EPISODE ONE

The jeep jostled its driver and passengers back and

forth as it drove over the rugged terrain of the Bolivian

jungle. The men spoke excitedly about the business deal

they were rushing to. They paid no attention to the

unrelenting heat nor were they bothered by the vehicle’s

precarious moves. Cigar smoke formed billowy clouds

around them. The beautiful sound of rushing water and the

symphony of birds overhead mattered not in their ugly

world.

Just a hanger-on to their clique, Gabrie Jordane’s

mind wandered to the wonderful night she’d spent with

Rakota Toyin . As always, he was concerned about the

dangerous mission she was undertaking, but his senses

seemed to kick into high alert last evening…

~*~

“I know you’re skilled and highly trained, Gabrie,

perhaps even more so than I am, but it’s my nature and my

right to worry about you. And I don’t trust this Bolivian

“diplomat” the agency has assigned you to get chummy

with. They know his reputation,” Rakota said.

“And so do I. I’ve done extensive research on Juan

de Negros. He’s no different than any other money stealing,

drug dealing thug. As a matter of fact, I think his weakness

for physical pleasure will be his downfall. He’s easily

distracted by a pretty face.” Gabrie’s eyebrows knitted

closely together as she recalled his despicable exploits.

“Then he will totally lose his mind when he sees my

gorgeous Gabrie,” he smiled with his patented glint in his

eyes, pulling her onto his lap. She wrapped her legs around

his waist, feeling his sleek muscles contract.

“Well, I don’t know about all that, but I do know I

need the Toyin touch.” Gabrie caressed the contours of

Rakota’s chiseled face. She loved his smooth skin; nearly

as black as onyx. She loved the contrast between the two of

them. Her skin was so fair that it nearly glowed. There

were times when she used her chameleon abilities to take

on his complexion. Sometimes he would use his to morph

into hers. Whichever form they chose to take, their

attraction to each other was all consuming.

He stroked her raven colored tresses and nuzzled

her neck. “You are simply delectable.” He gently bit her

earlobe and grinned as she arched her body closer to his.

He slid his hands inside her lacy boy shorts and caressed

her voluptuous bottom. She sighed and wiggled in his

hands.

“I adore your playful manner, cherie, but tonight I

don’t think I have the patience to wait.” She kissed him

deeply, enjoying the taste of his mouth. Their kisses were

like the act of making love itself: tongues darting in and

out, plunging, taking each other’s breath away. Gabrie did

not release his tongue as she manipulated her way into his

boxer briefs. Her husband’s passion for her grew even

greater. She moaned as she hurriedly guided him to their

bedroom.

~*~

“Carlito!” Juan de Negros shouted.

Gabrie jumped, but immediately snapped back into

her professional mode. “Senor?”

“You seemed to be a million miles away. Pay

attention, por favor. The associate we are going to meet

with asked me to bring him a weapons specialist. You, my

dear boy, are that specialist. Now, whatever he wants; give

it to him. I can’t afford to blow this deal.”

“Of course, Senor Juan. It will be my pleasure to

accommodate your associate.” A hint of sarcasm escaped.

“Not like you have a choice, but I’m happy to see

you’re ready to play,” Juan de Negros told the young man

he knew as Carlito. The middle aged terrorist was tall and

very muscular. He obviously thought he was God’s gift

since he did not look his age. He’d been on the EAB’s

radar for a long time, but they didn’t have the intel to go

after him and Maximo Guerra. Until now.

Gabrie loathed his evil grin. It was moments like

these that made her glad she was a chameleon. As an agent

with the Extraordinary Abilities Bureau, she’d been

undercover countless times. But she was no ordinary

undercover operative. She was born with the ability to

change her ethnicity, gender and physical appearance. She

also possessed the same physical prowess as the magical

reptile. The chameleon changes its color to easily acclimate

into different environments. Some environments were

purely evil.

This however was her first experience

masquerading as a male. She didn’t tell Rakota because she

knew her husband would be even more concerned. He was

accustomed to her using her feminine wiles to take down

the bad guy. However, these bad guys had no respect for

women.

