Uneven Exchange (7 page)

“What a way to dress for my first day on the job.”

“See. You’re going to like it more than you thought.”

CHAPTER SIX

MIRROR IMAGE

Daniela

Daniela leaned over the set of blueprints spread open on the dining room table. A handmade clay water jug prevented the curled paper from rolling closed while the part of the oversized drawings that was too big for the table spilled across one of the chairs.

She half stood, half sat, with her right leg tucked on the seat and her left foot firmly planted on the floor. Daniela held her thick hair back in a futile attempt at keeping it out of her eyes, yet the shorter layers kept managing to escape. One by one, whispers of ebony fell and gradually blocked her view until Daniela finally decided to raise her head and readjust her hold.

As an added distraction, the doorbell rang. Not expecting anyone, she looked up perplexed. “Now what?” At the second chime, she reluctantly placed both feet on the floor and headed to the door. Right before turning the knob, she shook her head vigorously in an attempt at reviving her already tousled mane.

“Haven’t I always told you to ask who it is before opening the door?” The man standing in the doorway looked as cold and austere as his voice sounded. Even though he had near-perfect features, Daniela had noticed that his smile was reserved for her alone. When she watched him around others, he seemed to have an inner darkness that repelled all attraction.

She screamed with delight and wrapped both arms around the man’s neck. “Mago,” Daniela exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Santiago slowly removed her arms from his neck, obviously not comfortable with Daniela’s animated display of emotion. For one lingering moment, Miguel held on to her hands. Then, just as rapidly, he let them go.

Santiago’s reaction failed to bother Daniela. Instead, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into her condo. As she directed him to the diagrams covering the table, she was elated to finally share her project.

***

Alexandra

For the past two weeks Alexandra had worked exceptionally hard, familiarizing herself with every file the Administration had on Miguel and Daniela Santiago. Much to her delight, she had practically memorized their contents. But her mood now reflected more than mere exhaustion. Alexandra pushed the pause button on the DVR remote when she heard someone enter the room. Kevin flicked on the light and sat next to her on the sofa.

“So, kid. What do you think?” he asked.

“You didn’t tell me she spoke only Spanish,” Alexandra said, agitated.

“She doesn’t,” Kevin replied in a matter-of-fact tone. “This is only one video, and she happens to be speaking Spanish in it. It’s no big deal.”

“No big deal? Maybe not to you, but I’m the one it affects.”

“Lighten up, Alexandra.” Kevin’s voice was soft and comforting.

Alexandra’s tone slightly softened. “Well, you should have told me.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it.”

“But how could you not? It’s important.”

“Yes, but we are just getting started too.” Kevin continued in the same tone. “Again, I’m sorry. Maybe I didn’t make it a top priority because I knew you’re bilingual.”

“How did you know that?” she accused.

“Oh, come on, Alex. How do you think? With all the other stuff we have, do you really think it’s that hard to find out what languages you speak? Anyway, this is only your first recording. You’ll see. She goes back and forth, from one language to the next, just like you do with your mom.”

Alexandra turned to look at him suspiciously. “Like I do with my mom?” Her anger started to burn as she slowly asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve tapped my phones too?”

“Yes, we have.” Then dropping his voice, he continued hesitantly, “Your home, office, and mobile phones have been monitored since day one.”

“But how?” she combated before quickly adding, “Oh, don’t bother! You wouldn’t tell me anyway, would you?” She stood and began pacing in front of the sofa. “At least answer me this. Why?”

“For both your safety and ours, that’s why.” His answer sounded final.

“I don’t get it.”

“You don’t have to get it. That’s the way it has to be.” He took Alexandra’s hand to pull her closer. “Come here,” he whispered. “Tell me. What is really the matter?”

Alexandra stopped pacing and stared blankly at Daniela’s frozen image on the screen. With remote in hand, she walked over and turned the set off at the source. When she spun to face him, Alexandra felt completely overwhelmed. “She looks just like me! My goodness, Kevin, she even
moves
like me.”

He immediately rushed to her side and placed his hands on her shoulders as if to steady her. While looking straight into her eyes, he said, “Honey, you saw her pictures. You knew what she looked like. Why does this come as such a shock?”

Alexandra’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “I guess I should have been more prepared, but it’s so hard watching her. I feel like I’m watching myself in a movie I didn’t make.” She paused and then asked, “Can you understand, even a little?”

