Ice Woman Assignment by Austin Camacho

control these primitives. My racial purity. My eyes. These two brothers I found who can see what others can’t. You see, I am a priestess in a religion you know nothing about. And I’ve created a very profitable international trade for the Escorpionistas.”
    Felicity thought that that little speech implied Colombians were superstitious and easily manipulated by ancient symbolism. She considered how much contempt Anaconda must have for her own people. Felicity hoped Anaconda felt the same way toward Morgan and her. Perhaps appealing to her ego might get Felicity out of this with a whole skin.
    â€œAll right,” she said. “I get it. You’re too much for us.How about I admit it and you tell your friends to bring Morgan back in and just send us home?” She smiled in what she hoped was a humble way.
    â€œMaybe you got something there,” Anaconda said. “As you can’t harm me, you are of no importance. And that would send a message to your CIA. Yes, maybe I should just let you go. However, you have been an inconvenience. Maybe you should carry something away from our meeting, eh? Something to make you remember your meeting with Anaconda, the most influential woman in this hemisphere.”
    There was no warning, except that Felicity’s senses went crazy. Anaconda slid the knife downward until it hung three inches below Felicity’s collarbone. Felicity involuntarily bared her teeth. Then Anaconda quickly slashed down. The razor edge of the blade slid effortlessly through Felicity’s flesh, but cutting no deeper than her skin. Because Morgan kept his knife so sharp, a second or two passed before the pain hit like the touch of a red hot brand. Felicity sucked in a breath, biting back a scream. A diagonal red line appeared on Felicity’s left breast, ending just before her nipple.
    â€œNow your perfect body is not so perfect,” Anaconda said. “Now you can learn to live with a physical flaw, as I have. Rico, take this bitch home.”

-8-
    It was a big Chevy, gold with red interior, model unknown. Cigarette smoke had filtered so deeply into the upholstery that Felicity could smell it now, even though no one was smoking. She leaned against the passenger side door, as they bounced down the street on nearly useless shock absorbers. Rico drove, with one friend in the back seat.
    Felicity had perfected her cowering female act over the years but never before had she been able to base it on such a solid platform of truth. She was scarred, cut by a vicious person for no good reason. Hatred and self-doubt battled for dominance within her, but she maintained the haunted eyes and slumping body language she hoped would keep her captors at ease. She just wanted to be home, safe.
    Why did she get involved in this anyway? She was no policeman or spy. Not so long ago, those people had been looking for her. She should have let them flounder in the same ignorance and incompetence that had worked to her advantage all those years. Instead, she had offended a major criminal for no personal gain. Anaconda had proven as deadly as her namesake, and she was backed by a huge and shadowy organization whose members showed absolute devotion. Felicity wondered what had made her think she could defy them.
    Then Rico, looking straight ahead, reached over and stroked her knee. She shivered and said “No.” He did not seem to notice. They turned a corner, and he reached again,rubbing her thigh.
    â€œShe said to take me home,” Felicity said. “Please, just take me home.”
    â€œShe didn’t say we couldn’t have some fun first,” Rico said. “It don’t have to be bad, you know. I know a nice place we can stop for a little while.” The man in the back seat chuckled. Felicity looked out at the slow but steady traffic. She could see that Rico was avoiding the freeway. She hated to think he made that choice just so he wouldn’t have to pay much attention