These stories are in memory of our great friend Robert Conrad, who passed away recently. His birthday is tomorrow, March 1st, and also it will be his funeral, we have heard. And Ross Martin, whom we lost years ago. His birthday is also in March, on the 22nd. Thankfully we all share our stories and they will never be forgotten.

Thank you for the reviews and i hope you enjoy this chapter and think of Robert's family tomorrow.

Chapter 5. Missing Friends

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"Artemus?" Jeremy's insistent voice broke through the darkness in the unconscious mind of the younger secret service agent. "Artemus, can you hear me? Try to open your eyes." He shook his friend's shoulder, slowly rocking him back and forth on the narrow bed. A low grown came from the sleeping form. "That's it, wake up now. It's been long enough."

"Jeremy?" Artie's voice was weak as his eyes slowly opened. "What happened? Where…" He tried to pick up his head but collapsed back to the bed.

"Just relax, Artemus," Jeremy said, holding a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder. "There is no hurry and there is no place to go. I just was worried you were sleeping a mite too long." He chuckled, sitting back in a creaking wooden chair. "Of course all the running around you do, this might have been the best night of sleep you've had in a while."

"Night?" Artie said, blinking the cobwebs away. "I was going to the bank in the day time. Wait, I was with Celeste. Where is she?" He picked up his head and managed to roll onto his side. "And now you're here. You look alright, at least."

"Oh, I'm fine," Jeremy smiled, letting out a long sigh. "I have been stuck here for a long time. Sorry to see you joining me in much the same way I arrived. I haven't seen Celeste though. I'm sure she's somewhere nearby, maybe in the woman's quarters."

"Woman's quarters?" Artie blurted out. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, swinging his feet to the floor. "Owe," he moaned, holding a hand to his forehead. "What a headache. Damned knockout gas." He rubbed his eyes and tried to look around. "Where is this Jeremy, what's happening?" The room was small, windowless, with only enough space for the narrow bed and the wooden chair.

Jeremy stood and held out a hand, "let me walk you to the sitting room to join the party." He grasped Artie's left arm and helped him stand. Artie's knees buckled but he grabbed the edge of the bed and stood straight again. He stepped out of the sparsely furnished bedroom through the open doorway and into a small sitting room. "Just drop onto the davenport and I will pour you a refreshment." He lowered Artie to the cushions and moved to a small table of glasses and decanters. He poured liquid into two glasses and returned to the couch. "Here you are, Artemus. Diner will be served shortly."

"Thank you," Artie said, rubbing his forehead again. He tipped the contents in a big gulp and coughed, his eyes opening. "Jer, this is water! I thought it was whiskey. Who keeps water in a decanter?"

Jeremy laughed, sipping his water, "can't you guess? I can give you some hints, if you'd like." Jeremy grinned, holding out a finger, "One – he hates alcohol. Says it ruins a man's brain. Two – loves to make grand, yet secret plans. Three – is a doctor but won't tell me of what. Four…" he paused as Artie rolled his yes. "Are you ready to announce your guess?"

"Miguelito Quixote Loveless," Artie said, sipping the remains of his drink. "Doctor of something, but I can't remember right now." His eyes narrowed. "So the good doctor is behind this? Where is everyone else? Colonel Richmond has a long list of missing agents."

"Everyone is here," Jeremy said, nodding to the doors that were shut around the small living room. "We sleep a lot during the day and plan at night. Try to come up with yet another plan of escape or possibly reasoning with the doctor."

"Reasoning with him?" Artie snorted, "I imagine that isn't working out too well. Why don't you plan in the day and sleep at night?"

Jeremy pointed at a large door, "that door leads to the hallway. It pops open with the least notice during the day as various visitors arrive. But at night, it's very quiet. There is a guard outside but he sleeps more than we do. So we just thought it was safer to discuss our predicament without being listened to." He took Artie's glass and refilled it, "and," he said, handing the glass back, "we are only fed at night. Easier to ignore an empty stomach all day when asleep."

"No hearty breakfast?" Artie sipped at the water again. "So tell me again who's here?"

Jeremy listed the names of the missing agents as Artie tried to remember the list. "I think that's all the names I saw. And now my name must have been added again." Artie chuckled, "poor Richmond, he crossed my name out, and Jim's, when we came back from our trip. But now he must have added me to it again." He let out a long sigh, "Jim is going to be upset. He'll figure out where we are soon and come to join us."