“I’m trying to understand, Alexandra, but to be honest, it’s hard. Since it’s not me on the screen, or anyone who looks like me, it’s difficult for me to relate. I keep asking myself what you must be feeling. If some guy walked in here looking exactly like me, I’d probably blow a gasket.” Kevin’s voice softened. “What I’m trying to say is that I’m here for you, okay? It doesn’t matter whether I completely understand. What does matter is that I am here for you, and I always will be. Do
you
understand?”

Kevin’s words of encouragement filled Alexandra with a renewed strength. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before responding. “Yes, I understand, and I’m sorry I get so weird. You’ve got to realize this is all really new to me.”

“I do realize, Alexandra. Also, I’m sorry if I sometimes come across so harshly. Just remember,” he said, grinning, “I’m a guy. We’re not always good at responding the way we should.”

Her slight smile blossomed at his words. “Don’t try and con me,” she said, laughing. “I’ve seen your sensitive side more than once already.”

Kevin snapped his fingers. “Darn! I thought I was hiding it pretty well.”

“Don’t worry,” she said, patting his shoulder. “Your secret is safe with me.”

Alexandra walked back to the sofa, ready to resume watching the recordings. She sat down before looking up at Kevin. He stood at the door with his hand poised on the light switch.

“I’ll let you get back to work,” he said.

“You can stay and keep me company if you want.”

“That would be a lot better than the piles of paperwork on my desk. But thanks anyway. I better go.”

“Kevin?” Alexandra asked, stopping him. “Do I have any privacy?”

“It’s only the phones, Alex. Not the house.”

“You know, I still don’t completely comprehend your reasoning.”

“I know you don’t, but thanks for not pushing.”

“You’re welcome.” When she pushed the play button, he flipped the light switch.

When Alexandra didn’t hear his footsteps walking away, she whispered, “Kevin?”

“I’m still here,” he said from the dark.

“I’ll be okay. I know I can do this. I can really do this.”

“You know, kid.” Alexandra could hear the smile in his tone. “I never doubted you could.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

GET A LIFE

On the first Saturday in November, Alexandra met with her coach, Natalie Burke, and they spent the morning concentrating on Alexandra’s pitch. She pressed hard, ignoring all suggestions of taking a break until Natalie left for additional materials. Only then did Alexandra stop to catch her breath.

She leaned back in her chair, looked around at the drab walls, and wondered if all government facilities were this dismal. A window would be nice, she thought, missing the inviting warmth of the autumn sun. Alexandra also reflected on the photography class and how well the charade was working. After more than six weeks, they had experienced only one minor blip.

One night, when Jake was planning to work late, he told Alexandra he would drop her off at school. “That way,” he had suggested, “we can go out for coffee afterward and catch up.”

Alexandra was caught completely off guard and struggled to think of any plausible excuse to turn him down. When none came, she frantically called Kevin. Remaining calm as usual, he instructed Alexandra to have Jake drop her off at the front of the campus and then walk confidently toward the rear. Once out of Jake’s sight, she should hunt for classroom 710. Either he or Scott Riggins would be waiting there to take her to work.

In a panic, Alexandra had fired rebuttal questions at Kevin. “But what if Jake decides to pick me up early? What if he happens to talk to the instructor? The teacher doesn’t even know me, or my name for that matter!”

“Alex, Alex, Alex, trust me. First, I can’t believe Jake would interrupt your class. Second, if he did talk with the instructor for whatever reason, it wouldn’t be a problem. It’s handled. Okay?” Kevin’s tone had suggested he wanted to move on.

Alexandra hadn’t given up though. “Handled? How can it be handled? Does the instructor work for the DEA too?” she asked facetiously.

“Not anymore.”

“Oh good grief,” Alexandra exclaimed at yet another unexpected surprise. “I’ll see you later.” She hung up without waiting for a response.

In the end, everything worked out perfectly. Scott had been waiting for Alexandra right outside classroom 710. She wondered if he had gone in to talk with the photography teacher before she arrived, but Alexandra dared not ask. Scott seemed friendly enough but was always professional and distant.

However, on the way to the Administration, he did volunteer a “wee bit of information,” as Kevin would have said. It turned out that the mystery instructor was the one providing the pictures Alexandra took to the office as samples of her classwork.

Alexandra returned to the present when Natalie returned to the training room carrying a digital tablet and high-quality noise-cancelling headphones. She placed both on the table in front of Alexandra while wearing an animated grin.

“Guess what I’ve got?” Natalie asked.

