Rhiannon and M2 were out socialising. They walked past a coin-operated photograph booth.
Rhiannon stopped and got M2 to enter the booth with her. Photographs of them kissing were taken. Shortly thereafter Rhiannon sent one of the photographs to Nicky Parsons at MI6 headquarters, accompanied by a note:
“Someday My Prince Will Come, Nicky. Someday My Prince Will Come.”
When Nicky Parsons opened her mail and saw the photograph and note, she said with a smile:
“Someday Your Prince Will Come, Rhiannon. Someday Your Prince Will Come.”
Nicky put that mail in her drawer, for safe-keeping.
Mr Loan Shark Goes Legitimate
Happily for Rhiannon her extra-curricular activities were enjoying a quiet period. The life of an ordinary record store girl suited her just fine. She decided to use her lunch break at the record store to visit Mr Loan Shark.
As Rhiannon walked into the premises of Mr Loan Shark, she greeted him, Mr Goon and Mr Brunette Criminal.
Rhiannon: “Good afternoon, gentlemen. I have some news for you. With the guidance of Mr Loan Shark, Mr Goon and Mr Brunette Criminal will operate a legitimate private investigation firm. That legitimate private investigation business will give you a legitimate reason to maintain the skills I need you to have as part of my network. Those skills will also be very useful in this loan shark business. If you need a licence to operate, you will get one. If you need to do a course to qualify, you will do that course. You are being given the option of a better, legitimate life and you will do the necessary work to secure that option.
“That legitimate private investigation business is good community public relations for me and it will generate legitimate income for me. That will help me fund the expenses I incur in doing the extra-curricular work that I do. Work that has directly benefited all of you.
“In part, the legitimate private investigation business could benefit from the intelligence my network acquires and it may also be a source of intelligence for me and my network.
“Think carefully, Mr Loan Shark. Do you think you could branch out into the legitimate business of private investigation?”
Mr Loan Shark: This is quite a surprise, Miss Rhiannon. I had never really thought of it before, but I can now see the benefits of it. I think I could branch out as you have suggested and provide guidance to Mr Goon and Mr Brunette Criminal.
Rhiannon: Mr Goon, Are you prepared to take part in this legitimate venture and give some respectability to this setup? It has obvious benefits for you.
Mr Goon: Yes, Miss Rhiannon. I am prepared to be a part of the proposed legitimate private investigations business, and do the qualification work, if necessary.
Rhiannon: Mr Brunette Criminal, Are you prepared to join your colleagues in the proposed legitimate venture?
Mr Brunette Criminal: Yes, Miss Rhiannon.
Rhiannon: Mr Loan Shark, You run this loan shark business. I do not need to manage the transition to the private investigation business for you. You are quite capable of doing that. You do not need to rush, but equally I do not expect you to dawdle.
I have to get back to the record shop. You can keep me updated with your progress.
Good luck, chaps.”
As Rhiannon left the loan shark premises to return to the record shop, a chorus of “Thank you, Miss Rhiannon” followed her.
The Community Security Fund Bank Account
The Bank Accountant was in conversation with the owner of the neighbourhood supermarket, a customer of the Bank.
Supermarket Owner: “Mr Accountant, I understand you had some excitement here recently and it was foiled very effectively by the young lady in the record shop. I also understand it was not the first time she has helped out this community in dangerous circumstances. Her good and dangerous work should not go unrewarded.
“Were you to set up a Community Security Fund Account for the Record Shop young lady, in recognition of her service to the community and a reward for effectively anonymous acts of bravery, the community would be able to contribute to the bank account, as a way of thanking her for her efforts. I would be prepared to contribute to such an account via my supermarket business.
Bank Accountant: That is an interesting proposal, Mr Supermarket Owner. I also understand our record shop lady is giving a couple of criminals a chance at a better life via a legitimate Private Investigation Firm with which she is connected.
Supermarket Owner: That seems to strengthen the argument for the Bank to set up the Community Security Fund Account I proposed for Miss Record Shop. I am sure you can authorise the establishment of such an account.
Bank Accountant: You have convinced me, Mr Supermarket Owner. I will let you know when the account is set up and available to receive contributions. I think it would be a good idea if you were present when I told Miss Record Shop the account has been established.
Supermarket Owner: As you wish, Mr Accountant.
The Famous Five and MI6
A couple of weeks after the Someday My Prince Will Come mail episode, Nicky Parsons hosted a casual Famous Five team meeting in her office. M1 made an interesting contribution.
M1: “I am on record as saying I misjudged Rhiannon. I have not changed my mind in respect of that assessment of her. As Rhiannon The Tea Drinker, she was an unpaid MI6 informant, but that relationship ended by agreement because her utility diminished.
“I propose reigniting the relationship with Rhiannon The Ordinary Record Shop Girl, based on her proven new skills and attitude. She should not do the good work she does now and not get paid for it. Rhiannon has much greater utility to MI6 now and she warrants being retained for Black Operations.
Emily: That is certainly a confronting proposal.
