Missions of the Retrieval Team - A Spin of the Kilt

[davedove]

Scene 25

Suite of Rooms, Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo

“Thank you, Michel, that will be all for now,” I said to the young man preparing the champagne.

“Of course, sir, just let me know if you need anything further,” Michel said and then left the room.

Just then the phone rang for a teleconference. I activated the switch. Jamie’s face appeared on the screen.

“Jamie, what can I do for you?” I asked.

“You know perfectly well what you can do for me!” he demanded. “Explain yourself!”

“Well,” I said, “I was going to give my full report in the morning. But, if you insist, Dr. Newface has been captured and sent for interrogation. We planted tracking devices on some of Ivana’s thugs; they should lead us right to her.”

“Yes, yes,” Jamie interrupted, “I have already learned that from your earlier transmission. What about the League’s money!” he almost shouted.

“Oh that,” I said nonchalantly, “I lost the game. Sorry, but I lost the money.”

Jamie looked back at me with disbelief. “You lost it?”

“Yes, but can we talk about it later? I have a guest coming over.”

“A guest! You lose almost three hundred thousand dollars of the League’s money and you blow it all off for a guest!”

Just then there was a knock on the door.

“Yes,” I said calmly, “A guest. That is her now. If you will wait just a moment, I’ll introduce you.”

I walked over to the door and opened it. The Countess stood there waiting.

“Come in, my dear,” I said. “I want you to meet someone.”

I led the Countess over to the screen. “Countess, I want you to meet Jamie. Jamie, this is the Countess Slechtvalk.”

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Countess,” Jamie said from the screen.

“Oh, Jamie, no need to be so stuffy,” said the Countess with a smile. “You can call me by another name I sometimes use, Ms. Peregrine.”

“Peregrine?” Jamie said with sudden understanding, “Then you’re one of Dave’s associates?”

“From time to time, yes, he helped my family retrieve some of our heirlooms once.”

“Did you complete the transfer?” I asked her.

“Yes, the League’s two hundred thousand euros has been returned, along with an additional twenty thousand from the winnings. I, of course, returned my family’s money to its proper account, along with a similar twenty thousand. One hundred thousand has been transferred to the Retrieval Team’s account. The remaining six hundred sixty thousand has been donated to the Foundation.”

“Any other concerns?” I asked Jamie.

“No,” Jamie said, a bit sheepishly, “Well done.” The screen went blank as Jamie broke the connection.

I picked up the glasses of champagne and handed one to the Countess. “A toast to a game well played!” I said.

[Jock Scot]

Tut, tut, to think that Jamie was thinking that you were playing fast and loose with the gin fund.

[Livingston]

Tut, tut, to think that Jamie was thinking that you were playing fast and loose with the gin fund.

Only because he had yet to place the current order.

[Standard]

Job well done Mr. Dove. That should help to shore up the gin fund for a while.

[davedove]

Scene 26

Inside the Mata Hari Institute for Culinary Excellence

The Doctor blinked as the blindfold was removed from his eyes. He had been brought here in handcuffs and was just now being released from them.

Looking around, he noticed that he was in a well-appointed dining room. There was fine china and well-polished silver place settings on the table before him.

He saw the three women who had brought him here, the women named Thrush, Hawk, and Falcon.

A fourth woman, who had removed his blindfold, stepped in front of him.

“Welcome, Dr. Newface,” she said, “My name is Ms. Partridge.”

“What’s going on here?” the Doctor asked. “Where have you brought me? What are you going to do to me, torture?”

The woman grimaced in distaste. “Don’t be absurd, Doctor. Ms. Pleater will be here shortly. You’re going to have dinner with us.”

[davedove]

Closing Scene

Private Seaside Villa on the Coast of Tuscany

I relaxed in my chair as I looked out over the Ligurian Sea. The evening sun was slowly dipping down towards the water. Ms. Peregrine was sitting with me, having joined me for a few days in my new safe house.

Ms. Starling walked onto the verandah and took the chair beside mine.

“Ms. Partridge just checked in,” she reported. “Dr. Newface has become most cooperative after the I.C.E.’s procedures. He’s giving out a lot of good information.”

“Great,” I answered. “Be sure to invite the ladies down here at their first opportunity.”

Michel walked up from behind and placed a tray on the table between Ms. Starling and myself.

“One of the local wines and a selection of antipasto, Monsieur Dove,” he said to me.

“Thank you, Michel,” I told him. “Please, pull up a chair and join us.”

“But Monsieur,” he protested, “I am working.”

“Michel, as long as you fulfill your duties around here, you don’t have to keep up the formal attitude. You’re not an employee; you’re a partner. This villa is your responsibility.”

Michel poured himself a glass of the wine and sat down with us. He watched as Ms. Swan and Ms. Stork approached. They were toweling themselves after a swim in the sea. He was obviously enjoying the view.

“I think I’m going to like working here,” he said with a big grin.

[davedove]

Credits

The Staff of X Marks the Scot:
Panache
Tattoo Bradley
starbkjrus
Arlen

Other Players:
unaspenser
Ancienne Alliance

The stars of my commercials:
Panache and davedove for X Juice
Arlen and unaspenser for the X Spa
Arlen and starbkjrus for the Easy Groom bath brush and nail trimmer

[davedove]

Thanks

I just wanted to put out a short story featuring the Retrieval Team. This time I wanted to keep it lighter and more espionage related. I took some inspiration from the movies “Casino Royale” and “Maverick.”

You will notice that not a shot was fired in this story.

I hope you enjoyed it.

[davedove]

Commercial Message

Be sure to check out the Off Topic section of the X Marks the Scot forum for more stories like this one.

[Kilted Jeeper]

already jonesing for the next one!