Love's A Gamble

Chapter 2: Clayton

  I watched as my blonde brown hair slipped onto the ground around me. The hair assistant hired to conceal my identity removed the plastic from around my neck and took a step back. I stood up and walked into the directors office down the hall. I didn't bother to knock, she knew I was coming.

  "You need to keep an eye out for the girl. Catalina has been away for years so we have no clue what she looks like. But she is intelligent. Highly." My director instructed me as I took a seat in front of her desk. A sign reading: Mrs. Neederfur sat in the middle of her desk. She looked into my eyes and I could feel, in that moment, the importance of this operation. 

The director's short blonde hair and earthy eyes reminded me of Jeanine Mathews from Divergent. "You are our youngest undercover cop and the only one who can complete this task. We belive in you, Mr. Adams." It was the only bit of support she had shown me in all my years of training. She wasn't mean just tough.

  "I know and I will complete the op Mad'm."

  I felt brown contacts being placed into my eyes by Mrs. Neederfur's assistant. It stung alitte but I had to cover as much of my identity as possible. I was racing some very dangerous people to find Catalina and if they had a clue that I was an agent Catalina and I would be gone in at most a day. They wanted her, and they would do anything to get her. 

I had read up on her file before memorizing my new identity.  She had run away from witness protection at a young age and we had searched for her but the search was abandoned 7 years ago. 

Now the people who her daddy got upset are actively searching for her. They have people in Thailand, Russia, Germany, France, Peru, Indonesia, Mexico, Canada, and America. They also had friends in high places in India, Saudi-Arabia, Cuba; anywhere Catalina would show up she would be found. It's been 11 years and neither the FBI, CIA, Witness Protection, ICE, or private investigators have been able to locate her. She had also been lucky enough to avoid Mr. Santiago, the Russian mob boss who wanted her dead.

  We need to find her and keep her save... I only hoped I could keep her safe. This was my first op. and I was fresh from training. I had no real world experience. They let me handle this operation because Mr. Santiago's men were multiplying as the days went by and because my age was identical to Catalina's I wouldn't draw so much attention.

  I walked into the adjoining room and changed into the torn up ratty looking clothes that many of the homeless in Madison wore. I had never felt so repulsive in my life. These clothes were disgusting. They smelled like trash. Which my best guess is where they had come from.

  I was instructed to complete a 4 hour run through the woods to get cut up and dirty.  4 hours was nothing but not being able to wash off afterwards made my skin crawl but this is how it would be on the streets. It was only part of my cover. All a part of my cover. I hoped I could find her quickly, that way her and I could get into proper clothes again.

  I started my run. My end destination: The Little Town of Madison.

Population: 4,156

One of the busiest rest stops for travelers.

Home to the USA Foreign Relations Officer and retire Secretary of State.

Everyone there was required to be able to speak an additional language to 'Diversify the Culture'.

The facts started pouring through my head like a dam let loose.

We had a very strong lead that Catalina had been spotted here so that was were I was going to start. I walked out of the agency and took off to the woods.

Four Hours Later....

I had run for four hours and had thought I was lost when through the tree's I could see the sign reading: Welcome to Maddison.

I searched around the perimeter of the town and noticed a tree fort of sorts. I found it odd but started towards it. 

I climbed the ladder to find a bed made of hay and in that bed I found a beautiful girl with blonde hair that was a mess and tied back with vine. She was the prettiest girl I had ever seen. I stared a few minutes in awe of the beauty she radiated before finding my head again. Her skin was tan and she slept folded up and on her side, a position that told me she was either keeping a secret or was insecure. Catalina would be both. Last report of Catalina revolved she had blonde hair, I recalled from my notes.

Suddenly her foot connected with my gut and I fell to the ground from the shock of the hit.

"Who are you?!" She screamed.

"Listen my name is Clayton. I just came down from Hubuttom and I don't know where to stay I was wondering if..."

"If you could walk to other way? I'd be fine with that."

"Please I don't have anywhere to go."

"Then why did you leave Hubuttom?"

"I ran into some trouble."

"The last thing I need is more trouble."

"You're in trouble too?"

"I'm a common their of course I am." she said quickly. A little too quickly not to be noticed.

"Listen just a few days?"

She stared me down before nodding her head and climbing down the ladder.

"I'm Lena." She held out her hand.

"Clayton." I spoke shaking her outstretched hand.

"You will be responsible for helping me with chores, understood?"

"Yes."

"Oh and Clayton, the only reason I'm letting you stay here is because I'm not feeling well and need the help. Once I'm back in goodness your gone. You understand that?"

"Yes."

She was defiantly hiding something. I could see it in her eyes. And I intended to find out what that secret was.

(Picture on side is who I think of as Clayton)