The German Girlfriend

 Turkish Barber Shop Raid

The three (3) female enigmas Nicky Parsons, Emily Abernathy and Agent Harriet, were having lunch together in Freedom Park, near their MI6 headquarters office.

A male approached Harriet and would not leave her.

Nicky and Emily approached the male.

Nicky grabbed him by the arm and proceeded to apply her handcuffs to him:

Emily had her firearm drawn and comforting his ribs.

Nicky: OK, Sunshine. We are going for a walk.

The three (3) agents walked “Sunshine” to a public telephone.

Nicky telephoned MI6: I have a package for collection at the telephone booth in Freedom Park.

In short compass MI6 agents arrived and had a conversation with Nicky during the handover.

Nicky: Put him in the cells. I have something in store for him.

MI6 Agent: No problems.

Nicky returned to Emily and Harriet.

Nicky: Harriet, Is that Turkish Barber Shop you talked about in a recent intelligence briefing still a problem?

Harriet: Yes. But it has no connection to this chap.

Nicky: It does not have to. Let’s have some fun.

Nicky: “Emily, My plan is that we visit that Turkish Barber Shop and “Sunshine” is coming with us.”

“Let us finish our lunch in Harriet’s office.”

Emily and Harriet: OK

Back at Harriet’s MI6 office the conversation continued.

Nicky: How about we do a raid on the Turkish Barber Shop and use Sunshine as bait?

Harriet: “Yes. I will organise agents to support you and back you up”

“We will be ready in 20 minutes.”

Nicky: Are you in, Emily?

Emily: Turkish Delight.

Nicky: We will be in my office waiting for your call, Harriet.

20 minutes later Sunshine found himself being bundled into an MI6 motor vehicle again.

Nicky and Emily were already at the Turkish Barber Shop when the motor vehicle containing Sunshine arrived.

Nicky assisted the handcuffed Sunshine out of the motor vehicle and told him “Do not say a word”.

Accompanied by Emily, Nicky walked Sunshine to the Turkish Barber Shop.

As soon as she breached the barber shop doorway, Nicky said loudly: “I have someone who belongs to you.”

The equilibrium of the Turkish Barber Shop was immediately upset.

Sunshine had no idea what was going on.

The other MI6 agents then raided the Barber Shop and took everyone into custody.

Nicky told the agents to take Sunshine back to the cells with them.

Nicky and Emily then made their way back to MI6 headquarters.

When everyone was processed, Nicky approached Sunshine in the cells, accompanied by a silent Emily.

Nicky: Today has been an interesting day for you, Sunshine.

I doubt you expected this outcome when you approached that young lady in the park.

As it turned out, we might not have been able to conduct that raid without you.

Nicky then removed the handcuffs of Sunshine whilst saying: “I will leave you to ponder whether all of this was worth it for you. You are free to go. One of the custody agents will see you out.”

Emily: Thank you for your assistance, Sunshine.

The look on the face of Sunshine showed he had no idea what was going on.

Some time later, after hearing the explanation for the raid on the Turkish Barber Shop, an exasperated MI6 Agent shook his head and said: Using some random bloke who would not leave Harriet alone as bait for a raid ... who thinks of that?

With a knowing smirk, the Boss, who was passing by the conversation at that time, calmly responded: Nicky Parsons.

The German Girlfriend

About a month after the Turkish Barber Shop raid, Harriet called in to the office of Emily:

“I was just passing, Emily, and I wondered if there was somewhere you and Nicky go when you have to discuss the kind of matters ladies need to discuss from time to time?

Emily: Would they be sensitive matters, Harriet?

Harriet: Yes. They would definitely be sensitive matters.

Emily: Why don’t I telephone Nicky and see if we can find a place to discuss those matters that are sensitive for we ladies.

Harriet: Thank you, Emily.

Emily then telephoned Nicky in her office: “Nicky, I am sure you left your purse in my office. I was concerned you might need it.”

Nicky: Emily. My purse?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: Your office?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: Thank you. I will come and get it now.

Nicky then immediately went to the office of Emily. When she arrived, she noticed Harriet was also there.

Emily: Harriet told me she is having one of those moments we ladies have from time to time where she needs to have a sensitive discussion.

Nicky :Sounds like Harriet would benefit from a walk in the park.

Emily: That is what I was thinking.

Nicky: We can all go now, if that is convenient.

Emily: To the park, Harriet?

Harriet: Yes.

The three (3) agents then proceeded to Privacy Park.

Upon arrival at Privacy Park, Harriet could see that there was no one around but the three (3) agents.

Harriet then spoke to Nicky and Emily: We have had a male agent transfer in from our Manchester office and he arrived with a German girlfriend, Hildegarde. A German girlfriend who was not apparent in his life when he was in Manchester.

Emily: That is an interesting sales pitch: Use our relocation company and we will give you a German girlfriend as a bonus.

Harriet: The trouble is they do not specify whether the bonus girlfriend is East German or West German.

Nicky: An important detail to omit from their marketing campaign.

Emily: So, you want us to get to know Hildegarde and see if she is someone about whom we should be concerned?

Harriet: Yes.

Nicky: Why don’t we go and have a chat to Agent Manchester and get him to introduce us to Hildegarde?

Emily: Perhaps Harriet knows how the three (3) of us could go and see Hildegarde and offer to have a welcome to London tea and muffins date?

Harriet: My intelligence says that Hildegarde works in a clothing store in Carnaby Street.

Emily: How could we resist a shopping outing?

Nicky: So, it is back to MI6 to retrieve our handbags and coats and then shopping in Carnaby Street?

Emily: Will you need to bring a folder with you, Harriet?

Harriet: No. My handbag and coat is all I need to retrieve.

Nicky: Carnaby Street awaits.

The agents then returned to MI6 headquarters, retrieved their handbags and coats and then made their way to Carnaby Street to meet Hildegarde. Thanks to the intelligence of Harriet, the agents knew precisely which store to attend in Carnaby Street.

Carnaby Street Shopping

The vibrant bustle of Carnaby Street surrounded ever focussed Nicky and composed and observant Harriet. Emily had her attention momentarily snagged by a particularly eye-catching boutique window.

Nicky gave a gentle but firm nudge to the arm of Emily and reminded her: “Eyes on the prize. Window shopping comes later.”

With a somewhat dramatic sigh, Emily .responded: “But Nicky, look at that hat!”

An amused Harriet said: “Patience, Emily. We have a mission.”

The three (3) agents entered a trendy clothing store. The air was filled with the scent of new fabric and soft music. Harriet lead them towards a young woman with a friendly smile, who was arranging a display of colourful scarves and speaking to a customer. Her German accent was noticeable, but not heavy.

When the customer moved on, Harriet spoke to the young female staff member:

“Excuse me, Miss. Are you Hildegarde?

Hildegarde: Yes, that is me. Can I help you ladies?

Nicky: Hildegarde, we understand you know Alistair. He is a colleague of ours. It is a pleasure to meet you. This is Emily and Harriet and I am Nicky.

Her smile widening, Hildegarde replied: Alistair! Oh, how lovely to meet you. He has told me so much about his wonderful colleagues. Please, allow me to tidy this scarf.

Observing Hildegarde with a keen but friendly eye, Emily said:

“He speaks very fondly of you, Hildegarde. We just wanted to pop by and say hello, and make you feel welcome in London.”

Harriet: I understand you recently moved here from Germany?

Hildegarde: Yes, that is right. Just a few months ago.

Nicky: Manchester to London is quite the move for Alistair.

Hildegarde: (Chuckling) It is! But London is exciting. Though sometimes a little … much. But Alistair is here, so it is perfect. I am from near Hamburg, in the West.

Emily: Hamburg That is wonderful! We were just … curious about your move. It seems Alistair has good company.

Hildegarde: That is so kind of you to say. He is a good man, Alistair. I am very lucky. He was so happy when he came to London for his course. That is where we met.

Harriet: Well, we are glad to hear it.

Hildegarde: “You are all so kind. Please, if you ever wish to shop here, please tell them Hildegarde sent you. I will make sure you receive a … freundlicher discount. A friendly discount.”

Wearing a small, genuine smile, Nicky said: “We might just take you up on that, Hildegarde. Especially Emily.”

A grinning Emily said: “I checked my calendar. I noticed it says we are all available next Saturday for a proper shopping expedition.”

Hildegarde: That would be wonderful! I would enjoy that very much.

Harriet: And perhaps the four (4) of us can have tea and muffins afterwards?

Nicky: It seems Alistair has found himself in good hands. Welcome to London, Hildegarde.

Hildegarde: Thank you all so much. It was so nice to meet you.

Harriet: We have to leave now. It looks like we will be seeing each other again here on Saturday.

The three (3) agents then left Hildegarde and her store and returned to MI6 headquarters.

Revised Plan

Upon her return to her office, Emily telephoned Hildegarde at her clothing store. Emily asked when Hildegarde would finish work on Saturday.

Hildegarde said she would be free to join the agents at about 12:30 pm on Saturday, approximately thirty (30) minutes after the doors to the store closed for trading for the day.

Emily said tea and muffins were more important than shopping. The agents could have a shopping trip there another day, if Saturday was a busy day for Hildegarde at the shop.

When Emily ended her telephone conversation with Hildegarde, she went for a walk to the office of Nicky Parsons.

Emily: Nicky, we should drop in and see Harriet.

A perplexed and intrigued Nicky agreed.

Five (5) minutes they were in the office of Harriet.

Emily: I was thinking about Hildegarde when I got back to my office, so I telephoned her at her work. She said approximately thirty (30) minutes after the doors to the store closed for trading for the day on Saturday, she would be free to join us. That is, at about 12:30 pm.

I think tea and muffins are more important than shopping at the moment.

We could have a shopping trip there another day, especially if Saturday was a busy day at the shop for Hildegarde.

If we meet downstairs at the cafeteria at about 11:00 am Saturday, that gives us plenty of time to get to Carnaby Street and do a spot of shopping before Hildegarde finished work. We could then spend more time socialising with Hildegarde, rather than her being constrained by her work demands.

Do you ladies have a view on this?

Nicky: So, tea and muffins over shopping?

Emily: For this Saturday, yes.

Harriet: More welcome to London rather than seeing Hildegarde do her job?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: And we can have a longer shopping trip another day?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: OK.

Harriet: Tea and muffins in Carnaby Street is a little funny. I am in.

Emily: I have another question for you, Harriet. Now that Hildegarde has passed her security clearance, does that go on a record anywhere?

Nicky: I guess that would apply to Agent Manchester too.

Harriet: We have unofficial records, as uncomfortable as that may be to hear. On this occasion those unofficial records will have a positive entry, probably two (2) positive entries, actually.

