John sighed and arched his back, rubbing his tired eyes. He jumped at the hand that settled on his shoulder. It was Jeff, holding two mugs of coffee.
"How are you doing, son?"
John accepted the coffee with a tired smile and moved his chair back so he could face his father. Jeff pulled up the other chair and turned it so that he could straddle it and lean his arms on the back. They sipped their coffees.
"A long and fiddly job, dad." John replied, "but getting there. The footage I really need of course are those that are not generally available to the public, so I am having to sneak my way in through security systems and that takes time."
Jeff nodded.
"A job for Penelope and Kayo's investigation?"
"Yes, a long and tedious task, but I'm getting there. Piling up knowledge from both public and private footage as well as media sources without actually knowing what I'm looking for until I find it is…" He shook his head and buried his nose into his coffee mug. Jeff nodded.
"Well you're definitely the man for the job. Anything I can do to help?"
John grimaced.
"You can keep Scott out of my hair until I'm done? He's already called me three times asking what I'm up to and if he can help…I know he means well, but…"
His father chuckled.
"Very well, I can do that. But you, son. You've been working here for six hours already. Don't you think you should take a break? Come back up to the house for a meal at least?"
John shook his head.
"Not until I'm done here, dad. I have a few protein bars to tide me over. Thanks for the coffee though. That was very welcome."
Jeff watched as his second son finished the last of his coffee, then put the mug aside and turn back to his computer screens. He sighed, knowing that John had already forgotten he was there. He clapped his son on the shoulder, picked up the two empty mugs and took his leave.
Captain James sat in the unaccustomed luxury of the Creighton-Ward mansion, sipping his tea from a cup that was smaller than his hand. He was feeling very out of place in these surroundings, and at first had perched uncomfortably on the edge of the proffered chair, as though ready to run. After a few minutes though, he had observed how Colonel Casey sat back in her chair, completely at ease and cautiously sat back himself, forcing himself to act relaxed, even if he did still feel lumpy and awkward and out of place. He kept his expression in his customary grim glare, knowing how it afforded him the space he needed.
The ever-observant Parker, however, had not missed the slight tremor of the captain's hand as he accepted his tea, and felt sorry for the man. It was obvious the Colonel's right-hand-man was ill-at-ease in these surroundings. Parker recalled all too clearly how he had felt the first time he had entered this house.
A very long time ago, that was. He pondered how to put the man a little more at his ease? He glanced quickly towards her ladyship's faithful little pug, and found Sherbet was standing on his stool having finished his own saucer of tea. Parker caught the little dog's eye and inclined his head towards the GDF man. He stifled a grin as Sherbet understood and leapt from his stool on to the arm of the captain's chair. James grunted, startled, as Sherbet dropped suddenly on to his lap, turned himself around three times and then settled down and made himself comfortable.
"Looks like the mutt's taken to you, Captain." Parker remarked. James grunted, uncertainly.
"He wasn't very friendly outside, when we first met. I really thought he wanted to take a chunk out of my leg."
His commanding officer nodded.
"He did, Captain." Casey drawled. "Lady Penelope's dog is suspicious of all strangers. Anyone who smells wrong is fair game."
"He's good at detecting bad guys, captain. He's a good partner in a tight spot, I'll give 'im that!"
James nodded.
"So I see. So then, I gather this is proof positive that you are definitely the original Lady Penelope. So, either you have to keep that dog with you at all times, or…"
Casey nodded.
"Or you must stay with her at all times in order to verify her identity."
James could see by the amusement in Parker's expression, the resignation in Lady Penelope's, and the determination in the Colonel's that the decision was made and they were all stuck with it. It looked as if he was not going to escape from this place any time soon. Running his finger along his collar, he coughed.
"Um Parker, do you think I could have a glass of water please?"
Kayo landed Thunderbird Shadow invisibly in the paddock behind the orphanage where so recently Virgil and the clone girls had been rescued from, and where Tock and the Hood had been arrested by the GDF. She had been here since then herself, helping to dismantle the professor's equipment. They had been very thorough, and it was doubtful whether anything could have been overlooked, but it was certainly worth another search. Perhaps the woman in charge of the place might have some ideas?
Agatha Holroyd grabbed a towel and hurriedly dried her hands and ran to the front door. Her mouth fell open as she recognized the young woman standing outside.
"You again? Miss Kyrano-Tracy wasn't it? What has happened this time?"
Kayo smiled.
"I need to have another look down in your cellar."
Miss Holroyd's eyebrows raised high.
"Indeed? Considering how everything down there was cleared out last time you came, I fail to see what you expect to find."
Kayo nodded, and her confident expression faltered slightly.
"I admit it is a long-shot, but you need to understand that the professor has escaped from custody. We need to find him urgently!"
"What!?"
Miss Holroyd looked shocked and disturbed at the revelation. Kayo nodded.
"Will he come back here again?"
"Who knows? I hope not. I doubt it, but anything is possible I suppose. That is partly why it is urgent that he is recaptured as soon as possible."
Miss Holroyd folded her arms resignedly.
"So, what can I do this time?"
"If there is any chance at all that the professor has left any samples of his DNA behind…I have access to a technology that can find him using his DNA trace, but I need a sample first. Any ideas? Hairbrush? Toothbrush? Any discarded clothing? Anything at all?"
The matron looked taken aback, and frowned, thinking hard.
"The rooms down there and all the…um…facilities have already been scrubbed clean. His laundry was burned out the back…let me see…his clothes were taken down to the local recycle center. They'll be recycled into paper or something by this time."
She looked Kayo in the eyes.
"Nothing of his belongings are left, and everything he would have touched or used has been scrubbed and disinfected. I'm afraid you have had a wasted journey this time. I'm so sorry."
Kayo sighed deeply.
"I understand. Do you mind if I go downstairs anyway? Just in case we overlooked anything?"
"Go right ahead. I really hope you do find something. Would you like me to come and help?"
Kayo shook her head.
"That's kind of you, but you already have enough to do. I'll be fine. I'll see you presently."
Downstairs in the cellars, she shivered. Several of those rescued girls had been down here for days or even weeks, without knowing if they would ever come out again. What was it like being a prisoner down here? She wondered. She thought of Virgil, strong, capable and infinitely kind, and the torture he had undergone down here. Not so much physically perhaps, but mentally for sure. Virgil himself was slowly recovering, but even now he was still only a shadow of the man he had been.
She remembered her first triumphant return from lady Penelope's and seeing the guys for the first time following their camping holiday. Everyone had been in good health and in good spirits. High spirits even. Now?
She activated the IR torch on her wrist-control. If there was anything at all here, she would find it.
That was a promise.
AFTERNOTE: My personal health issues are starting to settle, so hopefully I will soon be back into the swing of things. Thank you to every reader, follower and reviewer for your patience whilst I have been so unwell. Rest assured that I am not going anywhere, and the fate of Virgil and co will be revealed in full in due time.
