Chapter 12: The Attack on the Queen

ETA is seven minutes.Reading the message, Bash slid his phone back into his pocket, laughing at the end of some joke he hadn't heard. As he excused himself away from the teachers around him, he leaned against a back wall and surveyed the room with disinterest. Mary would arrive in seven minutes, and the senior meeting started in fifteen. All he had to do was wait.

A second later, a woman walked up. "This is the most I've ever seen you on your phone!" The woman gave him a plum lipped smile, hazel eyes full of mischief, and Bash regarded her coolly. She was wearing red form fitting skinny jeans and a black cut out short tee, with was tucked in. Its top three buttons were undone, her large bust pushed up just enough to be noticed but not enough to be deamed inappropriate. She wore open toe snakeskin heels, both her toe nails and fingernails painted a Burgundy.

She seemed rather pleased with his scrutiny, and tucked a blonde lock of hair behind her ear. "Hello, Alecia," Bash regarded her.

"Hey. It's been awhile since we met like this."

"On the contrary, I believe I saw you in here just three days ago."

"You haven't called me."

That escalated quickly, not that he was surprised or fazed. "I think I have the wrong number."

"Impossible, I haven't changed it."

"I thought I told you to do so after you told me about your persistent ex boyfriend?"

"Well I didn't, and you would have known if you tried to call it."

"I've been busy."

"It's been four months."

"Why have you been counting? I'm not the only fish on your line."

"I miss you."

"Weren't you the one that said that this was no strings attached?"

"No one else can hit the right spot."

"I'm not sure what you want me to say to that."

"Is there another girl?" Alecia asked him.

"Wasn't there always?"

"But, you're acting different," Alecia responded, making a face. "Is she a girlfriend?"

Bash paused. Was she?

Luckily, Bash was saved from having to answer. A man walked by that Alecia seemed to recognize, because she called out to him. "Simon! Good morning."

"Ah, Miss Manelli. Good morning." The man smiled at Alecia, then looked to Bash. "Hello, good morning."

"Please, call me Alecia," she replied. Then to Bash said, "This is Simon Westbrook. He's a new substitute. It seems Mrs. Flemmings is sick. Makes sense with the weather changing. He recently moved to France from America."

The man in question was as tall as Bash, with buzzed brown hair. His facial features were very sharp and defined, his mouth small and stubble forming on his chin. He was wearing brown slacks, dress shoes, and a white silk shirt. He smiled at Bash, but Bash could see the cold disinterest in the man's eyes. Not like it mattered. If it was Alecia the man wanted, he could have her, Bash wasn't the least bit interested anymore.

But saying the man was American?

Bash gave a smile. "Cheerio."

"I beg your pardon?"

"My poor attempt at humor."

"I don't think I follow."

"Your accent, it's from south London isn't it?"

"What are you talking about? Simon doesn't have an accent. He was born in America."

"Is that right?"

Simon tensed, and it did not go unnoticed by Bash.

Simon replied after a brief pause. "I was born off the coast. Portland, Oregon. I went to college in England, but I didn't know the accent stuck with me."

"Ah, well it did."

"Seems to be that way." Cold eyes regarded Bash curiously. "I was never told your name."

"Oh, Simon, sorry! What poor manners. This is -"

"Nikolas Poitiers. Nice to meet you."

Bash felt the air change around them.

"That a common last name here in France?"

"Seems to be that way."

Simon chuckled, "Indeed. It is such an uncommon name to hear."

"Have you heard it before?"

Simon shook his head. "Not at all." Directing his attentions to Alecia, he said, "I'm going to use the restroom before the meeting." He glanced at Bash, "Nice to meet you, Nikolas. Excuse me."

Bash watched Simon walk away. When he saw the teacher leave the staff room, he made way to turn on his heel.

"If you don't call me, I'll tell him you lied."

Bash paused in his steps and glanced back at Alecia. "You seem well aquainted with him. I don't know why you keep insisting."

"Bash."

Bash was silent moment. "And if I do call you?"

Alecia smiled, and Bash weighed his options. "What about lunch instead?" Bash offered.

"You bastard, you really do have yourself a girlfriend. Fine then. Lunch. Today."

Bash smiled wryly. "It's a deal."

"It's a date."

Rather than answering, Bash walked away and out the staff room. Once he was in the school hallway, he narrowed his eyes and worked his jaw, mind working to commit the appearance of Simon Westbrook to memory.

Three minutes later, he stood in an empty bathroom, his jaw tense and his eyes dark. He made a low sound of disapproval in his throat. Where could the British man have gone that would ensure he was back in time for the start of the meeting?

Eyes widening, Bash hurried his way towards the front of the school, sliding his Bluetooth headphones in his ears.

