The Agency

5 - Brass Tacks

Richard watched the play of emotion around her mouth and decided that he needed to take a more professional approach to the meeting.

"Let's pretend that little dance didn't happen. How have you been conducting business with your contacts?"

The corner of her mouth lifted and he felt she was controlling a retort.

"Let's get something straight, Monique. I am here to evaluate you and you are here to answer my questions. Now tell me, how have you been conducting business with your contacts?"

The pout was brief and she leaned back with a slight shake of her head. "Like this. Coffee. Small talk. Business and goodbye."

"I meant the actual transfers . . . exactly." His tone solidified and she sat a little straighter. The action brought back visions of his own behaviour at an earlier debriefing.

"My partner would pass the designated amount in exchange for sealed packages." He couldn't keep the surprise from his face and she tilted her head questioningly. "You don't believe me?"

"You didn't wonder why they were giving him something for ostensibly distributing charitable funds?"

"Don't ask, don't tell. It was their- the Agency's edict; one of the rules I was to follow as an apprentice." The term put the ironic smile back on her face.

He drained the remaining wine in his glass and held it up in the waiter's view. Well she knew enough about the agency to learn their rules. "When you first took over, who did the initial negotiating?"

"Obviously someone with the Agency."

"So you must have been surprised when you found out what was actually taking place."

"Did I say I knew?"

"No, but you did." He smiled grimly.

"I thought my partner, was just delivering money to the people he met with. I had no idea there was an exchange . . . at first. And yes, I was surprised. On my first solo meeting, after Ross left, an Agency man accompanied me. When I saw what he received I was stunned."

"Ross?"

"My partner."

 He indicated her expensive designer purse with his chin and sat back as the waiter placed a fresh glass of wine in front of him.

"Now not so much, eh?"

Her look turned almost feral as she dipped a finger into her drink and licked it dry. The air changed as the breeze dropped and Richard could feel a tiny dampness on his forehead and his back.

"Do you mind if I shuck this jacket, the temperature . . .?"

"How gentlemanly to ask first."

"It's what I do in the presence of a lovely lady." He took it off and hung it over an empty chair beside them. "Much better."

"Hmm." Her tone piqued his interest and he offered a small smile as he held up his glass .

"Okay, I think we should get the business portion of this meeting over with and then enjoy our wine in a less tense atmosphere. Do you know why I am here?"

She gave him a look of surprise. "You made that perfectly clear; my evaluation."

He reached down and opened his briefcase, passing her an envelope and smiling comfortably.

"What is this?"

"Look at it."

She opened the envelope, glanced around the patio and flattened the sheet on the table.