Chapter 8

Claudia, Augie and her two minions, and the two prisoners were at the entrance of the parking lot near where they were going to make the exchange. Both prisoners were blindfolded; their hands firmly secured with twine. She was expecting two other men from the organization to arrive shortly; though she didn't know them, there was a special code needed to make sure they were legit.

The exchange should be quick; allowing her enough time to make the trade and then get to the airport. Her limousine was loaded with her belongings; which included two plane tickets and two passports; one for herself and one for her cousin Carlos. Anything Carlos needed; they could purchase later. Her brother Juan and her cousin Anthony were to meet up with her and Carlos later. She planned on encouraging Augie to join her in California, where they would lay low for a while, but she knew Augie had his own business and resources in DC. He'd done such a magnificent job; she could always use one more person in the organization. She would talk with Carlos first and see what he thought but ultimately it was her decision.

***SMK***

Lee was ready for this case to end. He was now seated in the back of the limo with Augie between him and Emily. He'd hardly had a chance to get a good look at Emily before the blindfolds went on, but she hadn't seemed too distressed. The two goons were seated in the front with Senora Claudia.

"Is it really necessary for you to sit between us?" Lee asked Augie in a gruff voice. "And what is up with these blindfolds?"

"It is only a precaution in case either of you are up to any monkey business, si?" Claudia answered not expecting a response.

"Emily, are you ok?" Lee asked, wishing he could see her for himself.

"I'm fine, Lee, considering. I had no idea who else they had captured."

"Just hang in there, it will all be over soon," Lee assured her.

"I know, Lee."

"Okay, enough talking, you two are making my head hurt," Augie barked.

If he wasn't careful, he was really gonna have a headache. Lee thought to himself, struggling to remember that Augie's part was only an act. For his sake, it better continue to be an act. "Just better not be any harm to Emily or more than your head will be hurting."

"Calm down, as long as everything goes as planned and your government does not try any tricky business, your friend here will be able to go home and so will you."

Nothing else was said for the remainder of the ride. Claudia barked a few words in Spanish and her two companions got out and pursued the area. After looking around, the two men returned to the car and one of them whispered something in Claudia's ear. Claudia along with one of her henchmen left the car and moved towards two men, both of average height, dressed in black jeans, one in a black t-shirt, the other in a blue t-shirt. Shortly, instructions were given for Augie to help Emily and Lee get out of the car; and to stand with them, while Juan and Anthony along with the two new men stood on either side at the mouth of the tunnel, their coat jackets concealing their weapon of choice. Claudia stood in the middle of the group and watched as Mr. Melrose and company entered through the other side of the tunnel.

***SMK***

In the meantime, Francine and Amanda arrived at the park with a blanket and a quick lunch they picked up from a little bistro that Francine knew of.

"Francine, now wasn't this nicer than eating inside?" Amanda asked as they sat down on a vacant bench.

"You know, Amanda, this is kind of nice."

Initially, they were both silent as they concentrated on their food. Surprisingly, Francine broke the ice first, "So, Amanda, was it difficult staying out of trouble this morning?"

Amanda took back the retort on her lips when she noticed the smirk Francine had on her face. "Now that you mention it; it was a little difficult trying not to think about work."

Both women laughed. "Yes, I would imagine that it was a little difficult to concentrate…I mean with Lee gone from the office, what has it been four days now?"

Amanda nodded. "Yeah, normally wouldn't you be on the case as well?"

"Yes, I would but for some reason, Billy decided to keep me on the sidelines. I think I know why, considering who the other captive–" Francine realizing she almost spilled who the other hostage was, quickly changed the conversation. "Where is your mother? At one of her meetings?"

"Yes, I just can't remember which one. But Francine, come on, I think I might have an idea who they have–what harm would it do if you told me if I am right?"

"Amanda! Billy would have my head."

"What if I guess and if I am right you nod your head? If I am wrong you don't say anything."

"What good would it do for you to know?" Francine argued.

Instead of answering Francine's question, Amanda asked, "Fred Fielder?"

Francine nearly choked on the bite of food she had in her mouth but remained quiet.

"Dr. Smyth?"

"Come on Amanda, you aren't even trying or are you just being silly?"

"Okay, what about Emily Farnsworth?"

"Amanda, what in the world makes you think it's Emily?" Francine asked, turning her head so that Amanda couldn't see her face.

Amanda didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know that she had hit pay dirt. "I wonder where the meeting place is–" Amanda mused out loud.

"I didn't say it was Emily."

"You didn't have to, I can tell by your body language."

"How did you possibly–"

"It is probably someplace outdoors," Amanda went on as though Francine hadn't said a word, "Though it could be inside at a warehouse or something like that."

"You're right," Francine paused, "It could be either one of those places or somewhere else."

Amanda sighed in frustration, but said good-naturedly, "Okay, I give up." At least she now knew who had been kidnapped.

"Amanda, you forget that I am a trained operative with several years of experience."

"Well, I did figure out that it was Emily–"

"I never said it was Emily."

"Hmm, if you say so–" Amanda paused as she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. "Is it my imagination or did that bush just move?"

"What are you talking about? What bush?"

"Over there!" Amanda replied, pointing a few feet away.

"Now, Amanda, you are just trying to get me to tell you where the location is, for your information, it is not this park, it's at another location."

Amanda looked again to make sure her eyes weren't failing her.

"I don't see anything."

Amanda turned back to her food but this time, there was a distinct "ah choo" and it came from the same direction as the bush.

