Hope I didn't scare anyone off! And now, we're off to another assignment!
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Thank you guest reviewer –Taylor, for your kind review!
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INTERPOL Intrigue / Spooks Beguiled – Chapter 12
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The next morning when Emily arrived at work, she discovered there was a large basket of red delicious apples on her desk.
Smiling, she saw there was a card in it and took it out and read it and was soon induced to laughter.
Her secretary Mrs. Diggs came running in to find out what was the matter with her only to see Emily bent over next to the basket.
"Whatever is the matter with you, Agent Prentiss?" The middle aged woman was holding her chest in relieved, eyeglasses almost askew.
Emily looked up at her and shook her head, "Oh, nothing at all, Mrs. Diggs. Would you like an apple?"
She glared at Emily as though she had lost her mind before she shook head, "No thank you, Agent Prentiss. Not at eight in the morning." She turned around and headed back to her office.
Emily walked to her chair and sat down before she picked up her cell phone and quickly texted to Lucas.
PC: Got your apples but shouldn't this be the evil step mother's job?" SW.
She put her phone down and turned her laptop on and commenced to check on her emails.
Her phone buzzed; a text from Lucas; PC?
She smiled as she texted back; Prince Charming!
He texted; Oh, I'd preferred Lucky Charms, cereals are better than that fictional wimpy looking fella (yes, had to Google and saw a photograph of a Disney picture of him…frankly I do not see any resemblance!) Come on E, I'm much better looking than him.
She laughed out right as she read his text.
She fired back at him; OK, you are way better than he is, LC!
There, much better, SW! Gotta go, Harry is making faces.
Harry doesn't make faces, he only has one face. Later!
She sighed happily as she continued with her emails, answered them, did her routine
"Agent Prentiss, you have a..make that two visitors to see you." Mrs. Diggs came on in the interoffice phone.
"Who is it?" Emily asked while still buried with a report.
"Um…Security Council Member James Prentiss, and Ambassador Elizabeth Pre…Wait! Ma'am! They're coming in!"
Emily shot out of her chair; Mom and dad? Together?
James Prentiss, a formidable looking man in his late fifties was tall and well built, still fairly handsome with dark hair, lightly sprinkled with a few grey giving him a more distinguished demeanor, his eyes lined with deep wrinkles at the corners showed humor and wears a beard walked in in a welled tailored suit and a scarf.
Elizabeth Prentiss was also tall in stature, holds herself well in demeanor as her ambassador status. Dark haired and light skinned, she looked like her daughter but with more of a severe presence while Emily has her father's happy disposition.
Rushing to her parents, Emily eagerly hugged them, after she reassured her secretary that it was all right to admit her parents without visitors passes. Their secretaries were taking care of their credentials.
Sitting them down, Emily was still stunned to see them, "Mother, Daddy…what are you doing here? I mean in London?"
Elizabeth looked at her husband who nodded gravely, and she began, "Emily, we that is your father needs your help." Emily frowned at her dad.
"Daddy, is everything okay?"
"Not exactly, Poppet." He shook his head. "Three days ago. The council received a message from a known source that unless we cease to meet as planned, there will be an oncoming threat or consequences from the Syrians."
"Syria? Are you sure?" Emily asked.
"He spoke old Aramaic."
"Daddy, I have to go through the chain of commands on this," she returned to her desk and made a call to Clyde Easter, her boss in the INTERPOL.
"Clyde, where are you?"
In the most disgusting and barbaric country the United Nation saw fit to make friends with and stick me in the midst of. Why?" She smiled as his ill humor.
She quickly explained to him about what her father had said.
Your father? Is here?
"Yes Clyde, so please behave." Emily saw her parents raised an eyebrow each as they glanced at her.
There was a pause and Clyde continued, Okay darling, I'm calling France and telling them to give you the lead. MI-5 or MI-6 will be involved too. They will want details of the message and get in on the inside.
"NO!" Emily shook her head.
What? No? Em, You don't decide on that. You are on protection duty for the National Security Council, that is all you're doing, darling.
"I want to be on the inside, Clyde."Emily insisted.
Sorry not my call, and they definitely will not let you, a Yank, inside.
"I don't care, Clyde, make it happen. Or they don't work the case."
She could hear Clyde muttered not very nice words on the other end of the line, I'll get back to you, babe. Don't go anywhere!
She disconnected the call.
