Continued from part 01...
Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Servicio de Quarto, sen~or," a female voice announced. Room service.
Ricky stiffened. Both looked at each other, knowing no such service had been ordered.
Ricky pulled his gun, and started shouting in... Chinese? Tamade! Zemezhao caoxingwo!
The female sound on the other side of the door, this time in louder Spanish, "Lindo! Abre la puerta ahora!" (Handsome, open the door now!)
To Ana's surprise, Ricky went to unlock the deadbolt and opened the door.
A brunette with very wide shoulders, medium height, in a severe business suit, and knee length skirt that showed off her powerful calves, walked past Ricky. She had an oversized purse under one arm and a briefcase. Her face was framed by curly locks. She didn't stop until she reached the bed area, then turned around to face Ricky. Ricky caught up to her and said in a hush tone, "Jimena, what are you doing here?"
Jimena gave him a stern look, "You didn't check in last night. They sent me to find you."
Ricky shrugged. "I was busy, change of plans."
Ana peeked around the edge of the bathroom door, and Jimena noticed. Her expression went blank for a moment, then her eyes widened, then her blank expression morphed into a smile.
Ricky sighed, "Jimena, meet Juliana. Juliana is a friend of mine."
The two women gazed at each other, silently assessing each other.
Ana felt uneasy. She was sure that Jimena recognized her, but not absolutely sure. Jimena and Ricky started talking. Ana barely paid attention to their conversation as thoughts of Ricky's ministrations only hours ago reminded her that she was a damaged woman. Maybe Ricky's return is a sign, that her life was not completely without hope...
The tone of their conversation had turned hostile, causing Ana to take notice.
"This is important! I need a secure location to debrief her properly!" Ricky demanded in frustration.
Jimena sighed, "Okay, but if they know she had escaped, they're probably near the embassy now. Go to safehouse 6. I'll need to make a call." Jimena pulled a bulky candybar phone out of her purse and started dialing as she headed toward the balcony.
Ricky asked, "Is that the one off Avenida Boyaca?"
Jimena flashed him a thumb up without looking, as she reached the balcony. Ana watched Ricky finish packing, then at Jimena, wondering what was the plan, or what relationship did Ricky had with Jimena. But that's not important, is it?
Jimena finished talking and was just turning to head back inside. She took one step, then Jimena's chest exploded in a fountain of blood.
Then came the sound of a gunshot.
Ana screamed. No blood reached her, but she had never seen death this close. Her brain had not understood the image.
Jimena pitched forward to her knees, then fell face down half way into the room, leaving her legs in the balcony. The bulky phone flew out of her hand and clattered across the carpet, leaving only a splatter of blood on the wall.
Ricky grabbed for Ana's hand, and threw his phone into the toilet. As Ricky unlocked the door, the sound of sizzle or pop came from the restroom, then Ricky dragged her out of the room, leaving their luggage behind.
Time to run.
-----
Ana walked as if in a trance. She went where Ricky directed her to go. They managed to descend to the lobby via elevator, then quietly bribed an attendant to summon a taxi to the rear exit. Then they took the taxi to different hotel to the east, the Four Seasons Casa Medina, then another taxi a little hotel right next to the airport. Finally, another taxi took them to a little notary on Calle 25g. They paid off the taxi, and started the slow walk to their safehouse off the main road Avenida Boyaca, at this side street. The various taxi rides took far more time than expected, but they were quite certain there were no tail, even though their destination was actually only less than kilometer away.
They were half a block away from the corner of Calle 24d and Carrera 72 Bis when an explosion rocked them. Ricky spun Ana so his back was toward the explosion, covering Ana, as Ricky drove Ana to the ground. Chunks debris landed around them.
Ricky swore. This was beyond disastrous now. His mission was compromised six ways to Sunday. His handler's dead, and now his Safehouse had been blown up.
But the first need is evade... He stood up slowly, checking over Ana, who did not seem to be injured. Then he realized his left arm is numb. Must have taken some shrapnel. Ricky was assessing his damage when a man, dressed in a similar dark suit, to his right emerge from behind a car. The mysterious man was not looking at the explosion like gawkers. He noticed Ricky and Ana, his eyes widened with recognition. He reached into his coat.
Ricky's right hand drew one of two ceramic throwing knives he had hung in the friction holder under his left armpit and slipped it free, then in a single smooth motion he threw it sidearmed. The blade hit the man's throat just as he got the gun clear of his coat. He collapsed with a hand to his throat.
Ricky quickly pulled Ana to her feet, and turned turned right on Calle 24d bis, then to the end and cut across the mini park. Ricky loosened his tie and opened a few buttons on his shirt then resumed his arm around her waist. While he looks casual, his eyes are scanning everything for possible threat. They made it through Avenida La Esperanza and started walking northwest.
Ana glanced at Ricky, and noticed the pain in his expression. "Are you wounded?"
"No time to stop, we need to hide." Ricky replied, then clenched his teeth again.
Ricky walked up to a Chinese restaurant. The main door was locked. The restaurant didn't open until 11. He knocked three times, then twice, then three times. Then repeated it three more times.
A few minutes later, a bleary eyed man opened the door suspiciously, then his eyes widened in shock. "Nei!"
"Hai-oh, dailo." Ricky said.
The man stepped aside, "Fai-di yup-lei-la."
Once inside the dark lobby, Ana was able to look at the man who opened the door most closely. This man was wearing a wifebeater vest. His receding hairline and wrinkles puts him at over 40, and his complexion is oily, and the scowl on his face made him look older. His middle was getting a bit flabby but his eyes are bright and his arms are still strong. He roared,
"Nei li go sui zai, zao gum duo nin, yut di shien hei dou mo?"
Ricky just shrugged, "Si-sai suo-bik, mo-bang-fat-la."