"Francine, did you hear that?"

"Yes, I did. It came from that bush. Maybe some kids are playing a game," Francine suggested. "You know the one where someone hides or something, what do you call it?"

"Hide and seek," Amanda wondered sometimes whether or not Francine was ever a kid.

"Yes, that game," France replied distractedly. What if it was going down here? But it couldn't be; she knew for a fact that the exchange was to take place at Minneway Park which was clear on the other side of the city. Besides, a trained agent would know better than to sneeze when undercover though there was that time someone ended up in a bush of poison ivy and began itching so bad they nearly blew their cover.

A second sneeze had both women jumping to their feet and heading quickly toward the sound. As both women approached the bush, Francine gestured at the green shrubs, indicating that Amanda should go on the other side and together they would move in.

"One, two, three!" Francine mouthed, and then said out loud, "Now!"

"What in the world?" Amanda exclaimed at the sight before her.

"Why the little devils!" Francine exclaimed, looking at the two teens locked in a heavy kiss."

Apparently startled, a teen boy around 16 and a teen girl around 15, stood up.

"You two should be ashamed of yourselves!" Amanda said, glancing down at her watch. "Shouldn't you be in school at this hour? I know for a fact you attend Mather!"

"We–" the young man began."

"I am sure your parents wouldn't want to know about this!" Amanda exclaimed, looking the teen girl directly in the face.

Both of them turned beet red and said simultaneously, "No maam!"

"We will head to class right now!"

"Please don't tell my parents."

With that, holding hands, they took off at a full fledged run.

"Out here cutting class necking in broad daylight!" Amanda said once they were out of ear shot.

"Amanda, weren't you young and in love once?"

"Yes! But cutting class? I hope that the threat I made to contact their parents worked."

"It would be someone you know, Amanda."

"I have never seen those two teens before in my life. I just ad-libbed a little; guessing by the design on her shirt that she went to the local high school."

"Well, it sure was funny watching the two of them running."

The two women shared a laugh as they prepared to finish up and get ready to leave the park.

***SMK***

Billy's team was stationed and ready at the other end of the tunnel. Carlos was safe inside the ambulance while he along with agents Carter and Hanson were standing lookout. Billy saw Claudia and her companions, the moment they walked towards the tunnel's entrance.

"As we discussed, we will show you Carlos but once you see him, we want Emily Farnsworth first then, we will escort Carlos down at the same time you send Scarecrow."

There was a moment of silence and it looked as though Claudia was going to argue the plan but finally, after what seemed forever, she nodded in agreement. Billy gestured behind him and out stepped Carlos, who had been handcuffed and blindfolded. The blindfold was taken off and he was moved forward just close enough so that Claudia and company could get a good look at him; the sun beaming from either side providing enough light to take in all his features.

"Finally, mi familial," Claudia exclaimed from her vantage point, the other men, all except Lee, acknowledged her comment with cheers. Carlos was moved back towards the ambulance, out of sight until it was time for his exchange to take place.

Augie along with one of the four men escorted Emily down the tunnel until they reached the middle and Billy along with two agents helped her into a wheelchair that was taken promptly to the waiting ambulance and quietly drove away while another ambulance pulled up.

Next was time for the exchange between Scarecrow and Carlos. A wheelchair for Scarecrow had been placed in the middle of the tunnel and was now situated with Lee in it; while Carlos was being seated in a wheelchair.

Carlos was handed off to Augie and the man in the black t-shirt while Scarecrow was handed off to two agents from IFF. From Claudia's vantage point, Carlos was being moved towards her at a snail's pace while Scarecrow was nearly at the other side of the tunnel.

"Que? What is taking so long?" Augie and the other man shrugged.

Augie leaned down to check the wheels but fell backward as he was punched out by his companion who began wheeling the chair with Carlos in it back to where Billy and the others were. Augie got up and began running to safety.

"One, two, three, now!" Billy shouted. Lee released his hands from the twine that was holding his hands in place. He jumped up from the chair and moved to the side and retrieved the Luger that was lying on the ground covered with a blanket.

Claudia shouted. "We've been tricked!"

She let out a few exploitive in her native tongue as she turned to bark orders only to find that Juan and Anthony were gagged and their hands were handcuffed and each had an agent by their side as another agent walked up and said, "Dona Anna Maria Claudia Sanchez, you are under arrest for kidnapping, drug trafficking—"

"Aargh! You turncoat!" Her eyes blazed towards Carlos. "How dare you do this to the family?"

Claudia knocked the nearest agent down, grabbed his gun and aimed towards Carlos. Augie realizing what was happening, moved forward and shoved Carlos to the ground. The bullet ricocheted off the wall and a scream echoed through the tunnel as the bullet hit.

**SMK**

"Francine, did you hear that? It sounded like gunfire."

"Amanda, I–Oh, my gosh, I think that you are right."

"It is coming from that direction."

Francine squinted as she tried to make sense of the scene in the distance. "It looks like the Agency is involved, but Billy told me that they were going to Minneway Park…I think I better go see what is going on. You stay here."

Amanda nodded but no sooner than Francine had moved forward than Amanda was right behind her on her heels.

Francine, too worried and impatient to stop her, kept going but came to a halt when she made it to the entrance of the underpass and she let out a scream. "Oh my God!"

Amanda stopped just short of running into Francine. "Lee!"

"Man down!" came Billy's booming voice

To be continued

Only one chapter to go!

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