(Previously) “Nothing out of the ordinary,” Partridge shook his head, looking through the FBI files. “The FBI only ran a routine background check on both Peggy and Helena. If there’s something that connects either of them to the threats, they need to run a thorough investigation with interviews and records search. It is our task to establish the connection to give the FBI a reason for the invading of the Foundation’s private records. Agent Sweeney…as of now, you are assigned to dig anything incriminating on the Peabody Foundation. Start now…use any means available to find if there’s more to their presidential support than just money.”

Max nodded and grabbed his laptop, going to the computer room where he immediately began accessing some of the Foundation’s files, hacking into their computers. The remaining agents began quietly talking, knowing that the briefing was about to end, when Hazel interrupted them again, “Sir, you have a phone call on line 1.”

“I’m still in the briefing, Hazel, could you tell them to call later.”

“It’s Senator Grisham…she said it’s urgent,” the secretary replied.

“Pass it through to this room,” Partridge said and waited for the phone to ring, “Senator…how can I be of service? What do you mean you and your staff are leaving for London Monday morning?”

Notes from Underground – Shot through the heart

Short Story 3: Part 4 – Bette is going to London, Shane makes contact with Carmen and Tina wants to quit

Briefing in DC, afternoon (cont.)

Partridge hung up the phone and rubbed his eyes, “Attention, everyone…Senator Grisham just informed me that her schedule has been changed unexpectedly. Instead of staying in DC and preparing for one of the Senate’s subcommittee’s hearing, she and some members of her staff will be traveling to London on Monday to do a week long lecture tour for the several feminist groups in the area. She is only taking with her Alice Pieszecki, Tina Kennard and an intern…” Partridge checked the notes he wrote down while talking to the senator, “a law student, Dylan Moreland, who has been working for her for almost a year now.”

“What about the rest of her staff?” Shane asked, wondering why Carmen wasn’t mentioned.

“She didn’t say but she’s sending me more information by fax.”

Just then Hazel came in and handed a fax sheet from the senator to Partridge, “This just came through, sir.”

“Thanks, Hazel…would you mind making some fresh coffee?” he looked around at his agents and smiled wearily, “I’m getting to old for this.”

Partridge was furious, Bette realized. Sudden change of plans was never a good thing, especially when protecting such a high-ranking public figure as Senator Grisham. While the Assistant Director was reading fax, Hazel brought a pot of fresh coffee for everyone and Partridge continued with the briefing.

“Ms. Morales is staying in DC because her mother was admitted into the hospital this morning with a mild stroke. The rest of the staff has time off until the senator gets back, which is next Saturday afternoon. She’s asking for a minimum protection in London.”

“Sir…I think I should stay behind and continue with my plan,” Shane requested, already formulating the course of action in her head.

Bette smiled at the young agent’s eagerness and initiative and began making notes to change her own undercover story. They needed to act fast and waiting for Tina’s return was out of the question.

“Right…Agent McCutcheon…you will continue with your plan because now we know that there’s more than money involved in Carmen’s situation. Catherine Rothberg might be using her to get something that her lover, Senator Arden, needs. We need to find out what it might be. The rest of the team we’ll proceed as planned. You all will be introduced to Senator Grisham tomorrow morning and begin her security detail. Agents Porter and Haspel will revise your schedules and shifts, according to the senator’s new itinerary that she had provided for us.”

Everyone nodded and Shane said with excitement, “I can show up at the hospital, sir, and establish my first contact with Ms. Morales there to lessen her suspicions…I already have an idea.”

“Great…discuss all the details with the commander. Bette, you have to go to London…leave tonight so you can determine perfect time and place to initiate a contact with Ms. Kennard while she’s there. The rest will remain as planned. Agent Haspel will be assuming the commander’s position and he will be the only one to contact Agent Porter through a secure email, using their code names.”

He heard the “roger that, sir” from his agents and dismissed them until the evening briefing at 5 pm.

“Shane,” Bette called after her agent, “Outline your plan with Agent Wayland while I’m making my travel arrangements and then come and see me in my office.”

“Roger that, ma’am,” Shane saluted with a smile and then elbowed Mark, “Hey, Mr. Wayland, sir…would you like to step into my private chambers and help me with my brilliant genius plan?”

“As long as your private chambers moved from a female bathroom to a decent room with a couch and coffee, you can make me do anything…even write the plan for you,” Mark smiled back, knowing that he will miss his partner while on protection assignment in London.

Bette’s head shook with laughter at Mark and Shane’s friendly banter and she went to her small office to arrange for her flight to London. After she made the reservations, she checked the locations of gay bars in London, thinking about checking them out in case if Tina decides to go there on her spare time.

Bette’s flight wasn’t leaving until 6 pm and she worked with Tim on rearranging the agents’ assignments and shifts for their trip to London with the senator. They finished setting the times and patterns for their daily communications when Shane came in with her new plan.

