The teams have been divided up to investigate Perfect Match. Comings and goings. Thanks for the reviews guys. They keep me going.
Oscar sighed. "I think you need to know," he murmured.
"Know what ?" asked Aneisha.
"Dan and Keri," whispered Ilya.
Oscar looked around them casually to make sure nobody was sitting within earshot. "Keep it casual Aneisha," he warned. Aneisha immediately swept the emotion off her face. She couldn't afford to be caught out here. "You weren't told about this in case you got caught out," explained Oscar. "Dan and Keri have been working undercover as Zac and Tanya Zucchero. They are a pair of criminals who were captured recently by MI9 and were chosen at random as a way for MI9 to infiltrate the activities of Perfect Match. Nobody expected to find that Perfect Match were training someone to take their place," he hissed, rolling his eyes at Aneisha.
"Do you think they might be the two people who are coming here this afternoon ?" asked Aneisha quietly, trying to keep a cheery smile on her face.
"It would be a big coincidence if it is not them," said Ilya, grinning widely. Aneisha had to swallow a laugh. It was so incongruous sitting here discussing the possible abduction of her friends with big happy smiles on their faces.
"Erm guys," came Tom's quiet voice in their ears. It felt like he was talking inside Aneisha's head. It felt odd, but also weirdly sexy. At least it felt like that to her. She doubted it had the same effect on Oscar and Ilya. She struggled to refocus. Tom didn't sound happy. "Guys, I've got some news. Not good news," said Tom. "Dan and Keri were abducted a few minutes ago. Everyone's on alert. We need you guys to keep your eyes open," he added. They heard some murmuring in the background as Tom was apparently conferring with someone else. "Erm, just so you know, Dan was injured," he paused. "We need to find them guys," he said finally in a very subdued tone.
There was a moment's silence. Aneisha watched the two older agents faces freeze for a second before they set their expressions back to neutral. She had to admire the two. They really could put on an act. "They said they were expecting a couple of people today," said Aneisha thoughtfully. "They might be here. Have you been able to see much of the building ?" she asked.
Oscar looked at Aneisha thoughtfully. He admired her ability to keep professional in the circumstances. He wondered if he would have been able to do the same at her age. "We haven't been able to get far. I waited until the toilets were being cleaned yesterday and used that as an excuse to search the building. I got turned back from a corridor beyond where the catering area is," Oscar told the others.
"I also have tried pretending to be lost," explained Ilya. "I came to a door with a keycode which I could not go through. It was towards the back of the building. I have been thinking about how much of this building we have been able to see and I think that the rest of the building must be two times the size of the building we have already accessed," said Ilya.
"That's a lot of building," said Oscar.
"It could be computer halls and offices," whispered Tom's voice in their ears.
Aneisha wrapped her legs around one another. It was sooooo dreamy hearing his voice in her head. Seriously ! She needed to concentrate. Oscar was giving her a funny look.
"It's a weird sensation isn't it ?" asked Oscar with a gentle smile.
"Mmmm !" agreed Aneisha, glad that he was misinterpreting her reaction.
"What was that ?" asked Tom's voice.
"I do not think it can all be computers and offices," said Ilya. "It is too much space."
"I agree," said Oscar. "We need to try to penetrate those areas. It's possible that Dan and Keri are there."
"We can't do it now," said Aneisha. "We would be seen straight away."
"If you bring me your passcards I might be able to get you better access privileges once the building has been vacated," murmured Tom's voice.
"You mean you might be able to get us in after dark ?" asked Oscar.
"Er yeah. That's what I said wasn't it ?" asked Tom's voice.
Aneisha rolled her eyes at Oscar and Ilya grinned. "Okay, let's spread out and see if we can find work out the layout of this place," suggested Oscar. "Well, it was lovely speaking to you again Molly !" said Oscar more loudly. "I hope the next assignment goes well for you," he added, standing up and kissing Aneisha on the cheek.
"Oh, and you too !" said Aneisha, gushing a little. "Break a leg !" she added, waving the two boys goodbye.
oooxxxxoooooo
Dan woke up feeling groggy and sore. His leg was throbbing painfully. He lifted his head and felt a wave of dizziness come over him. He sensed someone brushing up against where he was lying. "Dan ? It's Okay. How are you feeling ?" asked Keri's concerned voice.
"Huh ? What happened?" asked Dan.
"We thought an MI9 ambulance had come for you, but they weren't MI9," explained Keri, her words coming out in a rush. "These guys hit me and Carrie with sleep darts. The next thing I woke up in here and after a bit they carried you in. They got the knife out of your leg and bandaged it up," she said.
"What about Carrie ?" asked Dan, still feeling confused.
Keri shrugged. "No sign," said Keri simply.
Dan ran his hand down his right thigh and found his trousers were gone and there was a bandage tightly wrapped around his leg. He wanted to lift his head and look at it, but couldn't find the energy. His head seemed to weigh like lead. He turned his head and looked directly at Keri. She winced.
"What ?" asked Dan.
"You look like a ghost," said Keri faintly.
"Thanks," said Dan.
"Sorry. It's just, well, you're not normally like this," explained Keri. She looked shaken and a little upset.
Dan reached out his hand and touched hers. "It's alright. It's probably just loss of blood. I'll be right as rain in a day or so," he said. "We'll be kicking butt again in no time," he said with a smile. It wasn't much of a smile. He was so, so tired. His head sank back into a couple of pillows.
"They said you should get plenty to drink," said Keri. "I'll get you a cup," she offered. Keri returned after a moment with a plastic cup of water. She lifted his head for him so he could get some gulps of water. He hadn't realised how thirsty he was. He soon drained the cup. "More ?" asked Keri. Dan nodded. She repeated the procedure two more times. Dan felt a bit better after the third cup.
"Thanks," Dan whispered. "Any way you can get out of here ?" he asked her.
"You mean 'we can get out' don't you ?" asked Keri.
Dan shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere for a while. You could do it though," he suggested. "You don't have to stay here."
"I don't think I'm going to be strolling out of here any time soon," said Keri resignedly. "I've had a good look round believe me. This place is solid. We're going to need help."
"They'll be coming soon," said Dan quietly.
Keri watched him as he drifted off to sleep. "I hope so," whispered Keri. "I'm not going without you," she added when she knew he wouldn't hear.