Emily: I could have telephoned you ladies about my proposal. It seemed better that we have this discussion in person. Especially since now we know about unofficial records.

Harriet: Nothing wrong with you visiting me, Emily. You know I do not bite.

Nicky burst out laughing.

Emily laughed and said: I am going back to my office. Thank you for the update, Harriet.

Nicky was still chuckling as she joined Emily to return to their offices.

Carnaby Street Saturday

Saturday morning arrived and Emily made her way to the apartment of Nicky Parsons by 10:00 am. The day was warm and sunny and the women were in good spirits.

Nicky: Good morning, Emily. Come in. I am almost ready.

Emily: Good morning, Miss Parsons. Carnaby Street.

Nicky: Indeed, Miss Abernathy. Carnaby Street.

About fifteen (15) minutes later, Nicky said: Miss Abernathy, our train awaits.

Nicky and Emily then made their way to the train station and then to the cafeteria near their work.

They arrived at their cafeteria destination about 10:50 am.

Harriet arrived shortly thereafter.

Emily: Good morning, Miss Harriet.

Harriet: Good morning, ladies.

Nicky: Considerate of you to organise good weather, Miss Harriet.

Harriet: I aim to please, Miss Parsons.

Emily: Carnaby Street, ladies.

Harriet: Tea and Muffins

All three (3) women together: And shopping.

Laughter ensued as they made their way to the train station and then to Carnaby Street.

Their destination was abuzz with activity as they arrived. The ambience was happy, friendly and inviting.

The leisurely walk to the Hildegarde clothing store was punctuated with several window shopping pauses.

Harriet observed to Emily: Mis Abernathy, It seems our Miss Parsons has a fondness for boots.

Nicky: This could be quite an expensive venture, if one was not disciplined.

Emily: Boots are not the only thing that could empty your purse. There are enough skirts here to fill several wardrobes.

Harriet: Tea and muffins with Hildegarde might also be a fiscally prudent introduction to Carnaby Street.

Nicky: Stay strong, ladies.

The women looked at each other and laughed.

When Nicky, Emily and Harriet arrived at the Hildegarde clothing store, it was filled with women occupying the attention of Hildegarde and her fellow staff. The young woman at the cash register was being kept quite busy.

Emily saw Hildegarde had a short moment where she was free of shoppers requiring her attention, so she walked over and said hello. Nicky and Harriet followed her. Hildegarde was very happy to see her new friends.

Emily: Hildegarde, we can see you are very busy this morning. How about we meet you outside the shop about 12:30 pm when work is over for you for the day?

Nicky added: For tea and muffins.

Hildegarde: OK. The shop is quite busy this morning.

Harriet: It looks like someone wants your attention.

Emily: Outside the shop about 12:30 pm when work is over for you for the day

Hildegarde: Thank you, ladies.

When work was over for Hildegarde, the four (4) ladies adjourned to a nearby cafeteria for a very leisurely tea and muffins get-together. To the delight of everyone present there was no discussion of MI6, spies or international espionage. Mundane matters happily entertained them for a couple of hours.

Adventures In The Park

Intelligence Briefing

In her latest intelligence briefing, Agent Harriet told the assembled MI6 agents that:

• A terror cell of Iron Curtain foreign agents was operating in London.

• The plan was to bomb a sporting stadium.

• Various teams of MI6 agents would be assembled to monitor and hopefully capture this terror cell before it could do any damage.

Subsequent to that intelligence briefing, Nicky Parsons, Emily Abernathy, M1 and M2 were assigned to monitor a popular park in Central London where members of the subject Iron Curtain Terror Cell were thought to meet.

When the four (4) agents were informed of their assignment as a team in this new situation, Emily briefly got them together and told M1 and M2 to approach Harriet and get her Profile Folder of the Iron Curtain Terror Cell.

“Remember, Harriet does not bite.”

M1 and M2 obeyed the request of Emily.

When they approached Harriet, she said to them: “I prepared a Profile for Emily and Nicky as well.”

M1 took the additional folders from Harriet, with gratitude.

As the agents made their way back to their respective offices, M1 took a detour to the office of Nicky Parsons: “Agent Harriet prepared a Profile Folder for you.”

Parsons: “Thank you, M1", as she took the folder from him;

and the office of Emily: “Agent Harriet prepared a Profile Folder for you.”

Emily: “Thank you, M1", as she took the folder from him.

M1 then proceeded to his office.

Both M1 and M2 then busied themselves reading the contents of their Profile Folders.

Later that afternoon Emily assembled the team in her office and discussions ensued about the finer details of their mission.

Nicky Parsons said she had made arrangements for the team to operate from a safe house in the vicinity of the popular park in Central London which would be the focus of their mission.

Parsons: “The safe house should be available in a couple of hours and it is accessible by train.”

Emily: “When you are notified of the availability of the safe house, we can assemble in your office and then proceed to the train station.”

Parsons: “That plan works for me.”

Emily: “M1 and M2, It will not hurt if one of you brings an Agent Harriet Mission Profile Folder along.”

Parsons: "We can return to our offices and I will contact you when the safe house becomes available."

About ninety (90) minutes later the team was on a train en route to the safe house.

Once they arrived at the safe house, M1 and M2 were a little surprised how quickly Nicky Parsons and Emily were able to set up the safe house for the team.

Central London Park Situation 1

The team got down to business immediately upon the safe house being set up. They proceeded to the park and took up their surveillance positions. After about forty (40) minutes, two (2) members of the suspect terror cell were identified  meeting in the Central London popular park.

Agents Nicky Parsons and M2 moved in to apprehend the suspects. The initial part of the situation unfolded largely without incident and the two (2) terror cell members were placed on the ground.

As they were being secured by agents Nicky Parsons and M2 in handcuffs, with their hands behind their backs, another terror cell agent appeared. He was not someone the team had identified at the park. Terror Cell Agent 3 approached his apprehended colleagues with his firearm drawn. He was about to try to eliminate his now captured colleagues when M1 identified the complication to the situation and emptied the contents of his firearm into the chest of Terror Cell Agent 3. The interloping Iron Curtain agent fell to the ground before Nicky Parsons and M2 had time to look around.

Emily Abernathy remained a little removed from her colleagues, monitoring the situation with her firearm drawn. She shouted to her colleagues: Are we good?

“Yes” was their reply.

Emily: I will call this in.

Within ten (10) minutes more MI6 agent colleagues were on the scene extracting the three  (3) Iron Curtain Terror Cell agents and relocating them to MI6 headquarters.

Agents Parsons, Abernathy, M1 and M2 then returned to the safe house.

The team dined at the safe house that evening on takeaway from a local cafeteria. Conversation was mostly about the mission; how the events of the day unfolded and what were their plans for the next day.

Central London Park Situation 2

The following day the team planned to continue  monitoring the Central London popular park for more terror cell suspects. Nicky Parsons told the team she had telephoned Agent Harriet at MI6 and received an intelligence update.

In the presence of the rest of the team, Nicky Parsons then had a conversation with M2 about the new situation assignment. M2 would assume the roll of a sniper. Circumstances dictate it. The resources of MI6 were stretched and improvisation was required. Everyone in the team knew from the Profile Folder prepared by Agent Harriet that this terror cell was dangerous. Accordingly, the improvisation by necessity was that M2 would now be a sniper.

Parsons: “I have made arrangements for the suitcase you will need to be delivered here. I will help you set it up.”

Then more generally, Parsons spoke to the team: “I have identified a vacant residence or office in a high rise building in the neighbourhood. It will serve as a sniper spot. M2 and I will relocate to that sniper spot and Emily and M1 will be the surveillance agents in the park.”

The sniper spot identified by Nicky Parsons saw M2 set up in an elevated position, monitoring the park. Nicky Parsons was with M2 monitoring him and encouraging him. Nicky parsons told M2 he should keep his two (2) other agent colleagues in the park visible to him.

During their park surveillance M1 noticed a man in his 30s giving his attention to Agent Abernathy and despite her disinterest in him, he was not disposed to leave her presence. M1 proceeded to the local interloping Romeo and had a conversation with him.

M1 quietly approached the interloper from behind and placed the barrel of his firearm in the ribs of the interloper: “If you do not leave this young lady alone, you will not see the weekend, let alone Christmas.”

The Interloper: I was just leaving.

M1: Good decision. Do not dawdle and do not look back.

The Interloper made a prompt exit from the scene and did not look back.

Romeo interloper aside, the mission was going to plan, when another terror cell suspect appeared on the scene.

M2 told Nicky Parsons that this new terror cell suspect seemed to be an immediate threat to Agent Emily.

Guided by the location advice given to her from M2, Nicky Parsons took a look at the particular location through binoculars.

Parsons:: Are you sure he is an immediate threat?

M2: Yes.

Parsons: Take out the threat.

M2 obeyed and with a clean M2 shot, the new terror cell interloper fell to the ground.

Nicky Parsons then said to M2: “You are on your own for the time being. I will call this in. Do not panic. You will be fine.”

Nicky Parsons then called MI6 from a public telephone in the street near the sniper spot and told MI6 to send a clean up / extraction team to the park.

During that telephone call Nicky Parsons also spoke to Agent Harriet. Agent Harriet informed Agent Parsons that the threat had been neutralised and the mission was now at an end. All agents could now return to MI6 headquarters.

Nicky Parsons then returned to the sniper spot and updated M2 on the progress of the mission. They packed up the sniper spot and returned to the safe house. They then proceeded to the park to inform Emily and M1 of the developments in the mission.

Within ten (10) minutes the MI6 extraction team had removed the now fallen new terror cell interloper from the park.

After their somewhat impromptu meeting in the park Agent Parsons, Agent Abernathy, M1 and M2 returned to the safe house, cleaned it of their presence and returned to MI6.

The team then assembled in the office of Nicky Parsons, while she made a telephone call.

“Do you want me to bring you the suitcase? OK, you will retrieve it from my office.”

The call then ended and Nicky addressed the team: “Well done team. We can call this a successful mission.”

I propose we have lunch together.”

Emily: This time we will each pay for our own steak sandwiches.”

Laughter engulfed the team.

Another Park Adventure

Seconds after M1 and M2 left the office of Nicky Parsons to return to their respective offices, Agent Harriet called in to the office of Nicky Parsons.

Emily: Harriet, this is a bit of a surprise.

Harriet:: I have another park adventure for you, if you are interested?

Nicky: Another park adventure?

Harriet: Saturday is the annual Jazz In The Park Festival in Central Park. I was wondering if you ladies were interested in going? There are food stalls, craft stalls and a bit of jazz gets played, of course.

Nicky: That was not the kind of park adventure I was expecting.

Emily: That is the kind of park adventure I like.

Nicky: I am not so sure, Emily. I did not hear about any tea stalls?

