Chapter 3
Caitlin and Napoleon were led into Craig Green's law office and into his private conference room by his assistant. The mahogany wood paneling was reflected in the large marble-top, conference table. Black leather chairs aligned the table that stood in front of a mosaic of different shapes windows looking out onto Central Park from the 20th floor in one of the many skyscrapers that circled the lush scenery.
"Cat!"
Craig rose up from his chair at the top of the table to give her a hug. He was a slightly stocky man with stark white blond hair swept up in a fifties-style hairdo that surprised Napoleon. He had on a medium colored brown suit, but he wasn't wearing a tie. His yellow shirt was so bright that Napoleon was glad that Craig had his jacket on or that shirt would've burned his corneas.
"Craig, darling, always the fashion plate," Caitlin smiled as he released her and then roughly pulled Napoleon to her side. "I have someone for you to meet."
Craig looked him up and down with a critical eye and then smiled invitingly. "My, he is a treat, isn't he? A bit of a square in the clothes department, but a nice face and build. Hair's a bit flat, but great eyes. A real keeper Cat."
"Back off friend, this one's mine." Caitlin gave Craig a playful shove on the shoulder, still holding on to Napoleon's hand close to her side. "His name's Napoleon Solo."
"Unique name for a unique specimen of a man and only the finest quality in clothes and cologne I see. That's it, Cat, I'm in love."
"But what would Jones say?" Caitlin only smiled while reminding Craig that he already had someone special.
"He'd say that he's a slice a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting."
Napoleon didn't think it was possible, but he was blushing. He wasn't used to being so scrutinized by another man like that and then to find out that this man was only testing his reactions to the gay subject at hand.
"It's nice to meet you Craig," Napoleon nodded and smiled a bit more openly.
"Oh, a voice smooth as silk. If only I were gay, I would give you a run for your honey here, Cat."
"Craig, you are gay and he's still not yours, but he does have a partner at work with wonderful blue eyes. I haven't quite figured him out yet." Caitlin shrugged as if she was an authority on this subject.
"Caitlin…" Napoleon started, but then there was a squeeze from her hand on his and he decided that it would be kind of fun to see if she could figure out his partner.
Seeing Illya's face when he found out that Caitlin thought that he might be gay would be priceless, thought Napoleon. Wait until she found out about Lexi, but he wasn't going to tell her anything. It was up to the blond explosives expert they were talking about to tell her. Napoleon just wanted to be there when he did.
"Blue eyes, you say?" Craig's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Bright blond hair and longer than usual and very mod. The kicker of it all is that he's Russian."
"Blue eyes, blond, and Russian? Cat, I've got to meet your new friend, even if it's just to look at him. I could bring Jones."
"I'll have to think about it, but right now we have to return back to reality and talk about Uncle Danny," Caitlin said, suddenly seriously and she released Napoleon's hand to sit down in one of the chairs.
Napoleon watched Craig change right before his eyes as well. He still smiled, but now it was one of a professional lawyer. "Yes, the time for this pleasurable conversation is for later. Cat, is it okay to talk in front of Mr. Solo? I can have my assistant take you back to the reception area, Napoleon?"
"Yes, well I'm…" Napoleon haltingly tried to explain why he needed to stay, stopping midway in his action of sitting down.
"Oh, he's all right, Craig," Caitlin said with a wave at Napoleon to finish sitting down. "He knows all about what's going on with Uncle Danny. I've hired his firm to help me find out what's going on."
"So, Mr. Solo is a detective." Green nodded, grabbing a pencil and note pad from the pile of supplies kept on the side bar behind him. There was no hint or over exaggerated actions exhibited by him now sitting at the table.
"Yes, now, tell me what you found out. Is Uncle Danny going to be at Hillgate for very long?"