Jackson answered on the second ring. "Pulling up at the front now -"

"No, don't. Drive to the back. I'm texting Schmidt to meet you and Mary at the back entrance. Are you approaching the front door?"

"Well yeah, but Boss, what the hell -"

"Get her head down."

"How?"

"I don't care, but do so. Now."

"Your Grace, I seemed to drop my pen back there. Will you reach down by your feet and see if you see it? ...Just keep looking for a moment, I know it's down there." Redirecting his attention to Bash, Jackson said, "What's going on?"

"I don't know."

"What does that mean?"

"I've got a bad feeling."

"How bad?"

"Can she hear you?"

"Perhaps."

"Then keep your voice down. I'm headed for the doors now."

Bash pushed open the doors to the school, catching only the back of Jackson's Nissan as it rounded the curve and followed the spiral down towards the back of the school. Glancing at it for just a moment, Bash slid his gaze to the figure next to him.

...It wasn't Westbrook, just some kid with no jacket and unruly brown hair. Bash stared at the kid for a long time, body tensed, jaw working as he tried to sort everything out. The accent, the demeanor - he was sure there was something there. Was it possible he'd been mistaken?

"...Sir?" Jackson's voice, lower than before, sounded in his ears. "Your status, Sir?"

"All clear," Bash replied.

"I'm waiting for Schmidt. Anything else?"

"Give her your BT. I want you on site as well in case something happens."

"What kind of something?"

"Anything." Then, "It's precautionary."

"Understood."

Bash disconnected, then turned to the student outside. "Hey, kid. Why are you out here?"

The kid turned to look at Bash, "I'm waiting for the meeting to start."

Bash regarded the student. "You're a senior?"

"Didn't I just say so?"

"Don't talk back," Bash said, irate. "It's starting in a couple minutes. Get inside."

"Yes, Mr. Poitiers."

Bash turned away from the British teen and headed back to the school, eyes scanning the halls for anything out of the ordinary.

Still feeling unsettled, he made his way to the auditorium.

Mary frowned when Jackson asked about the pen, but she obliged and bent down to search for it. "I don't see anything…what is going on?" She asked as she sat upright and saw them moving to the back of the school.

"Jackson, answer me this instant. What is going on? Where's Bash?" She demanded, a trace of worry within her tone.

They had been lying in wait for the Queen of Scots to arrive on school grounds, there were four of them in all, each one dressed in normal school attire per their orders.

One was hiding in the women's restroom, close to the faculty meeting that she was meant to attend, per their information.

Two were roaming through the halls, pretending to gossip about girls and football while they waited for their orders once their operative managed to get his paws on the Queen of Scots.

The final operative was waiting in the parking lot, with the van ready to go once their secured their target.

Each one of the operatives had an earwig hidden within their ear, for easy access in communicating, the microphone was securely hidden within a button on the collar or hood of whatever article of clothing each operative was wearing.

Their mission was to abduct the Queen of Scots at any costs, namely to scare the Dauphin of France into submission. They were a small team of many more, all hidden securely within different factions and places all over France, some even located in Scotland as well.

The leader chirped in on the earwigs, communicating with the other operatives.

Check, 1, 2, 3. (Operative in the van).

Copy that, all clear. (Operative in bathroom).

Second copy, waiting. (The two in the halls).

Once the Queen of Scots arrives, subdue and extract. Parking lot, far west side.

There is a back hall that you can get the Queen of Scots out quickly, once the target has been detained, begin countermeasures to ensure perfect extraction. (Operative in the van).

Copy. (All three within the school).

After that it went radio silent while they waited, eyes on every entrance of the school as they waited for the Queen of Scots to arrive with her detail.

The two operatives in the hallway each had a pistol hidden in the back of their waistbands, securely sealed beneath a large hooded sweatshirt they had opted to wear.

The one within the woman's restroom, was hiding in one of the stalls with an 'Out of Order' sign taped to the front of it. His feet weren't showing, and he was well hidden, lying in wait to complete his mission. His pistol was hidden in his waistband as well, though he wore no jacket or other cover-up clothing.

Within the van in the parking lot, the operative was watching monitors and checking the parking lot for signs of activity from any guard detail that might have been assigned to the Queen of Scots.

Mary frowned as she saw the back of the school, looking at Jackson. "Can we get out of the car now? I need to use the restroom Jackson." She said, irritation now present in her voice as she tapped her fingers against the door of the Altima.

She pulled her phone out, texting Bash.

...

What is going on Bash?

..

Jackson passed Mary a small key chain. "Here. Put this on your purse. This is a Body Transmitter. You press the small button and it will send an electromagnetic pulse out to anyone on our team. We'll receive an alert on our phones and be alerted to your location. For us, you'll appear on our radar as a blue blimp. I'll be nearby the school. So if you need anything send a message and I'll respond." He paused.

