***

Sparkling lights were the first things to greet Max as he made his way back to reality.

“Ohhh,” he muttered. “I haven’t had a headache this bad since Agent 12’s bachelor party.”

“Max, you’re awake!”

“99?”

“Yes, love?”

“Please. Don’t. Shout,” Max managed groggily.

“Shouting is the least of our worries right now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look,” 99 nodded her head upwards.

Max followed her movements, his eyes trailing up the wall and to the ceiling above them.

“Not the large-marble-slab-on-the-intricate-pulley-system-to-crush-the-spies-to-death trick again. That’s the second time I’ve fallen for it this month!”

99 gave him a strange look. “I’m not even asking.”

“Wha?”

“Never mind, Max. Let’s just figure out how to get out of this. Quickly.”

“Geez, 99. You’re not being very supportive here. After all, I did try to convince McBain that the building was surrounded,” Max reminded her.

"A meter maid with a nightstick? Really, Max."

"Well, what was I supposed to say? I lost my train of thought," he replied
defensively. "I was flustered."

"I'm merely saying you've done better."

"You've been paying attention?" Max looked impressed. "I'm touched."

99 rolled her eyes. "Any ideas on how to escape?"

"99, I always have a plan. You should know that by now."

"I'll add that to my growing list of things I need to know," she assured him.

He looked askance. “You have a list?"

“Your plan," 99 prodded.

"Ah yes, my plan. 99, I need you to try and reach my cufflinks." He shifted,
pushing his hands against her back.

"Of course! Your razor cufflinks!" Shifting in her chair, she made quick work of the ropes around her wrists. She reached for a cufflink trying to work it free.

“”Max, I can’t get the cufflink out of your shirt,” she murmured, glancing at the marble slab which was quickly coming loose.

“That’s because they’re sewn into the shirt, 99,” Max answered distractedly. He too was watching the slab. “Just untie the knots.”

“I’m trying, Max. But, they’re not budging.”

“99, I’m desperate here. Do something.”

“I am doing something, Max. It’s just not working!”

99 sighed in frustration. The knots were too tight. There was no way she could get them undone in time. She looked around the room, trying to find something that might help her. Nothing.

She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. Her brooch. She opened her eyes. It was there, pinned on the left side of her blouse.

“Max, my brooch!”

“What about it, 99?”

“It’s a CONTROL issue brooch. It has a tiny drop of acid inside!”

“Good thinking, 99! But, hurry! The slab is almost free!”

“Right, Max.”

99 leaned over the ropes and pulled the pin from her brooch, taking careful aim at the knot. Only one drop. She’d have to make it count. The corrosive liquid hovered at the edge of the pin. She watched as it descended slowly through the air. The smell of burning fiber wafted up. The acid had found its mark.

“Max, it’s working!”

“Fantastic, darling. But, I think it’s too late. There’s only one thread left on the rope connecting the pulleys!”

True to his words, the room echoed with the sharp snap of breaking fiber. Max closed his eyes as his impending doom hurtled towards him.

99 watched the last portion of the knot dissolve as she reached forward and grabbed Max, yanking him out of the chair and on top of her. Max grabbed hold and rolled them away from the slab as it came crashing down, splintering the metal.

“99, are you OK?” Max opened his eyes to peer down at his wife.

“I think so. What about you? Are you hurt?” she asked, taking him in with a look of concern.

“A little sore, but I’ll live.” He brought his hand down and cupped her face. “Thank you.” He leaned forward and gently kissed her. “I owe you one.”

99 smiled at him. “I’ll remember that after this mission is over.”

Max grinned devilishly. “I certainly hope so.”

“Right.”

Max stood, pulling 99 up with him. “Let’s go.”

***

The Chief wasn’t pleased that McBain had gotten away, but there wasn’t much he could do about it.

“I can’t say I’m happy about the outcome, but I’m glad to see you’re both all right.”

“Thanks, Chief. But, I can’t help but wonder why Follett would set us up,” Max said.

“I checked into that as soon as you called.”

99 leaned forward, curious. “What did you find out, Chief?”

“The real Follett was captured by KAOS two weeks ago. They replaced him with an imposter – much like the time they replaced Max and I.”

“Oh yes,” 99 recalled. “I remember that. We had to determine if Max was really Max.”

“Right.”

“Is the real Follett all right?”

“He’s fine,” the Chief assured them. “A few bruises, but nothing a few days of bed rest won’t take care of."

"That's a relief to hear," 99 said.

"Yes," the Chief agreed. "But, now that McBain has escaped with the money and the plans, we have no idea where the arms switch is going to take place."

99 moved closer to the desk. "Chief, did any of the agents assigned to the wharf see which way McBain went when he left the Fishery?"

The Chief frowned. "That's just it, 99. None of our agents saw McBain exit."

"But, how is that possible? I watched McBain walk upstairs and leave through the back office."

The Chief turned to Max. "What about you, 86? Did you see anything after McBain went through the door?"

"I didn't see anything before McBain went through the doors, Chief. I was out cold," Max reminded him, raising a hand to rub the back of his head.

"Oh, sorry about that, Max," the Chief apologized. "I forgot about that."

"That's OK, Chief. I keep forgetting that as well as my phone number. I think McBain knocked me good."

"Right, Max. Well for now, I'm sending you both back to the warehouse. I want you to investigate and search for any clues that might inform us how McBain escaped and where he went."

"We won't let you down, Chief," 99 assured him.

"I know you won't, 99."

"What about me, Chief?" Max asked.

The Chief looked confused. "What?"

"You didn't tell me you know I won't let you down," Max pouted.

More confusion. "Max, what are you talking about?"

"Um, never mind, Chief." 99 pulled Max closer to the door. "Come on, love. Let's get going."

"But 99," Max started to protest.

"Now darling." 99 pulled him through the doorway. "Bye, Chief!"

The Chief watched as the wiser half of his best team made a graceful exit; he grimaced when Max walked directly into the doorframe.

To be continued …