"Like I was the only one." The agent returned implying she knew of Samuel's tryst with her as well.

This time it was the scientist who pushed a little harder; Addison's arm, however, remained steadfast. "Maybe we are more alike than you care to admit."

"Maybe. Except my hairline is not receding on top!"

"b.i.t.c.h!"

"And that is just the way you love me!"

Samuel chuckled. "d.a.m.n right!" He frowned then. "You are aware that you are missing a contact lens, right?"

"Forgot it on my way out. I'll use one of my spares here. Now stop talking and let me beat you!"

"Never!"

Both agents continued their battle unaware that Spike had hopped up onto the table and was gingerly lapping at the corner of Samuel's plate. Her large round eyes remained fixed upon the battling duo as her tongue sought out the spicy cuisine.

From the doorway of the canteen two more gentlemen entered the room. Both were scientists wearing long white lab coats and sporting enquiring expressions. They approached Samuel's table together.

"What's going on?" A middle-aged man with a thick head of auburn hair asked.

"What does it look like?" Samuel responded through gritted teeth. A pink shade of exertion and sheen of perspiration coloured his cheeks. The contest was heating up and both challengers' arms shook with effort.

"Twenty pounds on Black," said the second scientist. "She will have him in no time!"

His auburn haired counterpart shook his hand. "You got a deal there."

The minutes seemed to pa.s.s a lifetime per second as Addison battled Perkins. There was no doubt in Sam's strength, he seemed to match Addison equally but what he lacked was her perseverance. Over five minutes pa.s.sed before Addison finally slammed Samuel's arm down. Much to her surprise almost seventeen voices simultaneously cheered and groaned as the contest ended. She looked around bemused by the men and woman who were handing over and receiving small cash wagers.

Rubbing his aching arm Samuel admitted defeat. "You know I would have looked after her anyway."

Addison smiled. "I know but this was much more fun!" She looked down at Spike who had just finished devouring the contents of Samuel's plate. "Spike! Bad girl!"

Rising to her feet as the dog jumped, Addison scooped up the tiny mongrel. "You are a naughty girl for eating that, Spiky!" Addison shook her head and kissed the dog's soft muzzle. "Anyway I have to go now, little bit, but Sammy is going to look after you okay? I will be back soon so be good!" Addison handed the dog over to a dismayed looking scientist. "Umm... a word of warning... Spike and spicy foods don't mix well!"

"What does that mean?" Samuel asked as Addison picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.

Addison patted her stomach then pointed towards Spike. "Just be prepared," she said, hearing Sam's despairing groan. Just before leaving Addison addressed the gathered members of the staff. "Thank you to all of those who had faith in me. I see your confidence was rewarded and I hope you have a drink tonight in my name! To those of you who didn't..." Addison grinned, "you should know I never lose... that's ..."

"Black's magic!" responded her fellow workers followed by a series of groans and chortles.

Addison winked, followed by a nod. "You know it," she said and exited the cafeteria.

Feeling slightly sorry for Perkins, the agent made her way down a long corridor. At the end was an elevator beside a stairwell. Opting for the stairs, Addison descended towards the bas.e.m.e.nt level of the division. General Blithe's office was situated in this part of the building and it was standard procedure that she report to him for a briefing before every a.s.signment. Unless otherwise stated, by the General himself, no other official could issue her an a.s.signment.

Reaching the bottom step, Addison took a left through the grey walled hallway and stopped at the large door leading to Blithe's secretary's office. Beyond her room was the General's office. Stealthily she opened the door and peeped into the room. The secretary had her back to Addison and appeared to be profoundly engrossed in some matter of reading material. Addison crept silently into the room. Not even her breath made a sound as she skulked up behind the woman and looked over her shoulder.

"I heard reading material like that would make one go blind!"

The dark haired woman jumped and spun around in her chair. "Addison, you almost scared the life out of me!" She placed a calming hand upon her beating heart.