"Well, that is the question we all would like to know," Green stiffly said. "I called the clinical director of Hillgate Sanitarium, a Dr. Heaford, and he said that Daniel Delaney is under a court-ordered commitment of at least two weeks and the rest is to be determined by how he responds to medical and psychological therapies, including medications and electro shock treatments. His case has been assigned to the governing legal group that represents the sanitarium. I've been in contact with a Mr. Jordan Graff, their lawyer."
"Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest to have the sanitarium to represent him?" Solo spoke up, making Caitlin and Green look at the UNCLE agent. They had momentarily forgotten that he was sitting at the table.
"Yes, it would be." Green nodded with another level of respect of Napoleon's intelligence. "That's why I'm planning to work very closely with Mr. Graff to monitor his progress and see to it that Daniel gets out of that place as soon as possible for his own sake and ours."
"Do you know anything about this Mr. Graff?" Napoleon asked. He'd already given Illya an extensive list of people who worked at Caitlin's house; he would call in this lead himself when he had the chance.
"As a matter-of-fact, Mr. Graff is here in this office. He arrived just shortly before you two do. I told him of our meeting and I wanted to talk with Cat here, before I introduced him to her," Craig said with a sly smile and gave Caitlin a wink, flicked a switch, and a voice responded.
"Sir?"
"Have Mr. Graff come into the office."
"Yes, sir," the assistant's voice confirmed the request.
Craig Green stood up, went to the wet bar, and picked up a glass and a carafe filled with water. He walked back to stand by Caitlin, set it down the crystal and began to fill it up. "You'll like the look of this man, Cat. Quite good handsome, cool, and smooth as the glass you're drinking from, reminds me of a high priced lawyer. I would've thought of him for you until you brought your detective friend here with you. He fits you better."
Caitlin looked up at Craig, startled, but then smiled, shifting her gaze to Napoleon and blushed slightly. All Napoleon could do was stare blankly at the two of them. He was speechless to what to say. It was as if Craig was giving her and them his approval and permission to see each other. Then, the wildly dressed man cleared his throat noisily and nodded to the door to alert them that it was about to open.
Jordan Graff entered the room; refined and confident until he saw who was sitting by Miss Delaney. Napoleon Solo! This unexpected change in events only slowed him down a fraction. He quickly recovered his composure without letting the UNCLE agent know that he knew who he was.
Where there was Solo, Kuryakin was not far behind. This thought brought a smile to his face as he walked to the table, placed his briefcase down beside his chair, and reached forward to extend a hand to Miss Delaney.
"It is good to finally meet Mr. Delaney's family member. I'm sure that Mr. Green has given you my name and why I'm here to meet with you."
"Yes he did, Mr. Graff. This is Mr. Solo, my friend." Caitlin smiled sweetly, but there was something about him that made the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stand up. The subtle cruelty behind his eyes frightened her. Sitting back down, she pushed her chair slightly closer to Napoleon's.
Caitlin gave this man a good look over as he shook hands with Napoleon. His hair was black and cut in a typical professional manner with a part off to the left. He had blue eyes that were piercing, but he was hiding them with thick black glasses. He was a tall, well-built man.
Jordan Graff definitely had a lot of what she wanted in a man; he even matched Napoleon in how he dressed and smelled, although, she preferred his cologne to Mr. Graff's.
Caitlin was surprised that she was already comparing other men to Napoleon. She was angry with herself that he was so much in her thoughts and physical being that it was if she was in love with him already, but could she deal with living with his career as a spy?
Napoleon's eyes bore down on Caitlin for a quick second while they waited for Graff to sit down and pull out a file from his brief case. Thinking he knew the struggle she was under, Caitlin had to admit she hadn't felt this way about anyone before this and it was unnerving. Shaken by this revelation, she took a quick sip of water to douse her frantic thoughts and concentrated the matter at hand, helping her Uncle Danny.
Solo had caught the slight break in Graff's determined when he entered into the conference room, but put that off as surprise to see someone with Green and Caitlin. What concerned him the most was how Caitlin looked at him after Graft and she shook hands.