James Prentiss nodded at her phone, "Well Poppet?"
Emily smiled at the endearing childhood nickname only her father called her into her adulthood, "My team will be activated and they will be your protective details."
"But I have security protections."
She shook her head, "They do not have the experience, Daddy. And you will be staying in a safe location. And you too, mother."
"Me? Why me? I am not being threatened."
"It doesn't matter, as the wife of the NSC member, that makes you a target."
"But I have to get back to the Malta Embassy to my new postings!" Elizabeth stood up.
Emily sighed, "Daddy , please talk to her?"
James nodded and stood up and moved them to a corner and soon they were in a quiet heated exchanged.
She picked up her cell phone and called her team leader, "Sam, activate the team, we're on protection duty…my father. I'll brief you on the rest later, just round everyone up and get the gears ready. I want Fanta up and ready with the latest Syrian news. Thanks."
Twenty minutes later, Clyde returned her call, Darling, sorry MI-6 is tied up in Afghanistan so you're getting section D. Harry wants to meet with you and your dear old dad. How about a trip to Thames House?"
Emily frowned, "What can -5 do that we can't'?"
Emily, just hear them out, okay? Let them do their job. Why are you so adverse to their aid?
"If they go undercover, and something happened to their agents, it would be on me." She didn't want to add that the possibility of Lucas being placed in danger because of her.
Em, they know what to do, they've been doing this for years. Trust Harry Pearce. I do. He said.
Emily heard his voice, he was serious. All joking was put aside for once.
When is this NSC meeting anyways? Clyde asked after a moment. Emily looked up
James answered and said, "Next week."
Clyde whistled, Really doesn't give them much time to infiltrate properly.
"Great, now you're telling me, Clyde. Very reassuringly."
Em, darling, why are you so worrie…..Oh! I see…don't tell me you're…
"Clyde, shut it now! It's not your business. Really, my parents are here. I'll call you later and brief you more on it." Emily quickly glanced at her parents who were listening in with great interest.
He laughed, Yes, my dear, you will. Ciao darling!
Emily sighed loudly as she pressed her phone to end.
"Poppet, who is this Clyde, and what is his relationship to you? Is he your boyfriend?" He glanced at Elizabeth.
Emily snapped her head up quickly and shook it, "God no Daddy! He is a really good friend of mine, and my boss."
"But dear, the way he talks to you…does he take …er, special liberties with you?" James' was red with embarrassment.
"DADDY! Oh my god! NO! Clyde is just a friend, we've known each other for a very long time, and oh dear!" She began to laugh! "That is just the way he talks! And no, no…not at all, we've never been…not like that. Just friends." Emily shook her head.
"Come on, let's get to MI-5. But you'd have to leave your goon squad here. Their security is pretty stringent.
"Goon squad?" James asked confusedly.
"Your security detail, Daddy." She reached over and grabbed an apple from the basket and stood next to him. "You won't need them where we're going."
He nodded as he walked ahead and informed them to stay behind much to their objection.
Informing Mrs. Diggs of where she was headed to, the Prentiss family left the INTERPOL building. They rode in James Prentiss' chauffeur – driven vehicle; Emily was still iffy about driving around London and its 'wrong-side' of the road.
…..
Meanwhile, in the sanctuary of MI-5;
Harry Pearce had just ended his telephone conversation with the Prime Minister and was informed of the potential threat to the forthcoming National Security Council Meeting which was taking place next week. One of its members had received a potential terroristic threat and had asked MI-5 to defuse it.
In the meeting room, besides Harry were Lucas, Ros Myers, Ruth Evershed, Tariq Masood, their computer analysis/expert, Harry's top officers.
"Harry?" Lucas looked around him, "What is this pow-wow meeting about?"
Harry gave him a dull stare, "We're expecting a bloody visit."
"A visit? What kind of visit?" Ruth asked, she was always the most curious.
Tariq, his laptop fired up and ready, looked at his boss, "Yes Harry, Who is this royal personage?"
"Royal?" Ros perked up. "What royal peeps are coming over? We haven't dusted our furniture yet, "she grinned at Ruth who smiled back at her.
"It's not a royal personage, Tariq. All I said is a visit. If you want to know, you bunch of nosy eager beavers, you don't know them at all anyways…well some of you but one of you does." He glared at Lucas.
Lucas saw Harry's dark looks, "Me? Who is it?"