Addison looked down at the seated secretary and smiled seductively. Dropping her duffel bag she pulled the book from Miss Bakersfield's hand and read the front cover. It was a lesbian erotic tale that she herself was familiar with. "Really, Miss Bakersfield! Reading such things during office hours. What will the General think?" Addison perched herself upon the edge of a large teak desk.

The secretary blushed. "Addison please... how many times do I have to remind you to call me Antonia."

With a sly smile, Addison placed down Antonia's book. It was so much fun to flirt with this woman even though she knew it was harmless. "Is that what you allow your closest... friends... to call you?"

"Possibly." Antonia leaned back in her chair and allowed her dark brown eyes free roam of Addison's body. "I take it you have an a.s.signment?"

"Here to see the General," Addison replied, enjoying the secretary's perusal. She made a point of uncrossing her legs.

Miss Bakersfield nodded. "He isn't in his office. Apparently he's been in conference since before I arrived here this morning. I haven't seen him yet today. So... do you know what's happening? It must be a serious matter for him to be up all night."

With a shrug, Addison leaned closer. "You know as much as I, Miss Bakersfield."

Antonia was just about to respond when General Blithe entered his reception.

"Agent Black... I see you have arrived! Excellent. I am in conference presently and would like you involved. Can you come with me, please?"

Winking, Addison rose from the desk and approached her superior. "Yes, General... we have a situation?"

General Blithe nodded. "Indeed we do. Come with me and all will be revealed."

With a sharp nod, Addison followed the General back out into the corridor and down to a high security conference room. Mark Blithe held the door open and Addison walked into the room first. She was expecting to see the usual gathering of military officials perched around the room but instead she found a woman sitting upon a luxury couch by the right wall. She didn't recognise her and knew she had never been into the S.O. Headquarters before... the visitors card upon her jacket proved as much. Addison did, however, know that she was a woman of high standing within the military government by the sheer fact that she was within the walls of Special Operations Headquarters.

Entering behind her, General Blithe closed the door. "Agent Black, I would like you to meet Professor Marlene Tidwell."

"A woman?" Marlene said unexpectedly.

Noting the American accent, Addison looked down at her own b.r.e.a.s.t.s, clearly noticeable due to the tight fit of her s.h.i.+rt. She then looked up at the General and shrugged before looking back at Marlene. "Since the day I was born apparently!"

Her remark seemed to break the tension in the air and the woman smiled. "I'm sorry, Miss Black, it is just that I guess I was expecting a man."

"I know, and they are always so disappointing... present company excluded of course."

Mark Blithe groused at his top agent's behaviour. "Shall we all sit down?"

"Of course." Addison sat upon one of the many chairs beside a large rectangular table that stretched across the length of the room. She positioned herself between Marlene and her boss who was seated at the head of the table. Trying to gain some understanding of the situation Addison looked into the eyes of the other woman. An undeniable layer of trepidation was clearly visible and Addison realised that whatever this problem was, it was in direct relation to Marlene Tidwell.

General Blithe sat down. "Yesterday evening at precisely a quarter to seven, a Miss Skyler Tidwell was abducted from the grounds of Wellington University."

Addison nodded with complete attention.

"The abduction was witnessed by the elderly security guard on duty that evening. I am sure you are aware of Constable Barkley?"

Addison nodded again. He was well known in the SAS for being the first Soldier to receive a Victoria Cross for bravery and conduct in the field.

"Barkley witnessed the events but was unable to raise the alarm in time to stop Miss Tidwell from being abducted. He did, however, get the licence plate of the vehicle used in the abduction. Also, Miss Tidwell dropped her purse in the struggle, which he swiftly retrieved. So far we have heard no word from the abductors."

"And who is this Skyler Tidwell?" Addison asked.

"She is my daughter," Marlene replied.

Addison frowned. "If you don't mind me asking, Professor Tidwell, what was a young girl doing out alone at that time of the evening?"

"She is twenty-eight years old, Agent Black."

Addison's sheer surprise was s.h.i.+elded by her neutral expression. She had no idea the woman in front of her could have a daughter of such an age. The agent looked to General Blithe for answers.

