ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:

"Mom, you just gave me an idea. Tomorrow I'm going shopping and buy clothes, so I look like them."

Noah stood and paced. "Bad idea. Bad idea."

Jose inhaled. "As attractive as she is, I'm going to spend my day protecting her, aren't I?"

Noah nodded. "Yep. At least we know her plan and can prepare."

Laura gasped. "No, you're not, young lady. That's dangerous."

"Mom, it's the only way I'm going to get information."

"Promise you'll pray about that crazy idea and sleep on it."

"I promise. Goodnight, Mom."

"Goodnight."

Jose took a drink from a water bottle. "Maybe after she sleeps on it, she'll change her mind."

Shaking his head, Noah asked, "Do you honestly believe that?"

TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 3

When Sami returned from clothes shopping Wednesday, she dressed for her return to Baylor Street early afternoon. She studied herself in the mirror. "Jasper, do you think this is raunchy enough?" Her hands slid down her thighs. "These jeans are tight and low on my hips." She checked her feet. "I hope I don't fall wearing these sandals. I'm not used to this height. Sneakers are more my style."

She yanked the top. "I guess it's supposed to show my gut." She patted it. "At least my abs look good." She held up a pair of large wire hoop earrings. "Think these will work?" She petted Jasper lying on her bed. "Boy, you're no help at all." After one last turn for the mirror, she said, "Maybe I'm ready." She hugged Jasper. "Wish me luck. Let's hope this will be enough to get the working girls talking. I don't think I can go raunchier." She left the apartment.

*****
Jose said, "Boss, did you hear? Sami's on the move. From the description, she's only partially decked out."

"Let's hope it's not so much the johns hit on her."

"As pretty as she is, I'm surprised they haven't already."

*****
Jose said through his wrist communicator, "Boss, I'm stuck in traffic. Sami should be almost at the community center."

"She just stepped from her car. You'd better hurry. She'll get hit on."

"I can't move traffic any faster. It's at a standstill. I can't even get off and take an alternate route."

"I'll take Sami duty until you arrive."

"Boss, turn down the volume on your communicator, so she won't hear the chatter. Remember she's not one of us, she's a civilian. Be nice."

Noah chuckled. "I'm always nice."

Bob chimed in, "Jose, I can see new material for boss jokes."

"Really funny, guys. I was doing this when you were in preschool. Watch and learn."

"Boss, we're not that much younger. I'll put on a fresh pot of coffee in case you need it," suggested Sarah.

"I'm lowering the volume. I can't hear you. Here comes the first john. Let's see how Sami handles him. Maybe I won't need to intervene."

*****
A tall slender man walked up to Sami. "Hey beautiful."

"Hi." Sami showed him the photo of Myra. "I was wondering if you've seen this girl. She was kidnapped Monday evening."

He touched her arm. "I haven't. Let's go to the hotel across the street. They do reservations by the hour."

Sami pulled away her arm. "Sir, I'm not going anywhere with you, especially to a hotel."

His hand tightened around her arm. "You like to play hard to get. That's even better." He started walking and pulling her along.

She struggled to free her arm. "Let go." She used her other hand to slap him. "I'm not going with you."

He held tighter. "This game you're playing's a real turn on."

*****
Noah held his communicator to his mouth. "I'm going in."

He walked up to Sami and slipped his arm around her waist. "Sir, my girlfriend and I are late for a meeting in the community center."

"Your girlfriend?"

"Yes."

Noah led Sami toward the community center. "I hope you don't mind my interfering. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Thank you. I guess this'll be harder than I imagined. I expected him to understand no."

Opening the community center door, he said, "That doesn't always work. Let's find a place to sit until we're sure he's left." He led her to a table off the side and held a chair for her. "I'll be right back."

Sami watched him walk over to the counter.

He brought back two bottles of water and handed her one. "Here."

She unscrewed the lid. "Thank you."

Noah took a long drink. "We haven't officially been introduced. I'm Noah Taylor."

"I'm Sami Martinez."

"Short for Samantha?"

"No. Sami." She smiled. "I'm the baby. I have four older sisters. My version, Dad wanted a son and ended up with another daughter, so Sami was a compromise. My sisters have normal girl names, Angela, Joanne, Rebecca, and Molly."

"I see your point." Noah took another drink. "You're dressed differently than when we first met."

Sami released a deep breath. "I haven't been able to get the working girls to acknowledge my presence. Many of them were on the street Monday night. I know they saw something. I dressed like this hoping to get their attention, and maybe they'll tell me what they saw."

"You did get the attention of that man."

"True. I didn't factor that into my plan." Her eyes met his. "Thank you, again."

"Now, you've had a chance to rethink this, what's your new plan?"

"I don't know. I need to convince those women to talk. I've got to find Myra and the other girls. The police aren't doing anything."

He glanced toward the front door. "I need to get back to work. I can't rescue you all afternoon."

"I've taken too much of your time as it is."

"I'm not leaving until I know you've got a better plan than to pretend to be a hooker."

"So far, that's my only plan."

He raised an eyebrow. "It hasn't worked too well. Let's think of another one."

"Probably a good idea."

Noah noticed a red flashing dot on his wrist communicator. He stood. "I'll be right back. I need to take a phone call. When I return, we'll discuss this."

