"I'm not sure this is such a good idea," Armando mused. "We don't know anything about this man. Why does he want Carmen captured so badly?"

"Does it matter?" Joshua asked, his excitement getting the better of him. "Lots of people want her captured, for different reasons. Maybe she did something to him when she still worked for the Agency. Maybe he's one of many that wants in on her territory. Could be anything."

Armando frowned. "Is it worth the risk?"

"Are you kidding?" Joshua demanded. "Don't you realize what he's giving us? The means to capture Carmen Sandiego! Can you imagine what that can do for us, for the Agency?"

"Yes, but..."

"Picture it! Isn't this what the whole Division has wanted for the past ten years? How can we turn down an opportunity like this?" He leaned close to Armando. "Think of what it will do for us, once we engineer the greatest roundabout of the history of the Agency!" Joshua's eyes glazed over as he pictured the scene. Detectives Joshua and Armando, closing the biggest case of the Agency's history...questions from reporters, photo-ops, probably a promotion...he smiled as something else popped up in his mind...

"How did you do it?"

Amiration in her voice, smiling green eyes, flaming red hair...

"Oh, it took some work," Joshua pictured himself saying. "A great deal of planning. And you know, it was risky too. But we managed to pull it off. I can explain the whole thing if you'd like...over dinner...."

She steps closer, taking his hand... "I'd love to..."

"Joshua!"

"What?" he shouted, startled.

Armando gave him a hard look. "I am going to have to consider this some more. It all sounds very suspicious to me." He raised his hand as Joshua began to object. "We still have some time. I want to sleep on this. I will contact you tomorrow with my answer, ok?" He frowned as Joshua nodded vigorously. "Be careful, amigo. I have a feeling this requires more thought than you are giving it." He nodded his farewell, then turned back toward the Agency.

Joshua continued nodding after Armando left. He's absolutely right...I do need to give this more thought. Ivy would be furious if I left her out of this, jealous, envious... He shuddered as flash of her firey anger replaced the smiling green eyes. I'll just have to include her too, at least in the capture. Either way, once she finds out who pulled it off... He smiled as the scene unfolded in his mind.

*****

Armando walked slowly back to the Agency, his shoulders bowed with doubts. He had a bad feeling about this whole harebrained scheme. And he knew exactly why Joshua was so intent on it...that was why he had tried to ignore his words. A mind distracted could not think things through logically...

And yet, the idea seemed too good to pass up. Armando hated to admit it, but he had his own reasons besides duty to the Agency to want to go through with the plan. The past couple years at his parents' ranch had been bleached with drought, and his brother was having trouble paying for the college education that he wanted so much. Surely, in return for the capture of Carmen Sandiego, Armando could be given a few extra things...to help those he loved...

He shook his head. He had doubted the Seniors' words about the value of the sixth sense until now. The whole idea gave him an unwholesome feeling, from the roots of his hair to his toes. Something terrible would become of them if they were to go through with it.

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