The Lines We Wouldn't Cross (Queen of the South)

Part 3- Are You Looking For Someone To Get You Off The Hook?

Teresa felt her heartbeat in her ears again as it became clearer than day that she was alone in this. By choice!

The stress of the day had exacerbated the mess her life was, and she needed to somehow hear a light voice. Without even realizing she found herself on the couch, staring at her cell just as her call was answered and George's voice boomed loud.

"Hey, principessa! Que pasa?" he didn't wait for her to answer, but went on: "Did I say it with the right accent?"

She almost stifled a laugh and the thought she had called the right person crossed her mind. Right accent! George and Kelly Anne were studying Spanish and their attempts to throw in phrases here and there on top of their attempts to use dirty words were as adorable as they were hilarious!

"Si, claro que si! » Teresa responded : "I didn't wake you, did I ?"

"No," came the answer full of indignation: " I am about to head out to a fiesta....with some pirate amigos of mine...but I wonder why you'd be calling me at this hour...isn't 007 doing good by you?" his voice sounded as light as ever, but his joke this time hit her soft spot.

"No, he is...ahh...he actually....we actually all had a very tough day with the FBI breathing down our necks...and we had to do some damage control....I mean James had to..." she knew she was fumbling with the words.

"Oh...I see...'cauz I was ready to come give him some big piece of my mind...for neglecting you...", but he couldn't finish as Teresa cut him off with as composed a tone as she could master: " We're not together..."

"Ouch...you don't like us ...guys...anymore?" came the unabashed response.

"George! Stop it! Why...uhh...why should he be making me good or ...ahh...whatever it is that you said?" she blurted out.

"I see we're touchy tonight, so I'll leave you and Giant Peach in peace..." George's voice trailed off.

"I don't even know how you can come up with all these names..." she hadn't planned to say this, but it came out and she couldn't hold a tiny smile as George said: "They just invade me...but yeah...I'm getting closer to my favorite sicario's fist making contact with my handsome jawline one of these days," and he laughed his lighthearted laugh and then asked in a serious tone what was bothering her that late.

"I need you to keep an eye on Boaz," Teresa said. The worry about the loose canon in Miami, whose stupidity had cost her Dumas's friendship had been a constant drag this past week.

"You mean you want me to pay him a visit?" George said.

"Yes, I need to know if he is planning anything behind my back...besides I know you love Miami...and the Cuban ladies," Teresa tried to make it sound like fun.

"I see...a vacation and a spy-cation!" George was an inexhaustible spring of gems. Then he said more seriously: "The only Cuban lady I fancied ain't working for us anymore, principessa, and I think I'll follow your lead in that department...keep myself single and available!"

It took Teresa a few seconds to figure out what to say as the story of Birdie's death at the hands of her friend Dumas had affected George and although she had never known the extent of their involvement, he sometimes made references and she wasn't sure if it was a joke or not:

"I...ahh...am sure that you will find new friends, you never seem to have a problem there", was all she could say.

"I'll never find a friend like Bilal...that I know for sure...but hey, let's not get sappy now, shall we?...Tell me more about today?" George smoothly maneuvered out.

Teresa summarized the preemptive hit she had ordered, then the play Lucian had lost and as George kept circling back to the high risk she had taken with Gamble's murder, she finally admitted that James and Kelly Anne had been against. Then her failure of making Dumas understand her side just came out of her mouth and to her surprise George said: "So, it seems only Chewbacca took your side today? How interesting!"

"I know it was a very high risk situation, but it had to be done," she wasn't sure who she was trying to convince: " ...but as Pote and Kelly Anne are expecting a baby....just found out today...I can certainly understand her fears..."

"Wow! Really!" George's voice boomed again: "I can see the idea of losing part of the family being upsetting...you know?"

"Who said I am losing them?" Teresa countered.

"Well...you never know...that's the thing...you now need to hold tight to Sniper boy... tighter than ever before... 'cauz no matter what you say, I know you know ...that he had dibs when I met you...and he cared enough to come back", he went on in his usual banter.

"How did you know he had dibs?" she wasn't interested in discussing James with George, but the conversation flow had gotten there on its own.

"'Cauz I know men...and this one was ...and still is...an alpha!" came the response. "And I hated to see you all grumpy and sad when he left...You know I know you, principessa!"

She smiled again and wondered if he was trying to tell her something. Something that he couldn't come outright and say, but something that he felt she needed to know.

Then George sighed loudly enough for her to hear and said: "You want someone to let you off the hook, right? About what happened today?...If it's gonna help you, I'm on your side...always have been...but it's not me you need to hear this from, right, principessa? 'Cauz you gotta think about your moves real well...and be thankful you got most of the family still there ...alive...and around you..."

They talked a little more about Boaz and his cousin Anjel, who seemed to have been living with him more and more often, and after they determined that George would be very careful not to raise any suspicions, she wished him a pleasant fiesta and he wished her 'a great night!"

She sat silent with her thoughts for some time. She was in a free fall and she didn't know if there would be anyone to catch her!

Then a movement in the yard caught her attention. She got up and moved to the window, only to see the bright back lights of the Ford Escape that James had been driving, slowly glide out of the parking lot under the pale hazy light of the light posts.

Where would he go this late? To the gym? But he wouldn't need the car as the gym was behind the house. To a bar? To see someone? But why... if there's tons of alcohol downstairs? Am I being jealous? The questions kept invading her mind as her eyes strained to see anything else in the muggy darkness outside.

Or maybe he left for good? Would he do that to me again? Teresa checked her texts, and as there was nothing from him, she felt the panic rising in her stomach.

She went straight back to his room, this time entered right away after a light perfunctory knock. But there was nothing there, no note, nothing! Just the familiar fragrance of the shampoo he used coming from the open bath door.

Without thinking she found herself downstairs on her way to the security room. The soldier on duty had no idea where James had gone. She ordered him to turn on the lo-jack on the SUV and was surprised to be told that the car was parked at the marina!

Que carajo es eso? It wasn't going to be a nice night, she thought...let alone a 'great' one!