A Promising Aftermath

99 pulled the absurd little maid’s hat off her head and glanced at Max as they headed home from their latest assignment. He wasn’t saying much. Usually he was quite talkative after a successful mission, but now he was unusually quiet and thoughtful. 99 knew what was bothering him - her pregnancy. Before their wedding, they had discussed the possibility of having children. Max had been strangely tentative, and when she had questioned him, he told her was worried their children would be orphans if something happened to them. The discussion had gone on for hours, and they finally decided to wait several years.

Well, things don’t always go according to plan. She had waited out an extra month, hoping it was just the stress from several difficult assignments. But, after hiding several bouts of morning sickness from Max, she knew for sure she was pregnant. She had secretly made the appointment with Dr. Baker and gone yesterday morning. She was two months along.

They pulled into the parking space at the apartment and slowly trudged up the steps.

“You want to shower first, Love?”

“Go ahead. I’m going to fix myself a drink.”

“Okay.”

99 showered then went to the top of the stairs. She leaned over the rail and watched him sitting at the bar, nursing a drink.

“Max?”

99 waited as he shut off the lights and came upstairs. He stopped beside her, touched her face, and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.

Still carrying the glass, Max entered the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

“He’s upset,” She thought.

99 got into bed, picked up a book and tried to read. But her mind couldn‘t focus, so she snapped it shut and tossed it back on the table. She leaned back and closed her eyes.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Max was staring at his refection in the mirror.

“What have you gotten her into, Smart?” He asked his reflection. He shook his head. He loved 99 with all his heart and soul and he knew she loved him. What was he so frightened of? Part of it was the fear that their children could be orphaned. He knew 99 would no more give up her job than he could, and he didn’t want her to. That she had gotten pregnant so soon didn’t bother him and he cracked a smile at the memory. He was basically flat out scared to death he would be a terrible father. That he would somehow become like his father, a man he detested. He turned on the shower and let the hot water pound on his back and neck, releasing some of the stress.

“You fool,” he told himself. “Talk to her.”

99 heard Max come out of the bathroom. But when he didn’t get into bed, she opened her eyes and saw him standing over her.

“Max, why are you staring at me? Have I sprouted wings?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“You’re angry with me.”

“Angry?” He frowned. “No.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“99, I’m scared.”

“Scared? Of what?”

He sat down beside her. “What if something happened to both of us? What would happen to the kid?”

“We talked about this, Max” 99 frowned. “Are you saying you changed your mind? That you want me to quit? I don’t want to do that.”

“No, no, 99!” Max said, taking her hand. “I would never ask you to quit Control, or do anything you didn’t want to do. We need to have a plan - just in case.”

“Of course, Max,” 99 said, squeezing his hand, thinking. “I think we should make the Chief and Larabee and his wife God-parents.”

Max smiled. “I agree completely with the Chief, buy I’m surprised you thought of Larabee. I like that idea, he’s a good man.”

The smile faded from his face.

“What, Love?”

“I just don’t know how good a father I’ll be. The way I grew up, I mean, well - it can be an inherited trait.”

“You don’t think you’ll be a good father?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to do, or how to do it.”

“Neither do I.”

“But, 99 you babysat . . .”

“So did you, in college. That’s what you told me.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Did you have trouble then?”

“No. It was kinda fun.”

99 smiled.

“But, 99 . . . what if I suddenly start acting like my father?”

“Do you think you have that in you?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, then, what are you worried about?” She asked, squeezing his hand.

“I don’t know,” Max played with 99‘s wedding band. “I know I’ll do something wrong, like drop the baby. I’m so stupid . . .” Max said softly.

99 groaned. “Oh, Max, not again . . .”

“Ask Carlson or some of the other agents . . .”

“Max, I could care less what those morons think,” 99 interrupted. “They don’t know you. They don’t see the loving, caring, gentle Max I’ve always seen.” She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. “Especially in bed.”

Max touched her face and smiled slyly at her. “Say, 99, did the doctor say anything about that?”

