Chapter two! Hope you enjoy it
The gentle sounds of Classic FM filled the room as the radio alarm sprang to life. Sam was awake immediately, stretching lithely like a cat and was in the shower within a couple of minutes. He enjoyed feeling the warm water cover his body, but he then changed the temperature to cold to help concentrate his mind. He had slept badly because he had been thinking about his meeting with Gerry and the way they had parted last night. Gerry had always been the one full of bravado, so for him to be so rattled implied that there was more to this than met the eye. He stepped out of the shower and rubbed the excess water out of his hair with his towel before wrapping it around his waist and grabbing his shaver. The shaver's gentle hum filled the flat as Sam shaved and made himself presentable for the day ahead. Heading into the kitchen, he switched on the coffee machine and within minutes the life giving liquid had sharpened his senses even more; within another 20 minutes he was dressed. Expensive tailored trousers and shirt finished the effect and he was just putting on his Italian leather shoes when the security lock buzzed. Sam went over to it quickly and buzzed the visitor up.
"It's open, Chris!"
A few moments later Sam's partner, Chris Keel, entered the apartment. He too was dressed well, but in a much more casual manner.
"Ready for another fun packed day in the metropolis?" Keel asked in his lazy American drawl, idly toying with an apple from Sam's art deco fruit bowl.
"Yeah, give me a minute, will you? Help yourself to a coffee." Sam replied, heading back into the bedroom.
Keel smiled his acceptance and replacing the fruit, filled a large mug and drank it black. "I wonder what delights Malone has in store for us today? " He called out to his partner.
Sam's voice was muffled through the door as he replied. "I have no idea, but I didn't finish my mission report last night." He then entered the living room and continued. "I intend to finish it before Malone finds out today."
Keel adopted a serious face and did a very acceptable Malone impression. "Are you telling me, Mr Curtis, that you left last night without filing your report? "
Sam gave him a sideways smile. "I had to meet someone, OK?"
Keel's interest was piqued. "Well I hope she was worth it, because if Malone finds out you left before filing that report…"
"It wasn't a she and yes, it was important, so Malone can shout all he wants." Sam's curt reply was distinctly out of character and Keel raised his eyebrow in surprise. Sam spent the next fifteen minutes getting his things together, not forgetting to put his gun in his shoulder holster.
Keel was still surprised by Curtis's belligerent mood. He was usually the one to flout the rules whereas Sam was a stickler for protocol and to fail to file a report after a mission was something he would never usually contemplate. Keel had been observing Sam keenly whilst he finished his coffee and knowing his partner like he did, he knew something was up. He went to pour another cup but Sam was now ready and pushed his partner bodily out of the apartment.
Keel drove and talked non- stop all the way. Sam was quieter than usual so let his partner ramble on, interjecting with the occasional word of feigned interest. Once they'd arrived at HQ, Sam saw Tina Backus as he entered the main office. He hesitated slightly on the fringes and caught her attention. She gave him a quizzical look but when he remained near the door she left her computer console and walked over to him.
"Hi, Sam. What's up?" she asked in her usual direct way.
"Hi Backup, nothing's 'up', as you so quaintly put it. Is Malone in?" Sam kept his tone level but she noticed his eyes flicking around the office.
"It's 8am, Sam what do you think? And are you hiding?" She added with a slight smile.
Before Sam could reply, Keel appeared at her side and stage whispered. "Curtis here didn't do his homework last night and he doesn't want the headmaster to find out!"
Backup gave Sam an exasperated look. "Well if I were you I'd get on with it because I'm not making excuses for you – again!"
Sam smiled sheepishly, acknowledging her past help and headed off to his desk. Chris Keel watched in undisguised amusement before walking over to his own desk.
Sam had just sat down and was hunting for the papers he'd left there last night, when Spencer came over.
"Malone's been asking for you and he doesn't sound happy!"
"What's new?" Sam muttered under his breath, lifting more papers before finally finding what he was after.
As if on cue a sonic boom broke the silence.
"Mr Curtis, my office, now!"