The jeep finally came to a clearing. Up ahead,

Gabrie spied an overly ornate mansion that was completely

out of place featuring towering statues, flowing fountains,

roaming animals…However, “Carlito” managed to look

unaffected by its opulence.

A manservant met them in the driveway. He bowed

and welcomed de Negros and his party. “Senor Guerra is

anxiously waiting for you in his theater room. Please follow

me.”

Juan de Negros made a big show of ordering his

men out of the jeep. “Do not embarrass me, Carlito.”

“Of course not, Senor. There is a reason why you

were told about me.”

“Do not forget your place!” he snapped. However,

after he turned his back, Juan de Negros grinned with

pleasure.

The estate was pleasantly cool inside. Gabrie

quickly took in her surroundings: glossy marble floor,

expensive art on the walls, and modern furnishings.

Maximo Guerra obviously had great wealth and wanted

everyone to know it.

Initially, Gabrie’s mission involved finding

evidence of de Negros’s double dealing. He was allegedly

an ally to the U.S., but the EAB had recently learned

otherwise. He was secretly in talks with other countries

who were strategizing against The U.S. Maximo Guerra

was an arms dealer who wanted a personal favor as well as

a hefty payment. Whatever merger they were forming, her

superiors wanted all the details. While digging up dirt on

Guerra, Gabrie discovered a note regarding a tip they’d

received about Guerra having kidnapped an American

diplomat’s young son. There was never any evidence and

the case was still unsolved. Gabrie intended to get to the

bottom of that business, too.

The rest of the men were ushered into a patio room

enclosed in glass while de Negros and Carlito were

escorted to a lower level of the house. Once they were at

the bottom of the stairs, they walked down a long hallway

with movie posters splashed on both walls. The clichéd

poster of Al Pacino’s Scarface hit right before the theater

room’s entrance.

“Ay! Juan, mi amigo. Come in, come in!” Maximo

said.

“Hey, it’s good to see you. How are you and the

family? How’s business?”

“Everyone and everything is beautiful. But please,

introduce me to this so called weapons phenom that you

have.”

Juan de Negros guided Gabrie by the elbow. “This

is Carlito Calderon.”

“I’m honored to meet such an important man as

you, Senor Guerra. I’ve had encounters with many men of

influence, but you are highly regarded here in our beloved

Bolivia,” Carlito said as he offered his hand to the lavish

dictator.

“The honor is mine. I hope,” Guerra said as he

licked his lips. “Come, take a seat. I’ve chosen a special

movie for you to enjoy while Juan and I discuss our

business.”

Gabrie took a seat in the front row. She was

expecting some adult movie to light up the screen. Instead

they were treated to thugs intimidating the locals like it was

a sport. Maximo Guerra in all his glory; fawning over his

latest conquest.

“Juan, as you know I need an exceptional

marksman to assassinate Vargas. He has been a thorn in my

side, but the people of Trinidad love him like he was the

second coming of Christ. He is interfering in my business

and I cannot have that. My men are some of the best

around, but have been taken to task for failing to kill this

perro.” Guerra tossed back his glass of tequila.

“You know I have reliable sources in Santa Cruz

and Carlito has worked with and for them many times.” De

Negros explained.

“Senor Guerra, we have an itinerary for Vargas and

he’ll be leaving Bolivia for Argentina tomorrow. We can

get a drop on him in the early hours of the morning while

he’s en route to the airport,” Carlito added confidently. “As

my colleagues have assured Senor Juan, I do not miss.”

Guerra slapped De Negros on the back. “You are

the best! Come let’s get this weapons business over with so

that we may move on to more entertaining things.”

“One minute, mi amigo. Now that we’ve got a plan

for the thorn in your side, I need to know what you intend

to do about the thorn in mine. The U.S. is so self-righteous,

I can’t wait to show them who Juan De Negros really is.

They think they have me in their back pocket. I’m spending

a lot of money to show them otherwise. My shipment will

be here soon after the Vargas matter is complete, no?”

“Si, Juan. I’m no fan of the Americans either. You

already know this. They still haven’t figured out I have one

of their precious gems.” He laughed heartily as he

smoothed out his dark brunette goatee.

