Boats Afloat Affair
Chapter 3
Even though he owned a 30-foot sailboat, Napoleon found that piloting the 44 foot Cascade that they had been given was just as easy as piloting in his boat. While it did have a 55 horse-powered engine, he preferred using the three masted sails that allowed the wind to push them quickly but gently along.
He could hear Jo in galley preparing their midday meal. The full kitchen had a refrigerator, propane stove with oven, and fully stocked cupboards. Included in the cabin were a dinette and settee that could be converted to a sleeping area if needed, a bathroom that included shower, sink and toilet, and two separate berths over 7 feet each.
Jo and he had spent the night before trying out one of the berths finding it very comfortable especially with the sea gently rocking the boat. They woke this morning hungry and relaxed from a night of lovemaking, unlike the last few days that had been demanding with little time for rest.
Jo woke up first the second day out, looking at the man she had finally admitted that she was in love with. She watched this suave, sophisticated, charming and worldly agent as he slept.
His perfect grooming was in disarray as his dark hair was scattered on the pillow and his face slightly crinkled up in a dream. She loved every bit of him, from that cute lock of hair that always fell on his forehead to the scars on this back.
Slowly she began to kiss each part of him waking him in the process. He pulled her toward him kissing her hungrily.
"To what do I owe this awakening? Not that I am complaining," he said looking up at her. The bright red hair she had adopted for the assignment made her Slavic skin seem even paler.
Her bright blue eyes shown down at him but instead of answering she leaned into him returning his passionate kiss. Breakfast would have to wait.
The smell of food cooking woke Jo up for the second time that morning. She smiled as she rolled over. "Oh yea, I won't mind waking up every morning this way," she thought.
….
The last morning before they were to dock, they were awakened by a demanding communicator calling for their attention. Napoleon unwrapped himself from Jo's arms to answer it.
"This better be good," he demanded of whomever was calling at as he looked at his watch that indicated it was only 6 a.m.
"Did I wake you?" Illya cheerful voice asked, "I would think you would be up sailing and enjoying the clean morning breeze while coming to join us."
"Okay what makes you so cheerful this morning?" he asked while trying to put on the coffee pot, but hitting his bare foot in the process he let out a string of profanity in French.
"Ah Napoleon, so unprofessional and your accent is still horrible. We have met the birdies that we are interested in, been asked about our view of changing employers, and were requested to set up a tour of your boat later today when you dock."
Getting serious he said, "We'll be ready for you to board about 1600 so go ahead and arrange it. And my accent isn't that bad, it gets the job done."
"See you later," Illya chucked as he signed off.
Napoleon laid back down next Jo, grabbing her as he leaned in for a kiss, his communicator beeped again.
Jo grabbed it demanding, "What do you want this time?"
"Miss Kuryakin," Alexander Waverly's voice answered, "Is there a problem?"
"Ah, no sir. Sorry sir," she answered, having expected it to be her brother again she was surprised that her boss was on the other end.
"Just one moment sir, Napoleon is right here," she answered more formally.
She quickly handed the communicator to him.
"Your progress Mr. Solo?"
Napoleon gave a quick update while attempting not to laugh at Jo's embarrassment. When the report was concluded, the Old Man again drew his attention to Jo.
"Perhaps Miss Kuryakin you could do with a refresher course on correct communicator etiquette." He said as he ended the transmission.
….
After speaking to Napoleon, Illya called Schmidt arranging to meet him at the dock at 4 p.m. "Aren't you worried that he'll recognize your partner?" Gloria asked after he hung up the phone.
"If we worried about that, we would never be able to do our job. No, the minor changes in Napoleon and Jo's appearances should be enough to draw the attention away from who they are. For me, Thrush knows about my blond hair but take it away and I am not so noticeable."
Gloria thought about it, "But what if they recognize you?"
"We figure it out then; do not worry, you will be safe—it is our job."
Gloria walked away from him shaking her head. She didn't understand these Section 2 people, one wrong move could cause their deaths something she just realized, but still they continued to do this type of work. Maybe they weren't as bad as she thought after all.
….
Napoleon and Jo readied the yacht for the visit.
"Are you sure you'll be okay with your role in this?" he asked her.
"Will you and everyone else stop asking me that? The doctors all released me for fieldwork so they must believe I will be okay. If I was uncomfortable I would have told you," she shot back at him as his question irritated her.
"Besides," she added smiling to show that she was sorry for her outburst, "I have had little experience with men, so this will help with my research into that subject."
Leaning down to her for a quick kiss, he yelled as she bit his lip before running toward the bow of the boat. "Ow! Josephina Nichovia."
He ran after her catching her then he pulled her toward him, "I'll give you all the research you'll ever need."
He kissed her then playfully pushed her away, "If you're interested that is."
