Page 38 of The Angel and the Agent

“Um, not quite,” he said. He let her go so he could see her face. “This country, the CAR, it’s not doing so well right now. In fact, it’s really, really, really dangerous, and you should know I’ve been a lot of dangerous places and therefore don’t say that lightly. Assume everyone we see here wants to kill, kidnap, or rob us, not necessarily in that order. I’m not sure which of us is a higher priority target—you because you’re blond and pretty or me because I’m an American agent.”

She smiled. “Hey, you admitted it.”

“After this, I don’t think we’re going to have any secrets between us,” Ethan said.

She rested her hands on his biceps. “Ethan, I will do whatever you need me to do, I can help however you want. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. We’re going to get out of this, I can feel it.”

“The optimistic good cheer is a step in the right direction. First we need to get gas, and then we need to find a place to stay. We also have to find a robe and scarf for you to try and tone down the pretty. You’re like a flashing neon sign that says, ‘Kidnap and sell me, please.’”

“That might have been more graphic information than I actually needed, but alrighty then. Let’s get gas, find lodging, and cover me up. Do you think maybe we could work food into that equation?”

“Did they feed you at all or give you any water?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“Aw, baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think. Here.” He rifled in his pack and handed her a power bar and bottle of water. “Don’t drink any tap water. Don’t even brush your teeth with it.” He was slightly worried about her health. He had been inoculated against everything, up to and including anthrax. She’d had none of the requisite shots one needed when venturing to Africa. She was susceptible to everything, adding another layer of danger to an already dangerous scenario. “Don’t touch any animals, and especially not dogs or cats.”

“Why?”

“Rabies.”

“Rabies is actually a thing here?” she asked.

“Everything is a thing here. Are you current on any vaccinations?”

She nodded. “The salon made me get boosters for nearly everything, Hep-A, Hep-B, MMR, a T-Dap and the flu shot.”

“Good, that’s good. Just do what I said, try not to touch anything, wash your hands as much as possible, and tell me if you get bitten by a mosquito.”

“Is there anything in Africa that doesn’t want to kill me?” she asked.

He picked her up and brought her level with his face. “Me.” He kissed her cheek and set her down again.

“A cheek kiss, really? You just saved my life like flipping Jason Bourne, we’re five thousand miles from home, may never get back again, and you kissed my cheek?” she said. “That’s not what the hero’s supposed to do. Have you never watched a movie or read a book?”

“I need to focus on my mission. After that, we’ll talk,” he said.

“Talk. Can’t wait. Maybe things will get crazy and we’ll end upconversing.” She faked a gasp and covered her mouth.

“After this, we’ll ‘talk,’” he said, using air quotes. “Better?”

“You’re on the right track,” she said.

Ethan had no idea how it was possible to be having fun in their current situation, but he was. He took her hand and headed toward the makeshift little town on the horizon, hoping it hadn’t been overrun by terrorists or Russians or gangsters, hoping to find one good person to help them out. Mostly he was hoping to find one person who spoke English and not French, the national language.

When they arrived, he saw no signs of Boko Haram or Isil, but he also found no one who spoke anything but French. He must have saidParlez vous Anglaisfifteen times before Amelia rolled her eyes and busted out an entire paragraph in flowing French.

Someone answered her in kind. She nodded a few times and spoke back to him. Ethan stood looking between them like the hapless moron he was.

“He has gas. He’ll sell it to us for a hundred dollars, American,” she said at last.

“What just happened here?” he asked, slack jawed and dumbfounded.

Amelia bit her finger, feigning innocence. “Did I not mention French was my minor? My family thought it was, in my brother’s words, the stupidest, most frivolous minor on the planet. Who’s laughing now, Darren?”

“I am,” Ethan said, chuckling. “Are you ever going to stop surprising me?”

“No,” she said.

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