Okay, internet connections are terrible out here in the country. Either that or it's our connection. Oh well, here is another chapter for you to enjoy.

Enigma

Chapter Eleven

And So It Begins…

Huntsville, Alabama

SHIELD Safe house

17:03 hours

"Marissa should be back from Miami soon. She took out one of the suppliers down there," Natasha informed Clint as she sat down next to him at the table. "She got out about thirty people including about a dozen or so children."

"What kind of sick person exploits children? That is just sick," Clint retorted, absolutely as revolted as Natasha felt. "I'm ready to get this mission over with, now!"

"Me too. As soon as Marissa returns, we end this."

Natasha and Clint decided to put in movie on while they waited for Marissa's return.

Natasha looked at the television screen and frowned, shifting the bowl of popcorn around in her hands. "You're seriously going to make me watch a James Bond movie?"

"Why not? We can make fun of all the inaccuracies," Clint joked as he took the bowl of popcorn from her and started snacking.

"Great," Natasha muttered as she sat down beside him. "Which Bond is this one?"

"Sean Connery. Goldfinger," Clint replied. He took on a mocking tone. "'Do you expect me to talk, Goldfinger?' 'No, Mister Bond. I expect you to die!'"

"That's so stupid," Natasha replied.

"Come on! This is classic Bond!" Clint exclaimed.

"Fine. Let's just watch the damn movie," Natasha said settling in next to her partner.

Near the middle of the movie, Marissa walked in, looking very weary and tired. "Goldfinger?" she asked incredulously. "Huh, classic James Bond. Good movie, but very inaccurate."

"Tell me about it," Natasha groaned. "I don't know why I let Clint force me into watching it with him."

"Just to pass the time until you got back, Marissa. I heard you had some fun in Miami."

"Yeah. I took out a major trafficker. Lots of fun. Did you sort through all of that information I sent you?"

"We have plenty to take Craig Nottingham down. We'll take out the kingpin. Other teams can eliminate the lackeys like you did in Miami," Clint answered.

"So, after this mission, will my probationary status be lifted or will I have to do other missions before I earn my status?"

"That's up to Fury, but personally, I think you earned it. Don't be surprised if you find a new uniform in your room when we return," Natasha replied, groaning as James Bond performed another wild stunt that she would never dream of doing.

Marissa shook her head at the wild stunts of Bond. "I'm going to take a shower and rest for a while. Wake me up in four hours?"

Natasha and Clint nodded.

Safe house

22:50 hours

Marissa picked at her salad as the trio discussed their plan to end the operation. "We need to get Nottingham and his top cronies away from the office so that we can get the innocents out. It should be some place public."

Natasha took a look at a map of downtown Huntsville. "Well, the courthouse is out of the question, so let's look further outside of the square. We have Big Spring Park with the art museum and Early Works museum for children. I don't like those two locations either. "

"The Park is too open, so I wouldn't use the pond. There is the Regions building and the historic depot," Clint pointed out buildings on the map. "The Regions building would be a good spot for a sniper. What's this building here?" He asked pointing at a building near a couple of churches.

"That's the library," Marissa pointed out. "Maybe I could lure Nottingham away with a trip there. He knows that I like to read, and we can also tell him that some of the books there can help the innocents learn English better."

"Okay. I can see that," Clint said. "We can get SHIELD retrieval teams to pick the innocents up and transport them to the nearest headquarters."

"Then, we take out the lackeys. Hopefully, this won't be too messy," Marissa replied.

They continued working out every facet of their plan well into midnight. Around two A.M., they called it a night. Marissa walked into her room and pulled out her favorite weapon from under the bed.

"Maybe I'll actually get to use it tomorrow," she said aloud as she examined the sheen of the blade. She ran a finger tip across the blade, smiling as the blade nicked her skin. "Still sharp, wonderful."

She sheathed her katana and put it under her bed for the night. She pulled on her pajamas and fell into a light slumber. Marissa knew she would need her rest before the big day.

Of course, fate had other plans that night. Marissa was roused from her sleep an hour later by the shrill ring of her cell phone. She blinked the sleep from her mind as she looked at the ID screen.

"Damn," Marissa muttered as she saw Craig Nottingham's name flash up on the screen. "Craig, honey, why are you calling me at three in the morning?"

"I needed to hear your voice. I just got some bad news an hour ago."

Yeah, I just killed one of your suppliers, you Dummkopf! "What happened?" she asked, pouring on the sappy concerned girlfriend act. "You need me to come over?"

"I just lost a big investment. One of my suppliers has been eliminated. I have just potentially lost millions in revenue."

"Oh no," Marissa gasped. "Please tell me it wasn't our friend in Miami?" she half pleaded convincingly. Please do tell.

"Unfortunately, yes. An associate of Delacruz's found him and three of his men dead in his warehouse. His merchandise was nowhere in sight. Jose Marco had a bullet in his forehead."

Marissa feigned shock. "How horrible. Someone really didn't like him. How are you coping, Babe? You need me?"

