CIA - The Slave Traders

by Joe Bob Newman

hotel.

  When her room had been cleaned, Lynda took a shower and cleaned herself up. She put on clean clothes and took the car back to the rental company. She told the man, “I don’t know what happened, the window just broke!”

  She had to pay for the window, but got a new car. This car was older and not in very good shape. She would only be here for another day, and had no place to go, so she was okay with it.

  That night, Lynda went down to the lounge and had one mixed drink. She did not think it would hurt the baby, but she needed to relax. Being so pregnant, every man left her alone. A local band was playing Spanish music. She did not like the music, but sat and watched the band play and drank soft drinks. She missed Ted at times like this, and was not sure how she would raise a baby without him.

  An American man, much older than Lynda, was sitting at the next table and smiled at her. She patted the chair next to her and he moved into it carefully. He said his name was Max. He did not give a last name. She introduced herself just as Lynda.

  The older man asked, “What is such a pregnant woman doing here, in the lounge?”

  She said, “I go home tomorrow. I am just trying to relax. You are not hitting on me, are you?”

  He laughed with perfect white teeth, and said, “No, my dear, I am old enough to be your father. I just want some company too.”

  She studied the man. He was well-tanned, had a receding hairline, and had hazel eyes. All in all, he was a nice-looking man. She replied, “Where do you live?”

  He said, “I live in a small town in Texas. I work in the oil field. I am a sales engineer.”

  Lynda had no idea what a sales engineer did, so she asked him. He said, “I talk people into letting us drill wells on their land. It is very boring. What do you do?”

  She said, “I am just here on family business. Everything is complete and I am going home. My husband was killed a few months ago and I am still in mourning.”

  Max said, “I am so sorry to hear that. How will you raise your baby then?” He seemed genuinely concerned.

  Lynda sat back. “I have a nine-year-old daughter that I am going home to. She is still very upset. My mother is watching her, and I need to get back home as soon as possible.”

  Max looked at Lynda with disbelief. “You have a nine-year-old daughter?”

  Lynda replied, “Yes. We adopted her.”

  Max said, “I respect you for that. I think adoption is wonderful.”

  Lynda did not give out any further information; she decided that she had talked too much already. After a long silence, she said, “My husband was a good man; he did not deserve to die.” She began to tear up.

  Max was quick to provide Lynda with some napkins. He got up and went to the bar and got some more. He said, “I am sure that he was. How did it happen?”

  Lynda said, “He was a government agent. He was killed in a gunfight with bad guys.” She leaned forward over the table.

  Max put his hand on her back. Lynda straightened up and he moved his hand to her chair. She cut her eyes at him. She was not so much angry as just flat depressed. She was beginning to believe that it was all her fault and that she had been a lousy wife.

  Max responded, “Lynda, it wasn’t your fault. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. I don’t know why.”

  She was getting put out with this old man. “I understand that, but he did not deserve to die.”

  Max realized that the conversation was not going the way that he wanted it to. He said, “Don’t be mad at me; I had nothing to do with it.”

  Lynda felt foolish. Why was she even talking to this man? She said, “Please forgive me. I did not mean to jump on you.”

  Max took a deep breath. He let it out slowly. He said, “Lynda, you are a beautiful woman. I believe that your husband loved you very much.”

  She cut in, “Max, don’t patronize me.”

  “You don’t think you are beautiful?”

  She said, “Look at me: no make-up, five months pregnant, no husband. I am ugly.” She began to cry softly again.

  Max put his hand on her arm. She did not flinch; she needed his touch. He said, “Lynda, want to go for a walk in the garden?”

  She stood up, and said, “Sure, let’s go.”

  They walked in the hotel’s garden. Neither spoke for a long time. Then Max said, “Here’s my card. Call me if you ever need me; I will come.”

  She took the card, looked at it closely, and stuck it in her hip pocket, “Thanks, Max Hurdley.” She had a little bounce in her step as she walked on. He watched her hips closely.

  He handed her another card. He said, “How about giving me your number so that I can call you if I ever need to?” He knew that he was taking a chance.

  Lynda took the card and his pen. She put her cell phone number on it. She said, “Max, you can call me anytime.” She knew that she had told him too much, but she still had her major secrets intact.

