Mrs Peel ran to the window.There was a building across the street that looked completely abandoned.If there has been an archer there once,now he was long gone.She spread her long arms wide in a gesture of resignation.
Steed was looking at the note.It was typed,like the previous one.
"Children?".Children had nothing to do with the missing people.
"Steed,it's a phrase that describes Freud's philosophy."
"Sigmund Freud?The father of psycoanalysis?".
"Yes.The child is the father to the man.It means that the basis of our personality is built in the childhood."
Steed tried to imagine Emma as a child.A naughty one indeed...running around with her auburn ponytail,stealing an extra piece of chocolate cake..climbing fences.. .Her stern look brought him back to reality.
"Maybe it's about us,our childhood."Steed suggested.
"Did you have any traumatic experiences?"
"No..besides the fact that little Jenny gave her hair ribbon to my worst enemy,a boy called Alistair.I was so fond of her.."
"Steed!"She wasn't interested in Steed's kindergarten possesions.Did they go THAT far?"It could be a lead.."
"You think someone is trying to help us,don't you?"He contemplated that point of view for a moment.
"Yes."
"Who?"
"I have absolutely no idea."
"Do you have a copy of the files I showed you?"
"Yes,I have a copy of each one."She unlocked one of her desk's drawers and gave him the copies.
They checked the biographies of all the people who had disappeared without a trace.
"Nothing special about their childhood..What about Benson and Cox,the law firm?".Steed asked.
"I was thinking about them too,Steed but ..I found nothing!I 'll show you their client list."
"So much for our first lead..the infamous..photo booth!".Whoever is behind this,knows very well how to cover his tracks,he thought.
Emma smiled.A few minutes later a name attracted their attention.
"Mr Luc Joubert..psychiatrist.It could be a coincidence."
"It could be not.Steed..It's about time we seeked for some advice".
"On what?".He was teasing her.
"Our relationship..is on fire!"
"Is it Mrs Peel?Can Mr.JJJJoubert help us save our broken home?".
"I don't know Steed,I've never tried it before."
"There is the a first time for everything..".
"Do you have something special in mind?".
He said nothing,just lifted her in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.
"Steed..what about..?"
"Villains can wait Mrs Peel!I'm sure they can wait!".He turned off the lights.

The man with the china mask was enjoying his morning coffee when number 732 came in.A young woman,dressed in black.
"Zero..".
"They've escaped,I know."
He didn't seem frusrated at all.Number 732 was relieved.On the other hand,her master's mood swings didn't surprise her at all.
"And now?What?".
"I want to test them again.They seem to know a lot about martial arts."There was some hidden admiration in his voice.He continued:
"Send numbers 410 and 85....and tell them to take Bobby Hughes with them.That child is very gifted..very gifted indeed.One day he will become a number too. "His eyes were glistening undearneath the mask.
" Don't worry Zero.I'll see to it right away."She paused then added.."United we stand,divided we fall."
"Till death do us apart number...".
"Till death do us apart.Have a nice day Zero."
"Goodbye number 732."
The man was tapping his fingers on the desk.Steed and Peel were getting closer and closer.What should he do?What if this was the wrong approach?They have become dangerous for his plans,his organization.Then he remembered the spider.The spider builds a web.. attracts its victims..and then...zero.No,everything was in order.Better let them penetrate into his world....that was their goal.He had studied the way they worked, had found a lot of information on them.They would be extremely useful to him,like all the others..the ones he had taken,the ones he had created.

The same afternoon...

