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?”
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