  Max walked her to her room. He made no effort to go in. She was thankful.

  The next morning, Lynda drove to the rental car agency. She turned the car in and the attendant gave her a ride to the terminal. She boarded the plane, expecting at some point to see Max, but he did not appear. She was sitting in coach. She had an aisle seat and no one was next to her.

  She had to change planes in Mexico City. She again expected to see Max. She wondered why she wanted to see him so badly. She had put on make-up this morning, apparently for nothing.

  The plane landed in Houston, refueled, and went on to DFW. At the terminal, she got her bags, found her car and drove to the safe house. She told her mother, “It’s over. We can go home now!”

  Her parents loaded up their car, and Lynda loaded up her own, and they each went their separate ways.

  Lynda and Tasha went back to their old house. Only Ted was missing. It was a mixture of happiness and sadness for both of them. She re-enrolled Tasha in school.

  Two months went by. Lynda was in her seventh month. She spent most of her time alone in the house.

  One morning the phone rang. It was early and she nearly didn’t answer it.

  It was Max; he asked how she was doing?

  She said, “I can’t wait to have this baby. I am bored to death.”

  “I have missed you, kid.”

  She smiled at being called a “kid.” She said, “I miss you too, Max. Where are you?”

  He said, “I am in Dallas. I have a few days off. I would like to come see you!”

  She grinned. “I am free right now. Come see me.” She gave him directions.

  In an hour, a rental car pulled up in front of the house. Lynda had put slacks and a nice blouse on, and had even put make-up and lipstick on.

  She watched him get out of the car. He was very manly in his motions. She went to the door and opened it. She let Max into her house. He hugged her, being careful of her big belly.

  He sat in a recliner and she leaned up against the sofa. She asked, “Want something to drink? I have iced tea.”

  He took the tea from her and sipped it.

  Lynda said, “Max, you haven’t told me anything about your family.”

  He grimaced. “Not much to tell. I have three children. My wife died of cancer last year.”

  Lynda looked down at the floor. “I am sorry, Max. I had no idea.”

  He said, “That’s why I could sympathize with you so well. I know what it feels like.”

  They talked for two hours, then Lynda made a chicken salad for lunch. They talked like old friends until Tasha came home from school. The bus dropped her off at the end of their street. Tasha did not seem to like Max. Perhaps she was just jealous. Her mother was smiling for the first time in a very long time.

  Lynda asked Max to dinner. She said, “I know a little place that Tasha loves. We could go eat there.”

  “Only if it is my treat.”

  They went to the little Italian place and had pizza. Max
did not expect it, but found the pizza to be good. Afterward, they went and had ice cream. Tasha smiled for the first time that night. They went home, and Lynda helped Tasha with her homework. Max watched television.

  After Tasha went to bed, Lynda and Max sat up and talked into the night. When he finally left, Lynda hated to see him go. But he was nothing if not a gentleman.

  The next morning he was back. He picked Lynda up and they went shopping. They both bought clothes, and Max took her to lunch.

  That afternoon, they were both laughing at something stupid when Tasha walked in the door. Tasha put her hands on her hips, and said, “Mother!”

  Lynda wiped the laughter off her face, and answered, “What?”

  Tasha did not know what to say now, but did say, “It is not funny!”

  Lynda smiled and laughed at the same time. “Yes it was, honey.”

  Tasha marched off to her room, obviously upset.

  Lynda looked at Max, held both hands up and said, “Be right back.” She followed Tasha into her bedroom, and said, “What’s the matter, honey?”

  Tasha said, “I don’t want him to be my daddy.”

  Lynda sat on the edge of Tasha’s bed and said, “Honey, he is just a friend. No one will ever replace your daddy. I promise.”

  She left Tasha doing her homework. Tasha seemed happy now.

  Lynda went into the living room and sat by Max. He leaned over and put his arm around her. She did not flinch. Lynda wanted Max to spend the night, but knew that Tasha would be a problem. But it didn’t matter. Max left on his own about midnight. He had class, she thought.

  After Max left, Lynda did some real soul-searching. What did he see in her? She was seven months