Part 4 - Deiket

Deiket was just stepping out of her room when she was almost run over by Operations. "Oh! Sorry, sir. I just heard about the briefing and...." she trailed off when she saw the look in Operations' eyes.

"Where is North?" he growled, punctuating every word. Deiket decided against the ever-ready sarcastic quip already forming on her tongue. Instead, she shrugged. "I don't know. I've been in my room all day reviewing my upcoming mission. I've been trying to perfect my character, sir." She saw his eyes lose just a bit of their wild look.

"Good work, Deiket. I'll see you in comm shortly. If you see North..." he paused.... "Tell her that I am looking for her. Please." With that he stormed off.

Deiket gave his retreating figure a puzzled look before setting off to find one of the other Moms. Something strange was happening in CLHQ...

Part 5 - Sherry

Everyone headed to the briefing area. Michael pulled Sherry back as they headed out the door.

"What is going on? I need to know now. Are you in trouble?"

Sherry shook her head. "No, Michael. Well, not yet anyway. North took off for a romantic interlude with someone and she doesn't want Operations to find out. She told only Rita and myself. Now you and Emily also know. We can't let anyone else find out. Someone will let it slip."

Michael nodded. "Okay. I'll do what I can. But you've got to get to Emily and see that she doesn't say anything."

Sherry nodded as the two began walking together toward the briefing. "I will. Michael, I need you to cover for me for a few minutes."

Michael sighed. He dearly loved this woman but sometimes she tried his patience to the limit. "For what?"

"I need to speak with Curlly. Just try to keep Operations in his office a little while until I can get to the briefing."

Michael studied her and then nodded. "Fine. But be careful Cherie. I wouldn't want Operations to get you in his sites. It's not a pleasant thing to endure."

Sherry kissed his cheek. "I promise, I'll be careful," she said and then headed off to find Curlly.

She found her in Comm working with Birkoff. "Curlly, I need to speak with you a moment."

Curlly held up a finger. "Just a sec, Sher. I'm running this sim that Operations wants like yesterday."

Sherry stood there tapping her foot impatiently. She didn't have a lot of time to waste. She decided to pull rank.

"Birkoff, watch the sim Curlly's running. I need to speak with her now." Birkoff wasn't thrilled but nodded his assent.

"Okay, Sher, what is it? Must be important."

"It is. I need you to do something for me right away. I need to you send an email to me from North from her computer. I also need you to back timestamp it until early this afternoon. Tell me that you have a meeting with a contact and that you will be back in a couple of hours."

"You want me to what?" Curlly asked.

"Just do it, Curlly. Can you, please?" Sherry saw Michael and Operations coming out of his office. She needed to get moving to the briefing area.

"Okay, Sher, I'll do it. But I want an explanation. What's going on?"

Sherry nodded. "Thanks. I don't have time right now, I've got to get to this briefing, but I'll explain everything to you as soon as I can."

The briefing didn't last very long. Operations was his usual direct and to the point self. "This is strictly an Intel gathering mission. Michael and Sherry will take the meet. Rita, you will monitor from Comm. Any questions?"

No one spoke so Operations was about to dismiss them when he changed his mind. "So, where is Northstar? I specifically asked that she be at this briefing."

There were only four people in the room that knew the truth. No one spoke up so Sherry stepped in. "I checked my email before the briefing, sir. She sent me a message saying she had a meeting with a contact this afternoon and would be back in an hour or so."

Operations glared at her for a few minutes. "North is gonna owe me big time," kept running through her head as she waited for him to look away or say something.

"Let me know the minute she gets back," he barked. He threw the remote down on the table and then left.

Sherry grabbed Rita's arm as everyone was leaving. She quickly explained what Curlly was doing. "And Rita, tell Emily not to tell anyone else. We can't let anybody else know what North is up to unless we need their help."

Rita nodded. "Got it. Now you better get going before Operations goes apoplectic."

Part 6 - Curlly

Curlly could hear footsteps coming down the hall towards North's office, and she didn't think they were feminine footsteps. "Oh glory," murmured Curlly. Only one man would go into North's office without her being there. Curlly connected with her laptop (thanking providence she'd left it on) and downloaded a collage she was working on as a surprise for Northy.

She activated the screen saver of pictures of Operations on North's computer and jumped behind the sofa in the office as the door opened.

Curlly almost started to giggle because Paul was singing "oh my darling clementine" very off key. He stayed for about half an hour and Curlly thought she'd never get the circulation back in her legs when he shut the door and left.

Curlly checked what he'd done on the computer. He had tried to authenticate the email sent to Sherry. He seemed satisfied. Curlly had even put notes in North's planner about meeting a contact today.

Curlly erased all traces of what she had done, debated if she should do a little hacking, but decided to go see what was going on and left via the window. She made it to the briefing area and looked for Sherry for an explanation. She saw her talking to Rita. Must be some conspiracy. She noticed one of the newbies off to the side. What was her name again? She wished she were better at putting names with faces. This one looked a little raw around the edges, but nothing a few pieces of cheesecake wouldn't fix and some time at CLHQ.

Curlly thanked Birky for finishing her sim and said she'd be right back and swaggered over to the moms. "Dish the dirt ladies? And oh, before I forget, the next time you go by Operations, hum the tune "oh my darling clementine, K?"

Part 7 - North

As North was driving along the highway the heavens opened up in a deluge of rain. It got so heavy that she was forced to pull over. Glancing at the clock on the dash she hoped that her contact would be held up as she was. Finally the rain lessened and she pulled back onto the road. A short while later she was at the designated spot.

She parked the car and looked around but there was no sign yet of the man she came to meet. Pulling out some notes from her briefcase she went over them as to not waste any time. Things were hectic back in CLHQ now that Rita was overseeing all the operatives files and getting them updated. She needed to make sure that she kept up her end of the paperwork as well. Looking up once more she noticed as the vehicle slowly pulled into the parking lot. It was her contact.

"Have you eaten yet?" he asked as he emerged.

"No as a matter of fact I haven't." she responded, "but I've heard this place serves a decent meal."

"Fine, we'll eat first." he stated as he turned and gave orders to his dog to stay and watch. Taking her by the arm he escorted her inside.

They made small talk while they waited for their meal to be served. Once they were done and the plates cleared they got their coffee refilled and were about to get down to business when his beeper went off. Glancing down he started to shake his head. "I'm sorry but we won't be able to go today."

North glanced up and sighed, "I understand."

Noticing her disappointment he was quick to assure her that no matter what they would get together next week. "I know... I've said that before but we really don't have any choice. We have to do this."

North sighed again. "Okay, I'll do some more Intel gathering on my end and you do the same and we'll meet again next week. Call me tomorrow."

"Will do."

The two of them got up and as he paid their bill she made her way outside. The weather didn't look very promising and she hoped that she would not get into any more severe weather as she made her way back. The man joined her a few moments later and as it started to pour rain again they quickly said goodbye as they went their separate ways.

North wondered how she would be able to get away next week without arousing any more suspicions with the other operatives and especially Paul. She hoped the Rita and Sherry had been able to cover for her today.