Steed and Mrs Peel were waiting for Dr.Joubert.They've recently made an appointment as Mr and Mrs Russel.Steed wore a black suit and Mrs Peel a turqoise shirt that matched perfectly with her lovely pants.Soon,a tall, handsome man was with them.He was chubby and his blonde hair fell on his forehead.He must have been around forty,forty five years old.
"Goodmorning.I'm Luc Joubert!"His hair was moving in a rather peculiar way.
"I'm John Russel and this is my wife.."
"..Emma Russel.How do you do?"She stretched her arm,ready for a handshake.
Dr.Joubert took her palm in his and kissed her knuckles gently.Steed was staring at them.Emma smiled,obviously flattered.Steed wondered if she was just playing her part..or was actually enjoying it.
"Enchante de vous connaitre madame!".He exclaimed,in french.
"And Monsieur.."Then he shook hands with Steed,shaking his head too.
"Russel!John Russel!".
"Come in...come in ..s'il vous plait!"He showed them in his office.All they could see was an old desk,two armchairs and a black leather sofa.Dr Jubert's belongings also included a large library.Two little statues of angels decorated the library.Steed and Mrs Peel sunk in the armchairs.
"So..I assume there is a problem n'est-ce pas?".
"You can't imagine what we 're going through Mr.Joubert.It's a terrible crisis..most terrible.".Emma seemed to be completely desperate.
"You must help us!"Steed added.
Dr Jubert got up instantly.He startled them.
"Do not worry!Has your husband or wife found a new...what do you call it?Attraction..Do you face financial problems?..Have you lost your doggie and you can't get over it?Do you suffer from kleptomania or agoraphobia?Has your neighbor stopped saying goodmorning to you?.Quel dommage...Muahhha..".He burst into tears.
Steed and Emma looked at each other.
"Have no fear..cause Dr Joubert is here!".He banged his fiest on the desk.
"None of the above I'm afraid.."Steed said."We have a temperature problem."
"Oooh?".It was the first time Dr Joubert heard of this one.
Emma was also at a loss.
"You see sometimes my wife is so..frosty!"Steed was smiling.Revenge is even more sweet for an avenger..
Mrs Peel wanted badly to knock him down.How could he have said such a thing?
"Are you ma cherie?"Dr Joubert was really serious.He had tilted his head to the point that one thought it was going to fall off his head.
"Well.."For the first time in her life,she didn't know how to answer.They were both looking at her."OH!Dr Joubert.."Two crocodile tears run down her cheeks."..but he neglects me.He's always so busy..he has no time for me!"She took a handkerchief out of her purse and wiped her tears in a graceful way.
"Don't cry ma cherie..you shouldn't cry."He approached her and caressed gently her back,trying to pamper her.He couldn't stand seeing a young woman as beautiful as Emma in such a terrible state.He turned to face Steed who was enjoying the show.
What a cunning little mouse,are you..,Steed thought tenderly.
"Do you plead guilty,or innocent?"Dr Joubert was ready to devour him.
"Plead?Am I on trial?".
"Would you rather try..".He opened the door that connected his office to a small room next to it,where he kept his electroshock machinery!
"A few hunred volts may free your tongue,Mr Russel."Dr Joubert had been transformed into something else.He started laughing wickedly.
"I'm guilty,guilty as charged!!".Steed had a more old fashioned relationship with electricity.
Mrs Peel interfered,to save the day.
"All I wanted was a baby!A child of our own..".She casted a meaningful glance at Steed.That's why we are here Steed,to talk about children.Remember?Another pair of tears stained her blouse.
"Give her what she wants!".Dr Joubert shouted.
"Now?".Steed was teasing him.Don't you know how babies come to this world doctor?
Emma hid her laughter in a fake sob.
"Of course not,of course not."The doctor coughed two times..trying to be discrete.
They were both watching him very closely.The mention of children didn't seem to upset him at all.
"Oh!I completely forgot that I have an appointment at eight sharp.Would you like to continue another time darling?".We're wasting our time here Mrs Peel..
"All right my love..".
They got up,ready to go.
"Just a moment...sit down,s'il vous plait!".He took a plastic hammer out of a black doctor bag."I want to test your reflexes!".
"Maybe next time.."Emma suggested.
Dr Joubert wouldn't take no for an answer.They sat again.First he hit Steed's knee,then Mrs Peel's.Everything was as it should be.He shook his head ,completely satisfied.He smiled warmly and said in an official tone.
"Now,you can go!".
As he showed them out,a piece of his hair fell on the ground.The front part of his head was left naked.He hurried to pick it up.
"Excusez-moi!".
Steed and Mrs Peel then realised why his hair had seemed so odd!

