“Si, he is very well cared for. My daughter works at
the other house and personally tends to him. He is a sad
child, but who can blame him? He was terrified when he
was first brought here. Now he is withdrawn. It’s like he
knows what his fate is to be.”
“No!” She slammed her fist against a nearby vanity.
“That’s not the fate in store for him. I will not let Guerra
lay a finger on him. I will need you to leave some clothes
behind that wall. I have to change into a woman for our
escape. They will be looking for “Carlito” when the time
comes not a woman.”
“I will do it. Anything else, mija?”
“I’m expecting my team to meet me at a safe place,
but maybe a first aid kit, some bottled water, some kind of
snack for Colby. Don’t want to be weighed down, but a
girl’s got to be prepared, too.”
“You are the brave one. I wish I had used my gift to
do special work like you do. So many years wasted under
the thumb of this tyrant. Maybe I could have saved the
people a long time ago.”
Gabrie sympathized with Ana. “As a child I was
teased and harassed because of what I am. It’s the reason
my parents and I left Madagascar and went to America. A
new start with better opportunities to learn and grow.
You’re about to have a new start yourself. Be and do
whatever you want. No one can stop you.”
Ana laughed. “I just might do that. Mija, I have a
handsome son who is single. Maybe you’ll take a liking to
him and I can have some chameleon grandchildren!”
Gabrie laughed, too. “You don’t even know if I’m
pretty or not. Despite what I look like right now, I am
happily married to the most handsome chameleon you’ll
ever meet.”
“Okay, I won’t press,” she smiled. “I’m sure he’s a
good man who is very proud of you. Now come; let’s get
you ready for Maximo Guerra.”
Despite the importance and danger of their early
morning mission, De Negros, Guerra and their respective
goons were up all night drinking and laughing. Carlito had
excused himself after explaining to his cohorts that he
needed to stay sharp. They shrugged their shoulders and
continued to party.
Once she was alone in the suite, Gabrie pulled out a
cell phone and pressed a single digit. After one ring, her
boss answered. “This is Commander One, go ahead,
Tactica.”
“Sir, two members of the household staff have
agreed to bring Colby James to this location. We have
planned an escape route and all I need the team to do is
meet me at the edge of the Guerra property; the west side.
The terroristic plot they were developing has been picked
up on your end, correct?”
“Yes, agent. We recorded everything. De Negros is
totally oblivious to what is going on. He hasn’t detected the
bug you planted on him. Great job. We’re headed to the
rendezvous point now. Should be smooth sailing from
here.”
“Nothing is ever smooth. These brutes are so rough
around the edges.” Gabrie, a.ka. Tactica, explained to her
leader as she rechecked her gear. “They have no finesse
and are totally unpredictable.”
“You’re right about that. Keep your eyes peeled and
your ears open. See you on the west side.” Commander
One disconnected.
Ana’s beautiful daughter, Luz, accompanied young
Colby. Upon their arrival, Ana took her daughter aside and
explained to her who and what Gabrie was. Luzita was
scared they would get caught or would be blamed once the
boy’s disappearance was discovered, but with her mother’s
assurance she agreed to assist them. She was no fan of
Guerra and had come to care for the boy. She was happy
he’d soon be reunited with his family.
Ana gave Gabrie an old pair of jeans and a tee shirt
Luzita had left at the house. They were a bit tight, but were
good enough. Ana had also packed a small knapsack with
the items she’d requested.
“Senor…um, I mean senora. I want to thank you for
what you’re doing,” Luz said as she tentatively touched
Gabrie’s hand.
Gabrie firmly pumped the young woman’s hand.
“No, thank you. I could not do this without your help.”
“You are a hero. You would have found a way,” she
countered with a smile.
The house was finally quiet so Luz went off to get
Colby. Ana stayed with Gabrie asking: “Chica, may I see
you transform?”
She was touched by the old woman’s awe despite
the fact she had the same capability. Gabrie closed her eyes
and breathed deeply. Slowly “Carlito’s” countenance
shifted to be softer, more porcelain-like. Chestnut hair
turned midnight black. His body grew more curvaceous and
supple. The borrowed clothes fit better. When she was
done, she opened her eyes and smiled at Ana.
“You are truly beautiful,” Ana gushed.
“Thank you, but we need to stay focused, mi
amiga.”
“Of course, I…” She was interrupted by Luz and
young Colby.
“Please, hurry!” Luz said as she glanced behind her.
“The men are still sleeping, but not everyone in this
household is trustworthy. If they suspect something isn’t
right, they will sound an alarm.”
“She is right. Let’s go.” Ana shuffled everyone out
the room and into the bath area. She pressed the button and
the tunnel door opened soundlessly.
Colby James looked confused, but seemed to
instinctively trust the women. He started to speak, but Luz
placed her finger to her lips. He understood and remained
silent.
“Ana, take this.” Gabrie placed a small piece of
paper into her hand with her cell phone number on it. “Text
me to let me know what’s going on after we’ve left.”
“I will, mija. God be with you.”
“He always is,” Gabrie said as she briefly hugged
the old woman.