"I'll be fine, Penny, my dear. Jose Marco was a dear friend of mine and I feel his loss greatly, but his business will carry on. So we must carry on, too. We'll get the money back soon."

You make sick, you bloody scum of the Earth! "Okay. As long as you're okay, Love. I'll see you in a few hours. Think you can hold yourself together until then?"

"I'll be fine, Penny. Your concern and worry is touching. I'll see you in the morning. Get some sleep, Love. Sweet dreams."

"Good night, Craig." Enjoy it while you can! Marissa thought to herself as he put the phone back on the bedside table. It'll be your last.

August 2, 2008

Craig Nottingham's workplace

9:23 hours

Natasha was not surprised to say the least when Marissa told her and Clint that she had received a phone call in the middle of the night from C-Note about the Miami supplier's death.

"At least he doesn't suspect me, yet," Marissa had said when she relayed the details of the conversation and how she played up the worried, concerned girlfriend act.

"So, he knows about what you did in Miami, but not that it was actually you," Clint had replied. "Good. It'll make it easier for you to lure him away from the office. Tell him he needs the distraction."

So, now Natasha wondered when Craig Nottingham would grace the office with his presence. Since the three of them had started the undercover op, Natasha had never known Nottingham to be more than ten minutes late to work. The death of his supplier most have hit him harder than expected.

Marissa walked in to Natasha's office. "Hey, Mona. You have a client who would like to arrange a fantasy night with a special someone."

Natasha gave her surrogate sister a groan and stood up. "You really have a way with words, don't you Pen?" She picked up her notebook of portraits.

"You love me for it and you know it, Sis," Marissa shot back with a cheeky grin.

"Have you seen C-Note yet?" Natasha asked as they walked into the lobby.

"Craig? No, not yet. He's taking the death of his colleague rather hard, though. So he probably won't be in for another hour or so. I'll call and check on him while you're with your client."

Marissa dropped cover for a moment when they were alone in the hallway. "I'll run her info while you talk to her. Name's Chelsea McGuire."

"Got it," Natasha said as she walked into the lobby. "Ms. McGuire? I am Ramona Scarlette. Mr. Nottingham has left me in control of his male assets while he is away. I understand you are looking for some special company tonight?"

"Yes. A birthday present for myself. I have always fancied a night in Paris, but I can't get away now. So I'll settle for it here."

"Well, I think we can arrange that." Natasha presented the portfolio of men to Ms. McGuire. "What type do you prefer? I have all types here. Pick your favorite, then we can set up a menu that you like."

"I'm thinking strong and sexy, dark brooding eyes. " The woman took a look at the pictures. "He's a nice one."

Natasha took a look. "He's highly sought after. You have good taste."

Marissa walked back in. "Hey, Mona. I need the expense report for the champagne you ordered for a client."

"Just a second, Penny."

Marissa shook her head and mouthed, "She's clean," to Natasha.

Natasha fiddled around the desk for the paper. "I don't see it on my desk. I'll email you a copy."

"Okay." Marissa smiled and walked away again.

"So," Natasha turned back to the client, "have you thought about a menu for your entertainment?"

The woman began rattling off different ideas that she liked. Natasha noted her ideas on a piece of paper. Natasha threw in some ideas of her own.

"Okay. Let me run this by my boss. I'm sure we can come up with an evening that will excel well beyond your wildest fantasies. As for price, this will total about three grand. We'll take half upfront and the rest after the night is over. Do we have an agreement?"

"Sounds lovely. Thank you Ms. Scarlette."

Chelsea McGuire produced the requisite fifteen hundred.

"I will contact you with the information as soon as it is set up. I suggest you dress for a night in Paris." Natasha smiled as she gathered the information up from her desk and placed it in a manila folder. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."

"Likewise, Ms. Scarlette." The woman walked out if the office. Natasha sighed in frustration and dropped her pen on desk.

"Another satisfied customer?" Clint asked her as he walked in, Marissa trailing behind him.

"Shut up, Birdbrain," Natasha shot back.

"Just trying to make conversation, Babe," Clint said. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little tense," Natasha replied. "I could use a break."

"Let's go get some coffee," Marissa suggested as they walked to the break room. "Showtime," she said in a soft voice. "Nottingham arrived fifteen minutes ago."

Clint handed Marissa an earpiece to put on. Marissa pretended to rub her temples as she put hers in. They weren't alone.

"Headache again, Babe?" Clint asked her, placing the hand with her earpiece over her cheek. He placed it in her ear and kissed her on the forehead.

"I feel better already. Thanks, Jeremy," Natasha said, putting a hand on Clint's shoulder.

Marissa handed Natasha and Clint a cup of coffee. "Maybe some caffeine will help too, Sis."

"Thanks, Sis."

Marissa finished her coffee quickly. "I'm going to see Craig. Check and see how he is doing."

Natasha nodded, watching as her new friend left the lobby. "I hope everything works out okay," she murmured to Clint as she sipped her coffee.

"Me too, Nat. Me too."

"Sound check," Natasha heard Marissa's voice over her earpiece.

"Loud and clear, Sis."

"Here we go."