“Well, he insinuated that’s how I got this way.”

“No,” Max laughed, kissing palm of her hand. “I mean now.”

“He didn’t say a word,” she said softly, kissing into his ear.

“Hmmmmm,” He said, kissing her back as he ran his fingers gently over her body, knowing just where to touch.

“Oh, Max . . .” She sighed.

“Chief, have you heard from him?”

“99, you’ve asked me that same question every day for the last thirty days and every day I tell you the same thing . . . ‘No’.”

99 sighed. “He couldn’t have just disappeared from the face of the earth!”

“I realize that, 99.”

“Did you ever read this? The note he left me?”

I know you will never understand why I have to leave, but I’m doing it for you. It’s my fault you lost our baby. I never should have allowed you to talk me into taking you on that assignment, but a promise is a promise.

If we stay together, God only knows what will happen. You must get on with your life - without me. I’m nothing but a jinx, a nuisance to you.. Please, start divorce proceedings. Abandonment, physical abuse, mental abuse . . . make up something. Just get the monkey off your back . I will contact you through a third party so I can sign the papers.

99, there is someone out there who won’t ruin your every move, won’t cause you pain. Find him.

I will love you ,miss you, love you . . . with all my heart and soul, until the day I die . . .

The Chief looked up at 99.

“This is why he disappeared? Because he blames himself for your miscarriage?”

99 nodded, unable to look the Chief in the face.

“Chief, I’m taking a leave of absence.”

“To look for him?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any idea where he might have gone?”

“I have a few ideas.”

The Chief got up and came around the desk. “I don’t think he wants you to find him.”

“I don’t care. I’m going to talk to him and tell him it wasn’t his fault,” 99 tiredly rubbed her eyes. “I just want to talk . . .”

“All right, go. But let me know when you find him. Please?”

99 put her arms around him, gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Of course, Chief. And thanks.”

“Good luck, 99.”

99 gave him a half wave and walked out the door. The Chief watched until the door closed. Then he sat down at his desk and cried.

“I helped my Dad build our barn on our farm in Idaho,” 99 said. “And even though we didn’t use rivet, I do know some fundamentals of construction.”

“Great. Okay, come on, let me introduce you.”

It hadn’t taken 99 long to find him. He had been very clever in covering his tracks, but he made one little mistake - he had used his credit card, one time, to buy clothes for his new job. He had changed the address, but the bill had still gone to the Smart’s apartment. After that, it had simply been a matter of a few phone calls.

“Max!” Carl yelled out. “Come here a minute.”

Max looked up and waved. As he approached, 99’s heart turned over. He had on jeans, a blue denim work shirt, sunglasses, a hard hat and a three day growth of beard. He looked tired, his face showing a hidden pain, even behind the sunglasses.

99 was pretty sure he wouldn’t recognize her . . . at least not right away. She had cut her hair so it was back to the length it had been in 1967 and lightened it a shade. It was hidden under the hard hat Carl had given her. She had on work clothes similar to Max’s, and sunglasses.

“Hey, Carl, what’s up?”

“I want you to meet your new co-worker. Max Smart . . . Suzi Clark.”

Max pulled off his glove and extended his hand. 99 took it and they shook hands.

“Glad to met you.”

“Hi.”

“Suzi’s going to be working with you on the riveting. She says she worked a bit of construction before, so she should pick it up quickly,” He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost lunch time, why don’t you go ahead and break. It’ll give you a chance to talk a bit.”

“All right. Come on, Suzi,” Max said. “We’ll sit in the bed of my truck. You bring lunch?”

99 held up a lunch bucket.

Max shrugged. “Sorry about that, the sun’s bright today. Come on, we gotta clock out first.”

After clocking out, 99 followed Max to a black pick-up truck with a cap. Max opened the tail-gate and motioned for her to sit. 99 jumped up and sat down on the tailgate. Max joined her. He took a long swig out of a bottle of water and rummaged in his lunch box for a moment, pulling out an apple. He took a bite, then took off his glasses and looked directly at her.

