"Canadian Consulate, Constable Turnbull speaking. How may I help you?" The incessantly happy blond Mountie answered the phone as he always did, with a pleasant smile on his face, as if the speaker on the other end of the phone was physically present in the room. "Of course, sir, I'll put you through to her right away."
Turnbull hummed to himself as he pressed the button on to put his superior's superiors in Ottawa on hold, and then the button that put him through to Inspector Thatcher. He didn't let her impatient "What is it, Constable?" phase him. "Phone call from Ottawa, sir, they say it's important. Would you like to take it now, or shall I inform them that you are busy and will return their phone call?"
Inspector Thatcher didn't really feel like dealing with political BS today. It was her job, and she was good at it, but sometimes she missed being out in the field with one goal: maintain the law. With a sigh, she told Turnbull "Go ahead and put them through." They will go away faster if I deal with it right away, she thought to herself.
"Thatcher speaking." she said as soon as she heard the click indicating Turnbull had followed her instruction.
"Inspector, this is Superintendent Ronald Billingsley with the Special Interests Division. It has come to our attention that your tenure at the consulate in Chicago has not been entirely diplomatic in nature as was your original assignment. Your actions and those of your subordinates were not at all what we would have expected from someone with your strong diplomatic record." Inspector Thatcher bristled at what she expected to be at least a slap on the wrist, if more lasting action was not to be taken. Why had she allowed one of her subordinates to involve himself in matters which were of no concern to the Canadian Consulate in Chicago, or the Canadian government in general? She had no good explanation for Constable Fraser's infuriating, paperwork-generating actions, which were centered around his belief that if you see a good deed that needs to be done and is within your ability, there is no reason you should not do it. Now how to explain that to the stuffed shirt on the other end of the line…
"Sir, let me explain." Inspector Thatcher sat back in her chair for what she expected to be a long and unpleasant conversation. "The involvement of Consulate personnel in the business of the Chicago Police Department is never part of official RCMP duties. Neither is it detrimental to the RCMP or the Canadian Government. Specifically, Constable Fraser's, ah, activities, have benefitted Chicago citizens greatly. As a result the RCMP has received quite a bit of positive publicity. I have allowed these activities to continue for this very reason. I'm sure you are well aware…" Thatcher was interrupted before she could finish defending her management of the consulate.
"Inspector, I don't believe you understand. This call is not to reprimand you, but to commend you. We haven't received as much positive publicity from south of the border in many years, and it's you and your personnel who are responsible for it."
"Thank you, Superintendent." Inspector Thatcher was pleasantly surprised by this observation. In her experience, higher ups in the RCMP were only interested in two things: gaining a promotion, and making themselves look good on paper. She was even beginning to see this in herself, and she didn't like it.
"We have not only been impressed with your management of consular affairs, but also in your adept transition between diplomatic activities and field work."
"Field work, Sir?"
"Yes, Inspector. Your involvement in stopping terrorists intent on unleashing a nuclear meltdown on Chicago has been noted, as has your continued efforts to keep these men behind bars, with the so-called help of the United States FBI. There was also an amusing incident involving small-time kidnappers, eggs, and one Henri Cloutier, I believe, that while not as spectacular as your previously mentioned efforts, were nonetheless examples of your skills both in field work, diplomacy, and ethics. In short, the reports that I have personally read have convinced me that you are the right man for the job, er, I mean woman."
"What job, sir?" Inspector Thatcher overlooked the Superintendent's gender mistake. She had encountered it many times before and took it as a compliment that she was seen as an RCMP Inspector first and a woman second.
"We have a convict that will be transferred in seven days from a maximum security prison in 100 km outside of Ottawa to a smaller facility farther north. This prisoner has been a model inmate for the last 3 years, and to those uninvolved with his particular case, is an excellent candidate for rehabilitation in a less secure facility. However, those of us who worked to bring him in know him to be quite duplicitous. The charge we were able to convict him of was only the tip of the iceberg. He has done unspeakable things, and he needs to be kept behind bars. I can do nothing within the law to keep this man in maximum security for the remainder of this sentence. The only thing I can do it to make sure he is offered absolutely no means of escape during his transfer. I want our best officers monitoring his every move."
"Superintendent, do I understand that you want me to be a babysitter for a convict?" Inspector Thatcher had never been quite so insulted.
"I guess you could put it in those terms, Inspector," Billingsley said with a bit of a laugh in his voice. "You were always one to put things in the least flattering light. However, I would prefer you to think of this assignment as a challenge in quick thinking, flexibility, and exercising your skills to their fullest ability. Because, mark my word, Inspector, James Endicott WILL attempt to escape. We just don't know when or how." He paused, then continued. "Oh, Inspector, it's not just your presence that is required. You will need to select a partner, someone who you have worked with previously, and whose skills complement your own. Of course, the choice is yours, but I may suggest the constable you worked with on the terrorist case would be an excellent choice. Fraser, I believe, was his name."
"Yes, Superintendent, Constable Benton Fraser. And I agree with your choice. While Constable Fraser, being honest almost to a fault, is not adept in diplomacy or intrigue, his observation and tracking skills are second to none in both urban and natural environments. From your description of this project, I suspect that Constable Fraser's skills will be much more valuable to this project than my own." Inspector Thatcher found herself praising Fraser more than she would have ever said to his face. In fact, she more often than not took him to task for getting into the situations that developed these skills and kept them sharp. Spending a week with him would be a challenge to her patience as his superior officer.
"Will you need substitute personnel at the consulate while you will be away?" Billingsley asked.
Inspector Thatcher thought for a moment. She wanted to decline, saying that her staff was perfectly capable of handling the extended absence of their superior officer, but the consulate staff consisted of only herself and Constables Fraser and Turnbull. The thought of Turnbull in charge of the consulate for longer than an afternoon was enough to make her shudder. "Yes. I will need someone to oversee basic consular affairs as two thirds of the consulate personnel will be involved in this effort. Our remaining Constable, while more than adequate in a support position, is not, ah, adept at making the kind of decisions for any situation that may arise in my absence.
Billingsley smiled as he heard Thatcher's description. "Ah, I understand the type, young, energetic, eager to serve, but without a diplomatic cell in his brain," replied the Superintendent. His description of Turnbull was almost too accurate. "Very good then. I will have my secretary send you the travel paperwork for yourself and Constable Fraser. Your temporary replacement will arrive in tomorrow evening."
Inspector Thatcher hung up the phone then picked the receiver back up and dialed Fraser's office number. As soon as he picked up, she said, "Constable, I need to see you in my office. Now." She hung up with no explanation.