Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro

Angra dos Reis, or just Angra, is a well-known city for those who enjoy sun and beach. It is composed of 365 islands - not even the narrator knew this information - and is usually quite crowded during the summer vacations, with many boats and speedboats going everywhere.

But sun and beach was not exactly what Enzo, Ana, Vini and Belgium were looking for. Still, Enzo wore a yellow flowered button-down shirt and comfortable pants, to Ana's little protests. They had the address, they just didn't know if they would be properly welcomed. In any case, they couldn't help but try. Ana was first in line. Initially, she knocked on the door, only later to check that there was an intercom. She pressed the only button and waited.

- Who is it? - A male voice asked.

- I'm Ana. Who do I speak to?

- Fernando.

- Fernando, we need to talk about something in private.

- What is this about?

- Please let us in.

They heard the sound of a lock. The gate opened and they entered the property. A massive two-story house, two Range Rovers in the garage, a small stone path around the pool, and some palm trees around it.

- Right - said Vini.

Fernando introduced himself to the quartet. He wore a casual warm-weather outfit, almost identical to Enzo's.

- How can I help you?

- Fernando, my name is Ana. These are my friends, Belgium, Enzo and Vini.

- Your name is Belgium? - he asked.

- Anyway... - Ana soon interrupted. - My father is in the military. I don't know if you heard, but a few days ago a little boy was taken by aliens in the capital.

- No, I haven't heard.

- You don't have to. It's dumb. - Belgium said.

- Anyway, the little boy is missing. But that's not why we are here.

- Does the name Rodriguez make sense to you?

- Rodriguez? Not very much. Why do you ask?

- What do you know about human trafficking covered up by the military in Eastern Europe?

The features on Fernando's face changed rapidly.

- What do you mean?

- Please, we know the story.

- Well, not totally. - Enzo intervened. - If we knew, we wouldn't have come here, right?

- Thank you, Enzo.

- Anytime.

- Look, children, this matter has been closed for years.

- No, no, no. Rodriguez thinks that this is still going on and is covered up by the generals in the army.

- I don't know anything about it.

- Yes, you do. And we are not going to leave without an answer, even if it means taking a bullet in the head.

Vini raised his finger and spoke up:

- So when she says we, she doesn't mean we, exactly. You can just shoot her and let us all go.

- Shut up, Vini. - Belgium whined.

- I'm not going to shoot anyone. - Fernando calmed them down. - But I'll tell you one thing. There are a lot of big people involved in this. Stay out of it.

- It's not an option anymore.

- All right, all right, all right. - Fernando gave himself up. - About seven years ago, I heard about a case like this in Turkey. Some military personnel went to Istanbul to negotiate the price of young women and children. The transportation was done in their own airplanes. The money was very high at the time.

- How much are we talking about?

- 100 thousand per head.

- Holy shit.

- Didn't you do anything to prevent it?

- What did you want me to do? They would be after my head.

- Okay, okay, let's not judge. - Vini said. - This kid that disappeared, we believe that his mother was taken by one of those... Bizarre stunts.

- Do you really think so?

- Well, we had no way of telling. Would there be a way to infiltrate us?

- No, no, no. It's too risky.

- What if I go? - Ana offered.

Enzo stared at her.

- Ana, have you gone completely mad?

- Enzo, if you want something, do it yourself.

- I don't think the saying includes getting involved in human trafficking voluntarily!

- Do you think that by putting Ana in the middle of it she can infiltrate it?

- Let's see... She is pretty, with all due respect. Young, innocent. Those Saudi princes will go mad for her.

- What can you do?

- Whatever you want, sweetie.