Harriet: Nicky, you could always take a flask of tea, if you were not prepared to risk there might be no tea stalls.

Emily: I think we should live dangerously, perhaps just this once, and take our chances. The Jazz In The Park Festival seems like it might be fun.

Nicky: I am in and I will leave my flask of tea at home

Harriet: Excellent. If we meet at the cafeteria downstairs at 10:30 am on Saturday, we can walk to the park jazz festival together.

Emily: I will call into your apartment on the way to the train station, Nicky.

Nicky: It looks like this plan is settled. Thank you, Harriet.

Emily: Thank you, Harriet.

Harriet: I will leave you ladies now and see you at 10:30 am Saturday.

Building A Mystery

 Intelligence Briefing

Upon their arrival at work, Nicky and Emily found themselves directed to the major conference room, along with many of their MI6 colleagues, for an intelligence briefing.

As they were taking their seats, Emily was involved in a brief conversation.

Emily: “Agent Harriet.”

Agent Harriet: “Agent Emily. Some East German rascals today.”

Agent Harriet then addressed the gathering.

“We currently have an East German visitor to our shores enjoying the hospitality of one of our safe houses. He has something of an appetite for killing. Quite an appetite, actually. Our East German visitor is helping us with our enquiries. So impressed are we with his progress, there are no immediate plans on our part for his return to East Germany.

“Unfortunately two (2) of his East German compatriots have arrived here also. Apparently not to sample British cuisine, but to return our guest to their homeland. The appetites of this couple, Mr 40s and Miss 30s, are comparable to our safe house guest. They do not mind doing a spot of killing.

“Photographs of our East German visitors are on the board, as you can see. As usual, Profile Folders of our rather unfriendly visitors can be prepared, should they be required. These three (3) East Germans are nasty and dangerous. We are keen to keep our current guest enjoying our hospitality and we would like his two (2) colleagues to join him. Probably in separate safe houses.”

“Be careful. Hopefully these visitors can be apprehended before they do any damage.”

“This briefing is now over. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

All the assembled agents then returned to their respective offices, except Emily and Nicky.

Emily spoke to Nicky: Do not go back to your office. Stay with me, I have a plan.

Emily approached Agent Harriet: "Agent Harriet, I want to encourage a couple of male colleagues to take you up on your offer to prepare Profile Folders. Have you got time to hang around while I try to convince them you do not bite?"

Harriet: Sure. This sounds like fun.

Emily: Then we should adjourn to my office.

Emily: Nicky?

Nicky: I am going to your office.

As soon as the trio arrived at her office, Emily telephoned M1: "Collect M2 and bring him to my office with you. I have something for you."

M1: An uncertain “OK”.

M1 went to the office of M2: Emily The Enigma has something for us in her office. I am going. Are you?

M2: Emily The Enigma? OK.

Within a couple of minutes they were in the office of Emily and they noticed Nicky Parsons and Harriet were also present.

Emily: Chaps, This is Harriet. She just gave us an intelligence briefing. I am sure you were in attendance and paying attention. Harriet offered to prepare Profile Folders on the charming people who keep us occupied. I want you to take her up on her offer, often.

Please introduce yourselves to Harriet. I assure you she does not bite.

Harriet, This is M1.”

M1: Good morning, Agent Harriet.

Harriet: Good morning, Agent M1.

Emily: Harriet, This is M2.”

M2: Good morning, Agent Harriet.

Harriet: Good morning, Agent M2.

Emily: Amazing. Your heads did not explode and you did not stop breathing.

Harriet burst out laughing.

Emily: Now when there is an intelligence briefing you can approach Harriet for a Profile Folder, so you will be better informed about the undesirables that keep us occupied and employed.

Nicky Parsons: Works for me.

Harriet: Thank you for breaking the ice, Emily.

Emily: “Happy to help, Harriet. And I am sure you will see more of M1 and M2, so they can become more familiar with your excellent work.

OK, Harriet. We have taken up enough of your time. You can return to your office, if you like.”

Harriet: Thank you, Emily. This has been delightful.

Harriet then returned to her office.

Emily: You are still breathing, M2. Congratulations on surviving that traumatic experience. Harriet does excellent work. Her Profile Folders are great assets and she definitely does not bite.

M1: We might leave you and Nicky to your work now.

Emily: Thank you both for coming.

As M1 and M2 returned to their respective offices, Nicky said to Emily: "They might even approach Harriet."

Emily: We can only hope, Nicky.

Klaus and Gretchen

Nicky and Emily were on the train on the way to work. As the train was slowing to approach Sunshine station, Nicky noticed somebody she recognised on the platform. Nicky grabbed Emily and quietly said to her:

“Do you have your work handbag with you?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: The silent one?

Emily: Yes.

Nicky: A situation is about to unfold.

Nicky grabbed Emily gently by the arm and they proceeded to the exit doors of the train carriage. As soon as the train stopped, they exited the train.

Nicky walked directly to a man in his 40s. He was standing with a woman in her 30s.

Nicky walked briskly and as she approached Mr 40s, she drew her firearm.

His back was turned to Nicky and she put one round in his right calf and another round in his left thigh. Mr 40s immediately fell to the ground.

Emily then drew her firearm and put a round in the left calf of his female companion Miss 30s. She also immediately fell to the ground.

As Nicky walked briskly towards the fallen couple, she said harshly to them:

“Stay on your stomach, Klaus. You too, Gretchen."

Nicky proceeded to the fallen couple, accessed her handcuffs and secured the hands of Klaus behind his back.

Emily accessed her handcuffs and secured the hands of Gretchen behind her back.

Nicky: Have you got this? (Looking at Emily) I need to make a call.

Emily was standing over the fallen and now handcuffed couple, with her firearm drawn at them: Make your call.

Nicky quickly proceeded to a public telephone on the train station platform.

After dialling a number, she said: “Get a team to the situation at Sunshine Station Platform 5, now. Do not dare waste any time. You do not want them to bleed out.”

Nicky then returned to Emily, who was still standing over Klaus and Gretchen.

Nicky: Klaus, where is your firearm? Do not be silly, Klaus. I do not need an excuse to finish you.

Klaus: My right coat pocket.

Nicky took the firearm from Klaus and put it in her coat pocket.

Emily: Your turn now, Gretchen.

Gretchen: Same. Right coat pocket.

Emily took the firearm from Gretchen and put it in her coat pocket.

Nicky: Our friends should be here shortly, Klaus. They will treat your wounds for you in a nice comfortable secure location.

Emily: You can go with our friends, Gretchen. They will be happy to treat your wound.

Nicky: You must be here on business, Klaus, because you do not look like you are on holidays. Our friends are very interested in your business.

Emily: Gretchen, you are in luck Our friends have arrived.

As a team of MI6 operatives approached Nicky and Emily, Nicky said: “Klaus and Gretchen here are very keen to tell you about their business.”

MI6 Agent: Thank you, ladies. We know just the place for that conversation.

The MI6 operatives then took Klaus and Gretchen to their motor vehicles and departed the scene.

Within a couple of minutes a train arrived which Nicky and Emily boarded and they continued their journey to work.

When they exited the elevator at work, Nicky and Emily were greeted by another MI6 agent. The exchange was brief:

“Do not go to your offices. Go straight to see the boss.”

Nicky and Emily then proceeded directly to the office of the boss.

As they arrived at his office, the boss was waiting with his door open: “Agents, come in and tell me about the excitement at Sunshine station this morning.”

As soon as they were seated, Nicky spoke to the boss:

“Earlier in the week we received an intelligence briefing contending that Klaus and Gretchen, as I call them, East German spies with assassinations in their history, were in London to retrieve (or try to) a fellow East German spy who is currently in a safe house helping MI6 with their enquiries.”

Emily: We shot to subdue them We could have taken them out.

The Boss: This East German spy they were apparently desirous of recovering?

Emily: He is not the type of chap you invite over for dinner.

The Boss: He has a bit of an appetite?

Nicky: For killing.

The Boss: OK. Klaus and Gretchen are being relocated so they can help us with our enquiries. And so their wounds can be treated. Nice shooting, agents. That Saturday extra practice at the shooting range came in handy.

Nicky: You know our focus is the job, Sir

The Boss: And it is quite a focus. Thank you for your work, agents.

That is quite a bit of excitement for one morning, agents. In fact, that is enough excitement for an entire day. Why don’t you two agents take the rest of the day off. I will see you back here tomorrow.

Nicky: Thank you, Sir.

Emily: Thank you, Sir.

As the agents left their boss, the looks on their respective faces was one of pleasant surprise.

Emily: Agent Parsons, this calls for a cup of tea.

Nicky: And a muffin, Agent Abernathy.

Emily: We shall adjourn to your office, Agent Parsons.

Upon arrival at the office of Nicky Parsons, Emily said: Agent Parsons, I propose we make our tea and muffins part of an adventure?

Nicky: An adventure, Agent Abernathy?

Emily: Not one that will tax you, Agent Parsons.

Nicky: Why not. Let’s go.

The agents collected their handbags and coats and proceeded to the train station.

Joe's Discount Supermarket

As Nicky and Emily approached Joe’s Discount Supermarket, Nicky asked: “What is going on?”

Emily: "It seemed a good opportunity to familiarise you with this environment. And we can also have lunch around here and make a relaxing day if it.

We do not even have to shop at Joe’s. We can just walk around the store. It is an orientation exercise."

Nicky: OK.

Emily and Nicky meandered through Joe’s Discount Supermarket, occasionally commenting how the layout of this store differed from their usual haunt.

When they approached the vicinity of the public telephone Nicky used to telephone Emily during her recent scatterbrain moment, Emily said to Nicky: “Convenient of these stores to have public telephones.”

Nicky replied: “You would be amazed how they make you thirsty.”

Emily: Is that our cup of tea calling?

Nicky: It certainly sounds like it.

Emily: Then we shall adjourn to a tea drinking establishment.

Nicky: Indeed.

Whilst Nicky and Emily were having their tea, muffins and lunch at a café nearby, after their leisurely orientation stroll through Joe’s Discount Supermarket, Emily said to Nicky:

“If you feel the need to do your shopping at Joe’s in future, rather than our usual haunt, you are now more oriented with its environment.”

Most of the conversation during their leisurely lunch had nothing to do with work, missions or disoriented shopping experiences. It was delightfully mundane, just as they liked it.

On the way home, Nicky took more note of the train ride. What train they boarded and what stops were relevant.

Nicky also said to Emily: “I think it is easier if I stick to shopping at the grocery store we usually attend.”

Upon alighting the train, the agents took a leisurely walk together to their respective homes. When Nicky was about to go her home she said to Emily: “Thank you for the adventure, Miss Abernathy.”

