Page 1 of Twist Me

“We are sorry to interrupt your regularly scheduled program. We have an important announcement from the Fernando Police Department. An active search is underway for a female, reportedly of Hispanic heritage, who is four feet eleven inches tall with brown eyes and brownhair. Allegedly, this suspect is extremely dangerous and on the run. She was last seen at….”

I cringed at the picture Captain Davidson chose of me as it flashed across the TV screen. The image the anchorman was pointing at made me feel…ridiculous. I know…I know—this was the plan Davidson and the team had concocted for me to begin my undercover assignment. I was to be publicly arrested here at Sabato’s Coffee, but something felt off.

Maybe this situation wouldn’t feel wrong if some of my training had been completed in civilian areas with people not on the force. But no. Most of my exercises had been out of the public eye, hiding me at the office and then shuffling me home while decked out in a disguise that masked my prominent features. I had not even met my handler yet because this person was said to be some hotshot from New York.

Now, my attributes were on full display. God, it was like I was naked, and for Christ’s sake, Davidson could have bothered to use any other picture than from my social media accounts. But had he done that? Nope. The photo was from a party during my college days. I looked like a drunken teenager.

I mean, if the photo they’d chosen didn’t come across as ‘criminal’ or insane, and I was supposed to be a dangerous criminal with psychological issues, how was I supposed to pull this off? I’d been trained to act that way, but deep inside, I still didn’t know how to be…menacing. I wasn’t even sure if I made the right decision to accept this undercover mission in the first place.

Swallowing hard, I forced my eyes away from the television. Pulling apart my appearance wasn’t going to help.

As predicted during my preparation, my skin started to crawl when everyone’s eyes in the coffee shop rolled away from the TV and slowly toward me. I knew I would be getting strange looks after I purposely revealed my face and features, but I didn’tknow how embarrassing this would feel, regardless of being coached for this moment for months.

The knowing side eye of someone untrusting was hard to handle when it truly happened in front of my face. I understood the cruelty of other people’s gaze. Wanting to blend into the wall partition behind my place in line, I turned away from their stares.

Breathing deeply, I assured myself that this was the right time to reveal ‘the new me,’ the right choice to have accepted this assignment in the first place. I had to prove my worth in undercover work, or I would never be offered another position.

I just had to survive this one.

“Uh, what was it you asked for, Miss?

I looked up from my phone at the obviously nervous barista who couldn’t take her eyes off the screen on the register. She was hiding her body behind the counter, trying to keep her head down.

“Just a small café solo.” I smiled sweetly, forgetting my new position in society for the millionth time.

Why Davidson had chosen me for this futile operation still baffled me.Davidson said I was ‘the perfect ruse,’ but I was starting to think he just wanted me to be the one to get eaten alive.

I thought back to that day when Captain Davidson pulled me into his office, trying to recall how exactly I had managed to get myself into this mess.

“Good evening,Officer Lavita. Have a seat, please.”

Sitting, I swallowed hard. God, had I done something wrong? Oh no, I hope it wasn’t that favor I’d done for Joe…wait, no.There was no way copying that file for him would warrant a sit-down meeting like this. Besides, I wasn’t one to stray from the rules.

Gripping my knees to keep them from bouncing, I pulled in another deep breath. I glanced at him, but he still was making no eye contact. Goodness, waiting for the captain to speak felt like a Catholic funeral—it would never end. Squirming under his studying gaze, I did everything possible to remain silent.

After a few more minutes of ‘I couldn’t handle this anymore’ silence, I finally cleared my throat. “Good evening, Captain. What can I do for you?”

My picture was on the projector screen behind his desk: information about my papi, history, and education was on the white canvas. My entire mundane life was displayed before me. Even the names of my church and priest were listed.

“Officer Lavita, you have been one of our greatest assets in the department. You are always volunteering for the tasks no one wants, and I have never had anyone speak ill of your character,” he said, confusing me further.

“Uh, that is great to hear. Thank you, sir.”

Davidson clicked off the projector and pushed a red folder toward me. It was large and gave me an instant feeling of unease.

“You have been chosen, Ezello. The board and the chief agree that you are the perfect individual to complete this assignment.”

I blinked, unable to make a sentence.

Chosen for what assignment?

Reviewing the latest gossip I’d overheard, I tried to think back to what the whole department had been buzzing about the most over the last several weeks. Jerry had an affair with a temp. Martha had shot herself in the hand because she still couldn’t pass her firearms test, and oh right, there had been something about a mental hospital and murders. Oh god, and now I’d been chosen for an undercover assignment?

“Officer Lavita, this dossier contains your assignment details, handler information, and a new identity.”

A new identity? I barely knew who I was without being undercover. I was the least aggressive or authoritative person out there. I mean, for crying out loud, I still slept with my stuffed animal, Motto, because he smelled like motor oil from my dad’s shop.

However, deep down, I knew I couldn’t decline this mission.

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