"I know how Jim hates to miss a party but" Jeremy said, "he may have trouble figuring out where to look. We may have to send him a message, if we can." He shook his head in disgust. "Did they grab you in a carriage?"

Artie nodded, "yes, I was at Headquarters and going to the bank. Celeste wanted to come with me so I flagged down a carriage. I thought it was a random, every day, public carriage like all the rest. But it must have been one hired by Loveless to watch our building. Whenever an agent wants one, the driver apparently sweeps in and picks us up." He stood suddenly, his legs shaking, and began to walk around the room, leaning a hand on a piece of furniture. He paused at each small door, listening to the sound of snoring, some men louder than others. He paused at the main door, trying the doorknob. The knob turned but the door didn't budge. He ran a hand over the edge, noting that the door fit tightly into a space with a wooden trim, blocking anything from being wedged into the space.

Suddenly a creak sounded on the far sound of the door and then a rattle of keys. Artie stepped back quickly to the sofa where Jeremy was still sitting. He dropped back heavily onto the cushions. The door cracked ajar and then slowly opened, revealing Voltaire. The giant man filled the space, slightly tipping his head to one side to not bump the door frame.

"Hello," Voltaire said slowly, in his awkward voice, stepping into the room. He smiled and nodded as he opened the door further. Artemus and Jeremy smiled and nodded to him.

"Good afternoon, Voltaire," Artemis said, as he and Jeremy stood again, "It's been a long time. You are looking well. How are you?" Voltaire laughed, tipping his head back and shaking all over with hysterics. He stepped back, pushing the door fully open against the wall with his back.

"Good morning, Mr. Gordon," another voice said, as Doctor Loveless stepped inside. He paused, dramatically, bowing to the agents. "I trust you are feeling better after your long rest." He looked up at his tall assistant, "Voltaire, Mr. Gordon made a polite inquiry as to your health. You should answer him."

Voltaire stepped forward, nodding to Artemus, "I am fine. Thank you for asking." He smiled and looked down at Loveless.

"Very good," the doctor said, "you may wait in the hallway now." The taller man moved out of the room, still laughing. Loveless moved further into the room, stepping up onto a low coffee table, making himself slightly more at eye level with the agents. "I have been trying to teach Voltaire about some of the pleasantries in social circles. I am afraid he just finds them amusing. But they are, aren't they, so who's to say he isn't smarter than we?" He giggled, looking Artemus up and down. "You do seem recovered sufficiently from my knock out gas."

"I'm fine," Artemus said, clearly annoyed. "What's this all about? Some crazy scheme, as usual?"

"Oh, yes," Loveless said, nodding, "and you are so good at guessing, Mr. Gordon. Care to take a few guesses now?" He rubbed his hands together eagerly, as his eyes twinkled with excitement.

Artie sighed, shrugging his shoulders, "you have kidnapped one of each pair of Secret Service agents in the hopes of crippling the service. You have often commented on Jim and I being unable to work alone." He shook his head, "but as we always reassured you, agents can work alone, as well as forming new pairs immediately, as work requires. It's especially useful when an agent is injured or sick or even kidnapped."

"Is this what this is all about?" Jeremy snorted, "Foolishness." He sat down on the couch and went silent, appearing to be bored with the conversation.

"Foolish, is it," Loveless said, "Well I can assure both of you that the importance of you, Mr. Gordon, is essential to my plan. But you cannot guess the rest since you only just arrived." His voice took a sharp edge and his eyes became hard, "now for the next step. You will assist me in every task that I ask you to perform, and if you do not…" He paused, pointing to Jeremy, "you can guess the rest?"

Jeremy stiffened as Artemus nodded slowly. "And the young lady I was in the carriage with? Where is she? I want to see her."

"Oh, that poor timid creature," Loveless said, smiling again, "she is like a frightened little bird. But I assure you she is safe and comfortable," He nodded, "you may see her and inspect her bird cage, but in the cage she will remain, while you do my bidding."

"You should be embarrassed," Artie snapped, "She must be terrified. She's a secretary and doesn't know anything about this work. She must be returned to Headquarters immediately. You don't need her when you have all these agents to threaten me with."

