“I know it’s not a game, agent Haspel…but I don’t see any harm in little flirting,” Jenny shrugged her shoulders.

“True…but we’re not in the dark bar right now and I would appreciate it, agent Schecter, if we can keep things between us on professional level. We have a job to do and any unnecessary distraction is not welcome.”

Before Jenny could formulate any response, Tim noticed Alice exiting the building rather quickly and running towards her car.

“The subject’s on the move,” Tim announced quickly and turned the engine on.

Jenny glanced at her watch, “Hmm…she’s leaving much earlier than usual. It’s only 7 pm.”

“It’s Friday night and it seems like she’s not going home,” Tim replied, not taking his eyes off Alice’s blue mini that was speeding towards the freeway. “I’m assuming she has a date.”

“Oh, right…date on a Friday night,” Jenny gave an exaggerated sigh. “Since I got this job my social life became non-existent.”

Tim was tempted to say that Jenny’s social life was non-existent not only because of her job but because she was a first-rate bitch but thought better of it. After all, they had to work together and he wanted Jenny to be an ally and not an enemy.

They followed Alice to a fancy restaurant where she met with a gorgeous brunette and the two of them hugged before following the waitress to their table. Tim took their picture with his digital camera and then transferred it into their computer. “Do you know who this is?”

Jenny shook her head and uploaded the image into the facial recognition system.

“Do you have an ID on the subject yet?” Tim asked as he heard the humming of the computer searching through the files and images while he continued watching Alice and her date. They were drinking wine and laughing and it appeared that both were having a very good time.

“Yes, it’s coming through right now,” Jenny finally replied, staring at the computer screen where the information on Alice’s date appeared.

Tim took one look at the screen and whistled, “Well, well…what do you know. This is Dana Fairbanks, a public relations manager for Senator Kate Arden. Do you know what that means?”

“So…they are both in public relations…they probably comparing notes or gossiping about their bosses,” Jenny shrugged her shoulders, still fuming from Tim’s brush off.

“This means that you haven’t been diligent in your research or don’t keep up with the current events. Senator Kate Arden is a devoted republican and has been debating with Grisham for years on several critical issues. Don’t forget that the republicans might be the ones who want Senator Grisham dead if this political angle theory is correct. So what is our dear Alice doing on a date with the member of the opposition at a fancy restaurant but away from the public eye? I sense a conflict of interest here and a potential for betrayal, don’t you think?”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the town

Mark and Shane went first to the Senator Grisham’s office after Max helped them to get to Carmen de la Pica Morales’ bank statements. The statements showed that she had some large deposits and even larger withdrawals in the last year and her accounts were closed and reopen several times. Ms. Morales have indeed been having some major financial issues and it was up to Mark and Shane to figure out just how deep did her debt was running and to whom.

Trying not to attract any unnecessary attention, Shane went inside of the office posing as a message courier with a special delivery for Carmen. The secretary at the front desk checked her notes and informed Shane that Ms. Morales had a day off so she could attend one of her cousins’ quinsiniera.

“What the hell is quinsiniera? Sounds like a hot Mexican dish,” Mark moved to the passenger seat, letting Shane to take control. In spite of his highly praised surveillance skills, languages were something he could never master.   

“It’s a ‘sweet fifteen’ party for a girl…big deal in Latino community,” Shane replied, driving the car to the address that the girl at the front desk provided after only one compliment and a wink. “It’s sort of a women’s coming of age and always involves a huge celebration.”

“Shane, you know awfully a lot for a girl of your age,” Mark said affectionately.

They’ve been working together on Bette Porter’s team for almost three years and became very close. Shane was growing up in different foster homes until she turned 18 and she never had any real family. She put herself through college, graduating with honors in Political Science.

Mark immediately assumed the role of an older brother as soon as Shane joined the team right after her graduation and training and he has been protective of her ever since.

“I know the things that I need to know to do my job right,” Shane winked at Mark as she exited the freeway and turned on the street where Carmen was suppose to be for the rest of the day.

“So how do you know about quinsiniera? I don’t remember reading about it in the manual of ‘The Most Important Things to Know in Order to be a Successful Secret Service Agent’,” Mark laughed softly.

“Well, I dated a few Latina girls in college and they all had very large families and I attended a few of their celebrations.”