"The last name is Prentiss. Now, does the name rings a bell?"
Lucas stiffened immediately as he sat upright, "Emily? What about her?"
"You know her?" Tariq smiled at him as he began to type her name on his laptop and as soon as it came up, he gave her image a wolf-whistle, "Not bad, not bad taste Lucas!"
Ros narrowed her gaze at Emily's enlarged image on the screen, "Oh yes, INTERPOL chick…kicked Lucas' arse a while back."
Tariq was laughing as well as Ruth who looked at Harry but he was not amused by their bantering. "I like bad ass chick, hmmm...she is single…nice." He said admirably."
Lucas was glaring darkly at Tariq as well as Ros who shrugged her shoulders at him when they exchanged looks.
"As soon as you are done drooling at Agent Prentiss, perhaps you'll go to her parents' files, Tarig. Don't forget to wipe your face while you're at it." Harry said sourly.
Lucas was grinding his jaw as he was observing the younger's man's grin; he would love to wipe the grin permanently off his face!
"Down Lucas, down boy! You know they are having fun at your expense," Ruth whispered cheekily at him as she patted at her.
Lucas took a deep breath and let it out before he tried to relax.
Tariq put up the image of Emily's father came on the screen.
"James Prentiss, National Security Council Member," Tariq began to read his short biography that included a stellar career in politics and largely responsible putting together cyberspace security and the safety infrastructure on the reduction of international cyber warfare. Wow, he is serious stuff. And so forth. I wouldn't mind meeting him personally," Tariq's eyes were gleaming.
"Tariq, let's focus on our work here, you're hero worshipping a man you've never met before in your life." Harry said.
"Ouch!" Jo shook her head. "I think Harry is a pinch jealous."
"I certainly am not." This time the death stare was directed at her but she just grinned at Harry.
"Next, the mother." Harry said to the computer analysis.
Tariq put Elizabeth Prentiss on the screen.
"An ambassador to the European countries most of her life, Ambassador Prentiss' was responsible for negotiating in the release of fifteen civilians held hostages in Hague twenty years ago.
Tariq brought up images of terror and hostages rescue including one Lucas saw of a young Emily wrapped in a green blanket, her face was bloodied but he recognized her anyways.
"Wait, scroll back the image…stop. Isn't that Emily?" Lucas said The rest looked about confused.
"I'm not sure, let me read further…"
Suddenly, a new voice chimed in, "You're right, that is Emily when she was fifteen years old. Terrorists kidnapped her and her guard as hostages together with other embassy staff members." Elizabeth Prentiss, Emily and James Prentiss walked into the briefing room. The MI-5 team stood up as they listened to the ambassador's story while Lucas was watching Emily. She was returning his gaze steadily.
"They were held for over two weeks, six of my staff died. Emily would have been next were it not for her guard sacrificing his life. They tortured her as they made her watched her beat her guard daily."
"Mother, enough." Emily said as she tossed the apple to Lucas who caught it expertly and walked out of the room. Lucas followed after her.
James walked up to Harry, "James Prentiss, you must be Sir Harry Pearce, a pleasure."
"Indeed, Sir James." Harry said as he shook his hands.
James waved his hand about, "Please, just James." Then he turned to the others as they introduce themselves to him and Elizabeth."
"Please, have a seat and we'll discuss what it is we have here," James nodded. He pulled a chair out for his wife.
Lucas looked out and saw Emily walking to the ladies' room and hurried after her.
He went into the room and hoped there were no women using it, well…he really didn't care at the moment, all he cared was Emily.
She was leaning against the counter, her back to the mirror.
"Emily…" Lucas stood next to her, bouncing the apple back and forth between his hands.
She nodded at him, "They used their guns, hands, and then their belts and beat us."
"I told mother they only hit him to spare her but they did it to me too."
Lucas nodded, "I know, I could see the faint scars on your back, not quite but it's still there. I thought they were from Doyle."
She shook her head, "The files were permanently sealed but I was in a psychiatric ward for a year. I was fine but mother insisted I had to be there. Daddy set up a trust fund for his children. They are now a doctor and a nurse," she smiled. "Daddy and I went to their graduation. It was pretty cool."
"I think you're pretty cool, Emily. And brave."
"I thought I would never have to relive those memories ever again, Lucas."
"I'm sorry. We were looking at your family history, impressive I have to say." He tried to lighten her mood. "It's like the political royal family.
