Sorry guys! Here is the next part. I am puppy free now (she has happily found a new happy home!) so fingers crossed I can write more regularly now, enjoy!

9

Lady Penelope watched through the binoculars in the comfort of the back seat of her car. Parker was talking to a gentleman in the alleyway opposite; she could hear every word through her ear piece and was deciphering the information intently. Rose was in the passenger seat filming the meet for evidence.

'Hey Parker! It's great to see you again mate.' The tall man held out a hand which Parker shook firmly. 'D'you have what I asked for?' Parker glanced up and down the alley. 'I do but I thought you went straight years ago after you got out?' The man eyed Parker suspiciously. They were old acquaintances from back in the day and he owed Parker his life, he wouldn't be here otherwise. No one should trust someone that's gone clean. 'Nah! You know me mate, I could never stay away – I like to dabble too much'. He eyed Parker again 'Although if you're not interested...' Parker made to walk off. 'Hey wait! I'm just messin! I had to be sure yeh know?' Parker nodded. Attention was now drawn to the duffel bag that Parker had on him. He flashed the tall man a look in the bag. The man tried to grab the bag. 'Ah! I want a name' Parker whispered. The guy's dark eyes roved up and down the alley, he was visibly wary. 'He's called Jonah Lee and that's his real name I swear'.

'Twenty more, if you give me an address'. The brown eyes widened in shock.

'You promise my name won't be mentioned.'

'You hav' my word.'

'Good. 110 Newman Street, East London. Why do you want to know so bad anyway?' he stubbed out his cigarette with his foot.

'I got a job that requires his services and it's urgent. Ere take the bag'. The man's hands trembled as he took it. The things he could do with this, he tipped his hat towards Parker before retreating back down the alley. Parker waited a few minutes before exiting onto the high street and walking in a southerly direction. A car shortly slipped alongside him and he hopped in the front. It pulled off quickly and smoothly quickly becoming lost in the traffic.

'Well done Parker.'

'Thank you milady, what's next?'

'We go to the address'. Penelope was reapplying mascara as she spoke, fluttering her eyes in the compact mirror. 'I think the police might be a better idea, they can put surveillance on the address to ensure the information is valid.' Rose knew how dangerous this guy was. He had shot her after all. 'Relax Rose, we are just doing our own bit of surveillance, we need more evidence for a concrete prosecution.' Penny reclined further into her seat.

'Fine but any sign of danger. I will call for back up.' Rose tapped her hand on the arm of the door in agitation and worry. Parker kept his eyes firmly on the road, he could sense the tension in the air between the two women and he was not getting involved, it wasn't his place - and happily he might add.

Rose kept her eyes on the road for hazards and kept checking the mirrors for danger from behind. She had been with Lady Penelope and Parker since her condition had stabilised. All she knew was that these two were agents for international rescue and they wanted her protected until the shooter was found for her own safety but she also knew that she was their only key witness which is probably why they were keeping her close. She was with them for two reasons, the main being that she wanted to catch the son of a bitch who shot her (She wouldn't sleep peacefully until she did.) and two she was intrigued about this mysterious rescue organisation and how they had been targeted. She knew there had been another incident as she had heard Penelope respond to a call but Parker had ushered her out of the room before she could gather more information but it had sounded serious and the hunt for the marksman had intensified over the coming days. Rose had been staying with the Lady and her manservant at their stately home in Kent which had been more pleasant then anywhere she had ever stayed. She was also glad to be out of the hospital, she hated the place. Rose was broken from her trail of thoughts by the sharp pain in her upper chest, she adjusted the seat belt so that it sat underneath, instead of over her shoulder. The external wounds had knitted together nicely but the scar tissue was relatively new and tender. She was still several weeks off fully healing and had just started some gentle physio. She was still on painkillers three times a day and trying to wean herself to twice a day with limited success.

They pulled up several blocks away from the address. Rose gently undid her belt and flipped her hair over her shoulder with her good arm. Lady Penelope's car was not exactly inconspicuous seeing as it was a hot pink Rolls Royce. Thankfully the lady herself had at least dressed more conservatively today.

They all filed out onto the street and headed to the address. Parker went on ahead to scout it out whilst Rose and Penelope held onto each other Laughing and chatting and walked along the outskirts of the park directly opposite the address. Newman Street was not an run down part of London nor was it a high calibre end of town. It was simply a normal working-class street like hundreds of others with a few large chain stores and an express supermarket. 110 was the bottom flat of an old townhouse with simple iron railings surrounding the front. The girls sat on a bench and pretended to be absorbed in talking and taking selfies (with the house behind them) whilst Parker ran up to the door with a parcel in his hand and knocked. Parker watched the curtains flutter whilst he stood on the doorstep nervously. The door opened a crack. 'Good day sir, a Package for you. I need you to sign ere' Parker indicated to the tablet and stylus in his hand. He could see the gleam of a blue eye and smell the smoke on the man's breath behind the door. 'I didn't order anything you must have the wrong address.'

'I believe its right sir; it's simply addressed to the occupier.'

'Very well' Parker stepped back and down a step as the man appeared fully from the doorway. He had short cropped brunette hair and couldn't have been more than thirty-five to forty years old. He was tall (around six foot two) and of a slim build but well built. You could see the muscle tone through the tight long sleeved black shirt he was wearing. He signed the tablet in haste and grabbed the bulky parcel.

'Good day Sir' Parker called as the door was slammed in his face.

He turned and swiftly bounced down the steps walking back down the road. A few minutes later the girls finished their chat and said their goodbyes making off in opposite directions.

