Making Plans

Chapter 14

Lee and Amanda had stopped off at a local village diner for a bite before going on to the next town to identify the next informant.

Amanda took a bite of her meal, "Do you think there's a chance that the cartel will be going after us once they find out about FakeRamos's death?"

"That's why I tried to cover all traces of him," Lee stated, taking a swig of his bottled beer, "but anything can be found if you look hard enough. We could be in danger if his death is discovered too early."

Amanda nodded silently, trying to keep up a brave front. It broke Lee's heart. He needed to keep her safe at all cost.

Lee then leaned forward to make sure no one was listening, "Amanda, I need to ask something of you."

She solemnly nodded her head, "A-lriiight."

Lee began his proposition, "I know you've been doing a great job of protecting the identities of our informants, but now it's even more important than ever that the identities never be discovered. I've done several missions similar to this...and...would you trust me enough to hold onto the ID packet?"

He had stated his request in the most sincere way possible. Surely she couldn't turn him down, especially since he was the experienced agent here.

But he should've known better.

"I can't do that, Lee," Amanda explained, shaking her head, "I can't give the packet to you."

He let out an exasperated breath. Of course she would not do what he requested. This was Amanda, after all.

"Amanda, if this is one of your ploys at stubbornness…"

"I'm not being stubborn. Lee, although it may seem that way."

"So you won't hand it over to me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

She looked directly at him, "It's not necessary for you to hold onto it. Believe me."

Lee told himself not to get mad, "You didn't accidentally lose it, did you?"

She looked slightly offended, "Of course not!"

He was getting impatient," Then why the hell not give it to me?"

He was expecting a nonsensical answer, but not THIS nonsensical answer.

"Because..." She lifted her head proudly, "...because I had set the pictures on fire..."

"YOU DID WHAT?"

Then they both looked around to see if anyone overheard them. A few had turned their heads, but then they continued on with their conversations. When Lee turned back to Amanda, his eyes looked stormy.

"Amanda," he stated through gritted teeth, "did you just say you had set fire to our only set of ID packet?"

Amanda made sure he was calm enough to take the news, "It was the only way to make sure FakeRamos never got his hands on it. But don't worry, Lee. I've memorized the faces and info of all the informants," she assuredly nodded.

Lee convinced himself to remain calm if he wanted more answers. He next asked, "And you're SURE you've got all the informants' details memorized?"

"Yes, although to be honest, my memory of Informant #4 is starting to fade, just a little-"

"WHAT?"

"I'm kidding, Lee, I'm kidding!" Amanda assured him, "Geez! It's not like I'm new to this...well, actually I guess I am new to all of this, since I'm known as a trainee, but, I made absolutely sure I've memorized everything about the last three informants. They are forever seared in my mind or at least until the end of the mission."

Outside of her last statement, her explanation made sense. Lee blew out a relieved breath, "Okay."

"Okay?" Amanda watched his face for his sincerity, "That's it? So you're now fine with what I did? I mean, with setting the pictures on fire and all?"

"It depends," he stated, seeming to fight a grin, "To what degree of burnt were they? Are we talking lightly toasted or burnt to a crisp?"

"Lee!" she lightly admonished him at his teasing, but she was smiling at him as well.

He lightly patted her hand, "The more I think about what you did and why you did it, the more I think you did the right thing."

And when she looked into his eyes, her throat caught.

The way his smoldering eyes were looking at her made Amanda blush warmly as her heart beat faster. She knew the feelings went only one way, but there were moments, small tiny moments, that she thought Lee might feel a flicker of feelings for her.

Who was she kidding?

He was a world-class spy who had wooed the most glamorous women in the world. The love 'em and leave 'em type. Yet there was more to him than a charming facade. She knew deep inside that he had an unselfish nature and a big heart.

As Lee watched her, his heart softened. He couldn't understand why he has had a visceral reaction to her lately. After all, she wasn't his type whatsoever. Yet all the little details about her that no one else usually noticed seemed fascinating and intriguing to him.

But first and foremost, Lee was a government agent. And that should be the thing utmost in his mind right now.

"Anyway," Lee stated, as placed his napkin on the table, "perhaps we best get going. We need to make sure the last three informants are safe. Where is our next destination?"

Amanda also got back on track with the mission. She took out her guide book, "Judging from this map here, it looks like Nexco is about 75 miles away, down this main highway here."

"Roughly 75 miles? Hmmm..." Lee acknowledged, "It'll take us roughly two hours in that beat-up car I purchased cheap. I don't think it's wise that we enter Nexco until dark."

"Why not?" she asked.

