Acceptance

Chapter 4

"Did you want to see me, Sir?" Amanda asked, while holding onto her steno pad and pen as she entered Billy's office.

"Yes, Mrs. King. Please come in and have a seat. Oh, you won't be needing your steno pad this time."

"Alright," Amanda acknowledged, shutting the door and then putting her steno supplies aside. She took a seat opposite Billy. And waited.

Billy got right to the point, "Mrs. King, I called you in here because I'm assigning you to go out in the field on a secret mission for us."

Amanda became wide-eyed, "Sir? You're sending me out in the field already? When and where?"

Billy smiled, "As soon as possible. Tomorrow, in fact. To Mexico."

"Mexico!" Amanda breathlessly repeated. Then her expression turned to one of worry as she asked, "You do know, Sir, that I am not equip to handle any punching or shooting situation if it occurs while I'm out in the field, right?"

A grin slowly appeared on Billy's face, "I am well aware of that fact, Mrs. King. But you won't need those skills when on this mission. All I need you to do is to be yourself."

Her forehead crinkled, "I just need to be myself, Sir?"

"Exactly!" he exclaimed, obviously enjoying her confusion, "You had earlier stated that you are good at being overly pleasant to everyone, so we are going to put that talent to good use on this mission!"

Amanda looked confused, "You just need me to be nice? That's it?"

"In so many words, yes," Billy stated and explained, "You will be working on a mission called "Operation: Spy and Seek." You see, Mrs. King, for the past five years, we have been working, in conjunction with Mexico, to fight against the illegal drug trade over there. We had specially selected and trained 5 Mexican citizens in different areas in Mexico to be on the lookout for any trace of nefarious drug dealings and report back to us. Originally, the operation had been a huge success, as we have been able to make some major drug busts. However, in the last four months, the reports given to us have been inconsistent or perhaps, even false. We fear the identity of one of our five informants has been compromised. So we have initiated Operation Spy and Seek to identify the mole."

Amanda gulped, "Quite an important mission, Sir."

"Most definitely, it is." Billy agreed. He then opened the file and removed a packet, which contained a set of five pictures inside, and handed it over to her, "Our informants have been working in such remote areas that we have not been able to verify their identities. But it is important we do since we fear there is a mole who is pretending to be one of the informants we have enlisted. This packet here contains the original informants' photos and on the back, their occupation as well as the town where they are situated. We need verification that the informant in the field matches the pictures here. Once identification has been established, you will move on to the next city for the next verification."

Amanda accepted the package, "So the mission is to make sure the picture matches the face?"

"Yes."

She still looked unsure, "Is this mission considered dangerous?"

Billy's voice sounded reassuring, "It's not as dangerous as it seems, Mrs. King. You will not be working alone. The FIA, which is Mexico's equivalent of The Agency, will have one of their own agents heading up the mission. You are to accompany him to help with the identification part. The agent's name is Rex Ramos and I assure you that he is a highly trained agent."

Amanda nodded, but she still had questions, "But if Agent Ramos is already a trained agent and he understands the parameters of the assignment, why would he need me to accompany him?"

Billy looked pleased that Amanda was asking the right questions, "The first reason is because a man and a woman traveling together throughout the country would look less suspicious to everyone. The success of the mission is contingent on the two of you blending in with other tourists. The second and most important reason is that while on paper, Rex Ramos seems qualified for the mission, he is rather..." Billy struggled for the right words, "...harsh and unapproachable in his demeanor. He seems to rub people the wrong way."

Amanda knowingly nodded, "Just like certain a certain agent we know."

Billy smiled, "Most certainly, Mrs. King. And after reading Ramos's latest psych evaluation from his file, I am more convinced than ever that he will not be good in dealing with people he comes in contact with, which incidentally, is a strong suit of yours. Diplomacy is everything, Mrs. King, especially when in a foreign country and not wanting to stand out. You have a knack in dealing with people and they seem drawn to you at the same time."

She blushed at the compliment, "That is very kind of you to say, Sir."

"I'm only speaking the truth."