Emily replied: You are most welcome, Miss Parsons.

Another Situation and More Steak Sandwiches

About a week later, Nicky Parsons, Emily Abernathy, M1 and M2 were at an indoor situation in an apartment building securing a foreign agent, with their firearms drawn.

All appeared to be progressing according to plan, when Emily yelled at M1:

“ M1, What the heck are you doing? How many times do I have to tell you to focus on the job? The voice of Emily portrayed quite some anger.

At that moment the equilibrium of everyone in the room appeared to be upset.

Emily then turned 90 degrees and emptied the contents of her firearm into a foreign agent who had appeared in the doorway.

Nicky Parsons then proceeded to approach Foreign Agent 1, the original focus of their attention, and placed her handcuffs on him.

Emily cooly proceeded to the now fallen Foreign Agent 2 and said: “He will no longer be a problem.”

She then walked over to M1, patted him on the shoulder and said: “Good job, M1.”

Nicky: M2, do you want to call this in to MI6?

M2: After some stuttering, “Yes, certainly, Agent Parsons.”

About 20 minutes later their MI6 colleagues attended the scene and took the foreign agents back to MI6 headquarters.

After those MI6 agents left the scene, Emily said to M2:

“The steak sandwiches are on you this time, M2".

Bratwurst Surprise

 All Lost In The Supermarket

Nicky was shopping alone on a Saturday in a different supermarket to their usual haunt.

She realised she was lost. She telephoned Emily at her home and said to her:

“I'm all lost in the supermarket

I can no longer shop happily

I came in here for that special offer

A guaranteed personality.”

Emily responded: Which supermarket, Nicky?

Nicky: The sign in the store near this public telephone says “Joe’s Discount Supermarket”.

Emily: I know the one. Stay where you are near that public telephone. I will come and get you. There is no need to panic.

Nicky: Thank you, Emily.

Within 15 minutes Emily was approaching Nicky at the public telephone in Joe’s Discount Supermarket.

Emily: Everyday life is still a bit of a challenge for you isn’t it, Nicky?

Nicky: It is easier when you are around.

Emily: Let’s go and have a cup of tea.

Nicky: And a muffin.

As Nicky and Emily ate their muffins and drank their tea, Emily said to Nicky: I suppose I should tell you my last name.

Nicky: It never seemed necessary to ask you about it.

Emily: Well, I decided now is an appropriate time to reveal it to you.

Miss Parsons, if you are so disposed, you may refer to me as Miss Abernathy.

Nicky: Miss Abernathy? So that would also make you Agent Abernathy.

Emily: Correct, Agent Parsons.

Nicky: I was quite attached to Agent Emily.

Emily: Life is presenting you with choices, Nicky.

Nicky: Miss Emily Abernathy, this is a delicious muffin.

Emily: And I am enjoying my cup of tea, Miss Nicky Parsons.

Together the girls laughed.

Steak Sandwich Lunch

Upon his return to MI6 headquarters the day after his successful Foiled By Soup mission, the path to the office of M1 took him past the office of Emily. He paused for a moment as he did so and noticed she was not at her desk.

M1 proceeded to his office and immediately closed the door. He promptly located a piece of blank writing paper and a blank envelope and placed them on his desk. Before he sat down, MI took a £5 note from his wallet and placed it on his desk beside the blank writing paper and envelope. He then sat at his desk and wrote a simple note on the blank writing paper:

“Dry cleaning is expensive .

Agent M1"

He then turned his attention to the blank envelope and wrote on it: Agent Emily.

M1 then folded the writing paper note around the £5 note and placed it in the envelope. The envelope was then sealed and he put the envelope in his jacket pocket.

M1 proceeded to the office of Emily, who was still not hurt at her desk. M1 placed the envelope addressed to Agent Emily in the centre of her desk and returned to his office.

Around morning tea time Emily and Nikki Parsons were walking the halls of MI 6 when Emily noticed M1 and M2 in conversation nearby. She gently grabbed the arm of Nicky Parsons and walked her over to M1 and M2.

Emily said to Agents M1 and M2: I hear you chaps had a successful mission. We should go and have a steak sandwich for lunch to celebrate.

Emily produced a £5 note from her coat pocket and said: “My shout”.

After a slight pause M1 said: M2 knows a great quiet café.

Emily: We will meet at the office of M2 at lunchtime and he can take us to his quiet café.

Nicky Parsons said: “Excellent idea”.

Emily: “See you chaps then” 

Emily and Nicky then went about their business.

When lunchtime arrived, the four (4) agents met at the office of M2 and he took them to his quiet café, where he previously had lunch with M1. Conversation over lunch extended to no more than mundane matters.

When lunch was over and the agents returned to work, M1 and M2 said “Thank you for lunch, Emily”.

Saturday In The Park

It was Saturday morning and Emily was at her apartment doing her washing. In passing the time doing the washing, Emily found herself thinking about an intelligence report she was reading at work the previous day. For some reason she kept thinking about an Iron Curtain couple that were mentioned in that report, Svetlana and Igor. As she was progressing through her washing, she also found herself thinking about the recovered manuscript from her first mission that she definitely did not read. Emily was convinced that the Iron Curtain couple, Svetlana and Igor, were also mentioned in that manuscript. The more she thought about it, the more Emily was convinced they were assassins, and assassins operating in London.

Domestic demands interrupted her thoughts; Emily had run out of fabric softener and so had to go to her local supermarket to buy some. No trouble, she thought. It was a 15 minute round trip. So she changed her shoes, grabbed her handbag and headed out to the supermarket.

As Emily was returning to her apartment, she walked past a café. Sitting in that café right next to the footpath, was a couple in their thirties, talking somewhat loudly in a thick accent. Initially Emily thought nothing more of that couple. After she had walked on about 20 yards, it occurred to Emily that the café couple talking loudly were her Iron Curtain couple, Svetlana and Igor.

Emily immediately took herself and her fabric softener to a public telephone on the footpath. She telephoned Nicky Parsons.

Emily: Hello, Nicky. I was doing my washing and I lost track of time. I just realised I was supposed to go for a walk in the park near my home with you this morning. If you can forgive my oversight, we can meet at the telephone booth near the Bratwurst Café close to my place.

Nicky: "Emily. Our walk in the park? This morning?"

Emily: Yes. Bratwurst Café.

Nicky: I will be there in 10 minutes.

Emily: That handbag you often take to work. It will be perfect for your walk in the park.

Nicky: My work handbag?

Emily: The small one that fits in your coat pocket.

Nicky: I like that handbag.

Emily: Bratwurst Café. 10 minutes.

Nicky: I am on my way.

Emily then quickly walked home, retrieved her firearm and returned to the public telephone booth near Bratwurst Café. While she waited for Nicky to arrive, she noticed she still had her fabric softener purchase with her.

A couple of minutes later Nicky arrived.

Emily told Nicky she wanted to keep the Bratwurst Café in her vision, so their conversation might be a little difficult. Nicky was patient with Emily.

Emily told Nicky her theory about the Iron Curtain couple, Svetlana and Igor.

As Nicky was listening to Emily, she could not stop thinking that this Iron Curtain couple, Svetlana and Igor were assassins that she learned about in her 2020s MI6 spy training.

This couple were the real deal. Nicky revealed none of that to Emily.

Nicky: What do you propose we do?

Emily: I thought we might go and have a chat with them. I assume you have your work handbag with you?

Nicky: Yes, it is in my pocket.

Emily: As is mine. We might even have a cup of tea.

Nicky: I am a little thirsty, now that you mention it.

Emily: Let’s go then.

Emily lead the way to the Bratwurst Café. Upon their arrival Emily took the lead.

Emily: “Svetlana, I have not seen you for ages.”

Svetlana was surprised by this development.

Emily sat down beside Svetlana and placed the barrel of her firearm on the thigh of Svetlana.

Nicky sat down beside Igor and placed the barrel of her firearm at his ribs.

Emily: Igor. Svetlana has told me so much about you. It is good to finally meet you.

Emily: This looks like a perfect time for a pot of tea.

Emily to the café staff behind the counter: Can we have a pot of tea, please?

Café Staff: Certainly, Miss.

Emily put her fabric softener purchase on their café table.

Nicky sat in silence and kept her attention acutely on Igor.

Igor sat in silence. He was not sure what was going on.

Svetlana looked uneasy about her new friends.

Emily: No need to get your purse, Svetlana. The tea is my shout.

The pot of tea arrived quickly thereafter.

Emily thanked the café staff and said she would look after pouring the tea.

Emily immediately poured a cup of tea for Nicky and her from the pot.

She then took her fabric softener bottle and poured some of its content into the pot of tea. She then poured a cup of tea each for Svetlana and Igor.

Emily: Svetlana, you look thirsty. You should drink your tea. As should you, Igor.

Emily and Nicky then pressed their firearms firmer into Svetlana and Igor.

Emily: No need to be shy. We are old friends.

Emily: Drink it all.

Svetlana and Igor looked at each other and at their new friends. The firearms of their new friends were very persuasive.

Svetlana and Igor each drank the tea Emily poured for them.

It was not long before the fabric softener additive took effect.

Both Svetlana and Igor and Igor fell to the floor, convulsing.

The café staff looked concerned.

Emily: It is OK. I have seen this before with my friends. I will take care of it.

Emily to Nicky: Are you OK to watch them? I will go and make a telephone call.

Nicky: I will be fine. Go and make your call.

Emily then went to the public telephone booth nearby and rang MI6:

“ There is a situation at Bratwurst Café near my home. Get a team here fast.”

Emily then returned to Bratwurst Café and Nicky. They monitored Svetlana and Igor until the MI6 team arrived.

The MI6 team worked swiftly. They put Svetlana and Igor into one of their motor vehicles and returned to MI6 headquarters.

By the time their MI6 colleagues left Bratwurst Café, Nicky and Emily had finished drinking their tea.

Nicky: Are we going have that walk in the park, Emily, or are we going to your place?

Emily: My place, Nicky. Let’s go.

Emily paid for the tea and the agents proceeded to her apartment.

As they were walking from Bratwurst Café to the apartment of Emily, Nicky said to Emily: “Fabric softener, Emily?”

Emily: I had to improvise.

Nicky: Improvise you did.

The agents then laughed.

Conference Room

M1 and M2 were walking the halls of MI6 headquarters when they witnessed Svetlana and Igor being processed. As they watched the processing procedure, M1 and M2 enquired about the apprehension of these enemy agents. One of the processing agents told M1 the apprehension of the Bratwurst Café couple was more of the handiwork of Nicky Parsons and Emily and it involved the use of fabric softener as a disabling tool.

M1: Fabric softener?. No way.

M1 to M2: We have to find out the story of the fabric softener.