“So where did you work construction? On the farm in Idaho?”

99’s jaw dropped. She took her glasses off and stared at him. “How did you know it was me?”

“99 . . .” Max said softly, taking her hand. “Do you think for one solitary minute I could ever forget the feel of your hand?”

“Oh, Max . . .”

This time it was Max’s heart that turned over.

“So?” He inquired. “How’d you find me?”

“You used the credit card.”

Max frowned. “But I changed the address.”

“After you bought the clothes.”

Max rolled his eyes at himself.

“99, you’ve got to go back to Washington, to Control.”

“Not without you.”

“Yes. Without me.”

“No. I want to talk. Please, Max, give me that, at least. After we talk if you . . .” Her voice broke, her eyes filled with tears. “If you still feel the same. I’ll . . .”

“You’ll go back?”

She gave him a hard look. “No, I’ll fight to get you to come back. I love you.”

“99 . . .”

“Do you love me?”

Max’s eyes met hers. “Yes.”

“Lunch is over,” 99 said. “Let’s get to work. Dinner tonight? Your place?”

Max nodded, knowing it was useless to argue. “All right.”

“Okay.” 99 was relieved. He had agreed much sooner than she thought he would.

“Where are you staying?” Max asked.

“The Carfax Motel about four blocks away.”

“That dive on Chester Street?”

“Yes.”

Max shook his head.

“Well . . .” She said, giving him a knowing grin. “I could stay with you.”

Max’s head jerked up and he looked at her.

“Come on,” 99 said, jumping down. “It’s time you showed me how to do my job.”

It took 99 a little less than a half hour to become skilled at her job. Max was impressed with how quickly she picked it up.

“You know what, 99? Last week another woman tried this job and gave up after two hours complaining that her arms hurt.”

99 shrugged. “It not bad. I’m sore, but it isn’t difficult. I’ve had to do more strenuous things. Hey - after dinner tonight I’d like to go over it again.”

Max nodded. “Okay, but why?”

“Because I want you to personally show me how you sink a rivet.”

99 hesitated a moment, then, bolstering her courage, knocked on the door. She was so nervous she couldn’t believe it. It felt weird to knock on the door of a man she had known for eight years. And been married to for over a year.

Max, meanwhile, was having his own nervous breakdown. His hands were shaking and sweating. He rubbed his hand on his pants and reached for the doorknob, then hesitated. He shouldn’t answer, let her think he stood her up. But in his heart he knew he couldn’t. Besides, what would it accomplish?

He took a deep breath and opened the door. There she was - and his heart nearly stopped. He had missed her so much and there she was, standing in front of him again.

Max and 99 stared at each other for the longest time, too nervous to say a word. Finally, 99 broke the silence.

“You shaved.”

Max rubbed his face and nodded.

“Are you going to let me in?”

“What? Oh, yeah, sure. Come in, come in,” Max opened the door wider and ushered her into the room.

The apartment was small, but neat. It had one bedroom, a bathroom (obviously) and a small kitchen that overlooked the living room/dining room.

The first thing 99 noticed were the pictures on the wall behind the sofa. They were an assortment of sizes, but they were of her and Max at various stages in their relationship. Placed in chronological order from earliest to latest, they also included several pictures of the Chief, Fang, Larabee and Hymie.

99 turned from the pictures and looked at Max, who was watching her intently. She went over to him and gently touched his face. Then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

For a split second, he didn’t respond, but then he put his arms around her and pulled her close, returning the kiss with a fervor that equaled hers. They sank down on the sofa. After a few minutes, Max broke the kiss so he could lay her down to kiss her ear and neck.

“Oh, Max . . .” She moaned, wrapping herself around him and pulling him closer.

“99 . . .” He kissed her ear.

“Make love to me, Max,” She whispered.

“99, I . . .”

“No excuses. I’ve missed you so much.”

He looked deeply into her eyes. “I’ve missed you too, 99. More than you‘ll ever know.”

Their clothes were quickly deposited on the floor . . .