Napoleon thought that he had seen her shiver in the smallest way while she glanced at the unfamiliar man. Watching her clear her throat after she took a drink of water to prevent from choking on it, suddenly, Caitlin looked very tired and in deep thought to him.
"Miss Delaney, I know that you're concerned with your uncle, but let me assure you that he is getting the best care." Graff sincerely smiled, opened the notes, and readjusted his black glasses. "His file and chart show that he has been suffering from depression over the abrupt death of your father, Thomas Delaney. This happened about a year ago?"
"Yes, but Uncle Danny wasn't taking any medication, at least not that I know of. I just don't understand how things could have changed so quickly for him to get that upset to act out. He's very socially minded. He would never act like he did, especially at the biggest charity event of the season..."
"That's where the problem lays, Miss Delaney. Daniel Delaney was on medication for the last month. We've records of his appointments with a psychiatrist throughout the last six weeks. His doctor stated that he was concerned for his health and he was becoming a threat to himself and others. Last night was the final push to get him committed to Hillgate involuntarily. The judge was at the charity event and immediately signed the paperwork after he was secured and taken to a safe place."
"That was quick and efficient process to get a court order for that length of commitment." Solo stated with uneasy concern. "Do you have his physical and psychological evaluations with you, Mr. Graff?"
"Yes, I do. A complete exam was done this morning and plans for treatment were added to the court order by the judge around noon today. Miss Delaney, we want to have your uncle treated as quickly as possible so he can continue on with running your company.
"We, at Hillgate, only want the best for our patients and families. Many of our clients are very influential people in the business district. Discretion is always a top priority of ours. That is why we provide legal services to all our patients."
"Yes, Mr. Graff." Green agreed as he eyed him suspiciously. "However, as we all know, most of your hospital's clients have established law firms that are fully capable of handling commitment orders."
"Yes, you are right, Mr. Green." Graff smiled darkly. "That is why I'm handing his file over to you and Miss Delaney. I just handled the preliminary work and will act as a contact person at Hillgate Hospital and Sanitarium along with Dr. Heaford."
Everyone at the table looked at Graff with surprise in how easily he turned over the information and file. "Of course you still realize, Miss Delaney that we'll still be monitoring his condition and will make sure he is fit to leave the sanitarium healthy and functioning. That, you can be sure of."
"Yes, Mr. Graff, thank you." Green acknowledged the threat with those last words the lawyer spoke so elegantly.
Mr. Graft went over to Caitlin, took her hand in both of his, and held it softly while he smiled.
"Miss Delaney, I hope to see you again under better circumstances. Hopefully, with your uncle's release and his return back home to you in a very short time."
"Yes, thank you," Caitlin said quietly, weakly smiling up at him.
"Good day, Miss Delaney, Mr. Solo, Mr. Green." Graff nodded to Napoleon and Craig before turning to the door and walked out of the office.
"Wait, Mr. Graft," Green followed Graff to the door and out into the reception hall. They exchanged in few words that Solo couldn't hear and he saw them shake hands, and then Green shut the door. He walked back to Napoleon and Caitlin with a determined matter.
"Oh, Cat, we are going to have to watch that one." Craig sighed, flopping down in his chair. He took off glasses, threw them on the table, and leaned back to rub his eyes. "He's new in town from California, but already up on his game. I'm sure that I will have to play hard ball with that guy just allow you to see Danny, mark my words. Maybe you could use your girlish charms on him, Cat? He's not my type."
"No, Craig, I'm too tired to try right now. All I want to do is to have a simple meal and stay in for the night."
"And Mr. Solo is going to help you with that?" Craig smiled and Napoleon gave him a knowing wink, leaning his elbow on the chair's armrest while he played with his ear.
"Ah, that has yet to be determined," Caitlin said with a groan, leaned back in her chair, and started to swivel around in a big circle.