Sam sighed resignedly to himself and happened to catch Keel's eye line as he stood up.
"Someone's in for six of the best!" Keel whispered with a huge grin.
Sam gave Keel his best derogatory look and hissed, "Grow up!" before walking tentatively into Malone's office. He closed the door because there was no need for the whole office to hear his impending reprimand.
Harry Malone, the head of CI5 was seated behind his very large and very imposing desk. Sam stood in front of it with his hands behind his back, standing up straight. Malone carried on writing, ignoring the agent in front of him for the next few moments. Once he had finished, he looked up and spoke with a hard edge to his voice.
"I couldn't find your mission report on my desk this morning, Mr Curtis." He gave Sam a stare that could cut diamonds. "Care to explain why?"
"Er, no sir. I have it on my desk; it's all but completed."
"Er, no sir, you're not going to explain, or er, no sir, it's all but completed?" Malone let the question lie for a couple of seconds before continuing. "May I remind you that it should have been on my desk before you left last night. Please enlighten me as to its whereabouts!" He sat back in his chair and fixed Sam with a steely stare.
Sam couldn't look directly at Malone when he was in this mood, so he chose a spot on the wall just above his boss's head to concentrate on.
"The truth is, sir, I was called away unexpectedly last night and it was very important that I attended so I made a decision to complete the report today."
Malone remained silent, finger tips pressing together until Sam felt compelled to fill the silence.
"I'm sorry but it won't happen again- Sir."
When Malone finally spoke it was cold but calm.
"Let me get this straight, Mr Curtis. Against my explicit orders, YOU made a decision to complete your report TODAY because YOU had a more important engagement?"
Sam swallowed involuntarily and realised too late that that hadn't been the most intelligent thing to say and shifted slightly on his feet. Here comes the hurricane he thought, bracing himself.
"CI5 is not run to accommodate you, Mr Curtis! When I say I want reports filed before you leave, that is exactly what I expect to happen!"
Malone's voice had risen by quite a few decibels and outside in the main office, Backup, Spencer and Keel winced; Poor old Curtis, not the best way to start the day.
Sam had learnt early on in his career at CI5 to take his boss's wrath and unlike Keel, who would have responded with some sarcastic comment, he kept quiet and subdued.
Malone continued in raised tones. "Now, I don't care if next time Her Majesty the Queen commands your presence, you will make sure the mission report is ready on my desk BEFORE you leave. Do we understand each other now, Mr Curtis?"
Sam's jaw had tightened somewhat but he managed a civil, "Yes, sir."
"Good, now get out and get me that report!"
"Sir."
Sam left the office and let out a long breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He caught Spencer's eye who shook his head in a 'who's a silly boy?' gesture, but he looked away and walked chastened, over to his desk where Keel was perched on the edge, playing with a stapler.
"That sounded painful. Shall I get you a cushion?"
Keel's humour irritated him at times, so he snapped back. "Shut up, Chris. I'm not in the mood!" And picking up the offending report he stared at it with simmering anger.
Keel knew when he'd had his fun and being blasted by Malone was bad enough for Curtis so he changed tack.
"Sorry, buddy but it's usually me on the carpet. Where did you go last night anyway?"
Sam made a great pretence of being very busy. He didn't want to discuss last night with Keel, not yet.
"Let me get this done first. Isn't there something important you need to do, like jump out of the nearest window perhaps?"
Keel put the stapler down, knocking over the paper clip holder in the process. Sam groaned.
"I can take a hint. By the way, Malone wants to see us for a briefing at 10am so that gives you just over an hour and a half to finish it."
Sam waved Keel away and concentrated on finishing the damn report.
10am came round very quickly but Sam had been able to finish the report. He walked into Malone's office with Keel at 10am precisely and placed it down on his desk. Both agents stood upright and silent. Malone picked it up.
"Thank you Mr Curtis. I do hope I didn't inconvenience you too much?"
Sam clenched back a retort but Keel couldn't help a barely imperceptible smile from playing on his lips.