When he left, Sami found a piece of paper and wrote. Noah, I can't take any more of your time. I'll be more careful. I appreciate your help. Thank you again. Sami. She placed it under his water bottle and left.

When Noah returned, he read the note, rushed out the door, and scanned the area. "Sami's left. Did anybody see where she went?"

Bob answered, "Her car's still here."

"Boss, she's in the diner," replied Sarah.

"Good. She's safe. Jose, are you close?"

"I am. I feel like a cup of coffee. I'm on it, Boss. Do you want me to engage or observe?"

"Observe for now. Maybe she'll come up with a better plan."

*****
After moments of silence, Noah said, "Sarah, try to engage her in conversation. Maybe female-to-female will get her talking."

"Roger that."

Sarah went to the booth where Sami sat. "Hi. What can I get you?"

"Not sure." She hesitated. "I shouldn't, but a large chocolate shake."

Laughing, Sarah said, "Any reason you're living dangerously?"

She smiled. "Not really. I need to do some thinking."

When Sarah brought the shake, she said, "I really like those sandals. Where'd you get them?"

"Thank you. I got them from a little shop off Sunset Ave. They aren't me. When I'm finished with them, I'll give them to you. Hopefully I won't need them much longer."

*****
Jose walked in. "Hey, Sarah." He grinned. "Just bring the pot to my table."

"Sure. Long night?"

"You might say that."

Sami stood. "Excuse me, Sir. You don't happen to be the gentleman who paid for my lunch yesterday, are you?"

He cocked his head and grinned. "Ma'am, I've only spoken to you a few times, why would I do that?"

"Maybe because you're a nice person."

Continuing to walk to a back booth, he said into his wrist communicator. "Boss, she's figuring things out."

"I don't think she's stupid. She knows it was you, but don't confirm it."

"Sure. I'm at a back table, just observing." He chuckled. "Just pointing out she's a looker. I won't lose her like you did."

"I had a phone call. Don't take your eyes off her. She's good at disappearing."

Bob added, "Maybe just from you, Boss."

"Okay, you two. I get I'm going to hear about this for a while. Bob, where you at?"

"I just finished checking in with the rest of the team and on my way to the office. I'm still working on Sami's family background check. So far, she's from a completely normal family. Absolutely no skeletons. I'm checking on her four brothers-in-laws, but they appear to be clean."

"Thanks Bob, keep me posted."

*****
Throughout the afternoon Sami walked around the community center area, but every time a man started in her direction, she hurried back to the diner and sat at the same booth.

This time Sarah sat across from her. "What's wrong?"

"I guess I'm scared. Earlier, a man attempted to force me to a hotel."

Sarah's eyes widened. "I bet that was scary. What happened?"

"A sweet man named Noah came to my rescue. Do you know him?"

"I know a Noah. He comes in often. If it's the same man, he's one of the good guys. Was this guy good looking?"

Pink highlighted Sami's cheeks.

"I can tell by your cheeks you think so," teased Sarah. "You don't need to be embarrassed."

"I sort of snuck away from him and came here."

"Why?"

"I was keeping him from his job. He mentioned he'd stay with me until I came up with a better plan than pretending to be a prostitute. I still haven't thought of anything better."

Giggling Sarah said, "I can think of a lot of worse ways to spend an afternoon than being with Noah."

"I guess I can too, but I didn't want to be a burden."

"I understand." Sarah stood. "I'd better get back to work."

*****
After Sarah left Sami's table, she said, "Boss, did you hear?"

"I heard."

Jose added, "You may be the first guy a woman thought was nice and handsome but left because she didn't want to be a burden."

"First I've ever heard of," teased Bob.

Noah ordered, "Enough. Get back to work."

*****
Early evening Sami left the diner and walked up to the prostitutes. When they turned their backs to her, she said, "I know you were here Monday night around ten o'clock and I know you saw something." She held up Myra's photo. "This girl is only fourteen. She was kidnapped by men in a black van. More young girls were also kidnapped. Why won't you help me? I don't get it."

One of the women faced her. "To survive out here, you keep your eyes, ears, and mouth shut."

Another female voice was heard but she didn't turn around. "If we talk to anybody about anything, there's consequences."

The woman who had first spoken turned from her. "There's Big T, leave now. Stay away from him. He's dangerous."

Sami hurried to her car.

*****
Jose shouted into his wrist communicator, "Boss, Big T just showed up. Sami's headed toward her car, but he noticed and liked what he saw. He's following her."

"Bob, are you close?"

"Affirmative, Boss."

"Do whatever's necessary, but don't let him have access to her."

Both men answered, "Roger that."

Moments later, Jose reported, "Sami drove away."

Noah released a deep breath. "That was too close."


CHARACTERS:

Sami Martinez - Twenty-five-year-old high school teacher, who's working to find a kidnapped teenage girl.

Noah Taylor. - Homeland Security team leader, who works in the Human Trafficking department.

Jose, Bob, & Sarah - Agents who work under Noah.

Laura Martinez - Sami's mom.

Jasper - Sami's Great Dane, a large breed dog.

Myra Rodriguez - Kidnapped teenage girl who Sami was close to.

Julia - Teenage girl, who was friends with Myra and Sami works with.