“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 Now he is withdrawn.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!”