I finally got this chapter done. I hope that the others won't be so hard to write. I know it's short, but I couldn't find a better cut off point.

An hour later, Alex made his way back to his hotel room to get his things together to prepare to leave for Paris.

When he entered the room, Alex saw Tabitha sitting at the small table with her laptop open and typing furiously. Alex notes that she had changed out of her jogging clothes and into skirt and jacket suit that reflected her cover as a socialite.

Her expression however, was far from the practiced role of a socialite. Alex knew the expression all too well. Tabitha was completely in Cat mode; which meant something had happened that had caused her agent instincts to kick in. Going up behind her, Alex reads over her shoulder; Tabitha is running a check on the ISP database on a vehicle description.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked, knowing that if Tabitha is going through the trouble of running a check on a seemingly insignificant vehicle then there was something wrong or the chief had contacted her and gave her the information on their next assignment.

"I'm not sure exactly. I saw this van in the parking lot of the hotel; and I'm not sure why, but I felt the need to have it checked out." Tabitha said, her eyes never leaving the screen. Alex noted the slight hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"I've never known you to doubt your instincts before." Alex said as he placed his hands on Tabitha's shoulders. Before he could say anything more; however, the computer beeped, signifying a video communications link was being established.

Tabitha clicked open the window, and soon the face of the chief commander of the ISP appeared on the screen.

"Racer X, Cat; I'm glad I caught the two of you before you left to return to Paris." The Chief said, and both Alex and Tabitha caught the controlled urgency in his voice.

"What have you got for us, Chief?" Alex asked as he sat in the chair beside Tabitha.

"ISP agents in Washington DC have requested your assistance on a matter they have dubbed a top priority."

"Why us? Surely the DC agents are capable of handling their own cases." Tabitha asked. Alex could note the slight hesitation in her voice.

"They say that they are in need of your expertise, as this case has developed complications; and is currently considered a matter of International security. And it is of dire importance for you to report to Washington DC as early as possible."

"We'll be there as soon as we possibly can." Tabitha responded, Alex noticed that any trace of her rolling accent was gone and was replaced with one of clipped refinement commonly used by upper-class European society that she used on a daily basis.

Tabitha could disguise herself with her voice in ways that never failed to amaze Alex. She could blend into a crowd anywhere; even copy their accent perfectly so that no one ever suspected she wasn't from their local area. While Alex could manipulate the tone and pitch of his voice, he never could manage to slip into a fake accent with the ease his wife could.

"I wish you luck and safety as you work this case." The chief said before signing off.

"Looks like we'll be going to the United States for Christmas after all." Alex said, removing his mask. Alex tried to keep his tone light as he knew Tabitha was hesitant about taking this assignment.

Washington DC was on Tabitha's list of cities she tried to avoid. The reasoning for this was one of Tabitha's closely guarded secrets that were known only to her. Alex knew that Tabitha had once lived in Washington; but the details of what had happened was not something Tabitha felt comfortable about discussing.

"If I recall correctly you're the one who didn't want to go to the United States; so you and spare me the false cheer." Tabitha said as she shut down the computer and began to get it packed up for the trip.

Once she finished that, Tabitha moved to the mirror and began to mess with her hair. Soon she had a style placed in her hair that might take other women at least an hour to do. Once she had finished it was impossible to tell exactly how long her hair was; another tactic to conceal her identity.

Alex changed into a black business suit, with a white shirt and black tie. Today he was Alex Recar, Agent 9 of the International Secret Police. As Racer X didn't have any more business left at the track.

Tabitha had already taken the Shooting Star to the airport last night, before her appearance at the victory banquet, under the cover of darkness and stored it in the ISP hanger; ready to be loaded on the jet this morning. So all they had to do was get to the airport and get the car loaded without attracting too much attention to themselves.

Before they opened the door, both Alex and Tabitha put on black sunglasses to shield their eyes. Alex also put on a fedora that also served to hide his face and hair as he still had to leave the hotel with out being recognized by his family.

At the same time, the Racer family was finishing their final packing to leave to go home. As Speed put his pajamas in his duffle bag, there was a knock at the door. Spritle opened the door, as he had finished his packing while Speed was at the meeting. It was Sparky at the door.

"I came to check if you two were ready to go yet. I think Mom and Pops have everything packed and are already downstairs loading the car." Sparky said as he shut the door and moved into the room.

Speed zipped up his bag and glanced around the room to see if anything had been forgotten.

"I'm ready as soon as everyone else is." Speed said as he picked up his duffle bag from his bed.

"I'm ready, and Spritle has been ready for the last half-hour so let's go." Speed said as he pocketed the room key so he could give it to Pops when they got downstairs. Shouldering his bag, Speed picks up his trophy that is sitting on a small table in the room he heads towards the door.

Together the three of them headed out the door and down the hall towards the elevator.

A couple that was in the lobby caught Speed's eye. As Speed watched the two move through the lobby of the hotel, something aboutthem was familiar. The way they walked, confident and determined, but completely silent; reminded him of the men in black.

Speed watched as the couple walked out the door and out to where a black, government-issue type car with black-tinted windows was parked. The trunk lid opened as they approached, probably remote wired.

The man loaded the suitcases, as the woman walked towards the passenger side door. But instead of getting in, she held a small black box in her hand and made a scanning motion with it on the car. After a few minutes, she put the box back into her pocket.

At the same time, the man closed the trunk, and walked over to the driver's side door. Pausing to glance over the roof at his partner, they opened the doors and climbed into the car, started it up, and drove away.

After the black car pulled away, the man in the gray van picked up his mike again.

"Boss, they've left the hotel. I was able to intercept a transmission from their video equipment; they are heading to Washington DC." The man said began to move towards the driver's seat.

"Continue to follow them. Our agents in Washington will be put on alert and be prepared to make their move when they arrive in Washington."

With that the radio went silent. The man started the van and pulled out of the parking space. Making sure he kept a safe distance, followed the black car towards the airport.

TBC