"For one thing, we don't match," he told her, "I'm wearing the farmer's clothing and you're wearing clothing that shouts American tourist. Perhaps we should buy you something to wear so that you can blend in better."

Amanda brightened up, "Actually, no need to buy me anything! I bought some traditional village clothing earlier when I was in Miguel's shop," she volunteered, "if I wear that instead, will that do?"

"It might," Lee said, "but you still might be recognized. Do you have anything to cover your head?"

"I had also purchased a beautiful shawl," she said.

And again, Lee was impressed by her planning ahead.

"That's good," he looked pleased, "besides the farmer's clothes I have on, I have a straw hat in the backseat to cover my head and face, too."

"So we're going undercover," she happily concluded.

He nodded, "we're going undercover."

She couldn't believe how this all turned out. She was going undercover on a very important mission with Lee! And he wanted her here! After they finished eating, Amanda cheerfully went back to the rental car to retrieve her newspaper-wrapped package from Miguel.

Lee looked slightly worried as he waited for her to change clothes behind the back of the cafe.

He wished there was a way he could tell her not to complete the assignment and send her back safely to the states. She had already identified the first two informants as being legit, which meant one of the last three would be an impostor.

And probably that meant there was danger ahead.

He heard footsteps approaching him and turned his head.

She stood in front of him, wearing a colorful turquoise-colored rebozo, or large shawl, with fringes. When she noted Lee's admiring eyes upon her, she shyly placed the straight edge of her rebozo over her head, where it covered her hair while letting the ends drape softly down her shoulders. Underneath the shawl she wore a white peasant blouse, elasticized enticingly across the neckline, with puffy sleeves. The native blouse was then tucked into a beautiful red full skirt, embroidered at the hem with reds, oranges and turquoise-blue threads.

Lee slowly stood, entranced at her appearance.

Meanwhile Amanda happily twirled about, the skirt floating in a circle around her.

"It's so lovely, isn't it?" she stated breathlessly, feeling light and airy in the cool cotton attire.

No, it wasn't the clothes that was lovely, it was her. Lee felt a funny feeling in his stomach as he cleared his throat, "Very lovely, Amanda. You look enchanting. Instead of blending in, however, you may stand out even more!"

Amanda's eyes widened as her cheeks reddened. Never had he been so complimentary and never had she been so happy to be by his side.

"Oh, I don't think I will stand out at all!" she insisted, "I think if I hide most of my head underneath this shawl, I'll look like any other villager strolling about the town!"

"More like a lovely Señorita," he envisioned, before he looked down at her shoes, "although I'm afraid the tennis shoes may be a dead giveaway!"

Amanda looked down, "Yeah, I thought they didn't match, either, but as coincidences would have it, the next informant we will visit sells sandals!"

Lee pretended to wipe sweat off his brow, "Thank goodness for that! I wouldn't want the locals to think of you as the village sprinter!"

Amanda lightly laughed, so glad he was here.

#

They were on the road again.

And Lee suddenly became serious, again, "I know we're acting like this is a vacation, Amanda, but it isn't and we'll have to remain on guard and alert. We can't be caught. The cartel will do anything, including torture, to find those other three informants."

She nodded slowly, "I know that I am the only person who will be able to identify the right informants and therefore, weasel out the impostor, and I also realize the danger of the mission. That's why I'm glad I have you here."

"I'm glad I'm here, too and I hope you will be able to identify the informants AND protect me as well!"

He was teasing and Amanda knew it and liked it, "Just don't shoot anyone without my permission," she teased back.

"I can't promise you that when it comes to protecting you."

Amanda couldn't even look at him as a warm blush ran throughout her body.

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By the time they drove to their destination, it was early afternoon. Nexco was a village on a hill, with mostly adobe or terracotta structures.

Entering the town, Lee edged his car between two wretched-looking adobe houses and killed the engine. Purposely leaving Amanda's suitcase in the back seat, they also left the car key in the lock so that the car could be stolen quickly. Then they slipped into the shadows. It was quite a walk up to their motel.

The ordinary inn they were to stay at overlooked the town, with a winding road branching off from the main street. Keeping his straw hat low on his face, Lee used his perfect Spanish to check-in.

Fortunately, the desk clerk could speak English.

"And how many rooms do you wish?" he asked.

They answered in unison.

"One," Lee stated.

"Two," Amanda stated.

The desk clerk lifted a brow.

"I will charge two rooms," the desk clerk sensibly announced, as he took Lee's payment. He then turned and grabbed two keys from the board behind him.

Presenting it to them, he added, "The Señorita is always right."

Amanda nodded her approval to the desk clerk.

"Just be sure they're connecting rooms," Lee told the clerk as Amanda snapped her head in his direction.

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