Two men were in the kitchen getting a snack and talking between themselves. I couldn’t help but overhear, but moving next to the kitchen door did wonders for getting even more information. I could even see what they were doing through a crack in the door.
“She hates him,” the one with the blond hair and a moustache said. “Good thing, too. I want her as soon as this is over. She’s too pretty to be with him, anyway.”
“I wish they’d send him back to the CIA,” the dark-haired man said. “I got demoted because of him.”
“And you deserved it too. Never ever get involved with a client,” the blond said. “That’s what Jim said, and he was right. You don’t see him getting involved with Harley, do you?”
“Not really. But I’m glad we were finally allowed to put cameras in her bedroom. I’d love to get him back for me losing my promotion.”
“I agree. It’s payback time,” the blond whispered.
So Jim was going against his own directive? I had to make sure he stayed true to his job. I couldn’t let him be unemployed because of me.
Jim walked down the stairs with his suitcase and approached me. He tried to give me a kiss, but I stepped away, my eyes on his.
“What’s the matter? We have to date, remember?”
“Only in public.” I glanced toward the kitchen. “You have rules.”
“I do?” He followed my eyes toward the kitchen, then walked through the doors and shook his head. “Gentlemen, how is it going?”
“Fine, sir,” the blond said. “We’ll be tailing you as soon as you’re ready.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll be taking the same route home, if we get separated.”
“Yes, sir,” the dark-haired one said. “We’re on the lookout for anyone suspicious, just like in the park.”
“Right.” Jim turned from the kitchen and gave me a confused look. He helped me to the car with my suitcase, putting them both in the trunk. Right before he closed the trunk lid, I held it open, took off the necklace and stuffed it into my suitcase. I didn’t want to chance anyone listening, even though it supposedly only had a GPS in it. I didn’t think they could hear anything if it was in the trunk.
He got into the driver’s seat, but I pointed toward the metal wand before I got inside.
“But there’s nothing here,” he whispered.
“I don’t care. I want you to check.” I pointed to the back. “The necklace, too.”
He huffed, got out of his seat, and grabbed the wand. He ran it all over the car and the trunk, and then over the two of us. Everything was clean. “Satisfied now?”
“Yes, I am.” I got into the car, and as he pulled away, I turned toward him. “So it’s okay for you to date a client, but no one else. Just like Chris told me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There were two guys in the kitchen.”
He nodded. “Yep. Rufus and Hayes.”
“Which one had blond hair?”
“That would be Hayes,” Jim said.
“He wants me when this is done. And Rufus wants to get back at you for being demoted. They’ve put cameras in my apartment, especially my bedroom, to catch you in the act. You’re supposed to be dating me, but they want to know what’s going on behind closed doors.”
He glanced toward me. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Would I kid about something like that?” Why did people have to ask that stupid question, anyway?
“If you hated me you would,” he said. “It would certainly keep me away from you and you could keep your track record of not sleeping with anyone.”
“Are we having an ego crisis? And when I say ‘we,’ I mean you.”
“Not me. But you think I lie to you, so you tell me.”
I dismissed it with a wave. “Psycho mumbo jumbo. I hate that stuff, but really want to talk to you about this. I want us to be completely honest, but don’t want anyone else listening. I need to know how I can trust you—”
An SUV whipped around us. It slammed on its brakes just as it got in front of our car. Jim maneuvered us to a quick stop, his car fishtailing and almost sending me through the windshield. Three men jumped out of the SUV with big guns in their hands.
“Out of the car,” one yelled. I didn’t recognize them, but they looked Hispanic, I thought.
“Do as he says,” Jim said. “Rufus and Hayes should be here soon. Just know this. If anything happens, I respect you more than you know.” He put the car keys into his pocket.
“Respect? That’s it?” Unbelievable.
But he didn’t have time to respond. Two of the men opened our doors and yanked us out of the car.
One of them held onto the upper part of my right arm. “Put your hands on your head,” he said.
I did as requested, knowing I could take this guy down if he and I were the only ones in the area.
They pushed us toward their car, and I decided it was time to make this personal. “Who are you?”
“My name is Daniel Ortega.”
“Wait a minute. Wasn’t he a bad guy in Nicaragua?”
He pushed the gun into my head. “My mother loved him and he supported our cause. So she named me after him.”
Yeah. He was a bank robber, and as a guerilla commander, aligned himself with Cuba and the communists. What a good guy—not. She must’ve been crazy. “Where are you from?” I asked.
“Panama,” he said.
Now things were getting interesting. If I’d remembered correctly, a Chinese shipping company held rights to the shipping ports in the Panama Canal. The details didn’t matter, because the connection was all coming together in my mind. Anything with China in the mix was definitely on the radar.
“What do you want from me?” I asked.
He opened the door to the SUV and pointed for me to get inside. “I want information. I want to know what the Chinese are planning and if it’s going to affect us.”
“In Panama? I’ve heard very little. I bet you even know more than I do. So you’re kidnapping us for information about the Chinese?”
Without an answer, he shoved me into the SUV while Jim watched.
Jim stood right outside the SUV’s door. “Before I get in there, I have a few questions.”
