieta... that may be difficult right now..los barrios are collapsing with the water..."

"No argument. I want this done Ramiro. This is not a request. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Ms Andieta. Who am I looking for?"

"Her name is Carolyn Stenbeck. Her son attends Campo Alegre School. Find her and call me immediately. Nothing is more important than finding this woman do you understand?"

"Ms Andieta..."

"Nothing or you are going to know what pain is."

"Yes Ms Andieta. I will put all my men on this."

Raisa hung up the phone and leaned back on her chair. Where was Carolyn?

~~~~~~~~~~

Carolyn started getting really frightened as the water was getting higher and higher. There were cars both in front of her and behind her.

"I'm scared Mommy," Simon said nervously.

"Don't worry sweetheart. It's going to be okay. We will just be a little late in getting home." Carolyn tried to reassure him. But the more that time passed the higher the water was getting. People started leaving their cars. She had to decide quickly.

"Mommy, the water is getting higher and higher, look! That car just fell into a hole!"

"Simon put your window down hurry!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Six hours later still no word of Carolyn. Raisa Andieta felt like she was about to jump out of her skin. She had never felt less in control. She had a million problems to deal with today, from generators to explosions. She was used to working under incredible pressure. She had been grateful for the chaos, it had kept her focused. Every moment her mind was not over filled she would come back to the knowledge that Carolyn was still missing and the woman in the car with Ester Curbelo had still not been identified.

Her phone bussed and before the second ring she picked it up

"Yes Gloria."

"Ms Andieta we have the numbers on the casualties at Katya."

"I don't give a fuck about Katya or all those people. Keep this line open for Ramiro Fonseca and him only. Do you understand?"

"Yes Ms Andieta."

"Have you kept calling Carolyn Stenbeck's home?"

"Yes Ms Andieta, Clara the maid says still no word from Mrs. Stenbeck."

"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.