Soon ,they were heading to the Bentley.They had parked it a few blocks away.It was dark and chilly.They started talking to forget the piercing cold.
"That man is totally.."Steed started.
"Crazy!Absolutely mad..and I don't think he's interested in children very much."Emma was dissapointed.
Steed agreed,then noticed that she wasn't listening..
"Hey..Mrs Peel..".He touched her shoulder.
"Frosty?".She pretended to be offended.
"He neglects me..and ..I want a baby..I can hardly manage with one woman in my life!".
She laughed."I thought you were fond of girls Steed!."
I'm very fond of girls but I'm not fond of commitment...He wasn't prepared to loose his female admirers ..at least not yetHe didn't say a word though..
"What if it's a boy?"She kept teasing him.
She was just joking, right?"You mean that you..".
"How could I?It was just yesterday that we.."she smiled and then continued"..and as far as I remember we were careful!".And then, she remembered.It was so long ago...children..her chest was in pain.Stop!She scolded herself.Just stop..it's over now.
Steed saw her face twisting in pain.He was ready to ask her about what troubled her,when a little boy approached them.He was about seven years old and long locks of blonde hair were covering his forehead.He must have been running,cause he was panting.The boy seemed to be in a state of great distress.
"Sir ..please..help me! ."He adressed to Steed.
"What's going on child?".
"It's all right,just calm down.."Emma was trying to reassure the boy.
"My mother needs help!".
"Did something happen to her?".Steed looked around him.There was a red lorry parked across the street.Its door had been left open,probably by the boy.
"She is asleep...I can't wake her up.".His beautiful brown eyes were filled with tears.He made an effort to wipe them away with his blouse sleeve.
He had startled them.Maybe the woman was already dead..
The boy raised his arm and pointed to the abandoned lorry.
Steed noded to Emma and crossed the street.She caressed the child's head and said:
"You are a very brave boy.I'd like you to wait here,so that we can help your mother.Ok....?"She realised that she didn't know his name.
"What's your name?".
"Bobby..my name is Bobby miss."
"Mrs Peel!"Steed shouted from across the street.
Emma left the boy and joined him.As she turned her back on Bobby, his expression changed.He crossed his arms in front of his chest and smiled.His look was cruel and scornful.He had pulled it off..yes, he was a winner!
Steed and Mrs Peel were looking inside the lorry.There was a woman in the driver's seat.Apparently,she had fainted and her body had fell all over the wheel.
"Steed,thank god she has a pulse..!"Mrs Peel touched her wriest.
Before she had time to react the woman grabed her from the hair and banged her head on the lorry door.She had caught her off guard..Another man who had come out of the back of the lorry tried to punch Steed, but he hit his arm with his umbrella.Emma felt dizzy,but she had no intention of giving up.She scratched the other woman's face with her nails.The brunette winced but retaliated quickly by kicking Emma in the stomach.She doubled and fell on the ground,her wound hadn't been healed completely yet.It was almost as she knew exactly where to hit..In the mean time,Steed was fighting with a man that had twice his height and weight.Steed noticed that there was a rotten banana left on the pavement.As the the other man approached ready to squash him,he threw the banana in front of his feet.The man tripped and fell on the pavement.He was trying to get up when Steed hit him hard on the head.He landed again on the pavement.The woman was trying to strangle Emma.That snaked eyed girl was a worthy opponent!They were rolling on the ground..
"Girls...girls..you shouldn't argue!"Steed smiled,then put his arms around the woman's waist while Emma used her palm to hit the base of her neck.She fell unconscious..Mrs Peel got up.
"Thank you..".She was a little bit ashamed.She used to be able to pay her own debts..
"I could see you were not quite yourself..".
"I'm dizzy..".She palmed her forehead.She frowned,a sound had caught her attention.Something ticking..just a noise.."Steed...run!Now!".
He obviously had heard nothing.She grabed his arm and urged him to go.They had crossed the road,when the lorry exploded.They fell down and covered their faces.Soon there were only ashes left.
"A trap..and we fell in it."
"They were probably planning to leave us in the truck.And then.."Before he could finish,they heard someone crying.The voice was childish..Bobby,too afraid of the explosion, had hid behind a dustbin.
"Get out of there right now!".Steed was angry.That child again!He had nearly got them killed.He grabed the boy by the ear.
"Take me to your leader!".
Bobby was sobbing and this time his tears were real.
"Steed,he's just a little boy..just a child.Let me handle it..".
"Just a child?.."Steed found it difficult to believe.
"We're not going to hurt you Bobby,but you have to understand that what you did was wrong."Emma started.
"I fooled you,I fooled you!".He was kicking the dustbin as hard as he could.
"Yes, you did.You were very convincing!I don't think though ,that you meant to hurt us or anyone else.You see,your friends are dead now.You're not going to see them again.."
Bobby was looking at her now.Suddenly,he was cold.He was all alone,in this big scary world..
"You shouldn't play with people Bobby.You have a gift..some day you may become an actor.I think you 're going to love the stage!".Emma was smiling.
Bobby didn't quite understand what she was talking about...but he was staring at the pavement.For the first time in his short life,he felt remorseful.
"He said he was going to get me a new ball.I can't play soccer with my old one.It's all torn up!".
"Who promised you that?"Steed asked.
"Our teacher."
"What's his name?".Emma was curious too.
"We call him Zero."
Their eyes met.That was interesting...
"Where's your school Bobby?Where do you live?".Steed interfered.
"I live at the school.I don't know where that is..".The boy realised that he could never get back there.He started crying again.
Emma gave him a hug.
"Where are your parents sweetheart?"
The boy didn't answer,just kept crying.Maybe he didn't have any.Steed went to call the police.
"Zero is nice."He showed her his shoes.They were shining.Another gift..probably.
"And he looks like an Indian!".
"What?".
"He wears a mask and there are feathers on his head!"
This child had a very vivid imagination,Emma thought.But she wanted to get that man,that man who was taking advantage of children.What a coward!The whole thing disgusted her.
Soon,Steed was back.
"I failed".Bobby said.He looked so sad..
"Zero is your teacher Bobby and I know that you love him,but you shouldn't listen to him.You didn't fail,he did.He's a bad man!He shouldn't have asked you such a thing!Besides,you did fool us!".Steed was trying to comfort the boy.He had actually started to like him.Maybe fatherhood was interesting,after all..
"No!I want to go back home!".He hugged Emma.
Two policemen came.Emma kissed him goodbye.
"These people are going to help you find your school Bobby.Ok?"
The boy nodded.
"We'll see you again,child!".Steed yelled.He had already briefed in the policemen about the explosion and Bobby.They put him in their car and left.