As they made their way back to their respective offices, M1 and M2 called in to the office of Emily and asked her to explain about the fabric softener.

Emily: I will get Agent Parsons. We will go to a conference room and we will tell you what you need to know about what happened.

Emily then took M1 and M2 to the office of Nicky Parsons: "Nicky, Have you got time to come with me and explain to M1 and M2 how to use fabric softener?"

Nicky: Sure. Let’s go.

As the four (4) agents entered an MI6 conference room, Emily went through the formalities of closing the door and putting up the “In Use” sign.

After the agents took their seats around the conference table, Emily got down to business:

"I was doing my washing and realised I needed fabric softener, so I went to the supermarket to buy some. As I was on my way back to my apartment, I noticed Svetlana and Igor were at a café. I immediately telephoned Nicky and invited her for morning tea. She was kind enough to accept my invitation."

"When Nicky joined me, we entered the café and invited Svetlana and Igor to join us in a pot of tea. After I poured a cup of tea for Nicky and I, I poured some of my newly purchased fabric softener in the pot of tea and poured a cup of tea each for Svetlana and Igor."

"Svetlana found my firearm pointed at her thigh a compelling reason to drink her tea."

"Nicky kindly used her firearm pointed at the ribs of Igor to persuade him to drink his tea."

"Igor was a compliant morning tea guest."

"Surprisingly Svetlana and Igor went into some sort of convulsive response and ended up on the floor. I then went and rang MI6 to send help for these poor foreign visitors. MI6 was kind enough to attend and take Svetlana and Igor away to look after them."

"Is there anything you want to add, Nicky?"

Nicky: No. I am good..

Emily: Are there any questions, gentlemen?

M1: Fabric softener?

Emily: It can have more than one use.

M2: I have no questions.

Nicky: The next time you chaps are doing your washing, think how uncomfortable life will be now for our foreign friends, subdued by fabric softener. That has got to be more than a little embarrassing for international agents.

M1 and M2 were not sure what to say.

Emily: Are you chaps happy now?

M1 and M2: Yes, thank you.

Emily: It looks like this meeting is now over. Enjoy the rest of your day.

The agents then returned to their respective offices.

As Nicky Parsons was about to enter her office, she said to Emily: Well done, Agent Abernathy.

Emily: I could not have done it without you, Agent Parsons.

The agents laughed and Emily returned to her office.

Lowlife Music Manager

Mr Loudmouth

Jason Haldis arrived at their usual lunch spot, a quiet corner table at a discreet café, and immediately noticed the subtle tension radiating from Hermione McEwen. Her usual composed demeanor was fractured by a tightly controlled anger, a rare sight that sent a cold ripple through him.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice low, cutting through the gentle hum of the café.

Hermione recounted an encounter at the coffee shop earlier that morning – emboldened by some perceived slight or perhaps simply malicious intent, a man who was completely unknown to her had been verbally abusive and insulting to her. As she spoke, the ice in her veins seemed to thicken, a sign of deep, controlled fury.

A dangerous stillness settled over Jason. No one treated Hermione that way, he thought.

"Where is he now?" he asked, his gaze sharp.

Hermione gave a brief description and the location of the coffee shop, a place not too far from their current location.

Without another word, Jason rose from his seat. "Wait here," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He walked with an unhurried yet purposeful stride towards the coffee shop. As he scanned the patrons, his eyes sharp and assessing, it did not take Jason long to locate the man who was going to enjoy the pleasure of his company. There was a lingering air of unpleasantness around Mr Loudmouth, even in his solitary coffee consumption.

Jason approached Mr Loudmouth, the Haldis presence radiating a quiet menace that seemed to prickle the air. Jason sat down at the table and leaned in close, his voice a low rumble that would not carry to nearby tables.

"You had some words for my friend earlier," he stated, his eyes locking onto the eyes of Mr Loudmouth. The initial smugness of Mr Loudmouth flickered and was replaced by a dawning unease.

The urge to simply end the Mr Loudmouth problem permanently was a potent current within Jason Haldis, but years of staying in the shadows had honed his restraint. He needed to make a statement, ensure the trouble-maker understood the gravity of his transgression, but leave no trace that could lead back to him.

Jason leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper, laced with a chilling certainty. "You will never speak to her, or about her, in that manner again. If you do, the consequences will be … far more significant than a bruised ego."

Jason held the gaze of the trouble-maker for a long, silent moment, letting the threat sink in. Sensing the genuine danger emanating from this quiet stranger, Mr Loudmouth swallowed hard and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Jason continued: Are we clear? Do I need to take your contact details, so I can check on you?

Mr Loudmouth (Now terrified): No, Sir. That will not be necessary. The message is very clear.”

Satisfied that his message had been received and understood, Jason rose from his seat and turned away, melting back into the flow of the coffee shop patrons.

He then returned to Hermione McEwen at their café table.

"I had a productive chat with your friend," he said simply, as he sat down.

Hermione placed her hand on the hand of Jason as he sat down and softly said “Thank you”.

New Work Proposition

Her equilibrium soon returned to its normal level and Hermione said to Jason: "I wanted to discuss something with you. A potential … opportunity."

Jason raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? This sounds like something that could be more comfortably discussed at your house.”

Hermione: Are you suggesting we get takeaway from here and go to my place?"

Jason: “Good call, Hermione."

A small smile touched the lips of Hermione: "I am not really in the mood for polite café chatter right now, anyway."

They ordered their food, the exchange with café staff brief and efficient.

Once they had their takeaway containers, they left the café and made their way to Hermione's residence, the earlier tension slowly dissipating.

The Hermione Residence

Functional and uncluttered, the home of Hermione reflected her methodical nature. They settled at a small table, the aroma of the takeaway filling the air. As they began to eat, Hermione laid out a few documents.

Hermione: A parent of one of the members of a local rock music band approached me. We know each other. We are friendly. The band is an up-and-coming rock music group. Apparently, they have been generating some significant buzz and decent revenue from gigs and recording releases.

Jason: A band? What is the opportunity? Protecting them from overzealous fans or ridiculous music critics?

Does she want me to whack a music critic? That is the sort of thing you do for fun.

Hermione: (A wry smile) Not exactly. My parent friend became concerned because the band has not seen any real financial return, despite their apparent success. Their manager, with a flamboyant name and less impressive accounting, seems to be consistently deflecting inquiries about their earnings.

Jason: So, a dodgy manager skimming off the top? That is hardly our usual fare.

Hermione: There is more. My initial look at the limited financial information the parent could access suggests Mr Flamboyant is not just taking a cut. The funds are being systematically siphoned off, and the paper trail, though deliberately obscured, points towards significant real estate investments … overseas.

Jason paused his eating, his interest piqued. "Overseas real estate investments? So more than simple mismanagement."

Hermione: Precisely. My parent friend fears the band is being completely fleeced, and Mr Flamboyant is preparing to do a runner overseas.

She approached me because she wanted to know if my creative talents could determine the extent of the damage and, if possible, recover the stolen funds.

Jason: And where do we fit in? Are we retrieving the money, or dealing with Mr Flamboyant?

Hermione: That depends on what we find. The priority is to ascertain the extent of the activities of Mr Flamboyant. The parent is primarily concerned with the band's future and the finances that have been denied to them.

Jason considered this, the aroma of the takeaway now secondary to the potential complexities of the case. A rock band, a dodgy manager, and offshore real estate. It was certainly a departure from their usual clientele, but the underlying injustice and potential for more intrigued him.

Jason: Alright, Hermione. Let's take a look at the band and their books.

Hermione: You may need to curtail your music critic culling activities and assist Mr Flamboyant in having an unfortunate accident that keeps him in the country while I look further into his finances.

Jason: You are back to your old self. That was what I was thinking might be my involvement.

Mr Flamboyant

The next day Hermione turned her attention to the less than impressive accounting of Mr Flamboyant and in particular his predilection for purchasing foreign based real estate.

It was clear to Hermione pretty quickly that Mr Flamboyant had a particular attraction to the Caribbean. Perhaps he was planning a Dreadlock Holiday, all his overseas real estate purchases were in Trinidad and Tobago.

Hermione then telephoned Jason: Jason, I thought I might come over for dinner and a chat tonight. Is that convenient?

Jason: Sure. Dinner with you at my place this evening is an excellent idea.

Hermione: Good.

Not long after Hermione arrived at his residence, Jason was getting an update on the progress of her investigation into Mr Flamboyant. Hermione said she needed more time to complete her investigation and Mr Flamboyant needed to be discouraged from taking a Dreadlock Holiday, at least for a month or three (3).

Hermione: It would be unfortunate if Flamboyant had an accident incapacitating him for a month or three (3).

Jason: It would not be the first time such an accident has occurred in one of our cases.

Hermione: A hospital stay also helps us monitor Mr Flamboyant, in case we need him to contribute to the investigation of his real estate purchases.

Jason: I like how you are concerned for the welfare of Mr Flamboyant, Hermione.

Their dinner conversation then moved on to other more mundane matters.

The Detour

The next day Jason made his way to the residence of Mr Flamboyant. Once he located the Flamboyant motor vehicle, he went to work. That work was quick and efficient. Jason had rigged this type of explosive to a vehicle undercarriage several times before. He knew precisely where to place it for maximum impact on the brake lines, without causing catastrophic damage to the vehicle itself, and he secured it swiftly. Once this task was complete, Jason immediately left the premises.

The following day, Jason monitored the GPS tracker he had also discreetly placed in the Flamboyant vehicle. As Flamboyant drove himself along a stretch of winding road  on the outskirts of Brisbane, a road with a significant drop-off to one side, Jason seized his opportunity. Prompt activation of his remote detonator, and the small explosive did its work.

Inside the car, Flamboyant felt a sudden lurch and the sickening give of the brake pedal as it went straight to the floor. Panic set in as he fought the steering wheel, the car veering wildly on the unfamiliar curves. The inevitable happened quickly; the vehicle careened off the side of the road. The sounds of tearing metal and crashing foliage echoing through the quiet landscape.

An hour passed before the first responders reached the wreckage. Seriously injured and in considerable pain, Flamboyant was finally extracted from the vehicle and transported to a Brisbane hospital.

The attending paramedics noted the critical nature of his condition. They also said it was possible his injuries may have been exacerbated by the time elapsed before medical intervention could be administered.

Upon his arrival at the hospital, the attending medical team confirmed that the delay in reaching Mr Flamboyant on the mountainside had indeed contributed significantly to the seriousness and complexity of his injuries.  Their provisional assessment was that Mr Flamboyant was looking at a period of extensive and prolonged monitoring and treatment of his condition and injuries.