"Skyler Tidwell was on holiday here, Agent Black, visiting her mother. She had only just arrived in this country and had travelled straight to the University to meet with Professor Tidwell. We believe that Skyler was abducted by mistake with the belief that she was in fact her mother."

Addison addressed the blonde woman with a frown. "Why is it you would be the target, Professor Tidwell?"

Marlene rose to her feet. All the talking she had been doing since her daughter's disappearance was beginning to anger her. She didn't want to talk she wanted something to be done. "I am a scientist working on a coalition project between Britain and the US."

"Which is?"

Marlene looked to the General and after receiving a nod she continued. "It is called Project Gemini..."

The name was instantly familiar to Addison. She had heard many rumours pertaining to Project Gemini through her own sources. It was said Project Gemini started out as a breakthrough discovery during research on the tuberculosis bacterium. Addison wasn't sure what that breakthrough was but she knew it was being extrapolated for use in cancer therapy research.

"But I don't understand," Addison pressed. "Why would anybody want to abduct your daughter... you? Project Gemini is a medical project... isn't it in the research of cancer therapy?"

"Yes," Marlene responded.

"Then who and why would anybody want to kidnap you?"

"The why we are unsure... as for the who, that I can help you with." General Blithe picked up a large manila folder and chucked it into Addison's lap. The agent opened Blithe's folder to the picture on the front page. Addison's eyes narrowed as she spied a familiar face, "Agnes Brodie!" Her eyes scanned over the redhead's picture. Addison had long been familiar with Agnes Brodie. The woman of Irish descent had often been linked with several terrorist organisations and although no damming evidence had ever been produced, Addison was positive of her guilt in several major incidents. Brodie was presumed to be in the arms and terror business simply for the money. There were extortionate sums to be made through the illegal trafficking of weapons and trading government secrets. That was not to say Agnes Brodie didn't crave the power as well. Like any megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur, Brodie was not adverse to violence and intimidation. Addison was positive that as a child she would have been the troublemaker in the playground who would beat upon other children and steal their lunch money. The agent wondered what Brodie's involvement was in this case.

"And she was a positive identification?"

General Blithe walked around the table. "By Barkley himself. If you look further along in the file you will find satellite images and pictures taken from a motorway service station on the M1 northbound. Thanks to Barkley's sharp eye and quick mind, we were able to trace the number plate and although led us to a dead end, we obtained these images of the light blue transit stopping for diesel in a monitored station. We also have images of the van entering and travelling through Scotland thanks to its irresponsible driver. The vehicle was captured going over the speed limit twice by two motion surveillance cameras first in Dunblane and then Badenoch. Addison studied the doc.u.ments before turning to a large map of the British Isles. She strode over to the map and ran her index finger up along the route the abductor's van had taken. Reaching the last known point of origin for the transit, Addison studied the Grampian Highlands. Her eyebrows furrowed together.

"Here in and around the Monadhiath Mountains, aren't there some abandoned mining caverns built within the hills? Are you thinking that is where they might be?"

"Intelligence believes so. We are focusing in on that area as satellite imaging seems to have captured movement in the s.p.a.ce of five minutes." Mark Blithe folded his arms over his broad chest. "It is obviously in Skyler's best interests for us to expect they have the worst of intentions towards her. As we have no idea what part in this Agnes Brodie plays, we can only a.s.sume there are high sums of money involved."

Rubbing the smooth surface of her chin, Addison nodded. She knew her job was to go in there and get Skyler Tidwell out with as little fuss as possible. The abduction of an American on British soil would be a high profile case and one they would want resolved quickly. What troubled Addison was that the motive behind the case was unclear. Why would Marlene Tidwell be the target for abduction? Unfortunately, although these thoughts did concern her, Addison knew it was her job to follow orders and not ask questions.