International Rescue had been out of business for a week. None of the boys had seen their Dad since dinnertime. He has been busy corresponding with the agents across the globe that were trying to make it safe for IR again, that and avoiding his angry sons. Gordon was silently frustrated whereas Scott and Alan were obviously riled and angry that they were just sitting around and doing nothing. They wanted to be finding the people behind this so they could be operational again not sitting around because their Father didn't want them in danger. People still needed rescuing and that's what mattered. Sure, what happened to Virgil was a tragedy, Scott had argued with their father but they knew the risks of the job and it was ultimately their decision to risk their lives to save others. They did it everyday this threat was no different. In the end Jeff couldn't take the quip remarks and the attitude and told Scott to take Alan into space and switch with John as he was due to come down anyway. Jeff would rather cope with a grounded John than an angry Alan and Scott any day. The two could be terrible to manage in this mood together. It was also a solution to stop John obsessing over Intel and Jeff could try and get him to rest. He hadn't liked the way his eldest blonde son looked at all the other night. He hadn't told John they were coming or he would have refused to come back. Jeff was tired himself but his son's safety and the organisation was his priority (Despite the boy's opinions) and he would sort it, if they just gave him the chance. Couldn't they understand how scared he was of losing them? There had been two many close calls of late for him to ignore.

Once he had heard Thunderbird three launch he exited his office for a breather. He could venture out now he wouldn't be accosted by his eldest and youngest. Gordon was sat in the lounge and Virgil was sat curled up on the end sofa drawing. The last couple of days he had been venturing out of his room for longer periods of time and it warmed Jeff to see him more content than he had been since arriving home. Jeff had decided not to hide anything from his son and that included IR business. There had been the worry that Virgil would accidently tell someone but Jeff was willing to take the risk, he wanted to prove to Virgil that they would completely honest with him in the hopes that Virgil would be with them too.

Jeff was drawn to the news bulletin which Gordon was watching intently. There was a male anchor man talking to two other people. One was from a well-known media group the other was a representative from the Global Defence Force. They were discussing a topic that filled Jeff with a sense of dread. 'There have been calls of outrage from the public since International Rescue announced it was ceasing operations in light of the sabotage attacks they have experienced recently. We are joined by Kate Walsh from twitter HQ to gain more on this situation. So, Kate what's the public's opinion?'

'Well several thousand people have taken to twitter and other social media outlets to acknowledge their outrage that someone would attack this organisation that has helped so many. A majority of people however are expressing their disappointment and concern that IR has abandoned their cause. Tom Bradbury for example works for Oxfam, he wrote; 'I work as a medic for Oxfam in some of the world's most dangerous and politically instable nations to care for the innocent in need. I would not rest until I have aided and helped those in need, even when my life has been threatened.' 'A lot of people are expressing similar comments and some families have even posted about loved ones that they feel could have been saved by IR this week but have instead died, despite the pleas for help.'

'Thank you, Kate, over to Colonel James Masters. Do you think that IR has the right to stop operations? They are a notoriously private and elusive organisation how can you guarantee that they are working in the best interests of the public?'

'Well Ben, I think what we need to remember first and foremost is that IR are not a registered search and rescue service, they're not emergency services or even military based; they are simply a private organisation that have consistently tried to do good in the world for some time now. They have as much right to protect their own safety as anyone does; it isn't their duty or mission to be in the line of fire. I think it is unfair to ask them to do so. In their absence the GDF has been working with emergency services to aid them as much as we can by providing additional resources. We are also working incredibly hard to try and find the perpetrators and bring them to justice swiftly so that IR may resume operating.'

'Did we pay him? He's good.' Gordon cut in not turning to face his father. Jeff sighed. This was just what they needed bad PR and the GDF coming to their defence, he was sure to pay for it later. They were always on his case about wanting access to IR's technology and this would give them the fuel they needed. It was just a matter of time. They were being civil for now. 'Dad maybe the whole secrecy thing needs to be reviewed, I mean at times like these we could really do with a spokesperson.'

'Maybe' Jeff said gruffly, he supposed a spokesperson couldn't hurt but it would need to be someone they trusted and who wouldn't be directly affiliated with the Tracy's or Tracy industries.

'Why don't you just set up a website with an anonymous live Q and A?' Virgil added to the conversation not looking up from his drawing. Jeff was taken aback by his son's sudden and flippant answer. It wasn't actually a bad idea. 'That's a very good idea Virgil I think I might just look into it.'

'I'm sure Brains would know how to make it secure from what I've heard about him'. Virgil had met him once before getting on the plane here and briefly since he had been home. Jeff had an idea of his own, a way to gently bring his son back into the business and hopefully feel more like part of the family.

'How would you like to work with him on it S.. I mean Virgil?' He had almost said son and corrected himself at last moment he could tell the familiarity of the word made Virgil uncomfortable at present. Gordon turned to look at his father in surprise and then back at his brother to see if he would agree. His father had never wanted a website he didn't think it was viable or a good use of their resources before. He had also been worried about the security threat. So far all involvement in the business and family Virgil had shunned, Gordon was interested to hear his answer.

'I guess, if that's what you would like.' Virgil's face remained motionless as he continued to draw.

'Great I will arrange for Brains to find you later for a chat and you can run him through your idea'.

With that Jeff ruffled Gordon's hair and headed back to the office. He smiled to himself happily, he felt better than he had done in days. His son was starting to come back to life and that was the greatest gift he could ask for under the circumstances. Everything else no matter how daunting paled in comparison. They would come through this, he was sure. He flipped the monitor up on his desk and called Penny.