"Well, dear heart," Craig sighed and he started turn in his own chair towards Caitlin, knocking hers to glide away from the marble table. "It's time for me to go back to work and see my other clients. Believe me, I would rather play chair bumper cars with you, Cat, but I have to earn enough to pay you back some day. I'll have my assistant make a copy of this file and have it at your office in the morning."
"Yes, I need to go too." She stood up from her chair when it stopped spinning, straightened her jacket, and grabbed her bag. Napoleon quietly had gotten up from his chair at the same time, ready to go. He walked over to Craig and shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Green," he said smiling. "It's been real interesting and a pleasure to meet you."
"I bet you say that to all your clients' gay friends."
"I'll see you later, Craig." Napoleon laughed and thumped the man on the back. He wasn't a bit nervous of being around him and others of different sexual orientation.
"Off with you two." Green waved them out of the conference room as he picked up the file and began to scan through it.
Caitlin and Napoleon had just finished their meal and enjoying some Espresso when his jacket began to beep. Napoleon quickly put his hand into his pocket and silenced the communicator's insistent chirp with practiced skill.
"I think that I'd better take this call by the telephones. Will you excuse me?" Napoleon asked Caitlin. She smiled, nodded, and put down her cup on the saucer.
"Of course," she said while playing with her napkin. "Tell Illya that he missed a wonderful meal."
"I will. He'll be sorry. You should see him eat his weight in pasta. He's gotten us kicked out of here a couple of times," Napoleon said smoothly and placed his own napkin by his plate. He gracefully stood up, placed his hand softly on her shoulder, and then walked passed her to the pay phone by the bathrooms.
Caitlin watched his back while he moved to the other side of the restaurant and then looked around the room to see if anyone had noticed that he had left the table. A few people looked up, but from his passing by their table as oppose to any specific interest.
She smirked as her own reaction. It was as if she now was more aware of her surroundings and who might be lurking in the shadows; spy games! Caitlin thought she was going crazy. First to fall for this Napoleon person with just one look and now to think that someone maybe plotting against her family, but for what; their money, their company, secrets of their client's data bases?
Those last thoughts sobered her up quickly. She hoped that all of this was just an overreaction to her uncle's depression and her being upset that he couldn't talk to her about it. Caitlin silently sighed, tried to relax, and reason with herself.
"Napoleon and Illya will be there for me no matter what," A strong voice inside of her firmly said. Caitlin attempted to swallow down the fear and nervousness that she was feeling. All there was now was a short lived sense of calm before a storm for her while she took another sip of her coffee and waited for Napoleon to return to the table.
Napoleon picked up the phone receiver the same time that he pulled his pen communicator out of his suit and leaned against the paneled wall the pay phone was attached to.
"Open channel D, Illya. Perfect timing as always," Napoleon said lightly with a touch of smugness. "We just had finished eating and no, I'm not bringing you a doggie bag."
"How does Caitlin like Leonardo's?" Illya's voice remained bland, ignoring his partners jab.
"How did you know we were here?' He asked in mock surprise.
"Napoleon," a tired voice sighed. "It's Wednesday, veal parmesan is the special and it's your favorite. Need I say more?"
"No you don't. I'm just glad you don't work for THRUSH and know where I like to eat. How did it go finding out about Hillgate Hospital and Sanitarium?" A smile and his casual posture he was portraying turned into a straight-back professional when they started to talk business.
"Nothing too unusual, no one from the society club, the hospital, or the sanitarium is known to be associated with our feathered friends. Quite the popular and well regarded psychiatric facility they have. I'll go tomorrow night to check out Dr. Heaford's office and files."
"Sounds like a good plan. What about Caitlin's place?" Solo asked, turned around to see her look around the room, and catching her eyes on him. She smiled brightly when he gave her the "one more minute" signal before he'd be done.
"There's validity to her story. I took some of the junior agents with me this afternoon to sweep her house and grounds. She wasn't kidding about the size. The monster of a house sits on five acres; we found at least ten monitoring devices that were mostly located in the house. Some in the garage and patio by the pool, but there's something odd about them."