"Do you find something amusing, Mr Keel?" Malone's voice was hard as nails.
"No, sir. Sorry, sir. Nervous twitch."
"Well kindly keep it under control!"
Keel's twitch miraculously disappeared.
"Now, gentlemen, to business. I have been approached by the Hungarian Ambassador about a plot to kidnap his wife and 12 year old daughter. He will be leaving to go back home to Hungary in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime he wants his family kept under surveillance in case anyone attempts to make a move on them."
Keel groaned audibly. "Not another babysitting job!" He murmured under his breath.
"I take it this doesn't meet with your approval, Mr Keel?" Malone had heard the comment and was simmering.
Sam glanced at Keel, willing him to tread very carefully and thankfully, having been partners for a while now, Keel could sense Sam's telepathic warning.
"It's just that we have only just finished a surveillance job, sir." Keel replied politely.
"Yes and Mr Curtis failed to complete the paperwork on time! I have given you an order, Mr Keel. I expect it to be obeyed."
Keel reddened slightly and said nothing more. Malone continued in clipped tones.
"10am, Hungarian embassy, tomorrow morning. Is that clear?"
Both men stiffened and Keel sensibly replied, "Yes, sir."
"Good. Once you report you will be advised of his family's schedule. Mostly shopping trips and the school run, I believe." Malone couldn't keep the smile out of his voice.
Both agents sighed. Great, shopping.
"Any questions? No? Good. Dismissed." Malone turned his attention back to his papers.
"Sir." They said in unison and left the office. Tina came up to them and handed Keel a shopping bag.
"In case you see something you like whilst out shopping, Chris!"
Keel grabbed the bag. "Not funny, Backup. This is all Sam's fault, why didn't you file that bloody report on time?"
Sam was not happy either.
"My not filing that report has got nothing to do with it. We would have been given this assignment anyway!"
Keel wasn't sure. "Says you!"
"Yeah, says me! Do you want to make something of it, Chris?" Sam almost squared up to his partner.
Tina was surprised at how riled Sam was getting. He was usually Mr Cool.
"Hey, Sam, calm down, it's not the end of the world! You too, Chris, take it easy!"
Both men backed down.
"Chris, cut him some slack will you? He's been bawled out by Malone already today and he doesn't need it from you as well!"
Keel usually listened to Backup.
"You're right. Sorry Buddy, didn't mean to take it out on you."
Sam also felt he'd over reacted. "That's ok. I didn't sleep very well last night, I'm just tired."
Tina smiled. "Well I have also been asked to help out with this surveillance and so for that matter has Spencer…"
Spencer heard his name and turned. "Someone call?"
"It's OK Spence, just filling in the gruesome twosome on the Hungarian embassy assignment."
Both agents listened but Sam soon zoned out as he was elsewhere in his thoughts. He had to contact Gerry Owens again, but had no idea where he lived. The only thing he had was the registration number, which he would check out later.
Tina completed the briefing and left to help Spencer prepare the equipment for the morning. Keel turned to Sam and asked. "Are you on this planet, Sam? You seem to be very quiet today. What happened last night?"
Sam gave the best false smile he could muster. "I'm just tired, Chris. Nothing happened last night. I just met up with an old friend and we had a bit too much to drink. You're beginning to sound like my mother!"
Chris smiled back and accepted his partner's explanation on the surface, but he wasn't convinced. Sam was not hung over, far from it. He could sense Curtis was on high alert and for some reason he was not letting him in. For the rest of the day they prepared for the morning and when the day ended, Keel gave Sam a lift back to his apartment.
"Coming for a beer – sorry wine, tonight?" Keel offered, hoping he would come along and open up.
Sam felt bad refusing but he needed to contact Gerry.
"Sorry, Chris perhaps tomorrow, I'm beat."
Keel was unhappy about it, but couldn't push it. "Ok, no problem but it's your turn to drive tomorrow!"
"Yeah. See you at 9.00am."
As Sam watched Keel driving away, he was beginning to wish that he'd told him what was going on.