“We don’t have a lot of time,” Daniel said.
“Why are you worried about the Chinese, and what information do you have? We really know nothing.”
“My boss just wants to talk to you, and then you’ll be let free. I’ll bring you back to your car and you can continue on your way.”
“Why don’t you just let us follow you and it’ll save you the trip?” Jim asked.
Good thinking. We could easily run away in the sports car.
“Tell you what,” Daniel said. “We’ll drive your car to where we’re going.”
“I’m the only one who can drive it,” Jim said. “It’s my rule.”
Daniel laughed while raising his gun. “And you’re going to argue with me, even though I’m the one with the gun?”
“Guess not,” Jim said, his hands still on his head. “My keys are in my right front pants pocket. Can I get them?”
“No.” Daniel obviously didn’t know what the word ‘right’ meant, because he reached into both of Jim’s front pockets. I just hoped and prayed he wouldn’t see his DHS badge. Jim really needed to go more undercover. If these guys figured out who he was, it could blow the entire mission.
Chapter 26
Daniel got the keys and threw them to one of the other men, then spoke in Spanish. “Follow us and we’ll get out of here.”
The other man nodded, and Daniel pushed Jim into the SUV. The driver pulled out into the sparse traffic and I glanced toward Jim.
“Where’s Hayes?” I whispered.
Daniel was in the front passenger’s seat, watching us. “Are you talking about a man driving a black nondescript governmental car?” he asked in English.
“Yes,” Jim said.
“We took care of them way back
. They won’t be following you anymore.”
Daniel and the driver laughed, but Jim didn’t look happy.
“What did you do to them?” Jim asked.
“We didn’t hurt them…much. They kind of had a car accident and should be coming around about…” He looked at his watch. “Now. They hit a tree.”
“They hit a tree? They probably need medical assistance.” Jim turned around and looked out the back window.
“They’ll be fine,” Daniel said. “We don’t usually kill people…unless they give us a hard time.” He looked over at me, then reached back and touched my leg. “You and I could have fun if you want.”
I slapped his hand away. “No, we can’t.”
“Why not?”
Jim leaned forward. “Bad time for her. Trust me. Unless you want to get castrated, you’ll leave her alone.”
I stared at him in disgust. “So you want castrated too, huh?”
“Not really.”
“Lover’s quarrel?” Daniel asked. “You two married or something?”
“No and that’ll never happen.” I crossed my arms and stared out the side window.
“I think the girl protests too much,” Daniel whispered to the driver in Spanish.
“We know Spanish,” I said in a loud voice. “You can’t hide your stupid comments from us.”
“Stupid comments?” Daniel looked over at Jim. “Good luck with that one. I feel your pain.”
“Tell me about it,” Jim muttered.
We drove for a while to a huge mansion near Albany, about an hour from where we’d been staying in Vermont. After heading up a winding driveway on big hill, the driver stopped in front of the house and got out. Daniel did the same, and the two men pulled us out of each side.
“Keep your hands up where I can see them,” Daniel said.
I raised my hands. “At least I’ll know where yours are,” I muttered to Jim.
Jim chuckled, until the driver shot him a dirty look. He stopped laughing and raised his hands, as well.
I looked behind us, and saw Jim’s little car pull up and stop behind the SUV. The driver of the sports car got out and walked up to Jim, handing him his keys. “Nice car.”
Jim lowered his hand to and got the keys but the guy with the gun punched Jim in the back with the gun. “Hands up, I said.”
While still holding the keys, Jim raised his hands again. Mine had remained in the air, numb from the blood running downward.
The sports car driver continued. “Want to sell your car? I’d buy it.” He ran his hand over the hood. “This thing is a great ride.”
This was just weird. The kidnapper wanted to buy Jim’s car and didn’t just steal it? I guess everyone had some set of morals.
“No,” Jim said. “We really have to get back to the city. People are going to be looking for us.”
“Who?” Daniel asked.
Jim pointed at me. “Everyone she works with. She’s an interpreter at the U.N.”
“We know that,” Daniel said to Jim. “Can’t she just call in sick?”
“No. Her officemate was just killed, and she’s it for her section. If she goes missing, it’ll stop all action at the U.N. because the Russians won’t have an interpreter.”
“They have backup for that.”
At least Jim had tried.
Daniel pushed us toward the door. “This won’t take long.” He glanced at me. “Want to use the restroom first?”
At least I’d get to lower my hands. But then I thought about his comment. What was it with him? That comment made no sense to me. Considering we were planning on a more than three-hour trip back to the city, I was sure we’d stop later. “Uh, no.” Like I’d be nicer if I used the restroom.
Jim smiled at me. I should’ve had Daniel shoot him on the spot. Life would’ve been so much easier.
“Do you have a cigarette, though?” I asked Daniel. “I’m dying for a smoke.”
He raked his eyes over me. “You smoke?”
“She quit three days ago,” Jim said. “Don’t give her any. It’s all in her head.”
“You’re going through withdrawal.” He pushed open the front door. “You know, those patches work wonders.”
I tightened my jaw and seethed. “I have one and I still want a cigarette.”
