Chapter 24

Lynn shifted in her seat for the one millionth time since they started the fourteen hour bus drive. They were almost to their stop and she felt like she had ants in her pants. She wanted off the bus so bad she could taste it. Oh my God I could use a long hot shower she thought as she glanced at Jeff.

"Are we going to be meeting anyone at the station?" she asked trying to strike up a conversation.

"Maria," he stated. "She's been here for the last month doing recon."

"Maria?" the named sounded off familiar but she couldn't quit place it, then she remembered. "Oh! That's who you and Lucas were talking about in the restaurant that night."

"Yep, she's...quit interesting," he smiled looking at her.

Lynn raised an eyebrow, "Interesting how?" Then she remembered the playful dialogue between Jeff and Lucas about her.

"Don't be offended if she hits on you," he smiled.

"I wouldn't be," she said cryptically.

He tilted his head and got an interested look on his face. She almost cracked up laughing at the look on his face.

"Ask me later," she teased loving every second of it.

He raised his eyebrows, "I'll hold you to it."

She grinned and looked out the window. "Hey, I think we're here," she sat up strait and tried to see ahead.

The driver started to speak Spanish letting them know they were at their final destination.

"This is us," Jeff reached under his seat pulled out his bag.

"You gonna need help getting off the bus?" she asked carefully.

"No," he shook his head. "I counted the steps getting on."

She just nodded and grabbed her bag pulling it out from under the seat. The bus came to a stop and they both stood. There were a total of six people on the bus and they had all sat towards the front of the bus so they waited for them to exit.

"Everyone's off," she reassured.

He stepped into the aisle and made his way off the bus as if he could see plain as day.

"What's Maria look like?" she asked as they started to step out of the bus.

"Look for a women wearing a read halter top and a black fluffy skirt," he described as they stepped out of the bus.

Lynn looked around and spotted a woman coming towards them with the description of clothes he told her. She looked her over and had to admit she was a beautiful woman.

"Welcome back Jeff," she spoke in light Spanish accent as she approached them.

"Maria," he greeted then turned to Lynn. "This is Lynn Connors...Lynn, this is Maria Lopez."

Lynn held out her hand, "Nice to meet you."

Maria smiled and shook her hand, "Like wise." She turned to Jeff. "I have done everything you asked before you arrived. I will take you to your place of stay." She turned back to Lynn. "If you'll follow me."

"Lead the way," Lynn nodded letting Jeff step in front of her.

"It's not much but I think it would be best for the two of you to keep a low profile," Maria said opening the door to the small apartment and stepping inside. "There's a living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom." She turned and faced Lynn and Jeff with a lopsided grin on her face. "I hope you're not claustrophobic Lynn."

"As long as I can get out and walk, I'll be fine," Lynn said as she put her things down by the door and looked around. The place was extremely small. Luckily the place was already furnished and even though it was small it was rather neat for an apartment in a small Mexico town.

"Do you have the things I asked for?" Jeff asked interrupting her thoughts.

Maria nodded and went to a bag beside the couch. "Everything you need is here," she picked up the bag and handed it to him.

He took it and looked around, "Where's the couch?"

"Take two steps and it's at two o'clock on your right," Lynn automatically answered without realizing it. She noticed Maria looking at her and looked right back. She had the most beautiful green eyes, like a snake. There was something about her she didn't like. Stop it Lynn you're reading too much into it. she thought as he gaze shifted to Jeff sitting on the couch and putting the bag on the small coffee table in front of him.

He reached into the bag and pulled out a desert-eagle and a 9mm. That's an interesting choice in weapons. The most powerful handgun and the most common handgun she thought putting her hands in her back pocket. The next items he took out were a couple of knives, smaller pistols, two cell phones and a wad of cash.

"I trust everything is there," Maria said.

He picked up the desert-eagle and pulled the chamber back and let it slap back into place, almost as if the sound was music to his ears. "What about Mariachi?" he asked looking Maria's direction.

Maria took a deep breath and straitened her back, "I have not been able to locate him yet, but I guarantee I will find him within the week."

He nodded, "You've done so much already. I don't know how to thank you."

Maria smiled sadly, "I loved Lucas...and you were his best friend...therefore you are my friend, nothing else needs to be said."

He spoke something softly in Spanish and Lynn smiled. I wonder if he knows I can speak Spanish she wondered.

"Well, I must be going. I will contact you tomorrow on one of the two cell phones to let you know if I have come up with anything on DeMarco or Mariachi," she said formally then made her way for the door. "By the way, no one knows you're here. Try to keep it that way hmm." She directed towards Jeff specifically.

"Oh I don't think that'll be a problem," he grinned.

"Thank you, for doing this," Lynn said respectfully.

Maria smiled, "As I said before, there is no need to thank me. Any friend of Jeff's is a friend of mine." With that she opened and walked out the door leaving them alone.

"What's the place look like," he was afraid to ask but wanted to know.

Lynn chuckled, "It's not bad really. I was expecting worse. Guess Maria was looking out for you."

He raised his eyebrows, "You're not jealous are you?"

Lynn walked across the room and sat in a chair letting her right leg rest over the arm rest. "Me? Be jealous of a beautiful Mexican girl? Never!" she said dramatically then laughed. "If you're hoping to hear a cat fight, think again."

He held up his hands in surrender, "I would not want to hear a cat fight between you and Maria...it would probably give me a heart attack."

She rolled her eyes, "Just like a man."

"What?"

"It's every man's fantasy to either be with two women or see two women together," she said.

"Both," he corrected pointing a finger at her.

It was her turn to hold up her hands, "Oh excuse me, both." She leaned her head back and observed the ceiling.

"So...now that we're alone. Why wouldn't it offend you if Maria hit on you?" he asked interested.

She giggled deeply, "Let me tell you a little secret about women Jeff. All of them are bi-sexual. They may say they're aren't but if they were put in a position to be with another woman they would."

"Would you?" he asked.

"In a heartbeat," she said confidently. "The only difference between a woman and a man is a woman doesn't have a dick, but if I had to choose between the two? I would most certainly choose the man."

Amazingly enough Jeff wasn't surprised by her confession. Her personality just wasn't judgmental at all.

"You aren't jealous, are you?" she asked breaking him from his thoughts.

He looked her direction. "No," he said in the most sexy voice she had ever hear. It made chills go down her spine for some reason.

She shifted in her chair and cleared her throat. "So what's the plan now?" she asked.

He picked up a knife and ran his fingers up and down the blade, "We wait."