The leaders of MI9 had called a meeting regarding the kidnapping of Derren Beige. On the holographic projector, the CCTV of Derren Beige's kidnapping, along with the fruitless chase by Frank and his agents, was being played over and over again. Stella was getting sick of seeing that large cow blocking the way backstage.

"It's like I've always said. They are children, not spies. And look what's happened now!" Horatio Stark's voice was painfully annoying. "They should be dismissed immediately and sent back to school where they belong."

"They are at school," Stella reminded him, gritting her teeth in a search for patience that she did not have. "They are based at St. Heart's. And children and spies are not mutually exclusive. It's possible to be both."

However, the other chief agents, albeit unbiased, seemed to agree with him. "Agent Knight, you are completely correct, but the fact remains that they allowed an apparent clairvoyant to be kidnapped right under their noses. And we have no idea who took him. Unless there is an update on that information?"

"With all due respect, sir," Stella replied, choosing her words carefully. She tried not to notice the giant cow appear on the screen for the hundredth time. "They were merely on a surveillance mission."

"But we still do not know the identity of the kidnappers?"

"Unfortunately not, sir," Stella admitted reluctantly. "But I am certain they are working on it now."

Stark took this moment to interject. "You can't be certain of anything with those kids. Children are unpredictable! They - "

"Thank you, Agent Stark," said one of the superiors, obviously annoyed at his fruitless interruptions. However, he still had questions for Stella. "Nevertheless, the situation does bring into question the competencies of these young agents. Is it right to assign them work that could be done by more experienced adult agents?"

Stella bit her lip. This was the question she had been asking herself for some time, unable to put together an appropriate response. "Sir, I cannot protest that they are less experienced than adult agents. But at the same time, their ingenuity and youth are advantages that adult agents do not have. This is apparent in many of their previous successes."

"Very well. However, with regard to letting targets get away, this was not the first incident. Last year, they were in the same room as the Crime Minister and Mastermind, yet both escaped unscathed."

Stella was now thoroughly annoyed, and her palms were becoming sweaty from the pressure of answering these difficult questions. "I myself was there on that occasion, and I can confirm that we barely escaped with our lives. I am sure that there is no doubt that the lives of British citizens are infinitely valuable."

The panel of superiors consulted among themselves, while Stella stared resolutely at the desk. The image of the giant cow blocking her agents was being projected on the screen once more. She had no desire to look at it.

"Very well. We shall place a temporary suspension on Daniel Morgan, Keri Summers, Aneisha Jones and Tom Tupper."

Stark leapt from his seat. "That's ridiculous. They should be dismissed entirely. They have jeopardised - "

"That's enough, Agent Stark. Sit down."

Stella remained silent. A suspension was the best they could have hoped for.

"Now there has been some question over the competency of Agent Frank London."

Enough was enough, Stella decided. She stood up as calmly as possible, and spoke with as much dignity as she could muster. "I have known Frank for over a decade. He is imperfect like any other human but he makes an excellent agent. There is much evidence in his mission records. If you would like me to elaborate, I could go on for hours."

She sat down, ignoring Stark's accusatory mutterings.

Now came the verdict. "Very well, Frank London is suspended along with his team. Chief Agent Knight, I will leave you to inform and carry out the suspension. Meeting dismissed."

As everyone left the meeting room, Stella saw the ridiculous giant cow on the screen once more, though this time her vision was blurred. Frank and the team would be so disappointed. None of it was their fault - it was all a huge amount of bad luck. Swallowing resolutely, Stella left HQ to head towards St Heart's.