Luz awkwardly embraced the boy. “Be well and
forget about this place.”
He hugged her back and then turned to Gabrie.
“Can we go now?”
They rushed into the tunnel and once Gabrie lit a
small flashlight, they began to move quickly.
“Do you work with my dad?”
“No, but I am with the U.S. government, Colby. Did
Maximo Guerra or his men hurt you?”
“No, but they were scary anyway. I just wanted to
go home, but it didn’t seem like that was ever going to
happen. Luz was nice to me. So were a lot of the house
staff, but I still wanted to go home.” He tried not to sniffle.
Gabrie stroked his blond head. “You’ve got your
wish. Now let’s high tail it out of here.”
The tunnel seemed to stretch on forever, but finally
they came to a panel at the end. Gabrie pressed the code
Ana had given her and the door opened wide. They
tromped quickly through the trees and brush. Gabrie
phoned her commander. “We’ve cleared the estate and the
property behind it. We are a couple minutes away from the
rendezvous point.”
“Roger that. We’re ready for the boy.”
A short time later, Gabrie and Colby came to a wide
open space. They turned to the right and saw the EAB’s
helicopter waiting to depart. She nudged the boy ahead of
her as they braced themselves against the wind created by
the propellers. She was about to climb in behind him when
she felt her phone vibrate. It was a message from Ana. Her
heart rate quickened as she read the text.
“Commander One, there’s trouble back at the
house. The woman who helped me and her daughter are
being harassed by Guerra’s men. They’ve discovered Colby
is missing and don’t believe they know nothing about it.
The men are on their way to get Guerra to try and make
them talk. I have to go back.”
“We will take the child to safety and then double
back to get you.”
Gabrie nodded and took off running. This time she
used her strength and reptilian agility to the max. Without
Colby to slow her down, she was able to get back to the
mansion quickly. She entered the house through a side
door, hearing raised voices to the left. She slid across the
wall without making a sound.
Maximo Guerra had Luz by her hair and was about
the strike her when Gabrie pounced.
The dictator was knocked off balance. Luz broke
away from his grip and ran to her mother’s side. Cursing as
he fell, Guerra ordered his men to attack.
Gabrie stunned the first man with a roundhouse
kick. The others overcame their shock quickly and sprang
into action. One rather stout thug tried to attack her low,
but she jumped high in the air and dodged contact. Another
man came at her with a club. She ducked and grabbed his
weapon in one smooth motion. With one blow, the man fell
unconscious at her feet. The others hesitated.
“What are you waiting for? She’s just a woman!”
Guerra’s barking urged the men on. Two tried to
double-team her, but paid dearly for it with multiple slaps
and punches to their faces. They moaned as they fell to
their knees.
“Enough of this nonsense.” Guerra shot his gun into
the air. “I don’t know who you are, but you are a dead
puta.”
Unfazed, Gabrie charged at Guerra before he could
lower his piece. He struggled against her, but she beat the
tyrant down until he was a bloody mess. The others were
still woozy so Gabrie took the opportunity to rush the
women out of harm’s way.
They fled through the living room and out the front
door. EAB agents moved in as soon as the trio cleared the
front patio.
“Are you ladies, okay?” Gabrie asked as she
checked them for injuries.
just have a tourist day? Maybe go down to The Village or
up to Spanish Harlem. I’m feeling a little nostalgic. I miss
the days we used to bounce all over Manhattan when we
weren’t busy studying at Columbia.”
“I miss them, too. Not too many students hailed
from Madagascar and none were chameleons. That
naturally attracted us to one another, but it didn’t take me
long to fall hard for you.”
Gabrie laughed. “It may not have taken you long,
but you fought it tooth and nail!”
Rakota smiled. “My parents scraped and saved to
get me to go to school in the U.S. I couldn’t let myself be
distracted right off the bat by a gorgeous woman. I would
have followed you to another galaxy if that’s where you
wanted to spend the day. But it worked out well. Your love
of justice and my love of science kept us well grounded in
our studies. Oh, but the time we made for love…”
“Beautiful love, cherie. It’s only gotten better with
time.” Gabrie kissed Rakota deeply. She sighed as he
stroked her bare back. “I despise the people we take down.
They work to destroy the beauty of life. Just sitting here
listening to jazz while you cradle me is heaven. I hate that
they pervert the simple things in life.”
“So do I. But we’re not going to let them invade our
space right now. Let’s shower while we plan our day.”
Gabrie hopped off his lap and grabbed his hand.
“There won’t be much talking once we get to the shower,
but I did want to remind you that Luz will be at the EAB
today. She has more information about Maximo Guerra, but
she also asked could she talk to you about her mother’s
chameleon abilities.”
“I’d be happy to talk to her. She has helped the
EAB tremendously. I’m sure she is curious as to why she
does not have the same trait. I have all kinds of theories and
some conclusions, but I’m okay with giving her a brief run
down.”
Robin Thicke’s “Lost Without You” piped through
their state of the art stereo system. “Ahhh; one of my
favorites. Come, my darling. I need you. Right now!”
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