Uneven Exchange

by Derban, S. K.

  Leaning over, Alexandra studied the undulating lines. “What does it mean when the lines cross each other?”

  “Simply that your tone was slightly higher or lower. You must remember, though, it doesn’t matter as long as they stay within an inch apart.”

  “Okay then, tell me about the red lines? Somehow I get the feeling the red lines are not good news.”

  “That, my dear Alexandra, depends on whether you think the glass is half-empty or half-full. You know me, and know I am a half-full kind of person.”

  Alexandra reached over to squeeze Natalie’s elbow. “Yes, you are, and that’s what I love about you.”

  Natalie smiled warmly. “You see,” she began, sounding like a schoolteacher, “the red lines are your friends. They will keep you safe later by showing us detectable differences in your voice now.”

  Alexandra’s eyes widened as Natalie swiped through screen after screen of lines, following their progression. “But there are so many!” Alexandra groaned loudly.

  Natalie nodded. “Yes, there are quite a few, but look here.” She glided her index finger over the screen. “Most of the red lines are higher, which means your pitch is slightly higher than Daniela’s. I’ve done some checking, and it seems most of the red lines occur only when you speak English. Translated, that means you have the Spanish down pat.” Natalie flashed her a wide grin. “See! The glass is more than half-full!”

  “Yes, that is good news,” Alexandra said. “If I get nervous when I’m speaking English, I can change to Spanish. Daniela always switches from one language to the next, even in the middle of a sentence.”

  “Good idea, but that’s still not enough. You will need some more practice. It has to become second nature to you.”

  By comparing the graph numbers to those on the digital counter on the bottom right of the screen, Natalie and Alexandra first determined exactly which words were creating the problems. Then, with earphones in place, Alexandra closed her eyes and listened to Daniela’s voice. She tried to relax, allowing the sounds to become her own.

  ***

  Natalie

  Natalie left the room, giving Alexandra time to rehearse before they started the second round of voice-print taping. She also wanted to give Alexandra privacy, allowing her the freedom to completely connect to Daniela. Quietly, she closed the training room door and flipped the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. While standing in the hallway, Natalie contemplated her next task, knowing she had at least a half hour of free time. After deciding to check in with her boss, she navigated the hall, turned the corner, and headed in the direction of Kevin’s office.

  As she suspected, he was buried under a mound of paperwork. Through the window in Kevin’s door, Natalie could see him vigorously filling out some sort of form. She knocked softly.

  Kevin looked up from his work and motioned for her to enter as he removed his reading glasses. “Hey, Sparky, come on in. Where’s Alex?”

  “She’s in the training room, practicing. We just finished reviewing the voice analysis, and I have her working on a few areas.”

  “So tell me. How do you think she’s doing?”

  “Alexandra is doing well, really well.” She paused and then added, “Sometimes I think she’s doing almost too well.”

  Kevin frowned as he asked, “How can she be doing too well? I don’t understand. Please explain what you mean?”

  Natalie took a quiet moment to formulate her thoughts before speaking. “Now, don’t get me wrong, boss,” she said, her voice somber. “Alex is doing great, and the longer we work together, the more I’m convinced she will have no problem standing in for Daniela. Before, she already looked the part, and now she can walk and talk and even act like Daniela. But…” Natalie hesitated and then looked directly into his eyes. “Kevin, I’m desperately concerned about what we’re doing to Alexandra. I mean for the long haul. There are times she transforms herself into Daniela, and then she never seems to change back. When we part ways, I feel as if I am saying good-bye to Daniela and that Alexandra is still buried somewhere deep inside her.”

  “I’m glad you’re concerned, Sparky, but I’m also sure Alexandra will be okay. Besides, maybe it’s not as bad as it seems. After all, she could be coming out of it on the drive home. You’ve worked undercover before, and you know how hard it is to shake the feeling and return to the real world.”

  Natalie slumped into one of his chairs. “Yes, I know all too well.”