Hospital

Once Flamboyant was admitted to the hospital, further measures were put in place to test his condition and assess his injuries. The results of those measures would inform the duration of his hospital stay.

Shortly after the Flamboyant admission to hospital, Jason received confirmation that the rock band manager was secure and would be out of commission for quite a while.

Jason then telephoned Hermione and told her that any immediate plans Flamboyant had for a Dreadlock Holiday would have to be put on hold, as he was looking at an extended stay in hospital following an unfortunate motor vehicle accident.

Hermione then turned her attention to gaining access to the Land Titles Office in Trinidad and Tobago. Once Hermione transferred title in the subject real estate to her corporation, she could do with it what she liked.

After some considerable initial frustration, Hermione gained the access she desired. She was surprised how simple and easy it was to transfer the titles to all the Flamboyant real estate to her corporation. As she was methodically undertaking those transfers, Hermione thought to herself that Flamboyant should have chosen a country in which to buy real estate that had better security on its Land Title system.

She ensured that Flamboyant had no real estate in his name or control in Trinidad and Tobago. Mrs Parent would be pleased to learn that Flamboyant had not benefited from his criminal behaviour, Hermione thought.

The next step was to sell some of that real estate, so the band could have their cash returned to them, and Hermione found selling that Trinidad and Tobago real estate was surprisingly easy. She chuckled to herself that she thought she got a good price for the real estate she sold quickly.

The remaining recovered real estate, and there was quite a bit of it, was then subjected to creative transfers to other corporations controlled by Hermione.

Hermione Meets with Mrs Parent

Once Hermione was satisfied that Flamboyant had been relieved of his Trinidad and Tobago real estate and it was securely in her control, she met with Mrs Parent. Hermione informed Mrs Parent that she would gain title to one of those now former Flamboyant properties as payment for her work and that of Jason. Mrs Parent was not troubled by the proposed arrangement.

Hermione told Mrs Parent her strategy was informed by uncomplicated logic, the gains of Flamboyant were ill-gotten. He was in no position to complain about any possible illegal behaviour of Hermione.

Mrs Parent responded: Of course, Hermione you would not conduct any illegal behaviour.

Hermione: Absolutely not, Mrs Parent. That would be wrong.

By the way, Mrs Parent, Mr Flamboyant had an unfortunate motor vehicle accident recently, the result of which he was admitted to hospital for treatment.

Mrs Parent: That is terrible luck for Mr Flamboyant.

Hermione: I am sure he has recovered by now and will be released from hospital.

Mrs Parent: Some good news for Mr Flamboyant. He can now go on that overseas holiday I understood he was planning.

Hermione: It would be tragic if Mr Flamboyant recovered from his accident and headed to Trinidad and Tobago, only to discover he was effectively penniless and with no avenue of complaint.

Mrs Parent: Tragic, indeed. I think I might go and tell my son Mr Flamboyant decided to return the money he borrowed.

The telephone of Hermione rang and she took the brief call.

Hermione: Good news, Mrs Parent. That was my colleague. He confirmed to me that Mr Flamboyant has recovered from his accident and has been released from hospital.

Mrs Parent. That is good news. So, Mr Flamboyant is free to go on his Dreadlock Holiday.

Hermione: Yes. I am sure it will be memorable for him.

Mrs Parent: Thank you Hermione. I am enormously grateful to you.

Hermione: You are welcome, Mrs Parent.

Hermione and Mrs Parent then ended their meeting and went off to deal with other matters in their respective lives.

Hermione Visits Jason

Hermione then telephoned Jason: I am coming over for a visit.

Jason: The door is open.

Hermione arrived shortly thereafter and soon she and Jason were in conversation. Ultimately the size of the real estate portfolio they had recovered was discussed.

Jason said to Hermione: “I hope you were not silly enough to transfer all that property to the band, other than the one that was payment for our services.”

Hermione replied, laughing: “You are a funny guy, Jason .”

Then she said: “Let’s go and get something to eat, Jason.”

Jason shook his head and laughed as they walked out the front door.

Foiled By Soup

M1 and M2 Conversation Scene 1

Two (2) male MI6 agents were in conversation about the recent mission that involved Nicky Parsons, Emily and M1.

M2: Those girls saved your life.

M1: Yes

M2: They could have let you die.

M1: Yes

M2: But they saved your life. You.

M1: Yes.

M2: (Surprised and uncertain) It is going to take me some time to process this information.

M1: You are not the only one.

M1 and M2 Conversation Scene 2

About forty (40) minutes later M1 went to the office of M2 and they had a brief further conversation.

M1 to M2: What is the real story about those girls?

M2: No one knows.

M1 said nothing and returned to his office.

Boss and M2

About twenty-five (25) minutes later the boss telephoned M2 and asked him to come to his office.

M2 immediately attended the office of the boss.

The Boss: Come in and have a seat, M2.

You are friends with M1 aren’t you?

M2: Yes.

Boss: Do you mind keeping an eye on him?

M2: No problem, Sir.

Boss: You know he went on a mission recently?

M2: Yes.

Boss: It was a harrowing experience for him. I want to make sure he is OK.

The mission was successful, but it was a lot more than he expected.

So, I just want to make sure everything is OK with him.

I do not want to make a fuss at the moment, but I would like you to keep an eye on M1, if you do not mind.

M2: Sure, Boss. I would be happy to keep an eye on him.

Boss. Thank you, M2.

The meeting then ended.

M2 walked slowly back to his office. He thought to himself he had never seen the boss do that before. He had never even heard of the boss doing that before.

As he was walking back to his office, M2 walked past the office of M1 and he noticed that M1 was at his desk. M2 walked a little way past the officer door of M1 and then doubled back and went into the office of M1.

M2 spoke to M1: Are you busy at the moment?

M1: No.

M2: We should go to lunch. Come on. Let’s go to lunch.

M1: Now?

M2: Yes, now. It will be fine. Grab your coat.

M1 was a little mystified as he grabbed his coat and accompanied M2.

M2: There is a place I think we should visit.

M2 led M1 to a quiet cafeteria a short walk from their office building.

Once they took their seats at their table M2 said to M1:

"Not a lot of people come here. The food is good and so is the service.

How are you feeling now you are back at work after the mission?

Take your time to enjoy lunch, M1. We do not have to hurry back to work."

M1 was still a little unsure about what was going on.

M2: Missions can be intense experiences. I wanted to make sure you were OK after your mission. You do not have to say anything if you do not want to. We can just eat. There is no rush.

After they had started eating their meals M2 said to M1:

"We do not have to hurry back to work. We can go and listen to some music, if you like. Herbie Hancock, Grant Green and Freddie Hubbard have got albums out."

Emily Chats To M2

Nicky and Emily were walking with their usual purposeful stride through the MI6 corridors a while after the return of M1 and M2 from their extended lunch. As they passed the open doorway to M2's office, Emily's hand suddenly closed around Nicky's arm, halting her with a gentle but firm pressure. "Wait here, please," Emily murmured, her gaze briefly flicking inside.

Nicky stopped instantly, her eyes calmly observing Emily's action and the interior of M2's office. Her expression remained neutral, betraying no surprise or curiosity, merely a quiet acceptance of Emily's initiative. If Emily thinks it is necessary, there is likely a reason, Nicky's steady gaze seemed to convey.

Emily stepped into M2's office. He was at his desk, seemingly engrossed in paperwork. Emily's presence in his doorway made him look up, a flicker of mild surprise on his face.

"I think you should spend some time with M1," Emily stated, her tone matter-of-fact, devoid of any overt emotion. It was a statement, not a request.

Emily held his gaze for a brief moment, a silent emphasis on the importance of her suggestion, before turning and exiting the office. Her path had intersected with that of M2 and now she was leaving him to process her words.

Nicky was still waiting patiently at the doorway, her posture relaxed but alert. As Emily rejoined her, Nicky simply nodded almost imperceptibly, a silent acknowledgment that whatever Emily had done was necessary.

Grocery Shopping Romeo and a Female Companion

Without a word exchanged about the brief interaction with M2, together Nicky and Emily continued on their way, their synchronized pace resuming as if the brief pause had never occurred. As Nicky Parsons was about to enter her office, Emily asked her:

"Are we still going grocery shopping after work this evening?"

Nicky Parsons: Yes, and I have sufficient cash on me.

Emily: OK. I will call in here when I am finished work.

Nicky: Excellent.

Emily then proceeded to her office.

At the grocery store Nicky Parsons noticed Romeo. She grabbed Emily by the arm and walked her over to Romeo.

Nicky Parsons: (In a warm, friendly tone) "Hello Romeo. Thank you for coming shooting with us. It was fun."

Nicky Parsons then noticed an adult female companion with Romeo.

Nicky then spoke to that adult female:, a little surprised:

 “Please accept my apology, Miss. That was terribly rude of me. I did not mean to intrude upon you and Romeo. We will leave you two alone now and return to our shopping.”

Nicky Parsons and Emily promptly walked away and resumed their shopping.

A couple of moments later Emily said to Nicky:

“You can be quite the mischievous lass, Nicky.”

Female Work Colleague

Emily walked into the office of Nicky Parsons, looked at her watch and said:

“Nicky, I cannot believe you forgot we are having lunch in the park, now.”

Nicky immediately looked up from her desk at Emily and said:

“Lunch in the park?. Sorry. I have my handbag now and I am getting my coat. Let’s go.”

When Nicky and Emily arrived at Privacy Park they walked a short distance into the park to ensure they were alone, Emily said to Nicky:

“You remember our first mission where we recovered a manuscript?

Nicky: Yes

E: The manuscript that we definitely did not read?

NP: I specifically remember not reading some pages from that manuscript.

E: I am very confident a relatively new female agent in our office has a close male friend who was mentioned in that manuscript that I definitely did not read.

NP: Does this male friend have a surname with lots of consonants and not too many vowels?

E: I like to think of it as an alphabet soup.

NP: Do we need to have a sensitive issues chat with the boss?

E: Perhaps first we might have a chat with Miss Alphabet Soup. We can tell her how the boss is amenable to sensitive issues chats.

NP: I think the boss should come and have a walk in the park with us, now.

E: Let us find a public telephone.. You can tell the boss why he needs to walk in the park with us.

NP: Let’s go.

The agents found a public telephone and Nicky spoke to the secretary to the boss:

“It is Nicky Parsons. I need to have a sensitive issues discussion with the boss, now.”

Secretary: Sensitive issues?

NP: Yes. Sensitive issues. No other ears.

Secretary: I will put you through to the boss.

The Boss: Agent Parsons?

NP: Boss, I need to have a sensitive issues discussion with you. I think a walk in the park is the best venue for this discussion.

Boss: Parsons, we can chat in my office.

NP: You can be in the park in 5 minutes, Sir.

Boss: The park, Parsons?

