How did something so right become a black market scandal? It was free food after all...
~Part Three

A gentle hand touching her shoulder brought her out of the past. She gazed up at the man and said one word. "How?"

The officer in charge looked around the apartment with steady eyes. He took one more glance at the small women before him and proceeded to tell everyone to wait outside in the front yard.

The women's son didn't want to leave his mother alone. From the tone of the discussion between the officer and her son, she knew she would be safe on her own. She hugged her son telling him not to worry, everything would work out. She had a good feeling about the rest of the day.

While her apartment was cleaned out of men she went and waited on her couch, colored bag still in hand. She finally heard the front door close and lock. It was time to figure out where all went wrong.

The officer walked slowly over to the couch. Bowing before her, he, in perfect English, introduced himself as Antonio.

She stood with a smile on her face knowing already he spoke some English. He had been too patient before not to have known what was being said. She held out her hand to shake. Introducing herself as Kathryn, his eyes widened a bit.

Kathryn pointed to the couch. It was best to get comfortable while he explained how her free meals ended up on the black market and why!

Antonio sat down, leaned his head back, and started to explain.

Three months ago a homeless man traveling to the next town was stopped by two soldiers. The man had one bag of meals in his possession. The soldiers knew this man was homeless and jumped to the conclusion that he had stolen the bag from town.

The homeless man tried to explain he didn't steal it. It was a present from the Mother of the man known as Jesus that lived in the mountains. The soldiers looked inside the bag carefully to see two small packages wrapped in wax paper. One of the soldiers reached in, grabbed a wrapped package, opened it up to reveal a muffin. He split it in half handing a piece to his partner.

The man watched the sweets he was saving being eaten right in front of him. He wasn't a dumb man, just one in need of a shower. He grabbed the bag back from the soldiers. He went on to explain that the food was special. If not given to someone as a gift, those who tried to eat it would soon have bad things start happening to them. He explained if they wanted to trade with him for the last package inside or the bag he was willing to give them his food with an open heart.

The men sneered at him, grabbed the bag, pushing him to the ground and walked off the way they had come.

Carlos knew soon word would get out about the bags full of delicious food. A plan had to be made now or anyone caught with the food on them would be in danger from the soldiers. Pushing himself off the ground, he made his way back to town to spread the word.

"Do not give away the food for free. It must be given to someone with an open heart or bad phenomenons will soon befall the person(s) that take the packages."

The two soldiers that had stolen the man's food fell down a ravine the very next day and died.

Kathryn stood up straight when she heard this part of the story. Her hands, palms up, mouth open to talk, yet no words would come out. She then started to pace. Antonio seeing a person in distress new they needed a distraction. He asked her if he could have a cup of coffee.

With a glare in his direction, Kathryn walked to the kitchen with the sound of the officer chuckling...