"And all I do is be nice and help with the identification?"

"That's it. Agent Ramos will do the rest. So what do you think, Mrs. King? Will you take the assignment and spy and seek these five informants scattered throughout Mexico?"

Amanda didn't take long to decide, "I gladly accept, Sir, and thank you for your confidence in me!"

Billy breathed a sigh of relief, "Glad to hear that, Mrs. King, and oh! I almost forgot..." He went into the drawer and pulled out a colorful red, blue and yellow beaded bracelet with a round beaded emblem connected to it, "this is for you."

"It's lovely," she commented, accepting it.

"It's more than a decoration for your wrist, Mrs. King. It's a tracking device so that we will know approximately your location. As I mentioned previously, you will be traveling to very isolated towns and therefore, communication with us may be difficult."

Amanda placed it immediately on her wrist, "Is there anything else, Sir?"

"Yes," Billy warned her, "and this is just as important. You and Agent Ramos must not reveal your identity to any of the informants once you have located and identified them. We do not want their covers blown. The two of you are simply to make certain each face matches its photograph and move on. After all, names can change, but a person's basic facial structure does not. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir, but what if the face does NOT match the photo?"

"I hope that will not be the case," Billy stated, looking concerned, "However, if it does occur, you must head to the nearest communication posts, which could be a payphone booth, a motel phone, a post office, or for all I know, a homing pigeon!" he teased, "but just let us know as soon as you can and we will shut down that part of the operation immediately and FIA will take the appropriate measures!"

"I understand and I will, Sir," Amanda solemnly promised and then, just to give him a way out, she asked, "And you're sure you want me to do this very important assignment?"

Billy stared sardonically at her, "Does my mind seemed muddled, Mrs. King? Was I speaking incoherently to you earlier?"

"No, Sir, not at all, Sir!" Amanda reassured him.

"Good. Then we've reached an understanding." Billy next went into his drawer again and pulled out a plane ticket, some pesos, some American money, a translation book, as well as a guide book and slid it over Amanda's way.

"You will leave tomorrow," he instructed her, "Here is your flight ticket and other necessities. When you land, you will be in Mexico City. The address of the hotel, La Casa Real, is written on the flight packet. I've recently received word from FIA that Agent Ramos has already reported to the motel and has rented a car for the two of you. When you arrive, look up Agent Ramos immediately. Being that this motel is located in the capital city, your first night's stay will probably be your most luxurious accommodations during your mission. And that place is, at best, minimal. The remaining towns you'll be traveling to will be much more simple, almost primitive in comparison. Stay safe, Mrs. King."

"I will," she promised, "and, Sir?"

"Yes, Mrs. King? Did I miss something?"

"Well, it's just..." she awkwardly began, "...I'll be traveling with a male agent. And I know we will be undercover and all, and it's not for real, but does that mean he and I-"

"-are half cousins," Billy quickly explained, "I've already arranged that you will be staying in an adjoining room to his."

"Oh, right, yes, of course!" Amanda looked relieved, "You've thought of everything, Sir."

Billy smiled back, "I usually do, and I'm also very good at selecting the right person for each mission! Don't make me regret my decision on this one! "

She stood, "I won't, Sir."

"Good luck, Mrs. King."

He gave her a reassuring smile as she gathered her things to leave.

But when she turned to leave, his smile quickly disappeared. He thought about Lee's reaction when he returns and finds out that Amanda is out on her first mission, in a different country, without him.

Because Billy knew better than most that the more Lee pretends not to care about Amanda King, the more he does.

#

Dotty loudly yelled out from her bedroom, "Amanda! I FOUND IT!"

From her bedroom, Amanda shouted back, "That's great, Mother! I'll be right there!"

Amanda soon appeared in the doorway of her mother's bedroom.

"Come on in, Dear," Dotty invited her, as she held up the item, "Is this what you were looking for?"

"Yes, exactly!" Amanda acknowledged as she took the old money belt that Dotty had used on her honeymoon many years ago.

