He glanced around the room, trying to come up with a way to tell the others about what he'd learned, without tipping off the people watching them. Finally his eyes came to rest on a crossword puzzle book that someone had left lying on a table. He walked over and grabbed it up, finding a pen stuck neatly inside marking a page. He walked over to his cot and sat down, looking for all the world like a man absorbed in doing a crossword puzzle. The others were amazed.
"Is this really the time to be working a fucking puzzle?" Kenneth asked, looking more angry than any of them could ever remember seeing him.
"It helps me relax man," CJ replied, still focused on the crossword. "Hey Michael, what's a seven-letter word for hidden truth?"
Looking surprised, Michael said, "I don't know, secret maybe."
"Nah it doesn't fit with the other letters, here, see for yourself." CJ tossed the book to Michael, page still marked by the pen inside.
Instinctively Michael looked down at the page, seeing the writing there. It wasn't answers to the puzzle, but a message, 'They're spying on us, be careful what you say,' was written in the squares.
Ana, who was looking over his shoulder suddenly said, "You're right CJ, it doesn't fit, I think you have one of the other answers wrong." Taking the book and pen from Michael,
she sat down next to him staring at the book, finally writing something in it herself. 'What do you know?'
"Here," she said, handing the book back to CJ, "Secret should work in there now."
"Thanks Ana, looks like you're pretty good with these things. If you want to work on one yourself when I'm done I'll give the book to you."
"Thanks, maybe I will."
She and Michael looked at each other, their minds reeling at the implication of CJ's words. The others just looked at the three of them like they were crazy. CJ continued to 'work' on the crossword for awhile longer, yawning all the while. Finally he appeared to be finished.
"I think I'm gonna try to get some sleep now. The books yours if you want it Ana." CJ held it out towards where she sat with Michael, the two of them reached for it together.
Michael smiled, "Maybe we can work on it together."
The last thing CJ saw before he drifted off to sleep was the two of them sitting together on the cot. They looked for all the world like a happy couple just doing a crossword puzzle to kill time. Silently he hoped he was as good of an actor as the two of them seemed to be.