“No, Max, it wasn’t your fault!”

99 took a sip of sweet tea and shook her head in dismay, he wasn’t listening at all. She leaned forward. “Max, no. I want you to stop blaming yourself. We were on a case. The Kaos agent threw me down the stairs. You tried to stop him.”

Max sighed.

“Talk to me, Max. Let’s talk about what happened . . .

“99, I don’t want you going on this assignment with me. You could get hurt.”

“Max, I’m only four months along. I don’t even show yet. Come on, you promised me you wouldn’t stop me from doing what I want. And I want to go,” She put her arms around his neck and purred in his ear. “Please, Max?”

Max relented. “Okay.”

The assignment was relatively simple. Max and 99 were to break into Satan Place (yes, again) and make their way to the basement. In this basement was the principal safe for Kaos’ operations on the East coast. A huge, massive thing, it had been discovered by a Control agent posing as a Kaos security guard. The agent had even managed to obtain the combination. Inside this safe was a treasure trove - pictures of all Kaos agents stationed on the East coast and their cover assignments, stolen secret documents of Control, and of course, money. Millions. Used to finance Kaos’ operations in the United States.

Max and 99’s assignment? Simply to open the safe and replace the real Control information with fake information. They were strictly warned not to take anything else. In that way Kaos would never know anyone had been fooling around with the contents. The “security guard” was on duty this night and would cover for them as they made the switch.

Everything had gone exactly according to plan. Max and 99 slipped in through an opening in the wall and made their way easily to the basement. The Control agent led them to the safe, then made himself scarce as they made the switch. It was only when they had reached the top of the stairs and entered the hallway leading to the room where they had entered that they ran into a problem. Standing right at the top of the stairway was a giant Kaos agent. Who he was and where he had come from they never found out. He stood with his arms crossed.

“Well, well. What have we here?” He inquired.

“Just making a quick check of the premises,” 99 said.

“Let’s see some ID.”

99 searched her pockets. She shrugged. “Must have left it at home.”

“Me too,” Max said.

“Too bad. Come with me, both of you.” He grabbed 99’s arm.

Max bolted up the stairs and startled the man with a solid punch to the chin. He was startled enough to let go of 99, but was way too big and strong for the smaller Max. He grabbed him and lifted up off the floor by his neck. He threw him across the hall where he hit the wall and landed in a heap. Shaking his head, he cleared vision just in time to see 99 make a futile attempt to Karate chop the guy into unconsciousness. He jumped up and grabbed his arm just he raised it to hit 99. Max’s move only made matters worse. The guy had his arm in motion when Max grabbed it and the extra weight added to the force that hit 99 solidly across the chest. Neither of them had a chance to make a grab for the rail and they both went tumbling down the stairs, landing in a heap in a corner.

Max jumped up immediately. But 99 lay stunned in the corner.

“99!” Max was about to bend over to check on her when he heard the thump of the Kaos agent’s boot hit the top stair.

“MAX!!!” 99 shrieked.

Max pulled his gun and, without looking, pointed it up the stairway and pulled the trigger. The shot hit the man in the chest and his body went sprawling backwards into the hallway.

“Max? Are you okay?”

Max turned to see 99 trying to get up.

“NO!” He yelled, kneeling beside her. “Don’t move.”

“I’m okay, Max,” 99 said. Suddenly, a sharp pain ran through lower abdomen.

“Max . . . I’m bleeding.”

“Oh, my God. I’ve got to get you out of here.”

With only seconds to decide, Max made the decision that would haunt him. He picked her up and carried her back to the room where they came in. They got out the window and back to the car. No one sounded an alarm, so Max figured that the man they had encountered had been the only other guard on duty. He raced to the hospital, calling the Chief on the way.

At the hospital, 99 was quickly taken to a room to be examined. Max was also hustled off, but released after an exam proved he was okay.

When the Chief arrived, he found a frantic Max pacing the lobby. Max nearly jumped out of his skin when the Chief touched his shoulder. He rapidly explained what had happened and soon both men were pacing.

