Spy in a Little Black Dress - By Maxine Kenneth Page 0,57

circumstances. Jackie’s heart went out to her, and she wished that there was something she could do for her. Maybe later. Maybe then she could find some way to save the life of the brave young woman who had done the same for her.

Jackie motioned to Emiliano that they should go back and exit the alley from the other end. But before they could, there was a cry from one of the police officers holding back the crowd.

“Look! There are two more,” he shouted, then took a whistle out of his breast pocket and began to blow on it. This attracted several members of the flying squad, who took off after Jackie and Emiliano as they ran back down the alley and out the other side.

Jackie had no idea where they were, so she let Emiliano take the lead. Fortunately, he did know where he was going and led the flying-squad members on a breathless chase through the back alleys of the Vedado. At several points, Jackie could have sworn that they had lost their pursuers and were safe. But just as soon as she thought they could stop running, the flying-squad members would find them and the chase would be on again. She wished now that she had worn something else, because she felt like she could be spotted a mile off in her colorful flower-print summer dress. The only place where it could have provided proper camouflage was back at the flower market.

They were now running through an area adjacent to the Vedado, one where elegant restaurants had given way to fly-ridden food stalls, and office buildings had been replaced by block-long factories and warehouses. By now, it was late in the afternoon, and many of these businesses had shut down operations for the day.

They heard footsteps behind them, coming at a fast pace. The long, featureless street they were on afforded no cover, and they were walking briskly past a brick wall.

“Jacqueline, this way,” Emiliano said, making a stirrup out of his hands for her to put her foot in, then boosting her up and over the wall. On the other side of it, Jackie climbed down into what she saw was a parking lot filled with large trucks. There appeared to be no one around. A moment later, she was joined by Emiliano. They kept silent and heard the sounds of the footsteps running past them on the other side of the wall.

“That was quick thinking,” said Jackie. She couldn’t hide that she was exhausted from the long chase. “We need transportation,” Emiliano suggested. “They’ll never suspect us if we’re in one of these trucks.”

They explored the lot and went from truck to truck until they found one that had its key in the ignition.

“Gracias a Dios,” Emiliano said, looking up at the heavens.

In the back of the truck, he found two sets of coveralls and two caps. He handed one of each to Jackie and said, “Here, put this on.”

Jackie looked questioningly at him.

“For camouflage,” Emiliano explained, “in case we hit any roadblocks.”

Jackie and Emiliano put on the coveralls over their clothes. Jackie pushed all of her hair under the cap so she wouldn’t be recognized as a woman.

“How do I look?” she asked Emiliano.

Emiliano looked her up and down and said, “I think there’s only one thing missing to complete your disguise.”

As Jackie looked on, Emiliano disappeared under the truck. When he reappeared, his right hand was thick with axle grease. Before she could stop him, Emiliano had taken several swipes at her face with his right hand, smearing it with the grease. He stood back and assessed his handiwork.

“Perfect,” he exclaimed.

Was it her imagination or was Emiliano somehow enjoying this? Well, if so, two could certainly play at this game.

Emiliano was all set to get into the truck when Jackie stopped him by saying, “What about your disguise? Shouldn’t it be as complete as mine?”

Before Emiliano could stop her, Jackie rubbed her right hand against his, transferring some of the axle grease to her fingers. She then used her fingers to paint Emiliano’s cheeks and forehead with the grease, making her feel like a Comanche maiden putting war paint on her brave for a ritual dance. She stood back to examine her artistic creation.

“Perfect,” Jackie proclaimed.

A chagrined Emiliano said, “Can we get in the truck now?”

Jackie found a rag in the back pocket of her coveralls. She used it to remove the axle grease from her fingers. She then passed the rag to