"Odd?" Napoleon interest perked even further. "Why would you say that?"
"Because, they're not the typical THRUSH bugs, they look more like one would see from the military, but handmade. Like I said, it's most interesting. I tried to dust some for prints and found none." Napoleon could hear his partner's excitement at the mystery he couldn't solve right away.
"In that case, I think that Caitlin will stay with me tonight at my place. We can check out her office and try to see Daniel Delaney in the morning."
"At least I know that I'll be getting some sleep tonight."
"See you in the morning, Sleeping Beauty, Solo out." Napoleon laughed, but he wasn't going to admit that he was just as tried to Illya or Caitlin.
Napoleon turned off his communicator, placed it in his coat pocket, and then put the phone back on its hook before he walked back to Caitlin and the table. He was trying to think how he was going to tell her what Illya had found out and get her to agree to stay with him for the night.
"So?" Caitlin started right in as soon as Napoleon sat down. "How is Illya?"
"Oh, fine." Solo made a great show of placing his napkin across his lap.
"And?" Caitlin gave him a look of mild irritation that made him smile and told her that Illya was fine before she really got upset.
"And…I'm not telling you here, way too public. We need to go someplace more…secluded." Napoleon tried not to make it sound like he wanted her to come him just to get her into his bed, but that wasn't too far from the truth.
"Napoleon!" She said in a sharp, harsh voice. "Are you trying to take me to your apartment?"
"Well, yes, but not in the sense in the way your thinking, honest!" His eyes searching hers to begging her to understand, because what he had to say to her needed to be done in a private place that was secured from those who might be listening in to their conversation.
"Then, I think we had better get going, before I lose my nerve," Caitlin said softly. Being with him was exactly what she needed to feel safe right now. She knew that she could trust him to be a gentleman until he told her what was going on. The rest of the time it didn't matter if he was a gentleman or not and she hoped that he wouldn't be.
Shocked in her response, Napoleon didn't say a word, paid the bill, and they took a taxi to his place. He held her hand whenever possible, but nothing more. He was beginning to understand Illya's need to be in constant contact with Lexi whenever possible when they were together in trusted company.
Illya walked into Lexi's apartment and shut off the preset alarms. He hadn't realized how tired he was until he looked around the living room, kitchen and the small mess of dishes they had created early this morning. He stopped by the table to set his keys and gun down with a small clang and scuffing.
Lexi and he had spent last night and this morning here after the Roth charity event. Precious time together making love and talking; something they don't seem to get to do much of. Then he took off his jacket, gun holster, and slung it on the nearest chair back.
Even though Lexi now lived permanently in New York and worked at UNCLE, they saw each other about the same amount of time as before. At least, Illya sighed in reflection, picking up the empty vodka bottle and turned over the upside down shot glasses scattered on the coffee table, she lived closer to him and he felt it was a bit safer for both of them.
He eyed the couch and smiled when he thought of their first tryst of the night. That one was frantic and quick. A way to cool the burning passion they felt for each other when he had seen her in that stunning black dress at the party. They hadn't bothered with clothes after that. The rest of the night was spent getting to know each other again after a long time apart, touching and holding one another, not letting go until it was time to leave in this morning.
Illya shook his head and sighed, this time apart was going to be harder on him than he wanted to admit or think about. They had other times when it was months at a time where they didn't see each other, but usually those feelings of longing didn't start until after the first few weeks for him. That's when he would start to look for someone to keep him busy both physically and emotionally.
He kept his relationships with other women light and tried to make sure the lady knew that it wasn't a permanent relationship. Some of the ladies didn't appreciate this arrangement and there were some hurt feelings, but that is just the way it was. Illya tried not to date from the bevy of beauties at work for that reason. He didn't know how Napoleon did it. Lexi came first, just like he had promised his father.