Dr. Baker, 99’s obstetrician, and a Control doctor, just happened to be at the hospital delivering a baby. He was on his way out when Max and 99 arrived. He gave her a quick exam and immediately took her to surgery.

Now he appeared and walked slowly up to Max and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Max, I’m sorry. 99 lost the baby.”

Max held back the tears of hurt. “Is she all right?”

“She’ll be fine. She said she fell down a flight of stairs. What happened?”

“We were on a case and got caught. A Kaos agent went to hit her and I grabbed his arm. We both went down the stairs.”

“Have you been checked out? Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

“She can go home tomorrow. But she needs to take it easy for several weeks.”

“All right,” Max said. “Thanks, Doc.”

The doctor nodded, “Call if you need me.”

Max stood in the hall, his arms hanging limply at his sides. A deep pain settled in his heart . . .

Max sat silently at the table, staring at his plate. 99 pulled out the letter and waved it in front of his face.

“As much as I love the sentiment, this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read in my life.”

“Huh?”

99 dropped the paper into his plate. “Why do you think it’s your fault?”

“If I hadn’t grabbed his arm . . .”

“Oh, Max, that’s silly. That had nothing to do with it. Let’s be grateful I didn’t break my neck. What would you have done then? Run off and left me to fend for myself?”

“No, of course not.”

99 got up and started clearing the dishes from the table.

“Let me do that, 99.”

“You can help.”

Max and 99 cleared the table and washed the dished in silence. When they were finished, 99 turned to Max.

“What are we gonna do, Love?” She asked, throwing the towel on the counter. “I want you to come home.”

“Why, 99? I’ll just screw things up. We lost our baby . . .” His eyes filled with tears.

99 took his arm and wiped his tears away with soft kisses.

“We can try again, Max. Come home with me.”

“What about our jobs here? I can’t very well leave Carl in the lurch.”

“Carl is a nice guy. Why don’t we give him a week’s notice? We’ll work out the week, then fly back to Washington? The Chief is still holding your number and job.”

Max frowned. “Why?”

99 gave him an embarrassed smile. “He did it for me. I asked him too. He wants you to come back too. And having one less agent to pay right now isn’t a hardship. Kaos has really been quiet. We haven’t been able to figure out what they’re up to.”

“You really want me back?”

99 put her arms around him and whispered in his ear. Max blushed a deep red.

“99!!” He said, shocked.

99 laughed. Max cracked a smile.

“Okay, I’ll come back. But I think we should give Carl some time to find replacements. Why don’t we give him a week’s notice? We’ll work out the week, then fly back to Washington?” Max suggested.

99 face brightened. “Good thinking, Max.” She said.

***********

Max leaned against a pile of bricks, took off his hard hat and wiped the sweat from his face with his arm. He looked over at 99, who was riveting part of the interior structure of the building. She looked up and gave him a wave. Max and ‘Suzi’ were the talk of the construction sight. Everyone knew they were ‘getting it on’ and several of the guys shook their heads in bewilderment, wondering how Max had managed to score so quickly with their gorgeous new co-worker.

As Max moved away from the bricks, several of them toppled to the temporary flooring. Max picked them up, then frowned. He bounced one in his hand - it was awfully light. He turned it over. It looked normal enough, but it was still way too light. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, the walked over to 99.

“Hey, 99, what do you think of this?”

“It’s a brick.”

“No, 99 . . .” Max said, frustrated. He tossed it at her.

She caught it deftly, a look of surprise coming over her face.

“What is this, Max?”

“Too light, huh?”

99 nodded. She motioned to Max and they went behind a stack of wood. Closer inspection revealed a line running around the whole center, lengthwise, of the brick. 99 pulled on it and it easily came apart. The inside was hollow. They looked at each other in confusion. Both took a half and put it in their lunch box.

Suddenly the whistle blew, signaling the end of their shift. They made a big deal of leaving together. They walked through the parking lot arm in arm, kissed, then jumped into Max’s truck and drove away, hoping no one noticed had they swiped the brick. No one did.