"If you activate the BT make sure it's only in an emergency. If you aren't being threatened, don't use it. Bash is your security detail but he is also undercover here. He cannot be compromised, so if you need anything that I can help with, request it of me. I will be here. Do you understand?" He asked Mary. "When you get out, you will see an operative waiting for you. It will be a student. He will escort you to the bathroom. Act like you're the best of friends. It's just a precautionary measure with the meeting going on and everything." He gave a smile. "Don't worry."

Just precautionary measures. Nothing major. Just follow Jackson's orders.Bash scanned the throng of people with a frown and sat next to Alecia.

"Your new friend; where is he?" Bash murmured.

"Simon? He should be here."

"He's not."

"Well then how the hell would I know?" Alecia whispered.

"You can find out, can't you?"

"Why are you so interested?"

"I want to make sure he isn't lost. This school is a big place."

"It's going to cost you."

"I'm not sleeping with you, Alecia."

"You say that now. There is going to be an art gala next week. Be my date."

"I thought we established I was taken?"

"Maybe your heart and maybe your sex, but I can have your body platonically, can't I?"

"Fine." His eyes still scanned the mass of people. "Well?"

"Give me a minute," Alecia huffed. "He's at that smoking spot in the back of the school; the one designated for the teachers...Bash? Where are you...?"

"I'll be back, save my seat."

Jaw tense, Bash hurried out the auditorium. A second later, he broke into a sprint.

"Schmidt, where the hell are you?"

"Walking Mary to the bathroom."

"Did you see a teacher? Outside when you were waiting for her?"

"A teacher...well, yeah. He didn't pay us any mind though. He was smoking a cigarette."

Bash cursed. "I'll meet you. Stay with her."

That son of a bitch.

Mary made her way into the bathroom closest to the auditorium, shaking her head as she walked to the mirror. She had her phone in her hand as she looked it over, sighing some as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

This was going to be a long day, she only hoped that it would go quickly and school would be over soon enough. She glanced down at her phone as she put it into her bag.

Once the Queen of Scots had come into the bathroom, the operative emerged from his hiding spot. Gun drawn, the clicking of the hammer evident in the Queen's ears as he grinned.

"Hello Queen of Scots, time to take a ride." He said, the English accent thick in his tone as he came up behind her and pressed the barrel of his pistol into the small of her back.

Mary's eyes widened as she felt the pistol press against her back, her finger instantly pressing the emergency button upon the BT that Jackson had given her.

"W-what do you want?" She stammered out, dropping her hands to her side as she felt the man put a hand roughly on her shoulder, causing the barrel of the gun to press into her back a bit harder.

"Shut your mouth and move." He said, looking at her as he made his way to the door of the bathroom with her.

Moving with the Queen of Scots, assemble by the bathroom.

Copy that, headed there now. Detail guarding the door.

Mission objective is to be accomplished no matter what.

Copy that.

The two boys in the hallway pulled out their guns as they came towards the men by the door that were the Queen's detail.

"Put your weapons on the ground!" One of the boys shouted, the English accent thick with him.

The other male held his gun high, smirking proudly as the man within the bathroom exited with Mary.

Mary's eyes were wide as she saw the other two men with guns, oh god this was an attack on her. She opened her mouth, and let out the loudest scream she could muster, and the one name that came to her lips despite the fact he was undercover.

"BASH!"

The man that was holding the gun to her back raised it and conked her over the back of the head, causing Mary to fall limply into his arms. He threw her over his shoulder and raised his gun, pointing it at Schmidt.

"Out of the way, or the precious Queen of Scots won't leave these halls alive." He threatened.

Schmidt didn't dare move. "Boss?" He whispered into his headphones. "Boss, what are your orders? There are more of them than me. They have guns. They have Mary."

"How many?"

"Three."

"We can't have you killing them. You'll be caught on the cameras, Schmidt. Calm down. I'm almost there."

"Your orders?"

"There's a button for the school's security system near your location, isn't there?"

"Yes, sir."

"Use it. The cameras can't pick up heat signals and they don't have night optional lenses. It will alert the school to an attack and bring it to an automatic lock down, cutting the power andgiving us a window."

Schmidt looked from the gunman to the wall. It was a stretch, and he might end up getting shot before he reached it.

He took the chance; the worst that could happen is that he'd end up shot. He ran for the button on the wall.

"Shoot him!" The operative holding Mary yelled out as he started running for the door. He kept a grip on the unconscious queen as he ran.

One of the other boys shot at Schmidt, while the other ran after the first.

Extraction needed!

The operative in the van came screeching towards the doors, ready and waiting.

The one who carried Mary didn't look back, he just kept running with the unconscious queen over his shoulder.

The other operative who had shot at Schmidt stayed behind to give suppressive fire, to allow his fellow man to escape with the target.