  “Then trust me. She’ll be okay. Alexandra is one tough lady, and her faith in God is very strong. That will help her stay grounded and not lose herself in the part.”

  “Oh, I know that too. In fact, I think she’s even tougher than both of us realize. I simply cannot stop worrying, though. Plus, it bothers me that Alexandra doesn’t seem to have any type of personal life right now.”

  Kevin’s laugh echoed loudly through the room. “Ha! Just look at my desk! Do any of us really have a life?”

  “I guess not.” Natalie chucked softly. “Maybe I’m really feeling sorry for myself. Here I am, another not-so-proud member of the DEA divorce club.”

  “Sparky, you did all you could. Don’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”

  She looked at the floor. “I keep wondering if everything would have worked if I’d been at home more often.”

  “Maybe William should have been a tad more understanding,” Kevin reasoned. “We were there by your side when you were going through this, Sparky. He wasn’t cutting you the least amount of slack.”

  A lump rose in Natalie’s throat as she blinked hard to control her misting eyes.

  “I know you care a great deal about Alexandra,” Kevin continued. “So don’t get all emotional on me and lose your edge. Sparky, you have to remember that our job is to keep her safe, and the more believable she is, the safer she will be. You do know I’m right, don’t you?”

  Natalie nodded.

  “Then let me hear that strong, confident voice of yours.”

  “Yes, you are right.”

  “Good job,” he told her with a broad smile. “Now, talk to me about Jake. Do you think her feelings for him are getting in the way?”

  “No, I think it’s just the opposite. That may be the reason Alex is also working so hard.”

  “How is Jake taking it?” Kevin asked. “Are there any changes? Is he intruding in any way?”

  “No. It’s almost textbook,” Natalie explained. “It sounds as if Jake is actually starting to pursue Alexandra quite a bit.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Natalie’s shoulders raised and lowered in a shrug. “I don’t know. It’s just the feeling I get from Alexandra’s offhand comments. I’m guessing Jake suddenly feels left out. I think he’s having a hard time dealing with Alexandra not showing interest in him anymore. It must be hard for him to handle.”

  “Interesting how that happens,” Kevin commented. “We don’t seem to realize what we have until we lose it.”

  “Or, in Jake’s case, he didn’t realize what he could have had.” Natalie abruptly straightened in her chair. “You know, maybe that’s what is really bothering me!”

  “What?”

  “I know Alex talked with you about Jake—”

  “A little,” Kevin said. “Just what was necessary for her background information.”

  Natalie smiled. “Then you know, as women, we talked a little more.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “She had fallen pretty hard for Jake, and now, nothing.” Natalie fanned her hands widely. “Alexandra rarely ever mentions his name.”

  “Maybe that’s because she’s busy and she’s focused. It doesn’t seem strange to me at all.”

  “But it’s not like that. Alexandra is acting as if she never had feelings for him. Instead of responding to Jake as Alexandra, I think she’s allowing Daniela to take over. Perhaps Alexandra is using Daniela as a shield for protection.”

  “If Alexandra can truly do that, then we’ve got it made!”


  “Yes, but then what are we doing to her?”

  “We are keeping her alive, that’s what we’re doing. It won’t be enough to merely play the part, she has to live it.”

  Natalie sighed deeply. “In reality, I know you’re right.” She checked her watch. Time was fleeting, and she still hadn’t given him a full report. Without further hesitation, she broke into a capsulized version, updating Kevin on each aspect of Alexandra’s progress.

  “Thanks, Sparky,” Kevin said when Natalie had finished. “As always, you’re doing a great job. So if we need Alex, when do you think she’ll be ready?”

  “Two weeks.” Natalie waited a beat. “She’ll be ready in two weeks, max.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  HOT BLOOD, COLD SHOWER

  Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Mexico

  Armando

  Daniela’s condominium and her soon-to-be-completed restaurant occupied the same expanse of waterfront along the Cancun marina. A well-worn eighty-two-foot yacht was gradually being converted into Daniela’s dream dining establishment. It had previously been christened the Huachinango, pronounced Wa-chee-nan-go, which translated into English as the “Red Snapper.” From the beginning, Daniela felt the original name was perfect, especially considering her plans for an all-seafood menu.

