Free Ice Woman Assignment by Austin Camacho Page B

No enemy could reach her as long as I predicted trouble. She could always strike before they were ready. Men died if I told her they would oppose her.”
    â€œNo wonder she rose up the ranks so quickly,” Morgan said.
    â€œAnd I am her possession,” Frederico continued. “She will not tolerate my leaving.”
    â€œIf he’s that important, she’ll be watching the airports,” Felicity said, starting to squirm under Frederico’s stare.
    â€œAnd the trains,” Morgan said. “And the border. Ports. Bus stations. Her network’s pretty extensive. Not just Hispanics. Everybody who needs the ice can be a pair of eyes for her.”
    â€œYou are not Mexican,” Frederico said.
    â€œNo, dear, I’m Irish,” Felicity said with a smile. “This is the real me, red hair and pale skin. The other was a disguise. Was that why you thought I was so powerful?”
    â€œNo.” Frederico spoke as if he was about to tread on sacred ground. “It was your eyes. When I saw you, after my trance, your eyes were different. Only one was green. The other was black.”
    Felicity’s smile broadened. “I get it. It was after Anaconda slapped me. You see, one of my…”
    â€œThey change color,” Morgan said, interrupting. “A sign of her power.” He glanced at Felicity, and she held her words. He knew about her contact lenses, but he feared Felicity might lose her hold on the boy if he recognized her as a mere mortal woman. For a woman to hold sway in his culture, she had to be something special.
    â€œSo where to now?” Felicity asked.
    â€œThe body of Christ,” Frederico said, without hesitation. “Where the ships take the drugs.”
    â€œChrist’s body?” Morgan asked, staring out the diner’s window.
    â€œSure,” Felicity said. “Corpus Christi. In Texas. We’ll link up with Chuck and let this lad lead us to the ice.” Her eyes locked on Morgan’s and her smile disappeared. “Something’s wrong, and it’s nearby.”
    â€œRight,” Morgan said. “Spanish guy outside looking at your car a little too closely. Wearing a windbreaker. Only one reason in this weather.”
    â€œYour play,” Felicity said.
    â€œWait two minutes, pay the check and walk out to the car slowly.”
    Morgan wiped his mouth, stood and went to the men’s room at the back of the diner. The smell would stop him from using the facilities but he didn’t plan to anyway. Standing on the tank behind the commode he had no trouble climbing out the single narrow window.
    Back at the table, Felicity stood up and dropped money on the table. Frederico rose with her, following like a faithful puppy. She moved toward the exit, looking through the glass door and the man on the other side of it. Outside, the Latin man had almost reached for the door. As Felicity approached it he stepped back, turning to avoid her view.
    Behind him, at the edge of the building, another man flicked a switchblade open. Felicity read his eyes, his body language and, through them, the situation. He was back-up. Taking the boy was their sole intent. They thought they would find him alone, but they did not anticipate any real trouble from his new friends.
    The knife carrier grinned at Felicity until an arm reached around the corner of the building and a strong hand gripped his jaw. His eyes bulged as his head was rammed into the brick wall. His partner turned at the sound of the impact. He stared up into Morgan’s grim face. He watched his partner sliding to the sidewalk, leaving a red smear on the bricks. Behind him, Felicity and Frederico stepped through the diner’s door. Her face showed an easy calm. Frederico’s reflected something close to panic.
    â€œGet in the car,” Morgan said. Felicity grabbed her charge’s hand, running into the parking lot. The Latin man reached under his jacket. Morgan