Disclaimer. As per Chapter One. If you recognise it……etc.

Chapter Seven.

Access All Areas

Two days later, Doctor Seddon walked Audrey to the entrance. Well he walked, Audrey was pushed in a wheelchair, as per hospital regulations for early discharge.

The minivan pulled along the kerb and a door opened. Two teenage girls got out and took her bags from the porter. Faith was behind the wheel.

"Hi Janine, Stacey. Faith." Greeted the doctor.

The two girls flashed him smiles. "Hey Doc." They chorused. Faith waved from inside.

Audrey looked a little puzzled. "Faith. What's going on? I was expecting Secret Service bodyguards?"

Faith grinned. "Yeah, well you just got upgraded. Your dad's request. Hop in, I'll explain on the way."

-------------------------------------

They pulled up at the school as a bell sounded somewhere within. A hoard of girls and the occasional male student milled around the hallways, moving in various directions. Faith directed Stacey and Janine to take Audrey's bags to the guest suite. She and Audrey followed the congregating students.

"Lunch time." Said Faith. "You hungry. If y'are then hurry up before this lot devour everything in sight."

They made their way quickly to the dining hall. There was a melee of students and staff queuing and eating food. Audrey was amazed at some of the quantities that were piled on the plates.

"Isn't there a lot of waste? Surely she can't eat all that?" She said, pointing to a pint sized student with a pile of food that looked almost as high as she was.

"Zoë! That your first course?" Called Faith.

The girl looked sheepish. "No Miss Faith. Second." She said. "I missed breakfast coz I was still trackin' that Po….." She adjusted her statement for the stranger with Faith. ……. "That porpoise at the dockyard."

"It's Okay, Zoe. She knows. So you bagged that Polgara then."

Zoe nodded, her mouth full of food. She mimed a cutting action across her throat indicating a decapitation.

Audrey looked amazed, her jaw dropped slightly, Faith put a finger under it to close the mouth before one of the others made a comment.

"Don't stare. It'll embarrass her." She whispered. "I took her two days to track it down. Kid did good."

But she can't be more than….."

"Fourteen. Younger than me or B when we started." She'll be really good when she's older."

Audrey gave her a sideways glance. "I think there's something you and dad still haven't told me."

"Heh. Yeah, right. See, back in 2003…….."

-------------------------------------

Lunch over. Audrey had the full story. The one that her father should have told her. Faith ushered her into her office and sat her down. Buzzing the intercom she ordered coffee for them both and paged Robin.

Audrey's first reaction as Robin entered, was to stand in respect of……..Wait a minute….President Palmer didn't wear an earring? Did he?

"Mrs. Raines. Audrey." He gave Faith a worried look. "Are you Ok?"

"I know dad said you look a lot like him but…."

"I know. Tell me about it. It's paying havoc with my fun time." Griped Faith.

Robin grinned. "If I ever needed a job, I could earn a fortune opening malls and kiddy parks."

"Well at least you have a sense of humour about it." Said Audrey.

They sat around the desk and discussed what their plan of investigation might be. Audrey called Bill Buchanan at the CTU. They would need access to their computers and files.

"Hi Audrey. Your father said you'd be calling. How are you? He said you'd had an accident."

"I'm fine Bill, just a cut or two. Did he tell you what I'd need?"

"Yes, I'll help in anyway I can, but with respect, I don't see what anyone else can do with these files and systems that we haven't already done. I don't think Chloe will be too pleased that someone's checking on her work."

"Bill, it's not Chloe's expertise or loyalty that's in doubt. There's an angle that we hadn't considered…..And before you ask Bill, no I can't tell you; but these people have access to……er .. equipment,…. that we don't." Audrey replied. At the other side of the desk Faith grinned. Robin smiled and shook his head.

"Alright Audrey. I'll get you access for what you need. Where do the disks need to be sent?"

"There's a senior agent of theirs coming to pick them up from you later today. She'll give you the access code that we agreed on last week. Okay."

"Yeah, sure,….but. This is highly irregular. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure Bill. Thanks."

As the call ended Bill Buchanan was wondering just who this 'Senior Agent' of this mystery organisation could be…….And had Audrey been compromised...

End of Chapter Seven.