"No, no, no," Loveless yelled, stomping a foot in anger, "I will keep her in her cage. She will inspire you to work more efficiently. I can only threaten these brave agents so much to keep you in line but she, being in danger, will inspire you twice as well, maybe even thrice!"

"You know Jim West will come here and stop you like he always does," Artie countered, trying to shift the conversation to other angles, searching for more details.

"Oh, I do hope he does," Loveless said, quickly changing back to his giggling, eager self. "I look forward to seeing him again. As for him stopping me, I don't think so. Since you will be working with me instead of him, I am sure he will fail." He grinned, enjoying the open shock on Artie's face. "Yes, and deep inside, you know I am right. You will be helping me, against your own partner. You will help me kill James West."

Artie's jaw set stubbornly and he glared at the doctor, growling, "I doubt that very much, Doctor Loveless. I don't care who you threaten. That just won't happen."

"Well let's not bicker," Loveless said, enjoying the anger he had caused. "You and I will be much too busy. You will come with me to your new lodging and begin your first task."

Artie squared his shoulders and glared down at the smaller man, "I want to see Celeste first or no deal, Loveless," he growled.

"Of course," the doctor said, "maybe you would even like to eat a meal with her. We have been having the darndest time getting her to eat. Such a flighty bird, scared of her own shadow. I think you reassuring her that she will be just fine would do her good." He nodded and jumped down off the table. He walked out the doorway without a backward glance.

Artie turned to Jeremy, reaching down to squeeze the man's shoulder. "It will be fine, Jer, trust me." He winked and quickly followed Dr. Loveless out into the hall. Voltaire stepped behind them, following closely. Another man slammed the door shut and locked it.

The group walked down the halls, up and down staircases, and through a large room with tables and chairs. Artie thought of the mess hall in the lower deck of the whaling ship he had recently spent so much time on. Women were moving around the kitchen, setting covered dishes on trays. Smells of cooked food drifted to Artemus and his stomach cramped with hunger.

"Not much farther," Loveless called out over his shoulder as he scurried along. Artie tried to catch views the of outside as they passed windows but only saw more buildings across open expanse of grass. He found himself having to hurry to keep up, impressed at the agility of the small man. He paused at a window for too long at one point and Voltaire gave him a sharp push in his spine to keep him moving.

"Here,we are," Loveless said, stopping at a door. He grinned up at Artie, chuckling, "should we knock first or just burst in?" He wiggled his eyebrows but saw Artie's glare and snarled back, "I was only joking. You know I am always a gentleman." Artie rolled his eyes but stayed silent as the doctor rapped his knuckles on the wooden door. "It's Doctor Loveless, my dear. I have a visitor for you. May we come in?"

"Yes," a woman's voice called out, weakly, as if she was out of breath. The group stood back as the guard unlocked the door.

Loveless pushed the door open and walked inside, stepping aside with the wave of a hand as Artemus entered behind him. "Your dinner guest."

"Celeste," Artemus said, quickly stepping to the young girl, "are you alright?" He started to hold a hand out to her but, in a burst of tears, the girl rushed to him, crushing her face against his chest. "Oh, come now," Artie said, wrapping an arm around her back and patting her shoulder with the other. "I don't think it's all that bad." He turned to the men behind him, "maybe you could leave us alone for a bit. She seems upset."

"Of course," Loveless said, looking bewildered at her reaction. "I will have a meal sent up. She hasn't been eating and it has alarmed me."

"it would appear she is somewhat alarmed also," Artie said, giving their jailor a glare. Loveless nodded and hurried out. The door was pulled shut and locked.

"There," Artie said, "we can talk now. Why don't we sit," he said, guiding the distraught girl to a nearby couch. "We need to discuss this situation. This isn't good for you to be this upset."

"How else should I feel," Celeste said, holding a lace handkerchief to her eyes. She wiped her face and nose, "I wake up in a strange room with men standing over me! I just started screaming! And what happened to us? We were in a carriage on our way to the bank! Oh, if only I hadn't worn my new shoes to work. My mother warned me and now….

