Informant #3
Chapter 15
"Connecting rooms?" Amanda questioned him, as they climbed the stairs to the next floor with Lee's backpack and her suitcase, "I can't believe you told the clerk that!"
"It's not what you think, Amanda," Lee told her, "It's for your own safety, or actually, for our safety. We need to look out for each other, right?"
Made sense. Amanda shrugged and nodded, "Oh, I suppose you're right."
"Of course I'm right," Lee told her, as they reached the landing, "A senior agent is never wrong...we're just on different levels of right!"
Amanda laughed, once again glad he was here.
They entered Amanda's room first. The room was sparsely furnished with basically a wooden bed, table and chair. The only item of color was a Mexican serape blanket tossed over the bed.
Lee opened the door which joined their two rooms.
"I'll be leaving this connecting door open all night," Lee wanted to warn her, "sure wouldn't want an unwanted visitor to arrive without the other partner knowing."
Amanda happily agreed. After what she had experienced with FakeRamos previously sneaking into her motel room, she was not one to argue.
"That's perfectly fine, Lee."
After putting down his backpack, Lee now stood in front of her, his hands lightly holding on to her arms.
"Amanda, you know things will be fine, right?" he concernedly watched her face, "It won't take us much time to identify those other informants and before you know it, we'll be heading back to the states."
Amanda swallowed, "Yes, I'm fine, Lee."
She looked down at where his hands clasped the side of her arms and then back at him.
Up until then, he hadn't even realized he had been holding the sides of her arms and instantly released her.
"Good..uh, great, I mean." he cleared his throat, "uh, after such a long ride, why don't we freshen up a bit and then we'll take a look around the town before we go find that informant of yours?" he suggested.
Delight spread across Amanda's face.
She was going to view the town with someone! Lee was so different from grumpy FakeRamos. In fact, Lee was being different from his usual self as well.
She enthused, "It won't take me too long to freshen up so we'll have plenty of time to explore the town!"
And Lee thought she never looked more beautiful with that bright smile of hers.
#
The village of Nexco consisted of one dusty road crisscrossed by two side streets. The homes were simply built with adobe bricks painted white. The homes were interspersed with small shops selling fruits, beads or sodas.
Amanda was enjoying just strolling down through the village with Lee. They pointed, or discussed and even purchased a few knickknacks. For a few minutes, they were like other villagers doing their weekly shopping, or taking a casual walk through the town.
As they walked by a large cypress tree, however, Lee suddenly pulled her behind it, flattening her back against it. And even though it was a hot day, Amanda had goosebumps going down her arms at Lee's handling of her
"Lee!" she insisted, wondering why he decided to make a move now, "This is really quite unexpected!"
"Sssshhh!" he hushed. He maneuvered himself to look out from around the tree. She now realized this was not to be a romantic interlude (darn it!). There must have been another reason why he had drawn her into the shadows. He was standing close enough to her that she could feel his muscles tense up. Something was up.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"Over there...towards the motel," he gestured to an area.
From out of the shadows, she turned and saw that a car had recently parked near the entrance of their motel. Two men had stepped out.
Lee pulled her even further in. And this time when he touched her, his breathing became shallow as he steadily watched her face, taking in the softness of her eyes and the sensualness of her lips. He had to force himself to get back to watching the men.
"Stay hidden," he choked out protectively, trying to keep his voice even, "I don't like the looks of them."
Amanda peered out from behind him, "Why? Are they the cartel?"
"Doubt it. I'm thinking federal officers. They look the same all over the world," he quietly stated, "same dark suits, same serious expression, same annoying swagger."
"Like how you usually appear on the job?" she teased.
He focused his attention on her, "I'd like to think I better dressed than that!" he stated smugly, proudly pulling himself up taller, "My suits are professionally pressed!"
Amanda rolled his eyes. The men now entered the motel and were gone, "You're saying they're the Mexican FIA?"
"'Fraid so," Lee stated, watching them carefully.
"So isn't that a good thing?" she asked.
"Not necessarily," he stated, "they may be looking for the killer of Rex Ramos and you and I don't have the time to answer questions while we are on a mission."
Amanda looked alarmed, "So what should we do?"
Lee thought about it, "Our advantage is that no one here but us knows the name of the third informant that we're looking for," Lee told her, "I say we head on over to see if we...I mean, you... can identify Garza as being authentic. If he's there, we need to also warn him that danger could be headed his way. Hopefully, we can do it quickly before those two men find out that we're in this town."
Amanda nodded, "Gotcha."
There was silence as their eyes met and connected.
Lee forced himself to ignore the physical reaction he had with Amanda. He told himself it was just the excitement of the mission.
"Come on," he urged, although his voice sounded gravelly, "let's go find the next informant."
Amanda nodded and placed the shawl over her head as they began walking again. It was not too difficult to find the sandal shop. It was a 10-minute walk and located just below their inn on a dirt lane that was lined with other narrow adobe buildings.