“Is it the latest video?” Alexandra joked. “Are we going to watch a movie together?”

“That would be fun, but since there’s no popcorn, I guess we just have to keep working.”

Even from her sitting position, Alexandra barely had to look up to meet her friend’s gaze. Natalie stood a fraction under five feet and wore a petite size two. Her hazel eyes were perfectly rounded spheres, and a scattering of matching freckles lightly touched her cheeks. Both features made her look much younger than her actual age of forty-two.

Alexandra had taken a liking to Natalie the moment they met, and after spending so much of her time with her, Alexandra knew they would remain friends forever. The other DEA agents had given Natalie the nickname Sparky. At first, Alexandra thought it came from Natalie’s short-cropped hair, which was the reddish-brown color of a cinnamon stick. But after getting to know her, Alexandra perceived a fire in her much greater than that of hair color. Natalie was a little powerhouse, filled with talent and lots of ambition.

When it came to Natalie Burke, Alexandra also quickly learned to always expect the unexpected. Natalie sat down next to Alexandra and swiped the vivid, bright screen of the tablet. Instantly, it revealed a series of blue, black, and red lines, which resembled those of a cardiograph. Anxious to show Alexandra their new “toy,” as she put it, Natalie immediately began her explanation. “What we have here is a voice-print analysis. Do you remember when we recorded those sentences of Daniela’s?”

“You mean the ones I had to do over, and over, and over again? Are those the sentences?”

“I know. How could you possible forget?” Natalie asked, laughing. “Well, now you can see how well your diligence paid off. The blue line is a computer-generated print of your voice, and the black line is the print of Daniela’s voice.” Natalie pointed to each line as she continued, “Do you see how closely the blue lines follow the black lines, specifically in this section?”

Alexandra nodded. “Yes, I see. They are neck and neck.”

“Exactly, and that is perfect. We’re safe as long as the lines are within an inch apart. Although the computer recognizes and records the existence of two separate voice patterns, the difference is not audibly detectable to the human ear as long as it falls within this range.”

Leaning over, Alexandra studied the undulating lines. “What does it mean when the lines cross each other?”

“Simply that your tone was slightly higher or lower. You must remember, though, it doesn’t matter as long as they stay within an inch apart.”

“Okay then, tell me about the red lines? Somehow I get the feeling the red lines are not good news.”

“That, my dear Alexandra, depends on whether you think the glass is half-empty or half-full. You know me, and know I am a half-full kind of person.”

Alexandra reached over to squeeze Natalie’s elbow. “Yes, you are, and that’s what I love about you.”

Natalie smiled warmly. “You see,” she began, sounding like a schoolteacher, “the red lines are your friends. They will keep you safe later by showing us detectable differences in your voice now.”

Alexandra’s eyes widened as Natalie swiped through screen after screen of lines, following their progression. “But there are so many!” Alexandra groaned loudly.

Natalie nodded. “Yes, there are quite a few, but look here.” She glided her index finger over the screen. “Most of the red lines are higher, which means your pitch is slightly higher than Daniela’s. I’ve done some checking, and it seems most of the red lines occur only when you speak English. Translated, that means you have the Spanish down pat.” Natalie flashed her a wide grin. “See! The glass is more than half-full!”

“Yes, that is good news,” Alexandra said. “If I get nervous when I’m speaking English, I can change to Spanish. Daniela always switches from one language to the next, even in the middle of a sentence.”

“Good idea, but that’s still not enough. You will need some more practice. It has to become second nature to you.”

By comparing the graph numbers to those on the digital counter on the bottom right of the screen, Natalie and Alexandra first determined exactly which words were creating the problems. Then, with earphones in place, Alexandra closed her eyes and listened to Daniela’s voice. She tried to relax, allowing the sounds to become her own.

***

Natalie

Natalie left the room, giving Alexandra time to rehearse before they started the second round of voice-print taping. She also wanted to give Alexandra privacy, allowing her the freedom to completely connect to Daniela. Quietly, she closed the training room door and flipped the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign. While standing in the hallway, Natalie contemplated her next task, knowing she had at least a half hour of free time. After deciding to check in with her boss, she navigated the hall, turned the corner, and headed in the direction of Kevin’s office.

As she suspected, he was buried under a mound of paperwork. Through the window in Kevin’s door, Natalie could see him vigorously filling out some sort of form. She knocked softly.

Kevin looked up from his work and motioned for her to enter as he removed his reading glasses. “Hey, Sparky, come on in. Where’s Alex?”

