Making Contact

Chapter 6

Amanda made sure she was down at the car in exactly 10 minutes. Although she didn't care for Agent Rex Ramos, she was excited about the prospect of going on a mission on her own. She had put on a new top and looked refreshed.

She got into the passenger side of the car.

From the driver's side, an unhappy Ramos turned and greeted her with an impatient, "Well?"

When it came to Ramos, Amanda was in her usual state of confusion, "Well, what?"

"Which city are we heading off to?" he brusquely asked, "I'm not a mind reader, you know! You are not good at this spy thing at all! Also, tell me the name of our first informant!"

Amanda sighed. She needed to get use to the fact that Rex Ramos was not into pleasantries. For him, conversation would consist of only mission talk.

"We need to head on over to a village called Bajo Salto," she informed him, "the name of the first informant is Miguel Esteban. He is a clothing shop owner. The store is named 'Ropa del Sol."

"Bajo Salto...I know the city. It is on the outskirts of Mexico City," Ramos stated while looking at his watch, "It is almost one. If we hurry, we can make it there in an hour."

"Do you mind if we stop to get something to eat on our way?" Amanda politely asked, "I only had a snack on the plane this morning."

From his frustrated expression, Amanda already knew how he would answer, "Mrs. King, you ARE aware that we are under time constraints, aren't you?" he rhetorically asked.

"Never mind," she stated, staring straight ahead.

As Ramos pulled out of the motel, Amanda remained silent.

She had already figured out that even though she and Rex Ramos were working on the same side of the spy world, it was best not to trust him.

#

The town of Bajo Salto seems to be from an earlier era, a simpler time.

There were no signs of modern influence. It was a modest village with narrow streets that were lined with a smattering of shrubs and dirt. The sun slanted across the crude, white adobe-made homes as children played in the streets. There was a presence of pedaled bikers on mopeds and people leading donkeys wandering down the unpaved roads as well. Vendors -were shouting out the food and wares they had to sell in open-aired marketplaces.

Once out of the rented car, Amanda and Ramos wandered alongside the steady stream of villagers. A few men were wearing 'westernized' clothing, but most wore traditional clothing like serapes over a cotton shirt and pants. A straw hat on their heads would protect their faces from the sun. The women also wore conventional clothing; usually blousy tops tucked into full skirts. Some used a light, large scarf, cape or cloak to cover their heads. Both men and women wore simple leather sandals on their feet.

According to the directions from Amanda's guidebook, there was only one main dirt alleyway that led to the many clothing shops of the locals. Walking down that street now, it didn't take them long to spot the sign that read, "Ropa del Sol."

Entering the shop, Amanda breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized the shop owner as being Miguel Estaban, the informant in picture number one. He was doing some paperwork with an ancient calculator. However, he instantly looked up when she and Agent Ramos had entered.

"Hola, Amigo y amiga!" he greeted them, a wide smile spread across his face.

Ramos leaned into Amanda "Is it him?"

"I believe so," she whispered back, "but I need to have a closer look."

"Why? Is your eyesight so poor?" Ramos complained.

"It's fine! I just want to be sure!"

Amanda then turned her attention towards the clerk, "Hello!" she cheerfully answered back and then remembering her translation book, she asked, "Habla usted Inglés?"

"Ahhh, Americanos!" Miguel announced, "And yes, I can speak English! May I help you?"

Amanda smiled back, grateful to be speaking to someone friendly, "Perhaps you may, I..."

Instantly, she felt Ramos pulling her arm, "Might I speak to you in private?" he interrupted.

He didn't wait for an answer as he rudely tugged her away, so their backs were to the clerk.

Amanda escaped from his grasp, "We can talk, but don't you EVER touch me like that again!"

Ramos gave her a look of disdain as he asked in an irritated tone, "Why are we still here? Our first identification is complete!"

"I know, but we can't just come in here and leave right away!" Amanda insisted, "That's rude! And it'll look suspicious, too! Remember, we need to blend in!"

"Then YOU go ahead and blend in!" Ramos huffed, "For me, I am done here and I am thirsty! You will find me at the cantina around the corner!"

"Fine by me!" Amanda stated, not bothered in the least.

A part of her was thinking that perhaps Agent Ramos was leaving her on purpose to put her in this awkward predicament of being in a foreign country. But she didn't care WHAT he thought. Watching him leave was like being unshackled.

After he was gone, Amanda walked up to the counter.

"I'm sorry that that man I was with was being so.. impolite," Amanda apologized, "he really hates souvenir shopping!"

Miguel waved the matter aside, "No need to explain! It is forgotten! But look! I have much things for you to buy here! Please, look all you want, Señorita! Take your time!"

Relieved that she no longer had to be combative, Amanda happily browsed the women's section. The clothing on the racks appeared well made and charming, made mostly of thin, breezy, colorful cottons. Perfect items for the hot, muggy Mexico weather. She walked over this one rack of vividly colored, embroidered skirts.

"I can't believe all the beautiful clothing you have in your shop!" she gushed as she touched a full red skirt she had picked up by the hanger. Her fingers touched the elaborate threading, "the embroidery is exquisite on the hem of this skirt!"

