Home » The Archives » Chapter 12 » Playing with Fire
| Re: Playing with Fire [message #506 is a reply to message #505] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 21:20   |
artisticrainey
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Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
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Sunday, October 21, 9 a.m., London (9 p.m., same day, Tracy Island)
Lady Penelope raised the porcelain teacup to her lips almost absently. Her eyes were focused on the data pad before her, rereading the reports sent to her by the IR agents in Germany and France and the email she'd received from Lena. She drew in a breath, then let it out again in a soft sigh. She carefully replaced the cup in its saucer.
"Parker."
Parker, who stood nearby, stepped forward. "More tea, Milady?"
"Just a touch, Parker," Penelope said. "Then leave the pot with me. I must speak with Jeff."
"Very good, Milady."
xxxx
The pink pearls on Penelope's portrait flashed, and Jeff looked up from his desk. He frowned, and toggled a switch, then watched Penelope's portrait come to life. She was perfectly coiffed, but her neckline was trimmed with fluffy marabou feathers, indicating she was still in her dressing gown. He managed to put on a smile, and warmly said, "Hello, Penny. Good to see you again."
"And to see you, Jeff." Penelope smiled a little. "Am I correct in assuming you received Lena's missive?"
"I did," Jeff replied, nodding. "And I've managed to have a talk with Virgil as well. He told me what happened with Ms. Hightower, and indicated that Kyrano had also encountered someone unpleasant. My impression was that he was leaving it to Kyrano to tell the whole story. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to speak with Kyrano about it yet; he's having trouble with jet lag."
"Ah, I see." Penny glanced down at her data pad. "Though Virgil's encounter with Desdemona Hightower -- in her guise as 'Dez Richmond' - concerns me, it does not worry me as much as Kyrano's meeting."
The way Penelope kept her face very blank and very still made Jeff ask sharply, "Who did he meet, Penny?"
Penelope let out a soft breath and straightened. "He met his half-brother, Belah Gaat."
Jeff sank back into his chair a bit, a stunned look on his face. "Damn." Shaking his head, he reiterated, "Just... damn." After a moment, he composed himself, and asked, "What happened? Why was he there? How did he know that Kyrano was there?"
"According to the reports I have had," Penelope began, her voice both professionally crisp and soothing at once, "I do not believe that Gaat knew of Kyrano's visit. It seemed to the agent who followed Kyrano that Gaat was in Paris of his own accord, but once he saw Kyrano, he began to shadow him -- in disguise, as is his custom." Her eyes dropped briefly to the data pad and back up to meet Jeff's gaze. "They met in the cemetery where Kyrano's late wife is buried. The agent - Gisela - swooped in and pulled Kyrano from the scene, taking him to safety."
"So Gaat didn't get a chance to use his... mind control... whatever it is... on Kyrano?" Jeff sounded worried.
"Gisela indicated that he was unable to affect Kyrano -- who resolutely kept his back to Gaat, by the by."
Jeff sighed, relieved. "Thank God. I hate to think what Gaat would have done..." He paused for a moment, thinking, then asked, "Any news on Gaat's current whereabouts?"
Penelope shook her head, sounding regretful. "None, I fear. Gisela sprayed him with pepper spray, and very likely ruined the mask he wore. There is no way of knowing what disguise he might use after that point." She paused. "However, I doubt he would go about as himself, seeing as he is very high on Interpol's 'Most Wanted' list."
"I see." He straightened in his chair again. "Please convey my thanks to Gisela for her timely intervention."
"I shall." Penny smiled briefly, then sobered. "As to Virgil..."
"Yes, Virgil." Jeff nodded slowly. "He told me he didn't think she'd known he was going to be there beforehand, but he wasn't sure."
"The impression that Jean-Claude had was that she was in Paris legitimately, and like Gaat, saw an opportunity." She glanced down at her pad again. "He brought in the agent from Brussels once he'd discovered her identity, and that worthy reports she visited several clothing designers after her encounter with Virgil. It confirmed what Jean-Claude could hear of their conversation in the bar. Although," here a very slight smirk touched her lips, "she seemed quite put out that Virgil seemed to be avoiding her after the... ahem... 'accident' in the bar."
Jeff chuckled. "Yes, he told me about that, and her reaction to it. He mentioned that it might not have been an accident."
"It was not." Penelope replied, smiling. "Jean-Claude works quickly. He is an excellent agent, as is Gisela, and the gentleman from Brussels."
"I know. We're blessed with some of the best people as agents." Jeff picked up a stylus and tapped it against his chin. "About what Lena related -- that had to have been the airliner rescue involving the giant pandas. Do you know if there could be any correlation between the two incidents?"
Penelope thought for a moment, a tiny frown causing a slight wrinkle between her eyebrows. "I... I do not believe so. I am more of the opinion that Desdemona saw an opportunity to infiltrate Tracy Industries in a way that her brother, Giles, failed to do. At this point in time, I do not see how she could deduce that the Tracy family is involved with International Rescue." She shook her head slightly. "However, that does not exclude her from making such a deduction later... if we are not vigilant."
"I agree. Fortunately we have agents like Lena and yourself working on keeping us vigilant."
"Quite so."
There was a moment of silence between them, then Penny brightened. "Well, Jeff, I shall download copies of these reports to you, and let you go about your evening. Please inform me of anything pertinent that Kyrano or Virgil might tell you about their encounters."
"I will, Penny." Jeff stopped then remembered something. "Oh, Penny! I almost forgot. Have you heard anything about that man who wrote Dominic? The paramedic from Kansas..."
"Ah, yes! Mr. Kandagaye." Penny pulled up another file on her data pad. "I am waiting for a final report from our Kansas agent, but things are looking very promising." She glanced up at Jeff. "If you decide to recruit him as an agent, would you like me to handle the matter?"
"Let me think about that, Penny." Jeff replied. "I want to be very sure before offering him the position. For all we know, the World Gov could have approached him as well -- and he accepted."
"Very true." There was another pause, then she added, "Oh dear! I must hurry off now. Bon soir, Jeff. Please my regards to Dianne and the rest of the family."
"I will. Have a good day, Penny."
"I shall. International Rescue London, signing off."
Penelope's portrait winked back into static form and Jeff sat back and sighed, a deep one made of relief. "I'm glad we included the agents in Lena's security upgrades. It's good to know we have secure communications across the board. And good that the Hood wasn't able to get hold of Kyrano. That's something more for me to speak with him about when I discuss the kitchen situation."
He glanced at the clock. Wonder what my wife is up to. Perhaps an early bedtime... though I say nothing about sleeping... With that thought, he shut down his computer and prepared for more pleasurable activities.
  
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