Her smile was all he needed to let him know that she was definitely interested.
….
They were ready when in the afternoon Gloria and Illya met the yacht dockside to discuss briefly their next move before Schmidt arrived.
"What exactly are we looking for, a bomb or just parts?" Napoleon asked Gloria.
"I know that certain countries have already acknowledged their ownership of nuclear weapons; if I am right that would be the US, USSR, United Kingdom, France, and just in more recently The People's Republic of China."
"Each country has their own casting for the shield and they can be made easily. However all weapons need a radar antenna and guidance control, control instruments…" Gloria began to list the parts of the weapon.
Before she could get any further, Napoleon said, "Okay I have it. There are many parts they need to deliver in order to make a working nuclear weapon. "
"So Thrush could be transporting any of these parts then," Jo clarified.
"Yes, any or all. You need to get me to Schmidt's storage area so I can see how far this has gone." Gloria's voice echoed the fear that she felt. "They could cause a war."
This straightforward statement summarized what each of them was thinking; this time they could actually be saving the world. As they became lost in their own private thoughts, they sat back waiting for Schmidt to arrive and the game to continue.
….
Schmidt arrived on time for his tour. Illya introduced him to Anthony and Jenny Conte. Schmidt shook hands with Napoleon, and nodded toward Jo who was sunbathing in a chair on top of the cabin.
"Thank you for allowing me to see your boat." Robert said, "I have a small skiff, but hope one day to have something like this."
"I understand how you feel," Napoleon assured him, "It's one of my two loves."
"Oh?"
"The other is my wife, Jen come down and join us?" he called up to Jo.
Jo slowly rose from the lounge chair, slipping into a deep blue swimming jacket to cover her scanty blue bikini clad body. The jacket had a lacy front with a back made of satin and long sleeves covering old scars that hadn't faded yet from her last assignment.
As she descended from the roof, her flaming red hair was blowing in the wind. Napoleon held out his hand to help her.
"Mr. Robert Schmidt, my wife, Jen," he said kissing her hand as he introduced her.
It was obvious that Schmidt was ogling Jo, leaving no doubt as to what he was thinking as she leaned into him while he took her hand kissing it continental style.
After the tour was finished and before he left, Schmidt made a point of inviting Anthony and Jenny to the party at his home that evening. After Schmidt left the area, the agents agreed that he seemed satisfied with the boat and the potential it had to help support his transport needs.
They had passed the first visit from Schmidt and their cover had held; although they were in disguise it still amazed them that considering the number of picture of them out there with Thrush that they were still not recognized.
….
The three agents and Gloria arrived at the formal affair Napoleon and Illya dressed in white tuxedos to which Napoleon was taking enormous pleasure in teasing his partner about knowing how much Illya hated dressing up.
Gloria was wearing a green long gown with spaghetti style straps. Jo was in a low cut black gown with a lacy jacket contributing to the desired effect of tempting Schmidt to pay attention to her while Napoleon and Illya searched his office and basement.
Robert made a beeline to Jo, taking her hand and leading the group to a corner where he had drinks brought to them. "I'm so happy that you could make it."
His gaze never left Jo. "Perhaps you would honor me with a dance." She nodded as he led her to the center of the floor.
For the next few hours, he ignored most of his guests in favor of spending his time with Jo while they danced, drank and talked. While Jo kept Schmidt busy, Napoleon and Illya slipped away to begin their searches.
At the same time as Schmidt and Jo were dancing he pulled her closer to him, his hands started to roam her body.
She pulled back and said, "Excuse me, I will be right back, need to use the powder room." With that, she escaped down the stairs away from him.
As she reached the restroom, she remembered the last time someone other than Napoleon had put his hands on her. The nightmare returned full force, and she started to shake. "So much for telling the Old Man it was over and done with. How I hate this type of assignment."
Suddenly she sensed someone behind her and was annoyed that she hadn't realized she had been followed, but was relieved when she saw it was only Gloria.
"You Section 2 people really don't have morals do you? Look at that dress. It's all fun and games, expense accounts, and boats whenever you like, traveling all over the world, bringing back mementos from all those places." Gloria accused her.
Jo had enough of this woman and her comments. She turned to walk back to dance floor before her temper got the best of her when she felt her thin jacket slip off her shoulder as Gloria grabbed it revealing just a few of the scars it was hiding.
"What the hell happened to you?" Gloria was in shock.
"Just a few of the mementos you were talking about," Jo said pulling the jacket back over her shoulder.
"I would not touch an agent like that again; we tend to act first, think later. That is another of our characteristics that you forgot to mention."
Jo escaped Gloria walking back upstairs to where Schmidt was waiting. As she returned to the room, she saw the Napoleon and her brother were just returning from their search. She went back into Schmidt's arms for the next dance.