Incognito

Chapter 5-2

“The kid’s in debt about seventeen hundred dollars,” Cam reported when she called Maggie that night.

“Oh, dear,” Maggie commiserated. “Is he addicted?”

“I don’t think so, but it looks like he’s into using very heavily.”

“Well, we expected as much. Do you have enough to pay it off?” Maggie asked.

“Craig okayed five thousand for me and I’m pretty sure that will cover it,” Cam answered.

“I certainly hope so.”

“Also, he came home today with a shiner that’s bright purple. The Cartel doesn’t seem to be too happy with him so I’ve got to get the bill paid before anything else happens.”

“Yes,” agreed Maggie, “let’s get this taken care of.”

“The way things are happening I can see why Tad didn’t want to go home. Besides the fact that the Cartel will think he ran off on them, he’s really into using. He finds it fun.”

Maggie sighed. “Yes, many kids think that.”

“I’ll tell you, John has such a tight hold on the family that there’s no room for anyone to do anything. Tad probably feels that that’s the only way he can maintain his sanity here. Joyce just goes with it and I think the daughter must have a life in school. That’s probably her safety net.

“Tad tried to have one of his school friends involved in this, too. It’s the Australian ambassador’s son, so this was getting more involved. I guess that fell through. The kid’ going home to Australia tomorrow.”

“Have you decided what you want to do?” Maggie asked.

“Not really,” Cam answered. “I had a good meeting with Falasco when I got here. He has some outrageous ideas for the sting. I think some may work. We’ll talk again when I get settled in a little more with the Taylor family.”

Then she remembered. “Oh, can you ship some of Laura Stuard’s clothes down here to me? I may be using her identity. I left a lot of her stuff in the closet in your second bedroom.” Cam had used Maggie’s condo as home base when she was working on the East Coast. She hadn’t kept an apartment in Baltimore. She was on assignment so often that it didn’t seem worth it. Maybe someday, she’d have a place of her own, somewhere far enough away to give her space to relax and breathe.

“I’ll ship them first thing in the morning. Anything specific you need?”

“Nothing specific, just something casual, if you can find any of Laura’s clothes that are casual.” Cam laughed. Laura Stuard’s idea of casual was quite different from Cameron Andrews’ casual. Laura wouldn’t be caught dead in jeans and a T-shirt. Someone with her kind of money just did not wear those kinds of things. “I think I should use her identity when I go to pay his bill and keep Laura separate from Cameron Andrews. That way, if something comes back on it, it won’t jeopardize the treaty. Not only will it be better to keep my real name out of this, but if need be, I’ll have another identity to fall back on.”

“That’s smart. Any other ideas?”

“Aside from paying his bill, I haven’t a clue. I’m just going to have to play it by ear. I’ll come up with something and Major Falasco and his deputy are fine-tuning their plans right now. I should know more by the end of the week.”

“Well, you have your work cut out for you,” Maggie commented. “I know you’ll think of the answer. Now, is there anything else you need?”

“A good night’s sleep?” Cam laughed. “No, I’m all set. I have everything I need.”

“Then relax a minute. You’ll get this done.”

“Thanks, Maggie.”