They were thrown roughly into the trunk of the car, legs tangled up together as the car sped off.
Samantha started to cry. She had no idea what was going on and if she and Sands would live to see another day. She couldn't believe the mess they were in. The trunk was hot and musty smelling. Sands tried several times to kick the trunk open but it wouldn't budge. They drove for several hours and they were exhausted and overheated when they finally arrived at their destination.
The trunk opened and light streamed in stinging her eyes and the men roughly pulled them out of the car and pushed them toward an open door to a hacienda. She looked around quickly and saw that it was some sort of compound that they were in with armed guards.
She felt a gun in her back and they both walked into the hacienda and to a room that they were directed toward. Sands was pushed into a chair, his arms and legs were tied to it and his gag was removed. Telford remained standing holding Sam with a gun at her chin. He told the other two men to leave the room and shut the door.
"So, we finally get to talk, Sands," he began. "You have no idea how long I have waited for this moment."
"You know you're crossing the line, Telford," Sands said simply.
"Oh, so you're finally catching on. Good. That's right Sands this is not an official CIA mission. You see Sands, they think you're dead and Sam here is dead, too. I think they are having a memorial service for the both of you today…killed in the line of duty. He clicked his tongue. How sad. Sorry I couldn't be there for that."
He slapped Sam across the face with the gun making her yelp.
"Don't touch her," he seethed at Telford.
"Actually I was going to kill her while you…listen. But first, I really must tell you my plan, though, Sands as it's too good to keep to myself. You see, I hired Ajedrez to find out what you were up to. That's right, she worked for me, too. I made sure you never knew who she really was, security clearance and everything. I knew you were weak when it came to women and would be easy to manipulate with a beautiful one like Ajedrez. Even Samantha here has fouled you up now." He laughed and began beating Samantha mercilessly until her knees buckled but he held her up.
Sands struggled with his bound arms trying to get free. Telford began again.
"You're just too predictable. Ajedrez told me everything you were doing, Sands, and what she was going to have done to you. I know about your eyes. She let you go so that you could get the 20 million pesos and I, in turn, would get it from you. So, where is it?"
Sands laughed. "Is that what this is about? The money?"
"No, that was just a nice side benefit. I planned to get you killed either way, Sands. Ever since I had you sent to Mexico I have tried to foul you up any way I could but you just kept popping back up. I even sent Sam here knowing she was a lousy agent, but beautiful enough that she would probably get you killed trying to save her." He laughed. "But you're still alive Sands so I guess I'm going to have to kill you myself."
He dropped Samantha on the floor at his feet, her limp beaten body falling with a thud. Sands heard her fall and wondered if she was alright.
"It's really a pity that I have to kill such a fine female specimen, isn't it Sands? Maybe I should have a little fun with her first. What do you think?" Telford asked.
"What do you want Telford?" Sands asked calmly.
"The money, where is it? Tell me."
"I don't have it."
Telford came across the room and hit Sands across the face with his gun. "Where is it or would you rather she die right now?"
Sands swallowed hard. "I don't have it. I never got to it. I don't know where it is."
Telford thought for a moment. "You're a liar. He walked back over to where Sam was. "Say goodbye to your little toy, Sands," Telford said and Sands heard the click of the hammer of his gun. He couldn't let him kill Sam. He had to find a way to distract him.
"So, how's your wife?" Sands asked knowing full well that she had died in a car accident some time ago.
Telford froze and looked over at Sands. "You know she's dead!" he spat at him.
"Oh, yes, that's right. It slipped my mind. Fatal car accident wasn't it?" Sands continued. "What a shame."
Telford spun on his heel and headed back toward Sands. "I should kill you now," he said, his face now inches from Sands. "But I want the pleasure of torturing you first."
"She was only 24 when she died, wasn't she? Hot little number. I never could figure out what she saw in you," Sands continued.
"You son of a…" Telford grabbed Sands by the neck in a strangle hold. "It's your fault she's dead!" he seethed as he squeezed Sands neck. "You ruined her for me! She was pining away for you. She never got over you. So I had to kill her and I vowed to kill you, too."
Sands could barely reply but managed to say, "She wasn't even really that good."
Telford's hands tightened around Sands neck threatening to break it. Sands could not get any air into his lungs. Sands finally freed one of his hands and reached down and fumbled with his cowboy boot trying to find the handle of the knife he had stashed there.
So that's what this was all about, Sands thought to himself. He had had an affair with Telford's wife a couple of years ago. She had come into the office in Langley on several occasions to visit her husband and she would make small talk with Sands who was working late trying to finish the paperwork from his last mission. Then she started coming in when her husband wasn't even there and still made small talk with Sands until eventually they ended up sleeping together. It wasn't a long affair by any means and Sands barely remembered it, but when she died suddenly and Telford didn't seem to mourn for her, he wondered if Telford had something to do with her death.
Sands' fingers came in contact with the smooth end of the knife and he quickly grabbed it and swung his free arm up. In one quick motion he slashed Telford's throat. Blood spurted out and Telford gurgled a protest before he fell to the floor.
Sands freed himself from the rest of the bindings with the knife and scrambled across the floor to where he had heard Sam's voice coming from last, splaying his hands out to search for her.
"Sam, he begged urgently. "Talk to me. I can't find you."
He heard a small groan off to his right and he moved in that direction until he felt her, crumpled on the floor. He quickly searched her with his hands and felt the sticky wetness of blood.