“She’s in the training room, practicing. We just finished reviewing the voice analysis, and I have her working on a few areas.”

“So tell me. How do you think she’s doing?”

“Alexandra is doing well, really well.” She paused and then added, “Sometimes I think she’s doing almost too well.”

Kevin frowned as he asked, “How can she be doing too well? I don’t understand. Please explain what you mean?”

Natalie took a quiet moment to formulate her thoughts before speaking. “Now, don’t get me wrong, boss,” she said, her voice somber. “Alex is doing great, and the longer we work together, the more I’m convinced she will have no problem standing in for Daniela. Before, she already looked the part, and now she can walk and talk and even act like Daniela. But…” Natalie hesitated and then looked directly into his eyes. “Kevin, I’m desperately concerned about what we’re doing to Alexandra. I mean for the long haul. There are times she transforms herself into Daniela, and then she never seems to change back. When we part ways, I feel as if I am saying good-bye to Daniela and that Alexandra is still buried somewhere deep inside her.”

“I’m glad you’re concerned, Sparky, but I’m also sure Alexandra will be okay. Besides, maybe it’s not as bad as it seems. After all, she could be coming out of it on the drive home. You’ve worked undercover before, and you know how hard it is to shake the feeling and return to the real world.”

Natalie slumped into one of his chairs. “Yes, I know all too well.”

“Then trust me. She’ll be okay. Alexandra is one tough lady, and her faith in God is very strong. That will help her stay grounded and not lose herself in the part.”

“Oh, I know that too. In fact, I think she’s even tougher than both of us realize. I simply cannot stop worrying, though. Plus, it bothers me that Alexandra doesn’t seem to have any type of personal life right now.”

Kevin’s laugh echoed loudly through the room. “Ha! Just look at my desk! Do any of us really have a life?”

“I guess not.” Natalie chucked softly. “Maybe I’m really feeling sorry for myself. Here I am, another not-so-proud member of the DEA divorce club.”

“Sparky, you did all you could. Don’t blame yourself. It wasn’t your fault.”

She looked at the floor. “I keep wondering if everything would have worked if I’d been at home more often.”

“Maybe William should have been a tad more understanding,” Kevin reasoned. “We were there by your side when you were going through this, Sparky. He wasn’t cutting you the least amount of slack.”

A lump rose in Natalie’s throat as she blinked hard to control her misting eyes.

“I know you care a great deal about Alexandra,” Kevin continued. “So don’t get all emotional on me and lose your edge. Sparky, you have to remember that our job is to keep her safe, and the more believable she is, the safer she will be. You do know I’m right, don’t you?”

Natalie nodded.

“Then let me hear that strong, confident voice of yours.”

“Yes, you are right.”

“Good job,” he told her with a broad smile. “Now, talk to me about Jake. Do you think her feelings for him are getting in the way?”

“No, I think it’s just the opposite. That may be the reason Alex is also working so hard.”

“How is Jake taking it?” Kevin asked. “Are there any changes? Is he intruding in any way?”

“No. It’s almost textbook,” Natalie explained. “It sounds as if Jake is actually starting to pursue Alexandra quite a bit.”

“What makes you say that?”

Natalie’s shoulders raised and lowered in a shrug. “I don’t know. It’s just the feeling I get from Alexandra’s offhand comments. I’m guessing Jake suddenly feels left out. I think he’s having a hard time dealing with Alexandra not showing interest in him anymore. It must be hard for him to handle.”

“Interesting how that happens,” Kevin commented. “We don’t seem to realize what we have until we lose it.”

“Or, in Jake’s case, he didn’t realize what he could have had.” Natalie abruptly straightened in her chair. “You know, maybe that’s what is really bothering me!”

“What?”

“I know Alex talked with you about Jake—”

“A little,” Kevin said. “Just what was necessary for her background information.”

Natalie smiled. “Then you know, as women, we talked a little more.”

“I can imagine.”

“She had fallen pretty hard for Jake, and now, nothing.” Natalie fanned her hands widely. “Alexandra rarely ever mentions his name.”

“Maybe that’s because she’s busy and she’s focused. It doesn’t seem strange to me at all.”

“But it’s not like that. Alexandra is acting as if she never had feelings for him. Instead of responding to Jake as Alexandra, I think she’s allowing Daniela to take over. Perhaps Alexandra is using Daniela as a shield for protection.”

“If Alexandra can truly do that, then we’ve got it made!”