Where on Earth, Spies Ch. 26

"Vous êtes loin de chez eux, amant. Vous vouliez me voir?" Carmen spoke French so none would overhear. She walked into the Russian bar and sat down beside Waldo, who was sitting with his hands folded, staring at the counter. In front of him was water. Just water.

"Has anyone ever told you your French is quite good"

"I only speak it rarely. But you are far from home."

"Perhaps closer than you realize."

"Oh? So, to what do I owe the pleasure? I could not make it sooner, I was on holiday. That is how the English say it, I believe."

"When are you not? At any rate, it was a work letter. To tell you that we are doing as you asked."

"You had already sent a letter saying exactly that."

"Had to make sure you knew."

"No you didn't." Carmen rested her hand gently over the watch on Waldo's wrist. "You've never been one to wear a watch." She shifted it to see the cigarette burns and smiled gently before Waldo moved his arm to stick his hand in his pocket.
"The watch looks good, though. Sporty. Probably waterproof. It suits you better than a leather-and-gold affair. Just the opposite of your relationships."

Waldo had to think about that one a moment, but chose not to respond. He didn't even look at Carmen the whole time she had been there. He just stared at the wall behind the bar.

"What, no comeback?"
Silence.
"You are hard to talk to when you are thinking."

"I am always hard to talk to."

"You are always thinking." Carmen smiled, shifting herself so that she was sitting in Waldo's direction.

He tried to ignore the black shorts under her coat, turning into fishnets, eventually tapering into high-heeled stiletto boots. How on the wide green earth did she survive in harsh, cold Russia?
"Glad you think so highly of me."

"I should say the same, you've been chasing me for years. Think you'll ever out smart me at my own game?" Carmen leaned close and rested her hand on Waldo's face gently.

"If anyone can, it is me." Waldo finally turned to look at Carmen. He was tired, but had a determined look in his eyes. Determined to defeat Carmen at her own game.

"That is why I chose you to be my follower. But you have competition for my affection."

"I am not after your affection, and I do not follow you." Waldo glared.

"Your pulse says otherwise."

Waldo was suddenly quite aware that her ring and pinky finger were loitering around the pulse at his neck. Blast that woman.

"Ooh, getting angry now? Well you should be. Your competition is winning my affections." She smiled with a hint of a dare.

"Can I buy you a drink?" Waldo suggested, turning back to his water.

"Of course. a French Kiss, I think. Vodka gets tiresome, Wally." She smiled slyly and ordered the drinks, one for her and one for him.
"Cheers, to a fond romance and future good times, Wally." She touched shotglasses with him.

Waldo remained silent, but nodded and drank. He remained silent, keeping to his own thoughts as the two threw back the shots and continued talking.

"You want to know who you are competing against."

"I did not express any such thing."

"You didn't have to."

"And?"

"He is incredibly sweet, knows me quite well, and cares about me deeply."

"And you?"

"Care about him a lot. More than most."

"So why did you 'choose' me?"

"Determination, inner strength, intelligence, patience, cleverness, and maybe I just like your accent."

"I get that a lot." Waldo smirked in spite of himself.

"And you'll do anything to get that journal, won't you?" Carmen smiled a little bit, knowing she held all the cards. She just gave him the lesser ones out of charity.

Waldo remained silent and drank his water, knowing he was outmatched.

Carmen shifted off her seat and stood up, smiling.
"Want to walk me outside, Wally?" She suggested with a sly smile.

Waldo paid for the drinks and stood, starting outside with her. She was sticking close. He was able to spot her car easily. It had to be hers: red, compact, discreet but so very Carmen that it was obvious. It shined like a blazing coal against the white of the snow, making it look positively abnormal half-buried in the flakes that were coming down. He walked her to the driver's side door and opened it for her, politely. It was just something he did automatically.

Carmen sat in the car with her boots still resting in the snow, smiling up at Waldo.
"There's so much you haven't said. Do you want to ride with me?"

"It would be the last ride I ever took."

"Possibly. But you haven't even corrected me about your name."

"You wouldn't stop saying it, anyway."

"You're learning, Wally. Who says old dogs can't learn new tricks?"

Waldo's fists clenched, and he leaned over her car, looking in to glare at her with piercing eyes. She just smiled back gently in return and took his hand. The one with the cigarette-damaged wrist, again. She gently guided it to her own face, and then to her pulse. Waldo felt a light flutter. Probably just her altering her heart rate to make him think she cared. He could do the same if he paid attention. Then he realized that maybe that wasn't what she was trying to do.

"You know why I am here."

"Does it have anything to do with that 'pregnancy' comment in France? Because I assure you there's no possibility...-"

"I want the journal pages, yes. I would never tell you that were you any other VILE agent, but you and I know how one-another work. You love games, and play them all the time. You are gambling with an agent and an agency. I could be fired for telling you, but I want to play the game, not be forced to sit on the sideines while the science boys are doing their jobs. What is the game, Carmen?" Waldo sounded determined, growling like it was a threat. And maybe it was.

"Oh Wally, don't think like that. We'll have plenty of time to play later. But this here is not a game. It can't be. It is too important."

"What do you mean 'not a game'? It has always been a game to you. A game to you, and a game to your mother! Tell me!"

Carmen smiled and used his hand to pull herself up into his arms to give him a proper kiss.

Waldo was caught off guard, but he couldn't bring himself to break it. He felt like a traiter because of it, but heaven help him, he just couldn't do it.

"It is not a game, Wally. Not this time. And if you get in the way of this, the only game you'll be playing is for your life." She remarked quietly.

Waldo could have grabbed her there, could have threatened her with a gun, could have easily overpowered her, but he didn't. And he realized that maybe, just maybe, it was because...

"I would rather be playing for my life than be waiting for death." He turned away darkly, letting Carmen retire to her car, smiling to herself.

"Then I shall see you soon, Wally." She smiled and drove off.

"My name is Waldo." He stated darkly, using his kerchief to wipe off the scarlet mark of ownership she left when she kissed him. He was once again no closer to getting those journal pages than he had been when he started.