Harriet: And not without merit.
Nicky: Rhiannon is still keen to keep in touch with us and invite us to help her.
Nicky noticed the Boss walking past her office. She went outside, gently grabbed him and redirected him to her office.
Nicky: “Welcome to a closed door team meeting of The Famous Five, Boss. I have a proposal for you.
I (we) want you to authorise the retention of Rhiannon The Ordinary Record Shop Girl by MI6 for Black Operations.”
A chorus of “Yes” from the Famous Five accompanied the request by Nicky Parsons.
Boss: The Someday My Prince Will Come, lady?
Nicky: Yes.
Boss: Is this the knee shot lady?
Nicky: Yes.
Boss: You all support this?
The Famous Five: Yes.
Boss: Was this your idea, M2?
M1: It was my idea.
Boss: Sometimes I wonder if there is much difference between black operations and some of what you five do.
Remind me again. You all support this?
The Famous Five: Yes.
Boss: Strange as it may seem, there is a sort of paperwork for this. I will let Nicky and Harriet take care of it. Your request is granted.
The Famous Five: Thank You.
Boss: May I return to my office now?
Nicky (chuckling): Yes, Sir. Thank you.
As The Boss left to return to his office he said: “Enjoy your day, agents.”
The Community Security Fund Account and Financial Advice
Rhiannon was at the bank in completely uncontroversial circumstances doing the routine banking for the record shop. A bank staffer noticed her presence and immediately notified the Bank Accountant, who was in conversation in his office with Mr Supermarket Owner.
The Staffer to the Accountant: Sir, You asked to be notified whenever the lady from the Record Shop was in the bank. She is here now.
Bank Accountant: Excellent. Thank you, young man. I will go and see her.
By this time Rhiannon was at a teller making her deposit for the record shop.
Bank Accountant: Miss would you mind coming to my office when your business with the teller is done. I have some news for you.
Rhiannon: OK.
Teller: She can go now. We are all done.
Bank Accountant: Could you bring her to my office, please.
The Bank Accountant returned to his office and almost immediately Rhiannon arrived with the teller.
Bank Accountant: “Please have a seat. This is Mr Supermarket Owner. He is part of the news. We want to thank you for the good work you did here recently in dealing with the troublemakers in the bank.
“Mr Supermarket Owner said your efforts should not go unrewarded. Not just your efforts here, but your efforts in the community in general. Mr Supermarket Owner suggested the bank set up a Community Security Fund Account for you, where members of the community might make contributions to assist you and ensure that the expenses you incur in the work you do are not borne by you alone and as an indication of gratitude for the work you do.
“His argument was not only persuasive, it was compelling. Accordingly the bank is prepared to establish a Community Security Fund Account for you. You would control the account and we have no need to know how you spend the money. We would like you not to waste the money. That is not said as an insult, but rather as a demonstration of our concern for your welfare.
“The offer of the establishment of a Community Security Fund Account for you is accompanied by a suggestion that you consult and perhaps work with a financial adviser or a money man, as some people call them. I have the details of a money man we think would be a good fit for you.
“Mr Phineas Rothsenberry is a quiet unassuming man and a meticulous financial advisor. He operates his practice out of a small office above a haberdashery not far from here. His job is to manage the money, not to ask where it comes from. His role would be to ensure your Community Security Fund Account was kept impeccably, that all deposits were properly recorded, and that your relevant expenditure was meticulously documented.
“By dealing with Mr Rothsenberry, you would be at arm's length from the bank, me and Mr Supermarket Owner and how you dealt with the Community Security Fund Account would be entirely your business.
“I also understand you may have an interest in a Private Investigation business. Mr Rothsenberry may also be able to help you with the finances of that business, should that be your wish.”
Rhiannon: I am very grateful to you gentlemen. Your offer is kind and thoughtful. I am inclined to accept your offer, both of the bank account and of the financial adviser.
Bank Accountant: I will make arrangements for the Community Security Fund Account to be established in respect of you. When it is available, I will contact you. I will also contact Mr Phineas Rothsenberry to let him know we have recommended you consult him in respect of the account.
Rhiannon: Thank you, gentlemen. I had better get back to the record shop.
The Florist
Rhiannon organised a meeting with the financial advisor, Mr Phineas Rothsenberry.
Rhiannon: “Mr Rothsenberry, my attendance here is a consequence of a meeting I had with the Bank Accountant and his client Mr Supermarket Owner. They were involved in the establishment of a Community Security Fund Account at the bank for my benefit. They suggested I consult you to manage that account and my other financial affairs. I also have a business proposal to discuss, so with this meeting we can see if this relationship can work for us.
“A brief personal history seems apposite. I used to be a Tea Drinker and work at The Tea Drinkers Club. I reached a stage where I could no longer bring myself to do that kind of work, so I sought alternate employment. I am now an Ordinary Record Shop Girl and my transition to that new life is complete. My boyfriend is an MI6 agent, so danger has not completely left my life. It is sufficient to say I have learned some self defence skills.