Emily snorted, "Hardly. It's not what you think."
"I can imagine. Your parents are pretty powerful people. And you're the pawn."
She nodded, "You are pretty astute."
"I'm pretty too."
She couldn't help but laughed, he joined in with her.
"Feel better?" He pulled her to him as he kissed her.
She nodded.
"Let's go rejoin the pow-wow, shall we?" He opened the door as he took a bite of the apple.
"Pow-wow? She looked at him as they walked back to the room, "I think you're hanging around those bloody Yanks too long!"
"I think so too, I've been having some weird cravings, like Yankee Doll and Snow White." He whispered in her ears.
She giggled as he nodded to her. They schooled they features before they entered the room.
As they sat down, the MI-5 team gave them a cursory glance before they turned their attention back to James Prentiss who continued his briefing.
"…those terrorist will not be terrorizing the meeting. It is vitally important that we must go through with the meeting. As of this moment, I do not know exactly who this threat is. Or how to stop it. All I know is it is Syrian."
How are so sure, sir?" Lucas asked.
"He spoke Old Aramaic." James replied.
"And what does that mean?" Lucas asked again.
"Not many country speak the language, not even modern Syrian people, the new generations do not speak it anymore." Emily said.
"Let me guess, you do." Lucas said.
She nodded her head.
Lucas spread his hands out wide, "Harry, I can't infiltrate if I can't speak Ara.."
"Aramaic."Emily said.
Lucas nodded, "Thank you, Agent Prentiss." He took another bite of his apple.
She nodded as she leaned in and whispered, "Enjoying the apple?"
He nodded as he leaned in close to her, "It's not poisonous, Snow."
She snorted.
"You'll just have to take me with you," she shrugged.
"Out of the question!" Elizabeth and Lucas said at the time, they looked at each other.
"I agree," Harry said. "They do not respect women in that country."
"They will if she goes in as a married woman." Ruth chimed in.
They all looked at her as if she suddenly sprouted a horn or two.
"What?" Harry stared at Ruth.
"If they posed as a married couple, she will have a better respect and status. And she can move around more easily then as a single woman." Ruth explained further.
Lucas turned to grinned at a stunned Emily, "Hello darling." The MI-5 younger group snickered at them.
She shook her head, "That is not funny, Lucas! There has to be a safer way, Ruth?"
She shook her head, "I don't see any other possible solution, Agent Prentiss." Ruth grinned. "You'll just have to go in as a married couple or risk exposure and you don't have the time for that, isn't the right, Sir James?"
Emily's father nodded.
But Elizabeth and James began to whisper for a moment before James nodded, "It is a dangerous assignment, Emily. Your mother does not want you to place yourself in there." James looked at her.
"Daddy, I'm capable of looking after myself. And I'll take care of him too." She thumbed at Lucas' way.
"Gee, thanks my dear." They laughed at his humor.
"Sir, "Lucas spoke. "Rest assure, I will take care of your daughter and get the mission done quick."
James thought for a moment, then nodded, "Very well. I can't think of anyone to go in. Emily can speak Aramaic. She will be your best asset. You will be there to keep her safe. I'm holding you to that, young man."
"Yes, sir."
Harry leaned over to Ruth, "Do you think this is the wisest decision?"
"They did come back in one piece the last assignment." Ruth reasoned.
Harry nodded, "Point well taken, Ruth."
"Glad you see it my way." Ruth said.
Harry glance at her, "Don't get too cheeky with me too much."
Ruth giggled quietly.
The Prentisses stood up and thanked Harry for his assistance which Harry assured them he will keep monitoring the mission once it was under way.
"Emily, have dinner with your mother and I at the hotel…the same hotel we usually stay at," her father said as they climbed into the car. Emily stayed behind at the MI-5 for further briefing for the case.
She nodded, "Usual time at 8?" Emily waved at them.
James leaned out of the window and smiled and pointed at Lucas, "Bring him too. I like him very well."
Emily smiled as she leaned down and whispered to her father, "I will Daddy, I like him too."
James chuckled, "See you later, Poppet."
They then drove off.
Lucas grinned at her, "Poppet?"
"Shut up," She said. Lucas tucked her hand into his elbow and they walked back into the House.
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End of Chapter 12
Now who says Brits do not have a sense of humor?
…next up…dinner with the parents? Hmmm… that ought to be interesting!
J.
