Episode 3: Joint Operations: Catching El Gato

"So. Do you like it here?" Hugo invited Violet for lunch at a restaurant near McPherson Square.

"Uhh, yeah. It's fine. Quite crowded, actually," she said.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that. I didn't know you do not like crowded places." Hugo scratched his nape. He does that every time he's nervous.

Violet looked at Hugo. "Let's just eat," she said as she twirled the pasta on her fork.

"Ah, yes," Hugo smiled. Violet's forehead creased. Hugo likes to smile a lot. She can see the visible lines beside his eyes.

This is the first time that Violet has had someone to have lunch with. It's either she's eating alone, or she just skips lunch and settles for a Subway sandwich. She doesn't like eating with Eric because Eric is so noisy and hyper for her.

"I told you! He's been sleeping with Amy all along."

"The meeting starts at eight."

"Were you with her last night?"

"Honey, do you enjoy the food?"

"How's London?" Violet initiated the conversation. She hates to hear the chatter of the people around her. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes for a bit before speaking.

"London?" Hugo repeated.

She looked at him patiently, "Yeah, London. How was your stay in London? I bet you had a good time." Hugo doesn't seem to know why Violet knows about his London vacation.

"It's great, yes. I have visited London for just three days. I have to go back and attend to my dad's business. Then there's Damon Ivanov. I really don't know why my father wants to buy guns from that fugitive." Hugo sat back in his chair and asked, "How did you find out about my trip to London?"

"It's quite obvious, Hugo." Violet throws him a look. "You have been wearing your watch since the first day I met you. It was at the café. The last time I encountered Ivanov. It's a limited edition from the Bremont Hawking Collection--Bremont Hawking White Gold. The price ranged from $33,000 to $35,000. It's spotless; still shiny. Oh, and the time. I took a look at your watch when you held your hand asking for a handshake. The hands of your watch show that it's five hours ahead of our time, so you're from the United Kingdom. You didn't bother to change it, so I'm guessing you just got home that day from London, yes?"

Hugo slowly closed his slightly open mouth and said, "Wow, you really are unique."

"Unique? Is that a compliment?" She took a piece of meatball from her plate. "Well, I really don't care about what you're thinking. You can say I'm a show-off, but I do not give a damn. I'm just stating what I've observed. It's just that ordinary people can't focus on the little things in life. You always focus on what other people want you to see. But, yeah, it's a free country. You can say what you want. I understand." She smiled and the smile faded away easily.

"No... I mean, yes. Of course, it's a compliment. I never intend to offend you." Hugo didn't know what to do or say.

"I am not offended. As I've said, I don't give a damn to what people actually say about me. Go on. Eat your spaghetti." She motioned for him to eat his own food, which he obeyed.

After eating, Hugo drove Violet to the headquarters. "Thanks, Hugo. Have a good day."

Hugo doesn't have the chance to speak because Violet immediately walks inside the building. He smiled, remembering the extraordinary date he had with Violet, and went inside his car.

***

Mission: CATCH EL GATO (ALIVE)

Codename: ESCAVALIER

Platform ID: SA VIOLET/ SA ERIC

Global FBI Joint Operations

Criminal Intelligence Investigations

Violet looked at the paper handed to them by the director. "That will be tomorrow, at 12 noon. I suppose you don't have any questions. Meet me at the helipad tomorrow, and we'll fly you two to one of Mr. Peige's houses in Mexico."

"Why do you have to fly us to Mexico, Sir?" Eric asked Mr. Warren.

"Haven't you and Mr. Peige discussed the plan?" Mr. Warren asked.

"He has. The plan is to make us appear to be a newly-wed couple. We will want to buy a house with the help of this real estate agent named Eddie. And Hugo, who goes by the name Juan Pablo, will be the owner of the house that we want to buy. We will set up El Gato, which has been hiding his identity as Eddie the real estate agent, then the other undercover agents will be on cue to capture El Gato and bring him here to you," Eric stated.

"Very good. Now, no more questions. Spend the rest of the day off and act like you're a couple." Mr. Warren went out of the room and left Violet and Eric inside his office.

The two agents looked at the piece of paper they were holding. Then they both looked at each other, and Eric winked at her. "Let's go, babe. Let's go to the mall."