"Ok, calm down," Artie chuckled, patting the girls arm. "I will just say it was a knock out gas, very common really, and well developed without any smoke or smell. But harmless. So let's not worry about that anymore." He watched her, waiting for her breath to calm down. "Now I realize that you aren't used to this sort of thing and it's a shock. I will try to talk doctor Loveless into letting you go home since you aren't needed here. But it might take a couple of days. In the meantime, I want you to think about your health which means resting and eating." He stared into her eyes until she nodded.

"Who is the doctor Loveless," Celeste whispered. "Why is he doing this?"

"Kidnapping people," Artie chuckled, "it's a hobby." He grinned at her shocked face. "He is someone that Jim and I deal with every once in a while. He was in a Federal prison but escaped a while back and we haven't been able to capture him again. So this is a good opportunity to find out what is happening and arrest him."

"Arrest him?" Celeste stared at him, her handkerchief going to her throat. "But aren't you kidnapped also?"

"In a matter of speaking," Artie said, sitting back on the couch and rubbing his forehead, "actually being kidnapped is one of the best ways to get into the middle of a situation, the thick of it, so to speak, and then study what is being planned and form a counter action and start arresting the bad guys. It's a real time saver over running around, following people, all that sort of thing." He winked at the shocked girl, "Jim and I do this all the time. He'll be along soon, you just watch."

He stood and walked across the room to a window, "and if you should see anyone coming in your window, it will be Jim," he said, winking at her. He raised the window, leaning out to look around. A wide ledge ran along the outer wall, and they appeared to be on the second story. He stood back and turned to the girl, "yes, Jim would be able to climb up here easily. So don't hit him with a vase or push him out." He walked back to the couch.

"But what if it's one of the bad people instead of Jim," the girl asked.

"The bad guys come in through the door," Artie said, nodding to the door, just as the lock was turned. "See," he grinned. A man came through the door pushing a wheel cart. On top were many covered serving trays and a pile of dishes. A bottle of wine and stemmed glasses were also on the tray. Antoinette was behind the cart, her hands twisting together nervously.

"How are you feeling," she asked, worry clear on her pretty face. She looked at Celeste and then to Artemus. "I do hope you can encourage her to eat. And there is enough for two, of course. Please let me know if she needs anything. Dr. Loveless would like her to be comfortable."

"Of course he does," Artie said, nodding, as he stood. "And thank you for this lovely meal. I am sure she will eat now that I am here with her."

Antoinette nodded, relieved at his words, and hurried out, followed by the guard. The door was quickly shut and locked.

"Well I'm starving," Artie announced, holding a hand out for Celeste. "Let's dig in, shall we?" He guided her to a chair and sat opposite her. Uncovering the dishes, they looked eagerly at the food. Roasted chicken, potatoes, and vegetables were piled deep in the bowls and platters. "Looks good to me," Artie said, spooning food onto the plates. He handed one to the young girl and noticed she immediately started to eat. He picked up a bottle of wine and inspected the cork, looking for any suspicious holes. Not seeing any, he pushed a bottle opener into the cork and began turning it out. "Not the best year," he grinned, "but it should be adequate." He popped the cork and filled the stemmed glasses. "Dr. Loveless is certainly an odd duck," he sighed, holding his glass in a toast, "but he really does set a nice table." They clinked glasses and started to eat.

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Later that evening…

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"I trust your dinner was acceptable to your tastes, Mr. Gordon," Dr Loveless said as they walked across the yard. "Antoinette told me the young lady also ate the meal. I am so relieved." The area was dark and the stars were bright in the sky. Walls were seen in the distance in all directions, the gloom broken with occasional flickering lamp light. The gravel crunched under their boots as they moved toward a small stone building.

"It was fine," Artie said guardedly. His eyes quickly assessed the building they were approaching, studying the bars on the windows and doors. "And if you were truly worried about that young lady, you would put her in a carriage and deliver her to her home, so stop patronizing me with your imaginary concern."

Loveless stopped and spun around, glaring at Artie. "Mr. Gordon, you over step the limits of a guest. I refuse to tolerate rude behavior. Keep that in mind." He turned back, marching toward the building.

"Oh, I will," Artie said, chuckling. The group stopped as a man opened the door. Loveless strode in and waited for Artie to enter, closely followed by two guards, as other men remained outside. The darkness was only dimly abated by one lamp, outside a window a few feet from the building.

