this,” he continued firmly, “I will not be calling you to confirm or change our meeting. Nor will anybody else be calling. I will meet you tomorrow evening in this exact parking lot at five sharp.”
“But what if you need to change the time?”
“I won’t.”
“What if something happens to you?” Alexandra asked, feeling agitated.
“Then I won’t be here, and you go immediately home.”
“Will someone else contact me?”
“No, absolutely not. If anyone contacts you, even if they claim to be me, do not speak to them. Simply hang up.”
“Kevin, you’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to, but this is important. Tomorrow we’ll explain all the necessary security procedures and equip you with the proper codes. But until then, you must do as I say.”
“So bottom line, if you’re here tomorrow night at five sharp, then we get started. If you’re not here, I go home and forget this ever happened?”
“Exactly. Got it?”
Alexandra took a deep breath. “I’ve got it.”
“Well then, Agent Callet. Are we ready to call it a night?”
“I guess as ready as can be expected.”
Kevin placed a twenty dollar bill on the table instead of asking for the bill. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“About tomorrow,” Alexandra said hesitantly. “This may be a dumb question, but what should I wear?”
“Wear comfortable clothes. I’d suggest jeans and a sweatshirt.”
“What a way to dress for my first day on the job.”
“See. You’re going to like it more than you thought.”
CHAPTER SIX
MIRROR IMAGE
Daniela
Daniela leaned over the set of blueprints spread open on the dining room table. A handmade clay water jug prevented the curled paper from rolling closed while the part of the oversized drawings that was too big for the table spilled across one of the chairs.
She half stood, half sat, with her right leg tucked on the seat and her left foot firmly planted on the floor. Daniela held her thick hair back in a futile attempt at keeping it out of her eyes, yet the shorter layers kept managing to escape. One by one, whispers of ebony fell and gradually blocked her view until Daniela finally decided to raise her head and readjust her hold.
As an added distraction, the doorbell rang. Not expecting anyone, she looked up perplexed. “Now what?” At the second chime, she reluctantly placed both feet on the floor and headed to the door. Right before turning the knob, she shook her head vigorously in an attempt at reviving her already tousled mane.
“Haven’t I always told you to ask who it is before opening the door?” The man standing in the doorway looked as cold and austere as his voice sounded. Even though he had near-perfect features, Daniela had noticed that his smile was reserved for her alone. When she watched him around others, he seemed to have an inner darkness that repelled all attraction.
She screamed with delight and wrapped both arms around the man’s neck. “Mago,” Daniela exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
Santiago slowly removed her arms from his neck, obviously not comfortable with Daniela’s animated display of emotion. For one lingering moment, Miguel held on to her hands. Then, just as rapidly, he let them go.
Santiago’s reaction failed to bother Daniela. Instead, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into her condo. As she directed him to the diagrams covering the table, she was elated to finally share her project.
***
Alexandra
For the past two weeks Alexandra had worked exceptionally hard, familiarizing herself with every file the Administration had on Miguel and Daniela Santiago. Much to her delight, she had practically memorized their contents. But her mood now reflected more than mere exhaustion. Alexandra pushed the pause button on the DVR remote when she heard someone enter the room. Kevin flicked on the light and sat next to her on the
“But what if you need to change the time?”
“I won’t.”
“What if something happens to you?” Alexandra asked, feeling agitated.
“Then I won’t be here, and you go immediately home.”
“Will someone else contact me?”
“No, absolutely not. If anyone contacts you, even if they claim to be me, do not speak to them. Simply hang up.”
“Kevin, you’re scaring me.”
“I don’t mean to, but this is important. Tomorrow we’ll explain all the necessary security procedures and equip you with the proper codes. But until then, you must do as I say.”
“So bottom line, if you’re here tomorrow night at five sharp, then we get started. If you’re not here, I go home and forget this ever happened?”
“Exactly. Got it?”
Alexandra took a deep breath. “I’ve got it.”
“Well then, Agent Callet. Are we ready to call it a night?”
“I guess as ready as can be expected.”
Kevin placed a twenty dollar bill on the table instead of asking for the bill. “Come on,” he said. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“About tomorrow,” Alexandra said hesitantly. “This may be a dumb question, but what should I wear?”
“Wear comfortable clothes. I’d suggest jeans and a sweatshirt.”
“What a way to dress for my first day on the job.”
“See. You’re going to like it more than you thought.”
CHAPTER SIX
MIRROR IMAGE
Daniela
Daniela leaned over the set of blueprints spread open on the dining room table. A handmade clay water jug prevented the curled paper from rolling closed while the part of the oversized drawings that was too big for the table spilled across one of the chairs.
She half stood, half sat, with her right leg tucked on the seat and her left foot firmly planted on the floor. Daniela held her thick hair back in a futile attempt at keeping it out of her eyes, yet the shorter layers kept managing to escape. One by one, whispers of ebony fell and gradually blocked her view until Daniela finally decided to raise her head and readjust her hold.
As an added distraction, the doorbell rang. Not expecting anyone, she looked up perplexed. “Now what?” At the second chime, she reluctantly placed both feet on the floor and headed to the door. Right before turning the knob, she shook her head vigorously in an attempt at reviving her already tousled mane.
“Haven’t I always told you to ask who it is before opening the door?” The man standing in the doorway looked as cold and austere as his voice sounded. Even though he had near-perfect features, Daniela had noticed that his smile was reserved for her alone. When she watched him around others, he seemed to have an inner darkness that repelled all attraction.
She screamed with delight and wrapped both arms around the man’s neck. “Mago,” Daniela exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
Santiago slowly removed her arms from his neck, obviously not comfortable with Daniela’s animated display of emotion. For one lingering moment, Miguel held on to her hands. Then, just as rapidly, he let them go.
Santiago’s reaction failed to bother Daniela. Instead, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into her condo. As she directed him to the diagrams covering the table, she was elated to finally share her project.
***
Alexandra
For the past two weeks Alexandra had worked exceptionally hard, familiarizing herself with every file the Administration had on Miguel and Daniela Santiago. Much to her delight, she had practically memorized their contents. But her mood now reflected more than mere exhaustion. Alexandra pushed the pause button on the DVR remote when she heard someone enter the room. Kevin flicked on the light and sat next to her on the
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