Miguel gave a proud smile, "Yes, yes! My neighbor...Mrs. Lopez, she is 84 years old; she embroiders each one by hand!" He walked over, "You like to try on?"

"What? Oh no, I wasn't really looking for myself!" Amanda claimed, shaking her head, but not quite putting the skirt back, either.

"But it will look so pretty on you!" Miguel insisted, "and perhaps your man will not look so angry if you are dressed as a beautiful Señorita!"

"Oh! He's not angry at me...that's just his usual demeanor!" she informed Miguel and then lowered her voice to make her point, "and he is not my man at all! Noooo..." she was shaking her head vigorously.

"Ahhhh, that is good!" Miguel looked pleased, "Your beauty and kindness is wasted on him! So you have other man in your life who appreciates you?"

"Well..." Amanda looked dreamily off into the distance, "Let's just say that I want to believe there is someone special out there for me!"

"Yes, he is out there, I know it!" Miguel smiled, "And when he finds you, HE will be the lucky one!"

Miguel then went over to another rack to retrieve a simple white peasant blouse and cajoled her, "Here is a good one ...this you must try on with pretty skirt!"

"Oh, I...don't know..." Amanda looked wistfully at the items.

"Just try on...it will look perfect on you...this I know!"

She eyed it lovingly.

Amanda then looked happily at him before accepting the item, "Alright, you've convinced me!"

Amanda went into the dressing room, and in no time, came out to view the skirt and blouse in the store's only mirror.

"Ah, Señorita! Muy bonita! You look like a Mexican Princess!" Miguel exclaimed,

She couldn't help modeling in front of the mirror, as she turned this way and that. The skirt flowed and swirled about her.

"It IS so very lovely!" Amanda enthused.

"No, it is the wearer that makes it so!"

"Oh, I don't know about that, but I love how I feel wearing this!" she sighed happily. Then she faced Miguel as she made up her mind, "I'll take them!"

"MUY bueno!" he ecstatically nodded, "And have you seen our beaded necklaces?"

"No, but I know I'm about to!" Amanda joyously stated, going over to where the jewelry was displayed. It was like Christmas in July for her.

Their continual interactions seemed to establish a warm relationship between them and they small-talked for some time. Amanda was careful not to mention the real purpose of her visit. Instead, she ended up purchasing from his shop her outfit, a shawl, and a serape for Lee...I mean for Dean, she corrected herself.. For her mother, she purchased a colorful top, two beaded necklaces, and for the two boys, she bought two t-shirts and two keychains.

When the items were totaled, Amanda had given Miguel not only the money for the purchases, but an extra one-hundred American dollars OVER the total.

"Oh, there has been a mistake," Miguel stated, sliding the money back to her.

She shoved the extra cash back to him, "You have made me so very happy after such a day of frustration! Please keep this as a special thank you and use this to treat your family as you have treated me!"

Miguel gratefully bowed.

"Dear lady, thank you! You have truly brightened my day with your heart and your smile!" he told her, "I hope we will meet again!"

"Perhaps we will!" Amanda responded, as she held onto her precious package. Then she remembered a phrase from her guidebook, "Adios, Miguel, que tengas un buen día!"

Miguel was pleasantly surprised and laughed, "You also have good day too, kind lady!"

Amanda was almost floating on air as she left the shop.

Mexico was definitely a country with some friendly, wonderful people, she happily thought.

#

It took her some time to get to the cantina, for she went the long way around in order to explore a few more shops. When she got to the cantina, she groaned when she spotted Ramos sitting on a tall stool at the wooden bar, scowling at his drink.

Good that he had to wait for her again! she thought with satisfaction, as she approached him.

"What took you so long?" he growled, "It has been well over an hour!"

"I was busy making someone's day brighter, unlike other people who darken the pathway everywhere he walks," she sarcastically commented back.

He shrugged and was about to say something else when both of them suddenly heard from a distance, some agitated shouting.

And then there was some running and more yelling. And then some more running.

It was obvious something alarming had happened.

The shouting became louder and more frantic as people began rushing towards one direction. Amanda couldn't make out what anyone was saying because the yelling was all in Spanish. When she glanced over at Ramos, his usual sour face had now been replaced with a look of alertness.

"What's happening?" Amanda wanted to know, "What are the people saying?"

Ramos listened intently to the shouting words being flung around and then turned back to her, his words spoken hastily,

"They say someone is dead!"

"Dead?!" Amanda repeated as Ramos tried to understand more of what various people were shouting.

Ramos quickly stood, "They are yelling that a murder has occurred over at the clothing alleyway!"

Amanda's eyes widened, "I just came from there!"

"I must go check it out!" Ramos stated, heading out.

"Me, too!" Amanda announced, but Ramos had already gone ahead.

As Amanda rushed alongside the crowd, the pit of her stomach felt queasy at the one terrible thought that hauntingly entered her mind.

Please, please, PLEASE, she dreaded, don't let the murdered victim be the nice shopkeeper, Miguel Estaban!

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