Jeff, one of the workers, came up to Carl, who was watching the truck drive away with a strange look on his face.

“Can you believe that?” Jeff asked, scratching his head.

“I don’t know . . .” Carl replied. “Something’s going on there.”

“You bet there is! She went home with him the day they met and stayed all night! Why didn’t you assign her to me?”

“You didn’t need any help,” Carl said absentmindedly. “And what I meant was, something strange is going on.”

“You think Control sent them?”

“I don’t know. I want you to watch them very closely.”

“Okay.”

Max and 99 had made it back to the apartment. The spread the brick out on the table and studied it closer.

“Looks like they’re planning to do something before they put them up,” Max said.

“Uh-huh . . .” 99 replied, not looking up.

Max suddenly sat up straight. “99!” He said.

She looked at him. “Did you think of something?”

“Did you hear about the building under construction that collapsed here last week? Over on the other side of town?”

99 nodded. “I saw it on the news. Several people were killed and the agencies that were planning to move in had to find other accommodations.”

“Do you know where the agencies plan to move?”

99 nodded. “What do you think they’re up to?”

“I don’t know. I wonder what they . . .” Max’s eyes suddenly widened. “I’ve got it, 99!” He picked up one of the halves and ran his finger around the hollow interior. “They fill the center of the brick with an explosive, then set it off.” He snapped his fingers. “BOOM!”

“How would they set it off?”

“Any number of ways, 99, it depends on what they use. Nitroglycerin, plastic,” Max thought for a moment. “They could rig it to the electrical system and set it off whenever they want to. Nitro is really tricky. With the plastic, all they would have to do is pack it into the bricks. But, 99, we don‘t know for sure that’s what the bricks are for.”

“Who are the tenants?”

“A couple of government agencies dealing with immigrants. And NASA.”

“NASA? Oh, Lord. Max, could they be out to destroy the space program?”

“What would they gain by that?” Max asked.

99 rolled her eyes. “Max. If Kaos ruins the US space program, Russia could get ahead of us.”

“But we already beat them to the moon,” Max said proudly.

“Max, there’s more to space than the moon.”

“I realize that, 99.”

“What if our enemies put satellites or maybe a space station out there? They could point nuclear weapons right at us. We’d be at their mercy . . .” She suddenly stopped, her eyes huge.

Max put a hand on her arm. “99, what’s wrong?” He asked, concerned.

“Max . . . the company name!”

He looked at her puzzled. “Noremac? It’s foreign, isn’t it? I don’t understand where you’re headed with this.”

99 wrote the name of the company down backwards on a piece of paper. She flipped the paper around so Max could read it . . . Cameron. He was stunned.

“No. It can’t be, she’s in jail for 900 years. Or something like that.”

“Max, don’t you think it’s a little bit more than a coincidence that the company’s named spelled backwards is the name of a notorious Kaos killer? I’m calling the Chief.”

99 pulled out her watch phone and put it on speaker.

“Chief? 99. I’m on my watch phone. Max is here with me.”

“99, that’s great!” The Chief said enthusiastically. “Is he coming back?”

“Yes. But we have a slight problem.”

“That’s nothing new.”

“Chief . . .” 99 warned. She looked up at Max and he shrugged.

“I’m sorry, Max. What’s up, 99?”

99 explained the situation to the Chief. When she was finished, he was quiet.

“99, Ann Cameron escaped from prison nearly four months ago.”

“WHAT?” Max and 99 exclaimed in unison.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Max asked.

“Because she left the country. She’s in Iran and they won’t send her back.”

“Is she in prison?” 99 inquired.

“No. But she was paid a lot of money by Kaos and is living high on the hog. From what we’ve been able to put together, she’s now the owner of several companies, including the one you and Max are working for.”

“So there’s no chance she’s here and will recognize us?”

“She’s not there, but her personnel may call her with your names and descriptions if they get suspicious.”

“We’re going back to work tomorrow usual. We’re the talk of the construction site and if we don’t show up, it’ll look suspicious.”