Noting the sudden silence within the room, Addison turned to Marlene Tidwell. The blonde research scientist was gravely silent, her hand covered trembling lips, and her eyes glazed with unshed tears. Addison pushed nimble fingers through her hair and glared at the General. They both knew better than to be discussing the probabilities of a situation in front of the victim's mother. Scratching the back of her neck, Addison sat down beside Marlene.

"Professor Tidwell, I know it's a difficult time for you, especially facing the unknown, but please try not to worry."

"Try not to worry!" Marlene laughed quietly. "It's hard not to when all that's happened since my daughter's disappearance is a lot of talking by you people. I want to know when you are actually going to do something about getting her back." The older woman rose to her feet. "Lord knows what could be happening to Sky right now. I want my daughter back."

"That is why Agent Black is here, Doctor Tidwell. We will be sending her to locate and bring home your daughter. She is one of our most highly experienced operatives."

"And when will you be leaving to do this, Agent Black?"

"Just as soon as I have some visual and background information on your daughter, Professor Tidwell."

"Speaking of which..." General Blithe pulled a second slimmer folder off the conference table. "Here is Skyler's file... background and visual data." He handed the folder to Addison and sat back down in his chair. "The picture was taken from her drivers licence and most of the information was taken from several university databases."

"Uh huh." Addison opened the folder. She scanned through Skyler's background as her brows arched higher and higher. "Blimey! If you don't mind me saying, Professor Tidwell, your daughter certainly gives the words 'eternal student' a new meaning!"

Marlene's features softened to a glow of pride. "She got her first Masters Degree at the age of twenty one."

Addison whistled in amazement. She herself had only just sc.r.a.ped through high school. Addison had hated school. She would attend as little as possible and it was a great surprise to everybody, including herself, that she even managed to pa.s.s her O levels. The agent continued to skim through Skyler's file in growing amazement at the younger Tidwell's academic achievements. She has more letters after her name than in a Welsh village, she thought wryly. Turning to another page Addison found an enlarged scan of Skyler's driver's license. She gazed down at her scrawny, pimple covered features, wearing thick-framed gla.s.ses held together by clear sticky tape. And sometimes the apple falls very far away from the tree! Addison read over Skyler's licence details.

"Hold on a moment. This license picture was taken in 1997. It's six years old. Don't you have anything a little more recent?"

"My daughter travels a lot, Agent Black. In recent years lasting memories like photographs have taken a back seat to our academic quests. This was the most recent picture we could find of my daughter."

"Right." Addison put down Skyler's file after memorising the information within. The a.s.signment seemed straightforward enough. Go in, get the girl, and get the h.e.l.l out again. However easy it always seemed, any one of a million possibilities could always arise to make a difficult situation even more so. Addison had seen them all. From the highly dangerous; being chased by wild dogs and hunted by a group of vengeful terrorists in below freezing conditions with nothing to protect yourself but your own two hands ... to the highly ridiculous; disguising herself as a clown in order to infiltrate a circus believed to be trading stolen arms around the country. Addison was careful never to go into a situation with any expectations but there was one aspect of this case that did bother her. Agnes Brodie. She was a highly intelligent woman who seemed to lack basic human emotions. She was clinical in her approach to all situations and didn't appear to understand that life was a gift not to be abused. She didn't scare Addison, but she did leave her with an uneasy feeling. Brodie was capable of anything and that was her main concern for Skyler Tidwell.

Mark Blithe tapped the tips of his fingers upon the table. "There is one more thing. Due to the very fact that it appears Skyler's abduction was a mistake, we are keeping this under very tight wraps. n.o.body else apart from Downing Street and us know this and that is the way it shall stay. If it was to get out that this abduction was a mistake then not only could Skyler's life be in danger but also, it would be harder for us to zero in on the organisation responsible. Present conversation about this ends here."

Taking the General's hint, Addison rose with a nod. Much to Marlene Tidwell's relief, the time for talking was over.

Chapter 4.

