Steed's Bentley raced through town.

"This is so cool," Cassandra shouted above the rush of wind. "But what are we going to do when we get there?"

"I knew we should have brought Alexis," Steed grumbled. "At leas she knows karate."

**************************************************************************** **********

Tara lay on her back on Steed's leather sofa. "I don't see what this is going to accomplish," she grumbled.

"Just trust me," Alexis Rockford replied. "We're going to try a little word association. I Saw a word, and you say the first thing that comes into your mind. Okay, first word is white."

"Black," Tara immediately responded.

"Good."

"Bad."

"Mother."

"Fat."

"I wasn't expecting that," Alexis admitted. "But, good. Let's keep going, shall we? Up."

"Down."

"Left."

"Right."

"Steed."

"Father," Tara paused. "Why on earth did I say that?"

"Perhaps it's because Steed is old enough to be your father," Alexis ventured.

"Not at all possible," was Tara's reply.

**************************************************************************** **********

Upstairs in Steed's bedroom, Verena was having her own discussion with Peter.

"Mr. Peel, why did you marry Mrs. Peel in the first place?"

"She was extremely beautiful, extremely intelligent, wealthy. She could do anything she put her mind to."

"Did you ever consider the possibility that the two of you may have grown apart in the years you were missing?"

Peter paused a moment, thinking it over. "I don't suppose so-no. She's the same Emma I left behind, and if I could only get her away from Steed," he said the name with intense hatred, "I could get my wife back."

Verena shook her head, marvelling at Peter's cluelessness. "But Steed has a new partner now, Tara."

"Do you think I'm stupid? I've seen the looks they've exchanged, the way they finish each other's sentences. The way she knows he wants his tea stirred anti-clockwise," Peter's tone had become simpering. "The way Steed touches her hand or holds something she's touched. It's enough to make me sick."

Verena considered this. "How far would you go to get her back?"

Peter's voice became chilling. "I'd kill for her."

**************************************************************************** **********

"All right," Steed pulled the brake on the Bentley. "We're here."

"We're here," Mrs. Peel muttered. "But where are they?" Steed looked around puzzled.

"Olly olly oxen free," Cassandra Elise shouted.

Steed rolled his eyes. "I told you we should have brought Alexis, he murmured.

"No one's coming out," Cassandra pouted.

"Steed, could this have all been,"

"A ruse," Steed completed the sentence. "And we left Verena and Alexis alone with Tara and Peter."

**************************************************************************** **********

Back at Steed's flat, the therapists sessions wee interrupted by a sharp knocking at the door.

"Hmm. I wonder who that could be," Tara thought aloud as she got up to answer the door. As soon as she unhooked the latch, the door burst open, and four men carrying guns came in. Alexis immediately jumped up, at the ready.

Peter and Verena, hearing the noise, rushed down the spiral staircase to the lower level. Tara and Alexis lay unconscious on the floor. Obviously the gunmen had been warned about Alexis' abilities. Peter rushed forward. Unfortunately, he had not been trained to be a fighter, and was almost immediately subdued. The guns, which Verena now realized held tranquilizer darts, focused on her.

"Oh boy," she muttered.

**************************************************************************** **********

The Bentley screeched to a halt outside Steed's flat. Cassandra, Steed, and Mrs. Peel jumped out and raced inside. Surprisingly enough, everyone was still there, although only Verena was conscious, and she was sitting on top of four goons.

Steed's eyes widened. "How in the world did you manage that?"

Verena shrugged. "I've been watching Alexis. It also helped that they underestimated me. But that's the strange thing-these men were prepared for Tara and Alexis-the guns hold tranquilizer darts. They knew Alexis could do judo."

Steed's eyes flashed. 'We have a mole."

Peter groaned, and, shading his eyes, attempted to sit up.

"Who could the mole be," Cassandra questioned.

"Three guesses, and I'll give you a hint," Steed replied darkly. "His initials are P.P."

"That's a little preposterous, old chap," Peter moaned. "Isn't it more likely that whoever kidnapped the girl sent those goons? If that's true, he could already have known about Alexis, or, the missing girl could have been tortured until she revealed certain details."

"Anything is possible," Steed replied.

**************************************************************************** **********

Esteed sat in her chair, merrily humming.

"Won't you shut up," the man in the shadows shouted.

"Had a bit of bad luck? Just because your plan failed is no reason to take it out on an innocent little girl."

The man snorted. "if you're an innocent little girl, I'm the Queen of England."

"Nice to meet you your Majesty," Esteed replied. "Why would you stoop to crime?"

"I can see we're going to have to gag you," the man responded, stepping into the light.

"You," Esteed gasped.