Chapter 17

"WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION" Assam slammed her fist on the desk.

Darjeeling grabbed her cup catching a drop of tea that flew into the air. "Kindly stop slamming the desk, I understand the urgency..." Darjeeling glared at Assam.

"NO. I DONT THINK YOU QUITE UNDERSTAND THIS" Assam barked. "We have no idea what Klara said on the phone we recovered, the number is tied to that of known Katyusha associate however and that causes me great concern"

"You want me to pull her out?"

"I want you to protect her... she works so hard for you and has sacrificed so much for you".

"I know shes an asset-" Darjeeling was cut off.

"She's NOT an asset. Shes your friend" Assam scoffed. "Hell... she even has a photo of you and her in her breast pocket" Darjeeling had turned a bright shade of red.

"What does Kay make of it?" Assam continued.

"I'm right here you know..." Kay shouted, beckoning Naomi to wheel her over. She shook her head, "Im injured not useless..." Throwing her arms into the air and knocking a can of Boco Cola off of the arm of her wheelchair. "Sorry..."

"Dont worry" Pekoe said bending down and moping it up, Arisa running to watch what she was doing, whispering into the microphone in her ear.

"Thank you Pekoe... As I was saying... Rosehip seems to be, um... competent I reckon we should try to keep her in place as long as possible. Her intel is a gold mine"

Darjeeling nodded, "I agree"

Assam slumped into her seat, "Is potentially risking Rosehip worth knowing what Katyushas favourite food is... or that their best selling game is a Tetris knock off?".

"I grant you that not... all... of the information has been relevant, but there has been stuff we can use" She signalled to a waiter for another cup of tea and a new drink of Cola for Kay.

A tall woman walked over, pouring a cup of tea for Darjeeling, and placing a tall glass infront of Kay and pouring into it from a crystal decanter.

Kay beamed, "How dignified!" she chuckled to herself.

"Thank you Nilgiri" Dajeeling motioned for the woman to leave.

*THUMP*

Rukuriri came running into the room carrying a stack of papers and a laptop.

Throwing them onto the table, knocking Kays cola onto the floor again...

"NOOOOOO..." Kay shouted watching the cola soak into the ornait carpet of the Gloriana meeting room.

"I'm sorry but you all need to see this" Rukuriri opened the laptop and turned it to them all.

Rosehip was running through a dimly lit hallway. Behind her, a large figure followed.

"IM SORRY" Rosehip shouted, pulling a cabinet down behind her.

"YOUR A SPY"

"Nonna..." Darjeeling gasped.

"I'm not! I swear!" Rosehip swung around the corner.

"You think we wouldn't find out?" Nonna shouted.

Rosehip slammed a door behind her and began piling furniture against it.

"Darjeeling... please... if you can hear me. Help!" she bawled. "I just wanted to make her proud"

*THUMP THUMP THUMP*

"We know your in there Rosehip, OPEN UP" Nonna kicked the door, making Rosehip squeel.

"Kay, mic NOW" Darjeeling shouted, as Kay picked up a small microphone and passed it to her.

"Rosehip, it's me Darjy..." Rosehip gulped and pulled the pin from her lappel and held it to her face. Making it appear extremely large on the laptop.

"Darjeeling?" she gulped.

*BANG BANG*

"GET OUT HERE NOW" Nonna shouted again.

"Rosehip... i'm sending STS. Use your gun if you have to. DO NOT LET HER GET YOU"

Rosehip nodded in a panic.

Darjeeling picked up her phone and dialled.

"Vanilla, Cranberry?" Darjeeling.

"Yes Ma'am?"

"London Bridge is falling down"

"Affirmative, we'll get her back".

"Rosehip?"

"Y-y-y-Yes?" Rosehip stammered, as a chair fell from the pile by the door.

"They're coming"

"Ok... than-"

The sound of gunfire and wood splintering tore out of the speakers, as Darjeeling and Kay gasped.

Assam passed out and fell from her chair, as Pekoe and Rukuriri ran to give first aid.

"ROSEHIP... NO..."