It was strange the things one found out from an expertly applied beating. I never knew pain had a color the doctor thought. First it had been a red in its intensity then faded a little to a purple as it settled into a steady dull hum of misery. Skyler had never been in a real fight and had never had the opportunity to explore the mysteries of an a.s.sault firsthand, but Brodie was giving her that learning experience now.

It wasn't during the actual rain of blows that Skyler learned the lessons; it was after Brodie left when the pain changed from a waterfall of agony to a steady stream of aching and soreness. She dragged herself to the bed from the floor where she had spent most of her time as Brodie beat her without mercy or any apparent emotion. If Skyler hadn't seen the clenching of the redhead's jaw she might have thought the beating was given in an almost clinical and detached manner. The doctor had seen it though and knew that a mighty rage ruled Brodie, no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

It was on the bed that Skyler's keen intellect went to work. She tried to use her mind to escape the throbbing sensations reporting for duty from her entire body. No, correct that, Skyler thought, she didn't hit my face. So, Brodie, where did you learn to hit where it wouldn't show? Were you an abused child? Did you suffer corporal punishment at the hands of an over-zealous headmistress at a parochial school? Was it a rigorous gang initiation ritual? Guess what, Brodie? I don't give a f.u.c.k. Skyler gave a little laugh at her attempt to employ the little used expletive. f.u.c.k? That's the best word your college-trained mind can come up with? The short laugh cost her as a sharp pain issued forth from the area of her right ribcage. The doctor placed the palm of her hand against the offending area and s.h.i.+fted on the bed to relieve the spasm in her side.

Panting from the exertion of reaching a slightly more tolerable position, Skyler knew a few things for certain. She hadn't cried out the truth of her ident.i.ty during the beating but she realized she could never hold out for long if the physical abuse continued. She wasn't cut out to withstand torture, that much was painfully obvious. Don't laugh at that stupid pun, Skyler she warned herself.

Turning her face to the bare wall Skyler battled a sense of desperation she found trying to creep into her mind. Don't give in, don't give in, that's what Brodie's counting on now. She knows I won't cooperate of my own free will and now she'll have to find a way to coerce me. Why do I get the feeling she's very good at finding those ways? Skyler wasn't sure what could happen to change the course of events as she predicted they would play out but whatever might happen, it would need to happen soon. The American felt a trembling set up in her limbs. Shock she contemplated with some detachment. Gingerly she pulled the blanket up from the end of the bed and over her shoulders. As her head returned to the pillow she knew it would take a miracle to get her out of the mess she was in. Or maybe some kind of magic she thought as the tears she had kept at bay since her abduction began to flow.

They weren't tears of sadness or fear. They were tears of pure anger. That's another thing you taught me, Brodie and I'll have to thank you for it some time. Now I know what the need for revenge feels like.

Marlene Tidwell just stared at the door as Addison departed the conference room.

"Well, she's certainly something," she said almost absently to General Blithe. "You say she's one of your top agents?"

"She's the best, Professor Tidwell," the general affirmed.

She turned her hazel eyes to the man. "Look, around our house two Doctor Tidwell's were a bit much. She's just Skyler and I'm just Marlene. Also around our house it was just the two of us. She's all I've had since the death of my husband. I can't lose her now."

"I understand," he said sympathetically. "Believe me, if there is anyone who can find and bring your daughter back safe and sound, it's Addison Black. I'd trust her with my life. I have done that very thing in fact. I'm alive today because of her."

"She saved your life?" Marlene was intrigued now. "Can you tell me about it, General? Maybe it would help lessen this apprehension I'm feeling."

"First of all you might as well call me Mark, Doc...I mean Marlene. I can't tell you everything of course because pieces of it remain "Eyes Only" to this day but let's just say hypothetically that there were some troublesome South American islands that my country was involved with. Maybe you could picture an intelligence mission to gather numbers on the opponent's troop strength and weaponry capabilities. It seems to be a routine mission until somewhere along the line inside information is pa.s.sed. Information that puts almost all the team straight into the hands of a pack of mercenaries sponsored by the opposing government. A pack of very unfriendly mercenaries."