The Chief was baffled. “Why are you ‘the talk of the construction site’?”

99 gave Max a seductive grin. “Because my first day on the job, Carl, the foreman, had me working with Max on the riveting. Max knew it was me the minute we shook hands,” She winked. “We decided to meet for dinner at his apartment and I spent the night. We must have been seen because I heard several people talking about it the next day.”

99 could almost hear the Chief blushing over the phone.

“Uhhh, okay. Tell me, 99, is the foreman’s last name Meyer?”

“Yes.”

“He’s been a crony of Cameron’s for years. It’s rumored they’re lovers.”

“Really? Boy, that’s what I call a long distance romance.”

The Chief pinched his nose and sighed. “He goes on frequent trips to visit her.”

99 turned to Max. “Love? Has Carl gone on any trips since you’ve been here?”

“As a matter of fact, he was gone for two weeks at the beginning of the month.”

“Did he say where he was going?” The Chief asked Max.

“He said he was going to the beach.”

“Okay, here’s what I want you to do. Go back to work tomorrow. Just do your jobs, but keep an eye out. And take that brick back. Hopefully they don’t know it’s gone, but they might be keeping count.”

“Right, Chief,” Max said.

“Oh, and Max?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Welcome back.”

“Thanks, Chief.” Max smiled at 99.

“And be careful, you two. Call as soon as you find out anything.”

“Right. Bye, Chief,” 99 said.

99 turned to Max. “Well, 86, we’re working together again. Just do me one favor.”

“What’s that?”

“Be careful what you call me. Don’t call me, 99, call me Suzi. If they hear 99, it’ll give us away.”

“Got it. Now what?”

“Let’s go to my motel room and check me out . . .”

“I’d rather do that here,” Max interrupted.

99 grinned at him. “No, Max. I mean check me out of the room. I’ll come live here.”

“Okay. Boy, that’ll really give them something to talk about, won’t it?” Max said, taking her hand.

“That’s the whole point, keep their minds in the gutter other than on what we’re doing at work. We can milk it there too, a bit, during lunch or breaks.”

Max nodded. “Come on, let’s go get your stuff.”

It took less than an hour to move 99 into Max’s apartment. After unpacking, 99 finally jumped into the shower. The hot water felt wonderful as it pounded on her aching back and shoulders. Just as she was about to turn off the water and get out, the shower curtain swung back and Max joined her.

“Want me to scrub you back?” He asked suggestively, pulling the curtain shut.

“I’d love it,” 99 said, putting her arms around him. “I’ll scrub yours too.”

“Uhhh . . . that’s not my back, 99.”

*********

99 yawned and stretched, trying to get the kinks out of her shoulders. She glanced over at Max. He waved and came over.

“Turn around.” He rubbed her shoulders. “How’s that?”

“Great.”

Little did they know they were being watched. Carl had called Ann. She had been appalled when he told her the names of her newest employees.

“Maxwell Smart!!! He’s one of the Control agents that sent me to jail. What’s the other one’s name?”

“Suzi Clark.”

“Never heard of her. What’s she look like?”

“Tall, brunette. Beautiful.”

“That’s his wife Agent 99.”

“What’s her name?”

“No one knows. Not even Smart, I think. Get rid of them.”

“How?”

“Shove ’em off the building. But make it look like an accident.”

Carl meandered over towards Max and 99, who had gone back to work. 99 was standing near the opening in the floor, waiting for some supplies to be lifted to the floor. He slowly crept up behind her as the materials neared the opening.

Max looked over and saw Carl creeping up behind 99. He immediately started towards them.

“Hey, Suzi!” He called out. She looked up at him, her eyes widening terror. Max felt a hand on his shoulder . . . And a gun in the small of his back.

“Come on, Max, I’ve got a gun. Why don’t we go help Suzi and Carl?” Jeff’s voice came from behind him.

Max and 99 stood near the opening, with Carl and Jeff beside them.

“What made you suspicious?” 99 asked.

“Missing bricks. We count them every night.”