  After arriving at the airport, Armando and Conner stopped to purchase a taxi voucher to prepay their cab fare from the airport to the Marina Plaza condominiums on Avenida Kukulkan. Yet while en route, they changed their minds and asked to be dropped off at the main entrance of the marina, approximately a mile closer than their original destination. This would enable them to check how construction on the Huachinango was progressing. Willingly, the cab driver accommodated their request.

  Armando tipped the driver as Conner stepped from the taxi and grabbed their two small duffle bags. As they sauntered along the wide cement boardwalk, the partners lingered to savor the many sights and sounds of the late-afternoon activity. Several full day fishing boats had recently arrived with a group of happy but sun-beaten tourists. Other local fishermen were already dockside, cleaning their catches with the skill of surgeons while daring seagulls hovered closely above, delighted with the tantalizing morsels they managed to pilfer. The combination of sea air and fresh fish created a surprisingly pleasant aroma.

  Armando’s gaze zeroed in on a nearby vessel as four bronzed, bikini-clad females waved vigorously at them.

  “They want me,” Armando said, tipping his sunglasses.

  “Give it up, lover boy,” Conner mocked while waving back. “It’s me they’re really after, not you.”

  Armando tossed his head back and laughed. “Ha, you wish! Would you like to make a wager?”

  “I might if we had the time, but we don’t, so pay attention. Daniela’s yacht is up ahead.”

  “Now I get it. You’re afraid to take me up on the bet.”

  “Knock it off, Mando,” Conner teased. “Just face it. You’re not always going to get the girl.”

  “I have so far. Tell me, what kind of fun have you had this year?”

  “Hey, don’t bum me out,” Conner whined. “You know, life is not fair. When I didn’t want to settle down, I had plenty of opportunity, and now that I’m ready to settle down, where are all the women?”

  Armando patted Conner’s shoulder. “Married, my friend, married. Since you wouldn’t marry them, they had to settle for second best.”

  “Great! Now I’m going to die old, bald, and single!”

  Armando laughed. “You forgot to add ugly!”

  “Thanks a lot,” Conner said sarcastically as he scanned the marina. “Hey, look.” He pointed suddenly. “There it is.”

  Armando stopped to scrutinize the yacht. “It still looks the same, doesn’t it? Man, they’ve been working on that thing for over a month now, and it doesn’t look like they’ve made any progress at all. What do you think?”

  “Who knows? Maybe they’re only working on the inside. Can you see Daniela?”

  Armando lowered his sunglasses and squinted at the men on deck. “No, I don’t see her. Come on. Let’s head for the condo.”

  “Good idea. Let’s go. This bag may be small, but it’s definitely not light.”

  “I’m having no problem carrying my bag,” Armando taunted.

  Conner shot him a look of mock contempt. “That’s because I have all the equipment,” he reminded him. “Say, would you like to trade?”

  Armando grinned. “Not on your life. My mama didn’t raise a fool!”

  Within minutes, the agents reached the grounds of the Marina Plaza condominiums and zigzagged through the many pathways leading toward their individual unit. As they approached the front door, Armando searched his pockets for the project master key.

  The condominiums consisted of seven separate buildings, built to follow the gentle curve of the marina. Each housed four units. The two more desirable ocean-front units in each structure were naturally the first to sell. However, since most of the buildings had at least one non-view condo left unsold, the developer easily accepted Armando’s offer to rent one of them. A substantial security deposit and three month’s rent paid well in advance ensured Armando of his privacy. If anyone asked, Conner Reeves would be just a friend on vacation. Securing the unit abutting Daniela’s to the rear was simple. Armando only had to ask.