Loveless turned in the room, holding his arms out to his sides. "One of my many work rooms. Completely outfitted for experiments. Supplied with many different types of chemicals, glassware, reference books, and everything else a laboratory needs." He wrapped his arms around himself and gave a short bow, "and I give it all to you, Mr. Gordon." He stood up straight, looking at Artemus, "and what do you say to that?"

"Why," Artie asked, obviously not impressed.

"What do you mean, 'why'?" Loveless fumed, "I have seen your wretched little lab on that measly train. Small, ill-supplied, limited resources and space. Isn't this what you have always wanted? And all the time in the world to invent?"

Artie snorted and began to walk around the room, looking at books and chemical labels on bottles. "Just what I always wanted," he muttered, "locked in a small, stone building, by myself to make what?" He turned back to Loveless, nodding, "obviously I am to invent something that has you perplexed?"

"Perplexed!" Loveless stomped a foot, "don't flatter yourself! You invent something for me? Ha!" He stomped around the room, muttering and swinging his arms. "I will tell you what you will be doing for me. You will do my bidding, or else!"

"Well what then," Artie said, irritated. "Spit it out, man. I certainly won't be starting it tonight, either, there isn't enough light in here to find the end of my nose, much less mix and measure secret potions."

"You are as exasperating as your partner, Mr. West," Loveless snarled, stomping closer to Artemus.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Artie snarked. He dropped into a chair and held a hand over his forehead, releasing a long sigh, "excuse me doctor but my head is swimming. It's been a long day and a half."

Loveless stopped, staring at the agent, "are you ill? Maybe the lingering effects of the gas. I will let you rest tonight. We will talk in the morning. I will leave men outside in case you need anything in the night and there is clean water to drink at the washstand." Artie nodded, silently, keeping his eyes on the floor. Loveless nodded and moved out the door. The two guards let with him. The door was pulled shut and locked.

Artie quickly stood up and started to hum to himself as he busily began reading labels of bottles and boxes. "You have a variety of ingredients, doctor, but to make what? Since you obviously aren't ready to tell me yet…" He moved to a desk and sat down, picking up books, tipping the covers to the flickering lamp light coming in the window. He sorted them out by subject, make neat stacks on the desk. Tapping his fingers on the chair arms, lost in thought, he jumped as the door suddenly cracked open.

"Hello," a man's voice said. A tall man in dark clothing walked into the room. He turned and saw Artie at the desk. "Ah, there you are, already at work. Impressive."

Artie tipped back in the chair, watching the man, not offering any greeting.

The guard shut the door and approached the desk, "forgive my curiosity but the doctor has been talking non-stop about your arrival, about how smart you are…" he shrugged, "and I bet you don't even know why, do you?"

"The doctor will let me know," Artie said, "but you have me at a disadvantage. Your name is?" He studied the man's clothing as he spoke, noting the matching, plain blue, shirt and pants, almost a uniform. His eyes lingered on a dark blue spot of the man's shirt front, loose and broken threads where a badge had been.

"Peter Harvey," the man said, giving Artie a mock salute. "I am no one, trust me, but you on the other hand…not equal to Dr. Loveless, of course, but obviously you have a reputation. He has entrusted you to his lab, not that this is his only one. He seems to have many."

"All outside in separate buildings, like this one?" Artie waved a hand at the block wall behind him. "Looks like a building where gunpowder or nitroglycerin would be made."

"Funny you should say that," Harvey said, pointing a finger at Artie. "but I just wanted to say that I'm your friend here. And you're going to need a lot of friends here because you're going to be alone out here and you'll need food and water and be allowed outside for fresh air." He held his arms out, "imagine staying in this stone room for months without ever going outside?"

"Unless I need an escort to the latrine," Artie snorted, obviously not impressed. "I doubt I will have any need for you." He picked up a book and began flipping pages, though still watching the man closely through his eyebrows. Harvey pounded a fist into his palm, similar to Jim's angry motions, and finally stormed from the room, slamming the heavy door behind him. The lock clicked loudly. "Idiot," Artie snapped, shutting the book, talking to himself, "Or, Artemus, maybe you shouldn't have shut him out, he could have been useful. But if this is to be my home now, I will throw out whomever I please and I am not in the mood tonight." He picked up another book and returned to reading.

Tbc….