“In my new life as an Ordinary Record Shop Girl an incident occurred which led me to meet Mr Loan Shark. He helped me deal with a problem that confronted my new employer. A consequence of that interaction with Mr Loan Shark is that I have also established a Private Investigation Firm and his two employees form that legitimate business under his guidance.
“The Private Investigation Firm provides his employees with an opportunity for employment in a legitimate business, rather than the shady underworld. Part of the inspiration for the establishment of the Community Security Fund Account was the employment of those two chaps in the Private Investigation Firm. You managing the financial affairs of that Private Investigation Firm would also be part of my proposed relationship with you.
“And now to the business proposal. It is informed by the Private Investigation Firm. I propose that a former work colleague from The Tea Drinkers Club run a florist business for me. It is sufficient if I identify this lass as Miss Begging Escort and the description is not an insult.
"Miss Begging Escort would cease working as a Tea Drinker and ultimately run an ordinary level florist, which would blend in with the surrounding businesses.
“At the start the business would employ an experienced lead florist, who correctly believes they are simply being hired to run the new shop and who is looking towards retirement. The experienced florist could teach Miss Begging Escort the necessary expertise. She would groom Miss Begging Escort to take over from her.
“That business model has some comparison to the record shop that employs me. Part of your job would be to find an appropriate florist business to fit those criteria. I will deal with the transition of Miss Begging Escort from her current vocation to her new one.
“The private investigators delivering flowers has some attraction for both their businesses. Of course, that is a small part of the private investigation business, but the businesses helping each other out is a deliberate strategy. It seems to me to offer a useful cover for their work.
“The Private Investigation Firm had the luxury of Mr Loan Shark overseeing the running of the business. The florist presents a different challenge. I propose that you take on the business supervisor role.”
Rothsenberry: “It is hard to think of an introduction to a prospective client that compares with yours. Managing your financial affairs is a challenge I am happy to embrace and that includes the florist business. I will look for a florist business for you and also an appropriate lead florist. I like your business endeavour and I think we can do business.”
Rhiannon: Thank you. I will now share my proposal with Miss Begging Escort. We can keep each other informed as to our progress. Have a good day, Mr Rothsenberry.
Miss Begging Escort and The Florist Proposal
Rhiannon telephoned Miss Begging Escort: I have a proposal I want to discuss with you. The venue is the café across the road from the record shop.
Miss Begging Escort: I will be there in 30 minutes.
Once they were settled in the café, Rhiannon outlined the florist business proposal and Mr Phineas Rothsenberry to Miss Begging Escort.
Rhiannon: It is a new life for you and a new business for me. I do not want either to fail. Say good-bye to tea drinking and take this opportunity. It will not be easy, but the effort will be worth it and support will be around you.
Miss Begging Escort: Whatever I was expecting to hear from you, this was not it. Tea drinking offers no future. This is an opportunity I did not expect to see. I accept your offer and I will do my best to make it work, for both of us.
Rhiannon: Excellent. I will let you know when the florist business becomes a reality. Until then, do not discuss it with anyone.
Miss Begging Escort: OK.
Progress In Floraville
About 10 days later, Mr Phineas Rothsenberry telephoned Rhiannon: I have found you a florist business that seems a good target to purchase and I have also found an experienced florist, Mrs Maxine Hubbard, who is prepared to work with your proposal of training Miss Begging Escort.
Rhiannon: Thank you. I will meet with Mrs Maxine Hubbard and have a discussion with her.
That discussion took place in the café across the road from the record shop. Rhiannon told Mrs Maxine Hubbard about her own transition from Tea Drinker to Ordinary Record Shop Girl and how she wants to offer a similar opportunity to Miss Begging Escort. The Private Investigation firm was further evidence of her reformation business strategy.
Mrs Maxine Hubbard told Rhiannon she was prepared to get on board.
Rhiannon then telephoned Mr Loan Shark: “Come to the café across the road from the record shop now and bring your two employees with you. I have a new business venture to discuss.”
Mr Loan Shark: We will be there in fifteen (15) minutes.
Upon their arrival Rhiannon conducted introductions.
Rhiannon: “Gentlemen, Mrs Maxine Hubbard will be running Floraville, my new business venture, a florist, and part of your duties will now include conducting flower deliveries for that business, as required. It should not take you too long to see how the florist business can assist your business. I am not interested in this business failing, so do not let me down. The lass you know as Miss Begging Escort will be working with Mrs Hubbard. An exchange of contact details seems appropriate.
“I will let Miss Begging Escort know of these developments.
Are there any questions?”
There were no questions.
Rhiannon: Thank you for your attendance everyone. I now have to leave.
Rhiannon then telephoned Mr Phineas Rothsenberry: Everyone is on board for the florist business. We can now make it happen.
Rhiannon then telephoned Miss Begging Escort: Miss Penelope Styles, Come and have dinner with me at the Minor Key Café, your new life as a florist is soon to begin.
Penelope Styles: As she burst into tears, “Thank you. I will be there in about 30 minutes.”
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