Chapter 2
The next morning Holley headed from where Siddeley had hidden towards the mansion activating her black maids disguise as she did so. Nervously she went over her cover story in her mind one last time as she turned into the main gates of the Dunlop estate. She cruised along the drive leading to the front of the mansion. "Ok. I was told to head to the east servants entrance." She said to herself.
Upon reaching the front of the mansion she turned towards the right hand side and went along the east wall. Eventually she found an archway with the words Servants above it. "This must be it." She thought before taking a deep breath and heading inside.
Holley was meat with a long narrow corridor. Cautiously she started to drive along studying the doorways. "Now where am I supposed to go?" She said to herself.
She thought about activating her holographic display and searching the floor plans she'd been given but thought better of it. "Better to be safe than sorry." She thought
Suddenly a black Land Rover Series 2 appeared from one of the doors. Holley recognised the car as being Jasper the butler. "Um excuse me." She said timidly
Jasper turned on her "Who are you and what are you doing here." He barked.
"Um, I'm Debby, Debby Propshaft I was sent from the agency. They told me you were short staffed and that I was to be here by 9am and come to the east servant's entrance." Holley responded
Jasper softened considerably. "Ah my apologies." He replied "I wasn't expecting you yet. It's so hard to find young cars which can keep to time these days."
Holley smiled and nodded.
"Very well, I am Jasper the Butler. As such I am your superior. I expect nothing but the best from my staff. Those who don't keep to my high standards are told to leave. Do you understand?"
Holley nodded "Um yes sir." She replied timidly
"Very good. You should soon learn what those standards are." He responded.
Jasper turned round and started off down the corridor. Holley was taken aback by his comments and took a few seconds to set off. Quickly she caught up. "This could be harder than I expected." She thought to herself.
"In addition to me you will be working under one of my head maids. She will soon take you through your daily routines and have you up to standard. However we have an important function this evening. Miss Dunlop is expecting many important guests and we are short of waitresses. I trust you are suitably trained."
"Yes sir, I am sir." Holley replied
"Excellent, excellent." Jasper rasped. "I shall deposit you with Jess. She's young but due to our staffing issues has quickly worked her way up to being my most trusted head maid. I'm certain she'll take good care of you."
They rounded a corner and entered a room. There a number of maids were conversing in the centre. "Jess my dear this is Debby." Jasper announced "She's starting with us today and I'm adding her to your team. Please make her feel welcome."
"Certainly sir." A black Ford Fiesta Mk6 replied
Jasper nodded and left. Holley smiled timidly at the group of cars she was left with.
Holley was soon made welcome and begun work. She soon learnt that there were two head maids which each had four maids working under them. Each team was responsible for one area of the mansion. At one point Holley excused herself explaining that she needed the bathroom.
Upon entering the bathroom she did a quick scan for any bugs. "You can't be too careful." She thought.
Satisfied she activated her com link and contacted Finn. "Agent Shiftwell calling Finn McMissile, I'm in."
Finn appeared on the display in her wing mirror. "Holley at last I was starting to get worried. I've heard nothing from you." Finn replied
Holley smiled "Sorry Finn, I just found it hard to get to a safe enough area."
"That's understandable." Finn replied "Anything interesting to report other than your successful infiltration."
"Nothing as yet, other than the high rate of turnover within the workforce and that I think you're old friend Jasper may have changed."
"Oh in what way?" Finn replied
"Well let's just say he didn't seem as loyal to his employer as you make him out to be. When I first met him he didn't mention her at all." Holley reported. "He stated that I was working for him and that if I didn't meet his high standards I'd be asked to leave."
Finn mulled this over. "That doesn't mean he isn't loyal to her. It could be that Miss Dunlop has distanced herself from the maids. My recommendation is you tread carefully. Talk to your fellow maids more and see if you can uncover any leads."
"I will, thanks Finn. Shiftwell out." Holley replied before signing off.
Finn sighed and settled back in his chair. He didn't like this. Holley was undercover alone for the first time and there was very little he could do to help her other then offer advice. Suddenly an icon on the screen started flashing indicating an incoming transmission. Quickly he opened the transmission. "Security Check please Identify" the Computer requested
Finn's eyes widened slightly. "Agent Finn McMissile." He replied.
"Confirmed," The Computer reported before an image of M appeared on the screen.
"M for what do I owe the pleasure." Finn said.
M chuckled slightly "Information for Agent Shiftwell's Mission." M replied "Our American counterparts have been in touch. Turns out they've been looking for a source of counterfeit parts being sold to US citizens. They traced the origin to the Dunlop estate and had an agent undercover there for a month or so as a maid. We have agreed that it would be better for both their agent and ours if they worked together."
"Understood" Finn replied "How should Holley go about finding this American agent?"
"The same way as usual. The American will activate a homing beacon. Upon finding the agent Miss Shiftwell is to use a passphrase to verify herself."
"Copy that. What is the passphrase?" Finn asked.
A little later Holley returned to Siddeley frustrated. She drove up the ramp and parked in her chair.
"Ah good of you to return." Finn said "Any progress?"
"None what so ever." Holley replied "The other maids are too green to know anything. They're all too scared of getting the sack."
"Well I think I may have something which can help you." Finn replied before telling Holley about M's transmission.
"So I've just got to wait for the American to transmit her location before meeting her using the passphrase."
"Correct," Finn replied
"So what is the Passphrase?" Holley asked
"You say, a Bugatti Veyron has multiple radiators. The correct reply is, of course it does its got ten radiators. It also has four turbochargers." Finn replied
"Right Ok." Holley replied unsurely remembering when she had met Mater.
Fortunately Finn picked up on this. "I doubt this rendezvous will go like the World Gran Prix." He replied "Mater was just in the right place at the right time to collect the package. Even though he didn't know he even had it."
"But isn't it common knowledge that a Veyron has ten radiators?" Holley asked
"Hence the inclusion of the fact about Turbo chargers." Finn replied
Holley nodded. "Ok. I'll keep an eye out for the transmission."
She moved over to where their fuel supply was kept. "I'm just going to top off and then I must get back. I'm going to be a waitress at a party."
Finn smiled. "Multi tasking I see."
"Yes, hopefully I'll eavesdrop on some useful conversations." Holley replied.