Chapter Three

Several levels up from Lee, Emily was being held in a room not much bigger than a closet. Although she had no doubts that her country, as well as the United States government, were aware that she was being held captive and was working on rescuing her; she had to see if she couldn't get free herself.

Having come to the United States on business, she had wrapped things up and was enjoying her last day in DC when she was manhandled by the same two idiots that were currently taking turns bringing her food. From what she could make out from the bits and pieces of conversation exchanged between the two men, she was being held in conjunction with a case that had just wrapped up, involving a newly formed Spanish crime syndicate and they hoped to trade her for one of their men who was in custody.

The one they called Juan, was tall and slender, and the other man they called Anthony was about her height with long dark hair and round robust shoulders. And yet she could've easily taken both of them when they approached her but when one of them pointed their gun towards an innocent bystander, she allowed herself to be captured. She would not have another person's blood on her hands. That was a few days ago. She had been playing around with the ropes, intent on getting her hands free, but she knew this was the least of her problems. It was how she was going to get out of the room once her hands were loose was the issue; she had to time it just right. She was sure she still had a bobby pin hidden on her person. Although she'd been searched, they'd missed it, thank God! Even the most crooked and clever of criminals were afraid to handle older women too roughly and impersonally, and these two young men were no different.

Emily nearly had the rope off when she heard the shuffling of several feet across the concrete floor. At least three people were coming her way, four if she was accurate. She heard, first a grunt, a high pitch sound and then the key in the lock before the door was opened with force, causing the door to hit hard against the wall. She looked up in surprise because, besides the two usual suspects, a woman was standing in the distance. But the person that really caught her attention was a rather tall and thin young man; an American she was certain; she'd seen before. She didn't know his name, but there was a photo of him that had circulated around the agency with him sporting a black eye. No words were exchanged; only looks and nods between the four, before they reclosed the door and rebolted the lock. Now what in the world was he doing there?

**SMK***SMK***SMK

Lee remained alert, well, as alert as he possibly could considering the fact he was locked in and was feeling the last effects of the drug he'd been given when he let them capture him. Having already removed one hand from the ropes, he easily wiggled his other hand until it was also free. This was much easier than he imagined as well. He wasn't sure if it was his skill set honing in, the incompetence of the henchmen or his supposed inside help but he was grateful either way.

He held his breath as he listened for the sounds of footsteps on the concrete flooring. Someone let out a few expletives, then he heard the footsteps head back down the hall once again. Lee sighed quietly in relief. That just might give him a little more time to look around. Next, he looked to see how many windows there were; three; also just as he was told in the briefing with Billy. Then there was the door, deadbolted which would be easy enough to open. However, the next steps of the plan required some help. Lee was deep in thought when the next round of footsteps approached the room once again. Lee made sure his hands were behind his back and in the noose that was holding his hands together. It was a moment or two before the door opened and his chair was jerked around and in stepped two men, a woman, and—ah hell, Lee thought as his gaze came upon the last person standing a few feet behind the trio.

SMK***SMK***SMK

Ah hell! What in the hell was Augie doing there? He certainly didn't need him in the middle of this mess! Never in the history of espionage was anything ever made better by throwing Augie into the mix. Was Augie to be his contact inside? When he asked Billy before he left, he'd only laughed and said, "You'll see!" He and Emily were doomed now for sure!

Lee tried to adjust his face as best he could, to hide the sudden anger that he was feeling. Being an agent for several years along with his childhood experiences, Lee certainly had learned a thing or two about masking his feelings, so he sure hoped he was succeeding now.

For all it was worth, Augie was doing a pretty damn good job of not letting on that they knew one another.

The two men with the woman diverted their eyes from having direct contact with Lee and stepped aside as the woman moved directly toward Lee. She had the hardest look of them all.

"So, I see, we have the great Scarecrow! You came to rescue your friend and fellow agent but things did not go as you planned. Or did they?" She asked while the men remained silent. Her hair was a fiery red; her face was fully made up, giving her face a harsh, hardened look. Her figure was pleasant but she was far from beautiful; she certainly didn't hold a candle to Amanda!

"Thank you for joining us. You are going to make our work even easier than we thought—isn't that right boys?"

The two men closest to her nodded.

"Oh, where are my manners? Let me introduce you to my brother, Juan and my cousin, Anthony."

"And what about your friend behind you?" Lee asked, gesturing towards Augie, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but there.

"His name doesn't concern you right now."

"Well, may I ask what your name is?" Lee asked, blandly. She pulled out a cigarette, lit it and stood even closer to Lee. "My name is Dona Anna Maria Claudia Sanchez but for you, my name is simply Claudia." She took a drag from her cigarette, then blew the smoke deliberately in his face, opened her mouth to say something but stopped at the sound of commotion coming from outside of the building.

"¿Qué es eso? ¡Se supone que nadie estará aquí durante unos días!

The two men looked at her and frowned. "Well, go see who it is and get rid of them!" She snapped.
The two men moved so quickly towards the door, they nearly ran into each other. She watched this with a look of disgust and sighed in exasperation.

Claudia moved over toward Lee and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll be back, Mi querido, then I will tell you why you are here!"

To be continued

Note: Thanks to Cindy for helping with the proofreading and edits.