Eric held her hand and they both went out of the director's office. Patricia, the intern, looked at them wide-eyed as they walked inside the elevator. Most of their co-agents were laughing because the two really did look good together. Their teasing paid off.

Violet really doesn't mind. She enjoys Eric's company, but she can't tolerate his mouth when he starts talking nonsense and when he's asking questions a lot.

They went inside Eric's car and they drove past the agents' cars inside the underground parking lot.

They spent the day inside the mall and let people gawk at the sight of them looking like models because of their appearances. The two work so well together, and they also look good together. They have such good chemistry that they do really look like a couple.

It was twelve at noon when they arrived at the headquarters' helipad.

"Good afternoon, agents," Mr. Warren greeted them.

"Afternoon, Sir," Violet acknowledged the director.

"Here's your passports, your identifications, your credit cards, and your marriage certificate dated last month of December 25th, 2019." Mr. Warren handed them the things that they needed to help with their disguises.

"Good luck, agents."

Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

Peige's mansion

"Are you ready?" Hugo asked them before they went inside the car. The car is brand new courtesy of the FBI because El Gato knows all of the Peige's cars.

The two agents nodded. Violet goes by the name Allison Carter-Ibarra, the wife of Hector Ibarra, a.k.a. Agent Eric Montenaro. They were scheduled for a trip to one of the few houses that are currently for sale in Providencia, a subdivision not too close, yet not too far from the downtown of the west of Guadalajara.

They got off at the nearest park and waited for Eddie, a.k.a. El Gato, to meet them there.

"And there's our target." Eric's sing-songy voice interrupted Violet's quiet time.

Her eyes immediately opened up. She lowered her pink sunglasses to take a look clearly at the target. It certainly is El Gato. He didn't even try to disguise his appearance. It was the same El Gato from the picture that Hugo had shown them.

Eric was to say something when his phone immediately rang. They were still sitting on a bench and holding hands.

"Sí. ¿Quién es? (Hello. Who is this?)" Eric spoke fluently in Spanish. They know it's Eddie, but they have to be wary and play along.

"Buenos días, señor. Ahora estoy en el parque cerca de Providencia. ¿Dónde estás? (Good morning, Sir. I am now at the park near Providencia. Where are you?)"

"Ah, estamos sentados en un banco en alguna parte. Creo que te vi. ¿Llevas polo y pantalones marrones? (Ah, we're sitting at a bench somewhere. I think I saw you. Do you happen to wear a polo shirt and brown pants?)" Eric stood up and pulled Violet to his side. He put his hand on her hip behind her back. Violet copied him and side-hugged Eric as they walked towards the con artist.

"Sí, señor." (Yes, sir. Yes, I am.)

They approached him and he gave them a handshake. Eddie asked them to follow him and he led the way inside the subdivision.

Violet took a look at Eddie. Quadragenarian, forty-five to fifty years of age. His pants were ironed so well you could cut paper through the pleats. It was the same as his white polo shirt. She looked at his hands. There was no ring on any of his matrimonial fingers. A blonde strand of hair was dangling on his back just above the shoulder. It was blonde, but an inch near the root of the hair does not say so. The woman who ironed his clothes had black hair before.

"This is a great place to live if you are a pareja recién casada (newly wedded couple)," Eddie started blabbering about the house. The two undercover agents play along, looking like a sweet couple. They were informed that El Gato was trying to lie low after his crimes, and he now goes by the name of Eddie and is now working as a real estate agent.

"Oh my God, babe! I really love this house. Can we please buy it now?" Violet twirled around and hugged Eric's arm.

"Don't you wanna take a look at some of the houses, Señorita Hermosa?" Eddie asked Violet.

"No. This is what I saw in my dream last night, Hector!" For a moment, Eric stopped himself from freeing her grasp. "I want this house, baby," Violet pouted, trying to act cute. Her, acting cute, is the death of him. He shivered and tried to stop himself from laughing, or he'd blow the cover-up.

"Are you sure?" Eric tried to contain himself.

"Yes!" she smiled as Eric nodded and Violet clapped her hands as she jumped up and down from the excitement, making her chest bounce with her. Eric frowns as he sees Eddie licking his lips while looking at Violet's chest. He hugged her tightly and turned to Eddie.

"Okay. We'll buy this house. Where should I pay?" Eric inquired.

Violet and Eric can't miss the smug look that Eddie has when he says to follow him and they'll settle the payment at his office.