The Mechanics of Kidnapping

Gay details in Mireille’s story the mechanics of kidnapping in Haiti, a country in which stealing a family member is often treated more like a business transaction than a crime. Gang members kidnap people, generally members of wealthy families, in order to earn money. In this case, Mireille is kidnapped because her father owns a successful construction company. Mireille warned the Commander that her father would not pay the ransom, but the Commander was still shocked when her father did not pay. Meanwhile, because Michael is not familiar with kidnapping in Haiti, he is frustrated and angered by his inability to get his wife freed.

Mireille is kidnapped by an armed gang because they believe her wealthy father will willingly pay the $1 million ransom. Mireille indicates in one of her flashbacks that “Haiti had surpassed Colombia as the kidnapping capital of the...