Cheryl was summoned into the directors office the next morning. Dave her former controller was there with the Director and another man she did not know and who she was not introduced to. She was updated on all the details of the case. In the end the director just said to her "You did a brilliant job but we need more. We need you to go back in"
"But she can't go back in. There's a price on her head!" objected Dave.
"I can't imagine it would be very wise" agreed Cheryl.
"Dave you told me Cheryl is integral to this case, she knows the organisational setup"
'That's true but sending her back would be signing her death certificate. Surely there must be another agent?"
"For what we have in mind we don't have time to get anyone else up to speed. Let me introduce Doctor Mendall, he perhaps has a solution"
"Director, Agents. We have recently come into possession of an artifact that allows us the ultimate disguise. With it we can change Agent Dillon's appearance so that she could impersonate a member of the cartel"
The director took it from there "Cheryl, You worked with Melody Jones. We want you to impersonate her"
Director Melody is 5'11, I'm 5'5. No disguise will allow me to impersonate Melody"
The Director just raised his eyebrows and smiled at Doctor Mendall. "We are going to release Melody on bail. We don't have the evidence to hold her anyway. In reality you will replace her. That should get you into Pedro's fortress. Once inside we need you to gather more information against Pedro and the Mexicans. It's an opportunity to infiltrate the cartel like we never have before"
"Even if I could disguise myself as Melody, where would that get me? She is just a bimbo, nothing more than a bit of sparkle on Henry's arm. Henry was the brains of the local organisation. Surely the evidence against him is sound"
"Melody is actually the daughter of Carlos Mendoza, the ultimate head of the organisation. I don't think her father would hearing you call her a Bimbo"
"Oh! I never knew that" Cheryl looked at Dave.
"I didn't know either. I thought she was from Florida" Dave protested his innocence.
"This is a detail that only came to light once we arrested Melody. We wondered why the cartels' lawyers were putting so much effort into getting her released" continued the director.
"Hypothetically, if this did happen. I imagine I would be in and out as quickly as possible"
"As quickly as possible" affirmed the director.
"I would want something in return. When this assignment is finished I want to go into witness protection with my fiance"
"Oh yes. Mr Matthew McIvor. You had been warned about developing relationships while on assignment" The Director picked up a manilla folder. "I believe Mr McIvor is an accountant"
"He's brilliant. Without his help I would not have been able to get the information we used to make those arrests"
"We were discussing Mr McIvor before you arrived. Dave tells me his information has been invaluable"
"He's a wonderful man. He had no idea of what was happening behind the scenes. He has nothing to do with the cartel"
"Perhaps we could reunite you with your fiance sooner than you think. We were considering options to give you backup on the inside. I gather Matt worked closely with Henry Jones"
"Matt looked after the books for the legitimate side of the trucking company. Mr Jones was his boss"
"And would he know many of Mr Jones's associates?"
"Yes and no"
"There could be an opportunity to send Mr McIvor in with you but he too would have to be disguised. Do you think he would entertain that idea? His forensic accountancy skills could prove very useful for us"
"I don't know. I could discuss it with him if you let me see him"
"This needs to happen quickly. Melody is likely to get released late tomorrow. We need to be ready then" The Director turned to Dr Mendall. "Take Cheryl to your lab and explain to her how you do your disguises. For your information Cheryl I do not know the details myself. We have only just acquired this artifact and you would be the first agent it is used on. However the doctor assures me it is completely safe. I would like to be there to witness the actual transformation if possible"
"Yes sir" replied the doctor
The director turned back to Cheryl "I will contact Matt's handler and have Matthew here as soon as possible. I will leave it to you to you and Dave to convince him to join us. He will need to be enlisted as an agent. I need an answer tonight. If he declines then Agent Roscoe will be the fallback"
That was an added incentive for Cheryl. Agent Roscoe was a first class prig. She did not want him to be her undercover partner.