Page 60 of The Angel and the Agent

“I don’t understand his meaning,” Amelia said.

“He’s wanted,” Ethan said.

“For murder,” Jones added. “But it wasn’t my fault, yeah? This bloke took a spear and got it lodged in his…”

Amelia was already out of the car and down the street by the time he got to “bloke.”

“We spent eight hours being driven by a murderer,” she said when Ethan caught up to her.

“Africa’s kind of like the old west in the US. It’s a good place to get lost and be anonymous if you’re on the run from the law,” Ethan said.

Hand in hand, they walked to the embassy where they were greeted by two marines, one of whom Ethan knew.

“Thompson, I didn’t know you were here. When did you leave Nigeria?” Ethan asked.

“Last month,” Thompson said. “What are you doing this far south? I thought they kept you in the north.” His gaze turned curiously to Amelia.

“This is Amelia,” Ethan introduced.

“Amelia,” Thompson said, his tone warming with interest as he turned to face her.

“My wife,” Ethan added, and Thompson blinked in surprise.

“I didn’t think guys like you had those,” Thompson said.

“Guys like what?” Amelia asked, feigning innocence as she slid her arm around Ethan’s waist.

Thompson froze, realizing he may have bumbled into revealing classified information. “Guys who, you know, travel a lot and...”

“It’s all right. I know Ethan works at an indexing firm that has a strong interest in northern Africa’s wellbeing,” Amelia said.

“Right,” Thompson agreed, nodding in relief.

“Keep it together, Thompson. Don’t let the sun melt your brain,” Ethan advised. “Jarheads,” he added to Amelia, rolling his eyes.

“I’d make a comment about you navy girls, but you don’t even have that going for you anymore,” Thompson said, buzzing them through the gate.

“He does all right,” Amelia said. Ethan laughed, and the two men fist bumped good-naturedly.

“What’s our story?” Ethan prompted Amelia after they headed through the gates.

“We came here to get married and someone stole our luggage and my passport,” she dutifully recited.

“And why did we come to Cameroon to get married?” he asked.

“Because you didn’t want an ordinary wedding; you wanted an adventure,” she added. “You know that makes you sound insane.”

“Remember Jones? That’s the type they’re used to dealing with here. Believe me, they’ll think nothing of it,” he said.

“If they’re the good guys, and you’re the good guy who was doing a good thing to rescue me, why can’t we tell them the truth?” she asked.

“Because they don’t run on good intentions; they run on the law, and I broke a few dozen of them to get here and get you out. Never, ever forget we’re not in the United States anymore. I mean, for the minute we are because we’re at the embassy. But you see what I’m trying to say. We’re in a country with different laws. We have to function within the very strict parameters they’ve set up.”

They were shepherded through multiple channels of security until finally landing in the office that would help them with Amelia’s passport. “Amelia Eldridge, ah, yes, I received word from the State Department you would be arriving for a replacement passport.” The man, Mr. Bauer, paused and looked at her over the paperwork before him. “Usually I’m the one who has to contact them. I rarely remember them contacting me and sending the information first.” He stared at Amelia as if waiting for her to offer an explanation.

“I have family connections,” Amelia said, her heart pounding. “My uncle.”

“I used to work at the State Department. Who’s your uncle?” Mr. Bauer asked.

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