They all leaned towards the screen, Alex moving to stand behind them. Lucy's blue gaze worked over the slightly blurry image. She took her time soaking it all in.
"So we'll need to drive in through that guard station." She pointed at the screen. "Our IDs will get one check there and then probably just one more on the inside as well." Sitting back, she chewed her lip. "That's not too bad, but those IDs are gonna need to be good. Elliot can you pull up a standard ID for me? Let's see what information's on there. We'll hopefully be fast enough that if they do call to verify anything, we'll have time to get out of there. Again, let's just hope and assume we're dealing with bored security who aren't overly phased about doing their job properly. We'll push a little persuasion if we have to as well." Lucy nodded, as if confirming that her plan would work. Letting out a breath, she lightly slapped the table and stood. "Okay, so tomorrow Alex and I need to go shopping. Zach and Elliot, you need to rent a car. Either of you got fake IDs on you?
Zach shook his head.
"Really, you've never been out drinking?"
He was a little embarrassed by her incredulous look, but held his chin high. Thankfully, Elliot took the heat from her expression by pulling out his wallet with a grin.
"Let me introduce you to Lester Henshaw." He held up the card with a smile.
Alex chuckled, shaking his head.
Lucy took it from his hand. "A driver's license." She tipped her head, impressed.
Elliot shrugged with a little blush. "I was just mucking around with some graphic stuff and thought I'd give it a go."
"Have you used it before?"
"Once. I bought a 6-pack and it passed easily enough."
Lucy hesitated, licking her lips before swallowing. "Don't let them look at it for too long. Remember, confident, short sentences that demand belief. You guys think you're up for it?"
Zach looked at Elliot before nodding at Lucy.
She snickered, dropping her head. "You're gonna have to do better than that."
Elliot snatched the card from her fingers. "We'll be just fine, don't you worry about it."
She rolled her eyes. "Pick something that looks FBI-ish. I also need you to see if FBI cars have any kind of stickers or labels on the windshields and replicate them for me if they do."
"Got it." Elliot bobbed his head, looking more confident than he probably felt. This eased Zach's nerves a little. If he could fool Lucy then maybe they had a shot with the rental car place the next day.
"Right now I think we need some sleep." Alex clapped his hands as he looked around the table.
Everyone nodded, but no one seemed to agree. Nerves were wound so tight the idea of slumber seemed impossible. Instead the TV was flicked on and they sat up watching old Westerns until they fell asleep where they lay.
*****
The next day moved by in a flurry. Zach and Elliot organized the car while Alex and Lucy shopped their hearts out. That afternoon she disappeared into the bathroom and didn't come out for over an hour. When she emerged, Zach had a brunette for a girlfriend. His flash of disappointment didn't last long as she looked over at him with those blue eyes of her. Her hair could be green and she'd still be stunning. With a grin, he rose from the table and met her by the bathroom door.
Running a finger down her hairline, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her against him.
"You make one hot brunette."
She chuckled. "I guess we match now." Her eyes sparkled as she tentatively leaned towards him. He captured her lips easily, not caring that his uncle and best friend were no doubt watching.
If she'd let him, he would have kissed her for the rest of the night, but she pulled back and pressed her nose into his face. "I have fake IDs to finish."
With a reluctant grunt, he let her go so she could tie back her hair, get changed into a crisp blue shirt and pose for a photo. The Polaroid camera clicked and whirred producing a clear image of Lucy against the white wall of the motel room.
The rest of the afternoon and evening was whittled away making IDs and going over last minute details. They had chosen the names of agents that already existed, just in case they were scrutinized more carefully at either checkpoint, although Lucy was still hoping to avoid that.
"It's all about distraction. Saying the right line at the right moment can make someone forget to do something or slip up on a task they would usually follow through with." Lucy looked at Alex. "Swapping gender works well, so if the guard at the gate is a guy, I'll do the talking and vice versa on the inside. Whoever does the distracting, the other person needs to back them up with whatever storyline or angle their going with. The distractor takes the lead, got it?"
"Yeah, yeah, I get that." Alex leaned back so his chair was balancing on the back of two legs.