NP: Yes, sir. Privacy Park.

Boss: Sensitive issues, Parsons?

NP: Privacy Park. 5 minutes.

Boss: 10 minutes, Parsons.

As the boss entered Privacy Park, Parsons joined him as a walking partner and said to him: “We can walk and talk.”

Emily joined them: “Good afternoon, Sir.”

Boss: Emily.

NP: There is no one around but us. Emily can tell you her sensitive information.

Emily: I am very confident a relatively new female agent in our office has a close male friend who was mentioned in some documents recovered on a mission that I definitely did not read.

The male friend has an alphabet soup last name.

NP: Are you aware of this new recruit, Sir?

Boss: I was not aware of Mr Alphabet Soup. Is he someone who should concern me?

NP: That is why we are discussing sensitive issues in the park.

Emily: He looks to me like a unit leader.

Boss: You ladies think our new recruit might be compromised?

NP and Emily: Yes.

NP: Is that enough information for you, Sir.

Boss: It has been an informative walk in the park, ladies. I am going to return to the office. I think you have each earned a half hour walk in the park after I leave. It is such a beautiful park.

Thank you, ladies. Enjoy your walk in the park.

NP: Thank you, Sir.

Emily: Thank you, Sir.

The Alphabet Soup Detour

After the Boss departed, Nicky and Emily walked in comfortable silence for a few moments. As they approached the edge of the park, a nearby small grocery store caught the attention of Emily and she stopped walking.

"One more thing," she said to Nicky, a slight, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. "Let's make a quick stop."

They entered the grocery store. Ever observant Nicky  followed Emily as she navigated the aisles with a focussed determination. Emily stopped at a shelf filled with canned goods and picked up a single can of alphabet soup.

Nicky raised an eyebrow, a silent question in her gaze.

Emily simply held up the can, a knowing look in her eyes. "A visual aid," she murmured.

Nicky's lips twitched slightly in amusement. "Efficient."

They paid for the can of soup and left the store.

The Boss Meets with M2

Upon his return from Privacy Park, the Boss telephoned M2.:

“M2, Come and see me, now.”

M2 immediately attended the office of the Boss.

The Boss: M2, we have a possible London location on a possible Iron Curtain Spy Unit Leader. I want you to surveill him. You may have to apprehend him. Are you up for it?

M2: Yes, Sir.

The Boss: I want you to take M1 with you. Is he ready to go back into the field?

M2: M1 will be fine, Sir.

The Boss: Can you go and get M1 and bring him here with you. I hope to have your mission profiles completed for you by the time you return.

M2 promptly left the office of the Boss to get M1.

Within 15 minutes M2 and M1 were meeting with the boss.

The Boss: Good afternoon, M1. I have another mission for you. M2 here will go with you. Here are your mission profiles. Can I leave you two to discuss the finer details of your mission without me?

M2: Yes, Sir.

M1 Yes, Sir.

M1 and M2 then adjourned to the office of M2. They left for their mission just short of two (2) hours later.

Swift Apprehension

M1 and M2 were positioned in a bustling public square, M2 subtly scanning the crowd while M1 tried to appear casual, leaning against a newspaper stand.

"There," M2 murmured, his voice low and focussed, his gaze fixed on a man a short distance away, examining a street vendor's wares. "Alphabet Soup, ten o'clock. Looks like our boy."

M1 straightened up, his eyes discreetly following M2's line of sight. The man fitted the description provided in their briefing.

"Ready?" M2 asked, his posture tensing slightly.

M1 nodded, a newfound focus in his eyes. The apprehension he felt during and after the recent mission was nowhere to be seen.

Moving with surprising agility, M1 walked with a seemingly accidental stumble directly into Mr Alphabet Soup, his outstretched foot catching the target just behind the ankle. Mr Soup yelped in surprise and began to fall forward.

In that same instant, M2 reacted with lightning speed. He launched himself at the falling man, tackling him low and bringing him down to the hard pavement with a grunt.

Before Mr Alphabet Soup could react or struggle, M1 had drawn his firearm, the cold steel now pointed directly at the chest of their target. His stance was firm, his expression determined.

"Don't move," M1 commanded, his voice steady and authoritative.

Meanwhile, M2 swiftly produced a pair of handcuffs and efficiently secured the wrists of Mr Alphabet Soup behind his back.

With their target secured, M2 helped the now subdued man to his feet. "Let's make a call," M2 said to M1, nodding towards a nearby public telephone booth.

M2 guided Mr Alphabet Soup to the public telephone, while M1 kept his firearm trained on him. M2 quickly dialled a number.

"This is M2," he said into the receiver, his voice calm and professional. "We have the package.”

Answering a question asked of him by the MI6 operative he was calling: Yes, that is our location. Request immediate extraction team."

After a brief confirmation on the other end, M2 hung up. "They are on their way," he informed M1.

Within minutes, the sound of approaching sirens grew louder. Two (2) unmarked vehicles screeched to a halt nearby, and several more MI6 operatives emerged, moving with practised efficiency.

"We will take him from here," one of the lead operatives said to M2, nodding towards Mr Alphabet Soup.

M2 relinquished his hold, and the other MI6 operatives took charge, escorting the handcuffed Mr Soup to one of the vehicles.

M1 holstered his weapon, a sense of satisfaction evident on his face. He had performed his part efficiently and effectively.

"Let's go report in," M2 said to M1, a hint of approval in his tone.

Confrontation with Miss Mildred Pennyworth

Nicky and Emily approached the desk of the new female agent, Miss Mildred Pennyworth. Emily held the can of alphabet soup in plain sight.

"Miss Pennyworth," Nicky began, her tone calm but direct. "The Boss would like to have a conversation with you. Now."

The new agent looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face, which quickly morphed into something akin to apprehension as her eyes landed on the can of alphabet soup in Emily's hand.

"It concerns your … associate," Nicky continued, her gaze steady. "A Man with a rather memorable surname. One might even describe it as … alphabet soup."

The colour drained slightly from the face of the new agent. She glanced nervously at the can in Emily's hand, then back at Nicky.

"The Boss is waiting," Emily added, her voice neutral but firm, gesturing subtly towards the direction of the Boss's office with a slight tilt of her head.

Nicky stepped slightly closer. "Shall we?"

Without a word, the new female agent, Miss Mildred Pennyworth, rose from her desk, her expression a mixture of fear and resignation. Nicky positioned herself slightly behind Pennyworth, while Emily walked beside her.

They proceeded to escort the new agent towards the Boss's office.

When the trio arrived at the office of the boss, his secretary greeted them in silence.

She immediately buzzed the boss and said: You have three (3) female visitors, including Miss Parsons. I am going to send them straight in.”

The Boss promptly opened his office door for his visitors.

The Boss said: Ladies.

Nicky Parsons: “Miss Mildred Pennyworth here is keen to chat with you, Sir. As we are more familiar with you. We helped her with the introduction.”

Emily then proceeded to place the can of alphabet soup on the desk of the boss.

The Boss: Thank you, Miss Parsons and Emily. Miss Pennyworth and I can discuss her relocation within MI6 and probation without you.

Nicky Parsons and The Rogue Agent

MI6 agent M2 walked in to the office of his work colleague MI6 agent M1 and had a conversation with him.

M2 to M1: I hear your girlfriends went on a mission.

M1: I have no idea what you are talking about.

M2: "And not just any mission, they secured and retrieved a sensitive document.

Rather awkward for you. The boss could have sent you, but he sent the girls."

The telephone rang.

M2: I will catch you later.

Discovering The Iron Curtain MI6 Agent Has Gone Silent

Agent Emily spent quite a bit of her day reading an intelligence report. Something about it seemed a little off. Emily had been made aware that a trusted MI6 agent operating deep undercover behind the Iron Curtain had gone silent. There were fears the agent had been compromised and may possess sensitive information.

Emily walked into the office of Agent Nicky Parsons and said to Nicky: "We have not walked in the park for a long time. We should go for a walk in the park."

Nicky: (Looked at Emily with all of her attention). Yes. A walk in the park is a good idea. After work today?

Emily: Yes. I will come and get you.

Nicky: OK.

Emily returned to her office.

About an hour later, at the end of their work day, Emily walked to the office of Nicky Parsons. Nicky was ready and they promptly proceeded to the park where they had previously had their discussion about Nicky dealing with the creep, fatally.

Once they were effectively alone in Privacy Park, Emily told Nicky she was confident that the trusted MI6 agent who was supposed to be operating deep undercover behind the Iron Curtain and had gone silent, had been relocated by the enemy to the United Kingdom. That conclusion was a product of her reading an intelligence report.

Emily: I want to be careful who at MI6 gets told of my information because the subject missing agent may possess sensitive information.

Nicky: OK. I have a plan. First thing tomorrow morning we will see the boss. Leave that organising to me.

Emily: OK. Good.

Emily then proceeded to tell Nicky where she thought the subject agent was located and the possible threat he and his information might pose.

When Emily finished, Nicky asked her: Are you OK? Do you want me to spend the night at your place?

Emily: I am OK. First this thing tomorrow morning I will go to your office, then we can go to see the boss

Nicky: OK.

With that Nicky and Emily made their way home.

The next morning Nicky and Emily met in Nicky’s office and then went to see the boss.

The boss invited Nicky and Emily in to his office.

The Boss: How can I help you ladies?

Nicky spoke to the Boss: You know we are women and sometimes we have sensitive issues we need to discuss? Sensitive issues that no one else needs to hear?

The Boss:(A little perplexed): Yes.

Nicky: "We need to discuss some sensitive issues with you. Issues that no one else can hear and issues that cannot be interrupted. Do you understand what I am saying to you? No other ears and no interruptions.

If this is not a good location, we have another location where we can have this discussion."

The Boss: You can have your discussions right here, right now.

He then buzzed his secretary and told her “No interruptions until I tell you otherwise.”

The secretary responded clearly, “Yes, Sir.”

Nicky: So now we have your attention? No other ears? And no interruptions?

The Boss: Yes.

Nicky: Emily has some information for you.

The Boss: Emily?

Emily told the boss: She was confident that the trusted MI6 agent who was supposed to be operating deep undercover behind the Iron Curtain and had gone silent had been relocated by the enemy to the United Kingdom. This conclusion was a product of her reading an intelligence report.

The Boss listened attentively and said nothing until Emily was finished speaking.

The Boss: "So we need to see if we can locate and recover this rogue agent.

Your assessment of this situation was correct. We need to be careful who has information about this situation. My initial feeling is that you two are going on another mission.

I need to work out the extent to which you might need assistance.

Is there any other information you need to tell me?"

Emily: No.

Nicky: No.

The Boss: "Do not say anything to anyone else about this. I hope to talk to you again shortly about this mission.