“Why am I not surprised that you have more success with girls than I do?” Mark replied with a soft chuckle. “So, what’s our plan, agent?”

Mark watched Shane who was scanning the area for the best surveillance position. She slowed down at the curb and replied, “Well, we’re going to park right here and then we wait and observe.”

Shane parked the car and Mark stretched his long legs, moving the passenger seat as far as he could, “Did I ever tell you that surveillance is my least favorite thing to do?”

“Only a few…um…hundred times,” Shane smiled.

“Yeah…and I’m the specialist…that’s what I do and I can’t even imagine how boring it must be for you, Shane. You are such an action person, always ready to move and do something. You can’t sit still for more than a few minutes.”

“It’s not that bad,” Shane shrugged her shoulders and then whistled, “Especially if the subject of our surveillance is so unbelievably hot.”

“What? You have a visual on the subject?” Mark quickly turned towards the direction where Shane was looking. They saw Carmen coming out of the house and bringing chairs to put out on the front loan. “Wow…Carmen’s picture doesn’t do her justice.”

“Stop drooling, Mark…we are here to do our job,” Shane kept her eyes on Carmen, hoping that she herself could remain focused and detached.

“I’ll stop drooling if you’ll stop it too,” Mark laughed and wiped imaginary saliva from the corner of Shane’s mouth. “I wonder what team she is playing for.”

“Why does it matter?”

“If we would need to take some action, it will be important to know with whom she will be more willing to…you know, like confiding in or looking for comfort…”

“Good point and that’s why I think it will be my job to get closer to her if it will come to it.”

“And why is that, Shane? Yoda’s intuition again?”

“Gaydar.”

“Oh…right,” Mark laughed again. “In your case, it’s pretty much the same thing.”

“Whatever…concentrate, agent. Do I have to do all the work around here?”

“Let me see if I can use some of my magic tools and pick up some of the conversation,” Mark replied, still laughing and began playing with his surveillance equipment so they could hear anything that Carmen might say that could help in their investigation.

They were picking up all sorts of noise because more and more people were coming out of the house, bringing tables and chairs while some other members of the Morales family were preparing food for the party and chatting happily.

While Mark was adjusting the sound system to eliminate the street noise, Shane was watching Carmen’s movements through a binocular like a hawk. She didn’t know why but there was something about the curves of her body, or the lusciousness of her lips that were drawing Shane to her.

But most of all there was certain sadness and pain in Carmen’s dark beautiful eyes that Shane recognized even from the afar and what she saw in these eyes made the young agent’s heart aching and wanting to help. Sadness and pain were Shane’s constant companions when she was growing up and they were the feelings that most people could deal with easily but Carmen’s eyes also displayed fear and that was something Shane didn’t want anyone to experience.

“Shane…Shane,” Mark touched Shane lightly on her arm when she didn’t replied right away, her mind wandering away to her childhood. “I’m getting something. Do you have a visual on the subject?”

“Yeah…yes…” Shane’s throat felt parched and she coughed, reaching for her bottle of water. “She’s talking to an older woman…they are standing at the corner of the house, away from the rest of the family.”

“Okay…excellent…this is her mother and you have to listen to this, girlfriend,” Mark handed Shane another pair of headphones and Shane was almost hypnotized by the melodious sounds of Carmen’s voice. ‘I have it bad,’ Shane thought, desperately trying to shake off this hypnotic reaction so she could do her job. ‘Maybe I should ask Commander to relieve me from this duty or I could screw it up badly.’

Carmen’s voice came loud in Shane’s ears and ended her musings, “You don’t understand, mama…if I won’t go tonight I’ll get into more trouble.”

“Yes, I don’t understand it, hita…how is it possible?”

“If I go to the casino tonight and win, it will be all over and Catherine will let me go free,” Carmen didn’t sound optimistic and Shane could hear the tears in her voice, “and if I lose, I would have to keep coming until I get lucky but if I won’t show up tonight, Catherine will go to the Senator and it will be all over for me…my career, my dreams…everything. I’m on probation, remember?”

“Yes, I remember but your probation was granted under one condition…that you won’t gamble anymore.”

“I know, mama, I know…I failed, okay and I don’t have the money to pay off my debt so I have to keep playing until I hit the jackpot.”