“You have to give it a chance.” He led us through a giant foyer and into a big living room, painted in white, with tan furniture. It was so light and airy, I felt like I was at the beach.
Seated on the couch was the new Ambassador to Panama, Pablo Arturo.
The man raked his eyes over me, his black slicked-back hair matching his slimy smile. “Well, Miss Black. We finally meet.”
With my hands still in the air, I glanced at the three guards with guns pointed toward us. “We could’ve met back at work. It would be quicker—and safer.”
He laughed. “Who’s your friend?” He nodded toward Jim as he spoke in Spanish, and then returned his gaze to me.
“My name’s Jim Manford. I’m an interpreter for the Arabic team.” He spoke in Spanish, and Pablo’s face widened into a smile.
“Good,” Pablo said in Spanish. “We can talk freely then.” He motioned to us. “Have a seat.”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked.
“Bad time for her,” Daniel muttered to Pablo. “She’s going through nicotine withdrawal and it’s ‘that time.’” He rolled his eyes and I just sighed.
I was sure Jim would’ve offered that information if Daniel hadn’t. These men were worse than women for gossip.
“Do you need to use the restroom?” Pablo asked me. I was tempted to grab Daniel’s gun and shoot Pablo, but I didn’t think the Panamanian government would’ve approved very much.
I pasted a smile to my face instead. “No, but do you have a cigarette?”
He grinned. “No, and you don’t need any. Have you tried the patch?”
I made my hands that were still in the air into fists, lowered my eyebrows, and clenched my teeth. “I have the patch and it doesn’t seem to work for me.”
“Yes, it does,” Jim said. “You’ve been much nicer since you stopped smoking. Almost cordial, actually.”
“I see,” Pablo said to me. “Have a seat then. You can lower your arms.”
“Good.” I put my hands down and shook them out. “Mine are numb.”
Jim lowered his hands as well and we both sat down near Pablo.
“Now, what’s this all about?” Jim asked. “I highly doubted you wanted us here to find out about Harley’s mental state. Otherwise, we might be here all day.”
I spun my head toward him. “Mental state? Do you want to die?”
Jim sucked in a deep breath and winced. “Sorry.”
“No, we’re not here to discuss Harley’s mental state,” Pablo said. “I want to know why two interpreters decided to take a trip to Vermont together.”
Jim took a breath. “We’re dating, sort of. At least we were before this trip.” Jim shot me a dirty look. “Now, I’m not so sure.”
“You’re right about that one,” I mumbled.
“What happened?” Pablo asked, leaning forward. “One of my degrees is in counseling. I could help if you want.”
I nodded toward Jim. “He’s a manipulator.” I crossed my arms. “He uses me every chance he gets and I’m not falling for it any more. I’ve been hurt too much and I’m tired of being lied to.”
Jim pointed toward himself in complete innocence. “You’ve been hurt? By me?” I couldn’t believe he’d lie like that.
“Yes, I by you.” I tried to cry, because Jim was right. It was effective. But I couldn’t do it. “I thought you cared about me, but found out you’re just using me for your job.”
“Interesting.” Pablo stared at Jim. “Why are you doing that to her? She can get any man she wants, and has turned down more men than you can imagine. Don’t you know how good you have it?”
Jim shook his head. “Can we just get to the topic at hand so we can make it b
ack to the city before work tomorrow?”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. He never cared about how I felt, but only his precious job.
Pablo shook his head, glancing toward me. “I don’t think your girlfriend wants to stop this conversation. I think you need to have an open line of communication with her and tell her how you really feel without lying to her.” Pablo leaned closer to Jim. “Are you cheating on her?” he whispered.
“No,” Jim said. “Not at all.” He looked over toward me. “Do you see that body? She’s like a model. Who would ever cheat on someone who looks like that?”
Pablo nodded. “I see what’s going on here. You’re not in love with her, but in lust only.” Pablo looked over toward me. “Dump him and move on, Harley. I can fix you up if you want.”
Jim sat up. “But—”
“No, I’m done with men,” I said. “They’re all the same. Now what did you want? I have to get back home.”
“Oh. Right,” Pablo said.
How weird was this, anyway? A kidnapper was counseling us? Even I had a problem wrapping my head around this situation.
Pablo took a deep breath and looked at his guards. “You can leave us now. I don’t think they’ll run away.”
He was right. That’s when it hit me. He’d made it personal and got to know us. I knew that would work for my problems with people holding me hostage, too.
Once they left, Pablo stared at me. “We know you’ve been approached to interpret the different languages between China and Russia. I want to know if these guys are planning to invade the United States, because once they do that, they’ll move south and take on all countries, one by one. Since we have a big Chinese community in Panama, it wouldn’t take much at all. Without the United States’ backing, we’re all sitting ducks.”
“Invading the U.S.?” I asked. “I’ve heard nothing like that. Where do you get your information?”
He glanced around the room. “My guards know their guards and had a poker game over at Boris’ house. There was something lying on the desk. It was in English, written from Boris to Mr. Wing. Daniel read it and told me what it said.”
Jim turned toward me in thought. “It would all make sense.”
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