Gabrie had activated a device in her ear that would

pick up their conversation and transmit it to the EAB. So

far, their discussion confirmed Juan de Negros was playing

both sides for his own personal gain. She would let the

team worry about that. Her full attention was drawn to

Guerra’s movie screen.

Maximo Guerra was splashing in an endless pool

beside a young boy. A blonde haired, blue-eyed boy- as

American as apple pie.

“You like this special feature.”

Not a question, but a statement. “I like this movie

very much. I agree with you and Senor Juan. The

Americans are getting what they deserve. Is the boy at this

estate?”

Maximo Guerra frowned briefly. Carlito wondered

if he’d overstepped his boundaries, but a moment later his

mind was at ease. “He is nearby at my other mansion. The

boy is locked away and well taken care of. He is an

investment for my future.”

“Would it be too forward of me to suggest that the

boy join us? We are about to make major moves against

Vargas and America. There may be a need to cash in that

investment, Maximo.”

“Now let me think about that, Juan.”

Gabrie had to think fast of a way to get the child out

of Guerra’s clutches without raising any alarms. “Where

can I go and recheck my tools of the trade, senor?”

“Juan, I have drinks and cigars in the salon. I will

meet you there after I bring Carlito to Ana.”

“As you would have it, mi amigo. Make sure you’re

ready for the mission, Carlito.”

Guerra waited for de Negros to leave the theater

before he continued. “This boy is very important property.

You know what kind of business I’m in. Let me advise you

that betrayal of my confidence comes with a high price. I

do not flaunt this boy for very confidential reasons. You

will keep what you see here to yourself. If not, it might be

the last thing you see. Period.”

“This element of danger excites me all the more.

But understand senor, I am a professional. Conflict and its

consequences are things I don’t have time for. Your

business is your business.” Carlito shrugged.

“Excellent. Ana is my head housekeeper; she will

make sure you’re squared away while I make the

arrangements with De Negros and send for the child.”

Once they were on the main level, Guerra shouted

for Ana, explaining: “She will help you with whatever you

need.”

Ana was an elderly Bolivian woman with a very

maternal air about her. Her smile was kind and warm.

Guerra explained to her what he wanted and then lovingly

patted her shoulder before he walked off.

“Come with me, please.”

Gabrie continued to take stock of her environment,

making mental notes as she followed Ana up the stairs.

Once they were at the top of the landing, the woman turned

to her and said “We have wonderful chameleons in our

rainforests. I’m sure the chameleons where you’re from are

just as wonderful.”

Momentarily speechless, Gabrie finally looked the

woman in the eye. “Senora, I’m not sure what you mean. I

am from Bolivia. And why are you talking about

chameleons?”

“Mija, I have lived many years and I have never

failed to recognize another chameleon when I see one.”

“Mija; my daughter. We need to talk. Privately,

Madagascar. My people are of French descent.”

“Oh, yes! There are 150 species of chameleons in

your country. I read everything I can find about us. I would

love to see them all one day,” Ana said. “I was born and

raised here. My special gift has always been a secret. Only

my family knows and the trait seems to have stopped with

me. Yet, I knew there were more of us in the world. I’ve

never failed to sense one in my presence here. Maybe

before you’re a vieja you’ll develop that skill, too.”

“Senora Ana, I’m going to need your help to get

this child back to his mother so we need to stay focused.

Believe me, I’d love to sit and talk about this very awesome

thing we share, but it will have to wait until everyone’s out

of danger. Verdad?”

“Yes, of course. Don’t mind a silly old woman.”

“You are not silly. You are brave,” Gabrie smiled at

her newest partner.

The small woman stood up straighter. “He will want

you to spend the night near his so called armory. The

bathroom in that suite has a sauna and a shower that would

fit a small army. But between the two is a false wall. If you

push it, it will open to a long corridor which leads to an

underground exit. He had an escape route built after his

father was shot and killed right in his own dining room.”

“Exactly what I need! Senora Ana, the boy’s name

is Colby James. Is he well kept really? Will he be able to

travel?”