Page 70 of No Time Off

“Sorry, but you’re so pale. Do you even know what sunlight looks like?” Her accent lilted with amusement.

I shrugged and then gasped as Sefina’s makeup brush came perilously close to my eye. “Hold still,” she warned, and I complied as she resumed her strokes.

“I work with computers, which means I spend my days under fluorescent lights,” I explained, trying not to move my mouth too much. “I get a tan from my computer monitor.”

Sefina lifted the brush from my face and burst into laughter. “A monitor tan? Oh, that’s a new one, love. Well, today we’re turning you into a food warehouse worker, not a techie.”

She told me to close my eyes and then dusted my eyelids with a bit more bronzer. “Done with the face,” she said, snapping the compact closed. “Now it’s time for the hair.”

Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a hairnet. She quickly pinned up my hair into a neat bun, tucking it under the net and then put my hat back on.

“Stand up and let me look at you.”

I stood and adjusted the oversized men’s jacket. “Are you sure this is going to work? It feels like I’m wearing a sail, and I’m already so hot, I’m afraid the makeup will melt.”

“Be confident in yourself,” she said. “We’ll make it work.”

She gazed up at me, her brow wrinkling. Next to her I felt like a giant. “How tall are you?” she asked. “You look like you might be near two meters.”

“I’m 1.8034 meters, to be exact,” I replied. “Not quite six feet.”

“Well, I can’t fix your height, but most of the time the Chinese don’t notice us anyway. I have a spare pair of glasses that might help.”

“Thank you, Sefina,” I said, putting a hand on her arm. “I really appreciate your help.”

She nodded. “You’re welcome. I’m no friend of the Chinese. They treat us like we are nothing, but we’re not as stupid as they think we are.”

We headed back to the truck to help finish loading. As they were done, Manny scrutinized me. “Sefina did a good job with the makeup. I hardly recognize you. Can you see out of those glasses?”

“Sort of. But if I have to wear them for a long time, I might get a headache.”

Once the last crate was secured, Sefina and Amiri climbed into the front, and Manny and I got into the back. They had a space for us to slide in behind some crates. A worker then strategically placed a large sack so that we were obscured from all but a thorough search. We would stay out of sight until we passed the compound’s gate.

Manny reached into his pocket and passed me a Taser. “Hopefully, we won’t be in there long. Be careful with this. This is a Chinese model they provide our police. It smaller than the typical Tasers sold in the States, but it really packs a kick. It activates with a single button and the tasing lasts as long as you hold the button, up to five minutes.”

I examined the settings and made sure I understood how to use it properly.

“Lexi, if you intend to use it, there should be no hesitation,” he warned me. “Use the highest setting.”

“No hesitation and highest setting,” I agreed.

“And no taking a stance like a television cop.” He snickered.

“Ha-ha.” I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”

Chuckling, Manny rustled around in his pocket. “One last thing. Hold out your hand.”

Puzzled, I held out my hand. He dropped two large green peapods into my palm. I looked at him, confused. “What’s this for?”

“Slash must retrieve the recording device from the office and possibly his phone. You’d better give this to the parrot while he does that. It should shut him up long enough for you two to get in and out.”

I nodded. “Good thinking, Manny. You’re brilliant.”

“Bloody right. I have my moments,” he said with a smile and clapped me on the shoulder.

My heart raced as the engine rumbled to life and the truck pulled out. I took a deep breath and reminded myself Slash was counting on me.

Game time.

---