Are you to ladies ready to go at very short notice?"

In unison Nicky and Emily said “Yes”.

The Boss: “Thank you for coming to me, ladies.”

The Boss then walked Nicky and Emily out of his office.

They then both walked to the office of Nicky.

Emily: Thank you, Nicky.

Nicky: No trouble at all, Emily.

The telephone in the office of Nicky rang. Nicky answered it. The Boss wanted to seem them both immediately. The both proceeded directly to the office of the boss.

The Boss: Are you ladies ready to go now?

Nicky: Yes

Emily: Yes

The Boss: Do you have any problem taking M1 with you?

Nicky and Emily: No

The Boss buzzed his secretary: Can you send in M1, please.

M1 entered the office of the boss.

No need to sit down, M1. I have a mission for you. Do you have a problem with working with Nicky and Emily?

M1: No.

The Boss: Good. The ladies can explain the mission to you on the way. Good luck to all of you.

The trio left the office of the boss and proceeded to the office of Nicky.

Nicky essentially worked out the mission plan. Emily knew the safe houses in the area she suspected the rogue agent to be located. M1 stayed quiet and listened intently.

Within an hour they were on the road in an MI6 mission vehicle en route to their first choice safe house and their proposed surveillance site.

Unexpected Encounter

The trio – Nicky leading, Emily providing tactical overview, and a still somewhat tentative M1 covering their rear – were moving through a dimly lit back alley in a less salubrious part of London, following a lead from Emily's intelligence report research, regarding a potential contact of the Rogue Agent.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, moving with a speed and intent that screamed "operative." He recognized them – or at least sensed they were a threat to his own mission. A cheap but effective-looking silenced pistol appeared in his hand.

"Stand down, MI6," the Iron Curtain operative hissed, his accent thick and cold. "You are interfering."

Before M1 could even raise his weapon, Nicky reacted with lightning speed. A blur of motion, her own sidearm was in her hand, seemingly appearing from nowhere. There was no hesitation, no warning shot. Two (2) sharp, controlled cracks echoed in the narrow alley, the silencer muffling the sound to a mere cough. The operative staggered, a look of shocked disbelief on his face, before collapsing silently against a grimy brick wall.

Simultaneously, Emily had moved laterally, her own weapon drawn and trained on any potential backup. Her eyes were sharp and focussed, assessing the surroundings with lethal efficiency.

The entire exchange was over in a matter of seconds. The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the distant sounds of the city.

M1 stood frozen, his weapon still holstered, his mind struggling to process the sheer speed and finality of what he had just witnessed. There was no struggle, no prolonged fight, just swift and decisive neutralisation. He stared at the fallen operative, a dark stain blooming on his chest, his eyes wide and vacant.

Nicky holstered her weapon, her expression grim, but devoid of emotion. She glanced at M1, a flicker of impatience in her eyes. "M1," she said, her tone flat. "Stay focussed. There could be others."

Her scan of the alley complete, Emily nodded in agreement. "He was not working alone. We need to move."

M1 remained rooted to the spot for a moment longer, the image of the shocked face of the operative and the clinical precision of the actions of Nicky burning into his memory. He swallowed hard, a knot forming in his stomach. This was not the clean, detached world of briefings and strategy. This was visceral, immediate, and brutally efficient.

Suddenly, the hand of Emily clamped firmly onto the arm of M1, her grip surprisingly strong.

"Get moving, M1," she said, her voice sharp and leaving no room for argument. She gave a decisive yank, pulling him forward. "We have not got time to wait around. That was just an appetiser. There will be more."

Nicky was already moving, her senses alert, scanning the alley ahead. Jolted by the action of Emily and her stark words, M1 finally snapped out of his stunned state. The reality of their dangerous situation crashed back down on him. He stumbled forward, trying to catch up with the two women, the image of the fallen operative still vivid in his mind, now overlaid with the unexpected forcefulness of Emily's command. He understood, with a chilling certainty, that he was operating with a different calibre of agent than he had previously encountered.

Safe House

The silence in the safe house was thick with unspoken tension. Nicky moved with her usual quiet efficiency, securing their weapons and ensuring their temporary haven was locked down. M1, still visibly shaken, sat heavily on the edge of a worn armchair, replaying the alley confrontation in his mind.

Her movements precise and deliberate, Emily turned to face M1 directly. Her gaze was unwavering, her expression devoid of sympathy.

"M1," she began, her voice low and cutting through the silence. "Nicky has a kinder heart than me." She gestured subtly towards Nicky, who was methodically cleaning her firearm, her focus entirely on the task at hand. "She is inclined to wait for you, to ensure you are keeping up, perhaps even to try and protect you if things go sideways."

Emily's gaze returned to M1, hardening. "I am not. I am quite happy to leave you to fend for yourself. If the bad guys get you because you are too slow, too hesitant, or too busy being stunned by the realities of our work, then that was a choice you made. I do not need you being a problem, M1. Your inexperience, your shock – it is a liability. Get over it. Fast."

M1 shifted uncomfortably under Emily's intense scrutiny. He flickered his gaze towards Nicky, hoping for some sign of disagreement or reassurance. However, Nicky continued to clean her weapon. Her silence speaking volumes. Her lack of intervention served as a tacit endorsement of Emily's harsh words. It was clear that while Nicky might possess more empathy, she also understood the brutal necessities of their profession and would not coddle someone who could not keep up.

The weight of Emily's words, coupled with Nicky's cold neutrality, hung heavy in the air. M1 finally understood the true stakes of this mission and the calibre of the women with whom he was working. He had to adapt, and fast, or risk being left behind – both literally and figuratively.

High-Rise Fall

The tension in the opulent, top-floor apartment was thick enough to cut with a knife. Broken furniture and scattered documents littered the room, remnants of a fierce struggle. Nicky had her weapon trained on another Iron Curtain operative across the room, while M1, still recovering from the shock of their previous encounter, was attempting to secure an escape route.

Unseen by M1, a second Iron Curtain operative, positioned near a large, open window overlooking the city far below, was lining up a shot. His target: M1. The glint of metal from his weapon caught Emily's sharp eyes just a fraction of a second before he squeezed the trigger.

Without a word, reacting purely on instinct and a fierce protectiveness of her team (even the still-recovering M1), Emily launched herself across the room with surprising speed. She collided with the operative by the window with the force of a small battering ram, her momentum sending him stumbling backward.

There was a choked cry of surprise and a desperate scrabble for purchase on the window frame, but it was too late. The operative, caught off balance and propelled by Emily's powerful shove, tumbled out into the open air.

A sickening, drawn-out sound – a muffled yell abruptly cut short – drifted up from the street below.

M1, who had been focussed on the other operative, whirled around at the commotion, his eyes widening in disbelief, as he saw the empty window frame and the horrified realisation dawning on the remaining Iron Curtain agent.

He stared at Emily, who stood panting slightly, her gaze steady and resolute. The sheer speed and brutality of her action left him speechless, a fresh wave of shock washing over him. This was not just about neutralising a threat; it was about eliminating it with extreme prejudice and unwavering decisiveness.

Her weapon still trained on the remaining operative, Nicky did not flinch. Though firm, her voice held a note of urgency.

"We have to get out of here. Now. That will have alerted anyone else in the vicinity."

Momentarily stunned by the sudden demise of his comrade, the remaining Iron Curtain operative now glared at Nicky and Emily with a mixture of fury and fear. He knew he was outmatched.

Ever the lead, Nicky was already moving swiftly towards the exit, her senses sharp, assessing potential threats. The remaining Iron Curtain operative stood frozen, his face a mask of disbelief and dawning fear at the brutal efficiency he had just witnessed.

However, M1 was still completely rooted to the spot, his mind struggling to process the image of his adversary plummeting to his death. He had not even registered Nicky's movement.

Without breaking stride, Emily turned back. Her hand shot out, gripping M1's arm with surprising force, yanking him forward. Simultaneously, her other hand smoothly drew her firearm, levelled it at the stunned Iron Curtain operative, and with two (2) quick, precise shots, silenced him permanently.

"Get moving, M1," Emily stated, her voice cold and devoid of emotion, her gaze never leaving the fallen operative for more than a split second. She continued to pull M1 along, urging him towards the exit.

They followed Nicky out of the high-rise building, leaving behind the silent testament to their lethal efficiency. Physically propelled by Emily and mentally reeling from the second brutal act he had witnessed in rapid succession, M1 could only stumble along in their wake, the reality of their mission and the capabilities of his partners sinking in with terrifying clarity.

Safe House Aftermath

The tension from the high-rise had morphed into a weary exhaustion in the safe house. Nicky was methodically cleaning their weapons, while M1 was still processing the events, his movements slow and dazed.

However, Emily was focussed on a more immediate concern. She turned to M1, her expression a mixture of annoyance and pointed practicality. She gestured to a smudge of something dark on her jacket sleeve.

Emily to M1: "Look at this outfit, M1. You are paying for the dry cleaning. Do not argue with me. Look at this outfit.

You could try to get MI6 to pay for it as a work expense, but you would have to explain to the boss how I saved your bacon.

You realise all of this will be included in the report on the mission?

Is going on a mission fun, M1?"

Nicky remained focussed on cleaning her firearm.

Nicky then said: Is anyone hungry? Do you want to get something to eat?

Local Cafeteria

The three (3) MI6 operatives adjourned to a local cafeteria.

Over their meal, Nicky Parsons asked M1:

"When Emily shoved that guy out the window and saved your life, did you think you would be eating a steak sandwich afterwards?"

Emily: Do not worry, M1. This meal does not have to go into the mission report.

Emily looked at a male sitting alone in the cafeteria and said to Nicky, silently “That is our guy”.

The response of Nicky Parsons was swift and focussed:

“M1 got to the front door and close it. Then stand guard.”

“Emily, go to the cafeteria staff and tell them you have to make an urgent telephone call. Ring the boss.”

They each obeyed the request of Nicky.

Nicky located her firearm and walked over to the rogue agent.

Nicky said to him: “We are going to wait here together until my friends arrive.”

The Mission Report

At the end of the mission Nicky and Emily compiled their mission report.

Emily told Nicky she would show it to M1 before she submitted it. Nicky agreed.

Emily then attended the office of M1.

Emily to M1: I have a report for you to read.

M1 read the mission report in silence. He noticed a distinct lack of post-high rise incident meal and no mention of dry cleaning.

M1 was surprised that he did not come across as a fool, but rather a worthwhile team member.

When he was finished reading the report, Emily said to M1: Are you happy with that report, M1?

M1: (A little shocked) Yes.

Emily: Are you happy for me to submit that report, M1?

M1: (Still shocked) Yes.

Emily: OK. I am off to submit this report.