“So what’d you do? Call your girlfriend, Carl?” Max asked sarcastically.

“Of course. She knew exactly who you were the minute we told her your name, Smart. And described you, Mrs. Smart. We searched your room this morning after you left. We found some interesting pictures on the wall and some nifty communication devices. Now we’re gonna have to kill you. It will look like an accident, of course.”

“Of course,” Max mimicked.

“You’re going to fall, both of you. So sad.”

Max swung his leg and kicked Jeff in the chest, surprising him. He lost his balance and went careening off the side of the building. It had happened so fast, Carl was unable to do a thing to help his friend.

“You bastard!” He snarled at Max.

Carl suddenly hit 99 across the back, dumping her through the opening.

“NOOOOO!!!” Max screamed and made a desperate grab for her. Miraculously, he caught her hand. 99 dug her fingers under Max’s watch, then swung her other arm up, catching hold of his arm. She hung on. Using every bit of strength he could muster, Max pulled her to safety. But they were safe only for a moment.

“MAX!” 99 screamed.

They both jumped up just as Carl moved to push at them. They separated and Carl lost his balance, teetering precariously on the edge of the opening. Max grabbed his belt, but as he did, Carl turned around and slashed at him with a knife. As Max jumped back, Carl kicked him in the stomach. Max went down, gasping for breath.

As Carl kicked at him again, 99 tapped him on the shoulder.

“Excuse me,” She said.

Carl turned around. 99 swung to disarm him, but he grabbed her arm. As they struggled for control of the knife, Max painfully got to his feet. Holding his stomach, he hobbled towards them.

“Carl!” He shouted. It come out pretty good, considering he was still gasping for breath.

Carl’s attention was diverted for a split second, giving 99 the opportunity she needed. She hit him solidly across the back of the neck with a fierce Karate chop. This time as he fell through the hole, there was no one to save him. But he seized 99’s leg to take her along with him. Max grabbed her around the waist and pulled . . . and 99 was suddenly free. They both fell back on the flooring and watched as Carl’s fingernails grasped at the wood. He lost his grip and fell. Max and 99 peered over the side just in time to see him hit the ground. The small group that had gathered around Jeff now headed towards Carl. Sirens were heard in the distance, but it was too late for the two Kaos agents.

“Here’s what we tell them,” 99 said quickly. “They were moving the bricks on those boards. And, and . . .” 99 struggled for coherent thought.

“The load was too heavy and lost their balance. We came to help, but it was too late. That’s all we saw, we tell them no more than that.”

“Gotcha,” 99 replied.

*********

A weary Max and 99 boarded the plane to Washington. The had spent four hours at the police station giving their depositions. They were finally rescued by an undercover Control agent who hurried them out of the building.

“I can’t wait to get home,” 99 said as the plane took off. She leaned back in her seat and closing her eyes.

“Me too.” Max replied.

“No more running away, Max,” she said, taking his hand. “We stick together, no matter what. Like we did back there. Right?”

“Right. I guess that means I‘m good enough for you?”

“Oh, Max. Of course you are. You always have been.”

“I love you.”

99 opened her eyes and smiled at him. “I love you too.” She said, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Max put an arm around her. “99? The Chief said that Ann left Iran when she heard about Carl. They caught her boarding a plane in London. She’s going back to jail.”

“That’s great. How’re those ribs?”

“I thought they were really good. We’ll have to come back some time on vacation and get some more.”

99 sat up and looked at Max.

“I meant your ribs, Love.”

“Oh!” Max gave her an embarrassed smile. “Sorry about that, Sweetheart.”

“Oh, Max,” 99 laughed. “It’s so good to have you back.”

Notes:

The foreman’s name, Carl Meyer, comes, of course, from our “Chief” Carl Birkmeyer.

99’s name, Suzi Clark, is a combination of her cover name from “99 Loses Control” (Susan) and The Chief’s cover name Harold Clark.

The hollow brick idea is from the second season episode “Smart Fit the Battle Of Jericho” #52 (1967).