  After reaching their destination, Armando unlocked the door, and both men immediately began executing a series of routine tasks as soon as it closed behind them. Conner grabbed the tool box and ladder from the hall closet and removed the slotted cover from the heating-and-cooling system. Housed inside was the main camera with direct visual into Daniela’s condo.

  In order to originally install their equipment, Conner and Armando had taken advantage of the common wall between the two units. They guided most of the cable through the air vents after the heating and air conditioning systems were combined. Fortunately, they were able to complete the majority of the work before Daniela moved in. They then repaired and repainted her unit, covering all traces of the modifications.

  While Conner checked the main recorder, Armando used the screwdriver attachment of his Swiss Army knife to loosen the four tiny screws holding the plastic light switch cover in place. The single on/off switch operated the entry-hall light, but the round dimmer switch camouflaged the lens of a hidden micro camcorder. Armando dropped each screw into his T-shirt pocket and carefully pulled the switch plate away, keeping it level until it was clear of the camera lens. Then he easily removed the camcorder from its mount to check the digital counter. “Twenty-four seconds,” he called out to Conner.

  “Not bad. It’s probably us coming in.” Conner paused, then added, “And, of course, a close-up of your ugly mug as you were playing around with that wall plate.”

  “Did you notice I got to use my knife?” Armando beamed like a young boy. Conner had given him the knife as a birthday present last year, and ever since, he anxiously waited for any chance to use the knife, the can opener, the scissors, and any of the other fourteen different tools.

  Conner cracked up. “Yes, I noticed! Hey, you better run it just in case. Twenty-four isn’t much, but let’s be sure.”

  “I’m one step ahead of you, my friend. I already pushed Play and am watching it now.”

  Armando and Conner had installed the micro camcorder as a security measure for their own condominium. The cameras in Daniela’s condo easily let then keep an eye on her movements, but they also needed to make certain no one kept an eye on them. For that reason, they had positioned a camera to record anyone who might attempt to enter their unit.

  Armando watched the recording as it played back on the tiny screen located in the rear of the camcorder. He saw an instant replay of his earlier movements, including an extreme close-up of his own face as he worked to remove the switch plate. When finished, he repositioned the equipment and joined Conner. “How are you doing? Any sign of her?”

  “None yet. I’m t
hinking she probably went out to eat.”

  “Yes, food!” Armando gasped. “That’s what I’ve been missing. Are you almost done?”

  “Give me ten minutes, max. I want to free some space on the DVR, so I’m copying to another hard drive.”

  “Okay, if you don’t need me, I’m going to catch a quick shower.”

  “Thanks, but I’m fine here. Go right ahead.”

  Armando ambled through the master bedroom toward the bathroom. The suite was devoid of furnishings except for two rolled-up sleeping bags and a couple of pillows, although the master bathroom was slightly more equipped. Move-in day consisted of unpacking a few towels, shampoo, soap, and a blow-dryer.

  After the long flight, Armando welcomed the invigorating shower, but his hunger pangs soon overcame the refreshment of the cool water. He rushed to finish, quickly towel-dried, and dressed. Then as he stood blow-drying his hair, Conner entered the room.

  “Where do you want to eat?” Armando asked.

  “In town, of course.” Conner’s eyes widened with the excitement of going there. “Where else?”

  Conner took a total of five minutes getting ready, and on their way out, both men rummaged through their bags, grabbing wallets, keys, and searching for any loose change. The twenty minute bus ride into town cost a mere ten pesos but required exact change.

  They managed to scrape together the right combination of coins by the time the well-worn bus rumbled to a stop in front of their complex. A taxi would have been faster but never as much fun. Too many tourists missed much of what Cancun had to offer by their failure to venture past the hotel zone or away from the comfort of taxi cabs. The warm hospitality of the people and the tantalizing flavors of the Yucatan were best experienced socializing with the locals in town.

  On their first visit to the peninsula, Armando took great pride in sharing this area of Mexico with his close friend. Conner’s receptiveness further enhanced the distinctive bonding between the partners. He too, like so many others, felt the warmth of Mexico’s breath as she whispered his name.