"You're so lucky to be going on a trip to Mexico!" Dotty looked dreamy-eyed, "You know, your father and I went there on our honeymoon! And my goodness! The beaches were breathtaking, the waters crystal blue clear! And the food! Extremely sweet and spicy!" she paused, before adding, "or is that a description of your father during that time?" She asked with a mischievous wink.

"Mo-ther!" Amanda berated her, "anyway, thanks for the money belt! I'll be sure to put this to good use!" She turned to leave.

"Amanda, wait... is there something you're not telling me?" Dotty asked, stopping Amanda in her tracks.

She never knew if her mother would someday figure out that she was in the spy business.

"Not telling you something, Mother?" Amanda repeated, her pitch one level higher as she blinked quickly.

Dotty seemed to be searching for the right words, "Are you too embarrassed to tell me that you have planned a Mexican getaway with Dean? That you two need some alone time? Because I'm no fuddy-duddy, you know, Dear. I would completely understand!"

Dean was the last person Amanda was thinking about.

"Whaaat?" Amanda questioned, "No, Mother! That's not what this is at all! This isn't a getaway...it really is work-related! I promise you that!"

"Oh," Dotty almost sounded disappointed. A new thought entered her head, "then did you and Dean break up?"

"What? Mo-ther, now you're saying the total opposite of what you had previously stated!"

"Yes, I know, Dear, but it's just...well...I haven't heard or seen Dean around here lately," she stated, and then after some thought, continued with, "it isn't because of ME, is it? Did I say something wrong to him?"

"Oh, of course not, Mother!" Amanda assured her, "He enjoys your company very much!"

"I'm so glad! But what I don't understand is...when he's away on business trips, why is it that he rarely contacts you the entire time he's away? Surely he couldn't be THAT busy to say hello to the special someone in his life more often?"

Amanda was stumped on how to answer that. How could she explain to her mother that even when Dean calls, they have so little to talk about? She had been thinking lately that it just wasn't working out with him, but she didn't know how to explain that to her mother.

"It's complicated, Mother," Amanda answered truthfully, "but if you must know-"

Dotty rolled her eyes as she interrupted her daughter, "-Amanda, whenever you begin an explanation with 'it's complicated', followed by if you must know...', I know you are going to come up with THE most ridiculous explanation and I, for one, choose NOT to hear it this time!"

Amanda looked relieved she didn't have to make one up as well. She was running out of explanations.

"Anyway," Dotty continued, lightly pushing Amanda out of the room, "you need to go finish packing! You have a job assignment to do and I'm sure it's very important!"

"I certainly do, Mother, and you have no idea!"

Her mother was smarter than what most people gave her credit for, Amanda thought as she left.

#

Back in her room, Amanda carefully placed all five photos of the informants on the bed next to her packed bags.

The pictures had been thoughtfully numbered from one to five. Turning the photos over, she scanned the informants' locations throughout Mexico and their real professions. All of them had working-class jobs: shopkeeper, waiter, barber, and so forth.

Consulting the small map in the guidebook book, Amanda learned the route she and Agent Ramos would be taking throughout the middle and southern end of Mexico. Then she read up on each of the locations. All of the selected villages seemed to be exactly how Mr. Melrose had described them: tiny, isolated, and traditional.

Checking her guidebook further, she could see that the area she would be traveling would be hilly and cool at times while the flatlands were hot and humid, being that it was closer to the equator.

Giving her attention back to the photos, she decided not to tuck them into her purse or carry-on bag. Instead, she had already decided to fit them into the money belt her mother had just given her; two photos in one pocket, two in the next and one in the pocket with her money. Luckily the three pockets were precisely the right size to hold the snapshots.

Now standing alone in her room, she couldn't believe it: a mission of her own and all she had to do was be nice—how difficult could THAT be? She clasped her hands together and twirled once around in happy anticipation. Then her eyes slightly saddened at the prospect that Lee would not be there alongside her.

Yet, even with that sad realization on her mind, she was more than ready to begin her new adventure.

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I can't wait for you to read about Amanda's adventure, next chapter!

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