An Urgent Ace

102.

Our conversation is centered on the concept of urgency. TOM is adamant that something, and his admission of having no additional detail adds frustration to the urgency, is in final count-down, about to explode onto the scene. The international chatter is surrounded, shrouded and sequestered behind a fire-wall of disinformation, as if somewhere someone is intentionally sending out a smoke screen to misdirect attention and add subterfuge to the criminal alliteration. He further informs me that even our best and most experienced analysts, and this would include Julie, are for perhaps the first time, stumped by the garbled collection of intelligence. Our quick communication is terminated with a clear understanding of the practical definition of urgent and its follow-on utilitarian response. 

I consider our role in this drama, where we are and what we have to work with. After getting the local techie up to speed on the surveillance operation and fine-tuning Drysdale’s superb field work by adjusting the depth-of-field function on the micro cam, the time has come to make a play. We could sit here until the triumphant return of Cleopatra and Mark Antony detailing Axis nefarious plots against the state, but there is one actually in the works as we sit, listen and now watch. 

The Queen of Hearts was briefed during our final rehearsal that sooner or later she would have to push the conversational envelope and ask for the outline of the terrorist plan The Axis has in place. This exchange has just been bumped firmly into the sooner camp as our surveillance would see in full, living, low-res, black and white our initiation of a dangerous, but necessary cut to the chase. My vision is that upon completion of the threesome’s meal they retire back to the comfortable confines of the wired living room. After the flutes of expensive Perignon and a brandy with their decadent French Kiss Sundae dessert they slide into talk of the business at hand, relaxed and loose-lipped ready to begin the QoH initiation back into the cell. Wield the royal power Your Majesty, and do it quickly and with conviction, I silently direct. 

I hear TOM’s voice accent the first syllable of the word urgent as if to put the emphasis up front so there is no confusion. It is my translation that in this case urgent means right fucking now. I second-guess my decision to insert The Queen without a com but I remain satisfied with her grasp of the situation and cognizance of our need for speed. We shall soon see as the party begins its move out of the dinning area.

And back into the living room. 

Drysdale and the service team have cleaned-up and left, promoting Mr. Muscles back to his multi-tasking assignment and he has now been politely instructed to bring the three coffee drinks of their desire; a pair of latte’s, one with soy and an Irish. 

They sink into the plush round sofa and resume their chat. 

The Queen of Hearts serves: “When do I start?”

An urgent ace.