Steed and Mrs Peel were in the Bentley,driving home.
"Steed,we must do something!" Emma was furious.
"If only he remembered where his school is!".
"Mrs Kelly..You said she is very fond of children.Maybe she can help us!"She stopped ,then added."What if?.."
"You think she has something to do with this?"
"I haven't met her.You're the one who did... "
"I think she's honest..and..nice..I bet my bowler that she does love children very much.I can't imagine her manipulating Bobby!Besides,Zero is a man."
Emma was laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"I bet my bowler.."
"Well this little fellow is precious to me..".He touched his hat.It had saved him from villains many times.
"More precious than..?"Her voice trailed of.
They stopped in front of her appartment complex.He kissed her on the lips.Nothing is more precious than you,Emma.They both needed some time off.As she was getting out of the car,he shouted:
"Mrs Peel,what about the schools in the Benson and Cox list?"
"I'll check it out.Probably, the photo booth order has been placed through one of that schools.But Steed,..they've represented hundrends of schools in the last few years."
" It's a long shot,I know..Goodnight Mrs Peel!.."
"Bye."

She took a shower,then went straight to bed.

Enchante de vous connaitre:Nice to meet you.
S'il vous plait :If you please
Quel dommage :What a shame
Ma cherie :Darling ?
Excusez moi :Excuse me
N'est-ce pas ?:Isn't so ?

I hope that there isn't someone out there that fits Dr Joubert's profile!