The sign outside read: 'Sandalias para la venta' (Sandals for Sale)
They walked into the shop and the smell of leather instantly assailed their senses. The store was filled with shelves and shelves of sandals; men shoes on the left side, women shoes on the left. There was a pair of tourists browsing, and also a man looking about, but they soon left, leaving Lee and Amanda as their only clients.
A young Mexican boy stood at the counter, busily repairing an old pair of sandals. He looked up and smiled at them. Before they could say anything, he spoke quickly to someone unseen:
"Papá! Alguien está aquí!"
They didn't have to wait too long before the beaded curtains parted and the proprietor of the shop appeared. He turned watchful eyes at Amanda and Lee as the boy quickly vanished into the back room.
Amanda let out a relieved sigh as she leaned into Lee.
"Lee, it's him," Amanda verified in a low tone, "it's Luis Medino Garza!"
Garza greeted them in Spanish and asked if he could help them with any sandals, "Hola, ¿puedo ayudarte con unas sandalias?"
Because Lee and Amanda have been wearing the customary Mexican clothing and their faces were half-hidden by head coverings, he spoke to them in Spanish, for he assumed they were locals.
Amanda removed her headscarf, letting him get a better look at her.
"Do you speak English?" she asked.
"Ah! Americans!" He exclaimed, "Yes, yes, I speak the English and you have come to right place! We have many shoes for you! Muy authentico! Real leather! And all made here! Please tell me size!"
Amanda smiled, liking the storekeeper's enthusiasm, "I wear a size 8 ½!"
"Come! Come!" the shopkeeper insisted, heading towards the women's section.
Amanda turned back to Lee, "I need to go because after all, there's an authentico pair with my name on it!"
"Go ahead," Lee smiled, enjoying her delight, "Take your time."
She followed Garza over to the shelf displaying sandals her size.
"Here you will find the shoe you seek!" he proudly gestured.
From the array of sandals on the wooden shelf, Amanda picked out a simple pair of leather huaraches. It seemed to be made of the softest leather. When she tried them on, the pair fit perfectly.
Still looking down to admire the sandals from all angles, she turned her feet this way and that.
"I'll take them!" Amanda happily decided, and then asked, "May I wear them out?"
"Oh yes!" Garza responded, "Your señor will love them on you!"
Amanda was still admiring her shoes, but now look up, "Oh noooo, he's not mine!"
"Not yours...now!" Garza wisely told her, with a secret smile, "I see the way he looks at you!"
Amanda blushed. She did not know how to respond.
They walked back to the counter and as a gift, he generously presented her with a pink bohemian carry-bag, with colorful embroidery and a macrame strap.
"To carry everything you need as you shop!" he explained.
"Oh that's exquisite!" Amanda told him, admiring the purse, "and it's so big and roomy! I am sure I will be able to use it many times over! Thank you!"
Then she lovingly put all her items in the bag which included her wallet and tennis shoes, as well as the knick-knacks she had previously purchased. Meanwhile, Lee had gallantly stepped up and paid for the shoes.
Garza's eyes sparkled as turned to Amanda and whispered so only she could hear it, "Is it not like what I have say? He has paid for your shoes. In this country, that is a show of...very closeness. Not yours now, but the future is soon."
Amanda cheeks reddened. Then as Garza was busy writing up the sale, she decided it was now time to warn him.
She leaned over to emphasize her words, "Sir, your life is in danger," she blurted out, carefully watching his reaction.
Amanda expected to see shock or fear from Garza upon hearing those words.
Instead, he looked slightly confused. Then just as quickly, his expression turned placid, even cold. Gone was the enthusiasm in his eyes as he solemnly handed her the receipt, "Thank you, Señorita, for purchase."
Amanda's mouth dropped, "Did you hear what I just said to you?"
Garza's expression did not change as his tone sounded weirdly robotic, "I say again, thank you for your purchase. Let us not speak further. Have a good day."
Lee tugged at Amanda's arm, "May I speak with you in private, please?" he asked.
Amanda held up an index finger to tell the proprietor to wait, "...I'll be right baack..." she promised, as she allowed Lee to pull her away.
Once they were alone, Lee whispered, "Amanda, you may have ID'd the wrong man. He is not our informant."
She looked back at Garza and then responded to Lee, "No, Lee, that man fit the image of the picture to a T! Unless the picture was wrong or he is a twin, that is Luis Medino Garza! I'm sure of it!"
Lee looked frustrated, "Obviously, we can't verify it since we no longer have the actual identification picture, so, are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, I'm absolutely sure!" she insisted, "and I will prove it!"
She walked back up to the counter and gave him her most confident smile, "I know you are Luis Medino Garza," she stated with utmost certainty.
He stared at her, expressionless.
"No," he slowly shook his head, "I am not that man," he claimed.
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