“Okay, Tim…you’re in charge from now on. I’ll be leaving in an hour to get ready for my flight.”

“Yes, ma’am…good luck,” Tim replied, leaving Bette and Shane to discuss the details of Shane’s undercover work.

Meanwhile, at Senator Grisham’s office

Barbara Grisham hung up the phone and said with finality, “Okay, ladies…we are going to London and tomorrow morning we get to meet Secret Service agents.”

Alice grabbed Dylan and they began twirling around the room as Alice shouted, “Yeah…London, baby…it means shopping and sightseeing and more shopping…”

“You wish,” the senator laughed, shaking her head. “I have so many meetings and lectures that I don’t think we’ll have time for anything else. Be prepared for a little sleep as well.”

Alice frowned for a second but then smiled again, jumping up and down, “It doesn’t matter because it’s London, baby.”

Barbara leaned towards Tina and said in theatrical whisper, “Can you tell me why I have this spoiled child as a member of my staff?”

Tina just laughed and Alice stopped jumping long enough to say, “I’m not a spoiled child…I’m a happy child,” before she resumed jumping and twirling.

The senator laughed again, “Okay, happy children…time to go home.”

“Yes…I need to go home,” Alice finally calmed down. “I need my beauty sleep…who knows, maybe some of those Secret Service agents will be drop-dead gorgeous and this trip will turn out to be business and pleasure.”

Alice and Dylan left for the night and Barbara Grisham exhaled loudly, “What a nightmare…now I’m going to have some middle-aged men around me all the time who probably don’t even want to do this job.” She glanced at Tina who was getting ready to go home as well and winked at her assistant, “Maybe you will get lucky too and one of the agents turn out to be a tall gorgeous brunette.”

“Well…they don’t have to be tall but brunette and gorgeous is a requirement,” Tina laughed and sat down on the sofa. It was big and soft and Tina instantly felt tired, wanting nothing else but to go home and soak in the bathtub with candles, music and a glass of wine. She moaned quietly at the thought and glanced at the senator who was watching her.

“What?”

“Nothing…it’s just in all this time I know you, I have never seen you so…I don’t know…withdrawn and lifeless…is there a problem, Tina?”

“No…I don’t know…maybe,” Tina replied, rubbing her eyes tiredly and sinking deeper into the softness of sofa. “I just don’t know anymore what I’m doing or what I want…I feel like I want to quit and go away and do something different…something I’ve always wanted.”

“Which was?” the senator asked with genuine interest. She poured them a drink and sat down on the opposite edge of the sofa, offering Tina her glass.

“Since I was a little girl, all I wanted was to settle down, have a family with kids and a job that made my heart sing…”

“Why didn’t you? You’re gorgeous, kind, intelligent and a genuinely wonderful person, Tina, which is rare in this evil-infested world…so why didn’t you settled down?”

Tina let out a deep breath, took a sip of her drink and made a decision, realizing that she wouldn’t mind talking with someone for a change, “I did…with my girlfriend, Marina…or at least it seemed like I did for almost three years. But it was all an illusion. She cheated on me, then left me for someone else and when I finally got over her and was able to put my life back together, Marina was at my door…begging me for forgiveness and claiming that she only loved me and her affair was a temporary insanity…that I was the love of her life. I couldn’t…” Tina swallowed hard, holding back her tears, “I wouldn’t fall for that and I made it clear that I don’t want her back. She didn’t take it well and made her final exit…as dramatic as she always was…”

“What did she do?” Barbara forgot about her drink, listening to Tina’s story. The senator’s assistant was always like a closed book and for her to open up like that after all the years they worked together, was an important step forward in their professional relationship.

Barbara trusted Tina explicitly and now Tina was letting her in. The senator was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she almost missed Tina’s answer, “She committed suicide…took whole bunch of sleeping pills and left a note that I wasn’t to be blamed for her decision to leave this world,” Tina smiled with sadness and sighed, “Only she phrased it in the way that made everyone think that I was the one responsible.”

The senator finally understood, “So that’s why you agreed so quickly to join my team when I was recruiting…”

Tina nodded, “Yep…I needed to run away for awhile.” She finished her drink and got off the sofa, “And she left my heart empty. It has been almost five years and still I can’t get into a relationship without fear of losing everything again…I just can’t trust anyone…”

“That’s why you prefer companions from a bar for one night only?” the senator asked nonchalantly, sipping her drink and avoiding Tina’s eyes.

“How do you know that? I…” Tina gasped and then shrugged, “nevermind…being a senator would mean a thorough background check for everyone who works for you, right?”

“Well, not as thorough as it seems…I didn’t know that little piece of information about your girlfriend.”

“She had a very influential family back in Europe…they made the records disappear,” Tina closed her eyes, trying to chase away painful memories and Barbara knew not to ask more.