"Soon," Illya whispered to himself out loud as he started to pick up the plates and silverware off the table to fill the sink before he started the water flowing. He was looking forward to the day when they could stay in the same place, see each other every day, and actually get married, but could he handle that? Shaking his head at those future plans, he put dish soap into the water, and watches it swirl into the water before foaming.
The committed Section Two agent hated washing dishes, but he'd promised Lexi that he would clean up if she showered with him before they left. It didn't take much convincing on his part.
As Illya rinsed out the last glass, he shook it out vigorously, placed it on a dish towel he had put on the counter, and opened the fridge. Scrounging around the cool shelves, the blond man pulled out the makings of a simple cold cut sandwich and the jar of dill pickles.
With his meal made and a cup of warmed up tea from this morning in his hand, Illya plopped down on the couch and picked up a book. He had 12 weeks to clean up the apartment and was enjoying the peace and quiet.
Before Illya had walked into Lexi's apartment this evening, he'd called Napoleon to tell him that he finished his report from the information he gathered about the sanitarium and the listening devices. He was glad it was decided that she would stay at Napoleon's place.
He had to smile when he thought of his dark haired partner. Caitlin was a perfect match for Napoleon; those two used their overstated egos and humor to deal with stressful and dangerous situations. He hoped that Napoleon's roaming eye would slow down enough to see how tough and resilient she was. Those were good qualities to have if you were in a long-term relationship with an UNCLE agent, just like Waverly's wife.
Illya had met Waverly's wife a few times, but only in the most secured places. She was an independent, smart, older lady who was extremely knowledgeable of what her husband does and continued as an extension of his right hand on the home front. Although not officially in UNCLE, she got and deserved every agent's respect. It was a role that he could see Caitlin take on when Napoleon took Waverly's place if he survived long enough to retire from Section Two.
Illya sighed as he thought about his own grand plan for the future if he survived as well. He was more content than Napoleon would be to run Section Eight's labs or become an instructor. He'd support Napoleon in any capacity he required. He didn't need to be the head of UNCLE to prove his own abilities, but he would accept the position if duty called for it.
Illya's conditioning and rough childhood created the need not to think of personal desires over the collective good. What he desired was to continue to work in Section Two, work in labs, and take care of Lexi. So they can look out for each other, no matter what happened in their lives.
"Right now, I have all I desire to do is…" Illya said sleepily as he was just about to drift off to dreamland when he heard a very loud cat meow and padded pawing at the bedroom's window that lead out to the fire escape.
A trigger for the alarm was set in every door, window, and the fire escape release went off. A soft blue light was flashing, because of the cat's desperate actions to get in could be seen in every room. If it wasn't shut off in ten seconds, a low pulsing sound would begin and the bed would shake.
Half-awake from the alarm, Illya walked over to the shut off switch and then went to the window to look at the persistent tom cat in tired frustration. "Not tonight, Napoleon. Lexi's not here to feed you and I'm tired."
But the cat didn't care if the man was tired or that Lexi was not at home, he was hungry and knew that there was food to be had. He kept meowing and purred loud enough to shake the window pane, trying to get Illya to stroke his body through the glass.
"Selfish tom cat," Illya grumbled with a small grimace on his lips, unlocked the window sash, and let the fat, yellow, tiger-striped cat in. He left it open a few inches. "You're just like your name sake."
The cat ignored Illya's grousing and proceeded to bounce to the floor, curl himself around his human's legs, and then strolled out into the kitchen. Skillfully, the large cat jumped onto the counter and patiently waited for Illya to catch up.
Illya decided to leave the window open so Napoleon could leave after he was feed. Lexi had frowned and then laughed at him naming the arrogant stray after his partner. The name fit this tom to a tee and she laughed, especially after Lexi had feed Napoleon, because he would stay around only long enough to circle their legs, stroke their hands a few times with his head as if he was making love to them, and then took his leave with a deep, throaty purr.
Illya dutifully fed the cat sardines from the small stash of cans in the cupboard and then went back to the couch, tucked his gun in one of the cushions near his head, and drowsily he waited for the cat to leave. Instead the damn cat decided to curl up next to the tired agent after a full body stretch of pure cat satisfaction. Illya was too tired to protest or get up to shut the open window as a cool breeze blew through curtains around.
While drifting off to sleep, he thought there would be little risk of discovery. No one had followed him, no one knew where current Lexi's apartment was, except for Napoleon and Waverly, and the cat was wild enough to alert him to a stranger coming to the door.
"Direct line to Mother G," A tall, dark figure talked into a walkie-talkie. He was unseen on the dark outside stairwell in the building across from Lexi's building. He moved the binoculars back up to his eyes as he waited.
"Mother G here. Is she finally home?" A strong female voice responded.
"No, Ma'am, but her boyfriend is here." The dark man stated, watching the blond man walk around the apartment and then lowered the goggles while he talked. The uninvited visitor had been in Lexi's apartment during the day to search it. Surprised to found a security system, he figured how to shut it off without too much difficulty. The man was quite impressed by the whole setup. "He knows about the alarms. Quite ingenious, I just don't know why it's needed. It's not quite military issue, but it's equal in effectiveness."
"There's an easy reason for that," the older lady's voice said confidently. "When you're rich, you can afford and need the best security system. He must know her very well and maybe just as rich; another good test subject to demonstrate to our new employers my techniques in conditioning the average person into giving us their money and cooperation."
"That's the problem; I couldn't find any information on Miss Roth's whereabouts. I can only assume that she's been out of the country. She must be a free spirit, staying in different hotels or with friends. I've found no permanent address to speak of and her CEO won't tell me yet.
"Christina Roth has been nowhere to be found in this country, until she showed up last night at the party where you spotted her for the first time in a year on this guy's arm. I wonder if she's the paranoid type. Maybe she's been living under another name to protect herself?" The dark man analyzed out loud.
"Could be, but we know that this Kuryakin person knows her and he can help us find her. What can you tell me about him?"
"Not much. I spent most of my day looking for her. They spent the night and early morning here, got dressed, and left the apartment. Kuryakin was carrying a suitcase. I thought it was his and they left about six in the morning. I followed them to a coffee shop near downtown where they met up with two of people from the party, Dancer and Slate I think, and then I lost them from there. It was if they disappeared. They're quite clever."
"I'm not paying you to lose our prey! I lost her a year ago; she should've been married to one of you by now and I want control of her trust fund." Mother G's voice became bitter while trying to control her white hot anger and then cleared her voice as the communicator went silent for a moment.
"I know my job," the dark man firmly stated through gritted teeth, forcing back his own angry response to her lack of faith in him. "I've this feeling that he must be a real pro handling their security. Most of your pampered targets aren't this secretive about their safety; they want to be noticed and flaunt their money. There's something peculiar about her. She's like a ghost."
"Well, I want that ghost! Bring me the boyfriend, maybe he can find her for us and then train him to work for the sanitarium."
"It will have to be in the kitchen or housekeeping, he doesn't look big or strong enough to be an orderly."
"I don't care what happens to him afterwards, I want to find Roth. How are you going to get into that apartment and past the security?"
"Whoa, wait!" The dark man perked up and looked through his binoculars again. "An alarm went off. He shut it off. Now, why would he do that? Oh, there's a cat on the fire escape. He let the cat in and left the window open a crack. Maybe he's not as smart after all. That's how I'll gain access. I saw the wiring connected to the metal framework of the fire escape. I'll cut it while the system is off. The street noise from a block away should cover my actions. I've some knock out gas with me. After that, I'll bring him back with me."
"I will expect you back here in less than two hours. Mother G out."
"Heaford out," The Clinical Director of the Hillgate Sanitarium said, turned off his walkie-talkie, stood up, checked his equipment, and covered his head with his black stocking hat. Crossing the nearly deserted street to other building, he began his extracurricular work for Mother G.