99 pulled two of Max’s “Agent of the Year” awards off the wall and stuffed them into one of the many cardboard boxes that littered the office. She grabbed some other papers and was about to toss them in the trash when someone walked in the room.

“Good morning, 99.”

“Good . . . “ she stopped when she realized it was Carlson. “What do you want?”

“Just to talk.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“I have something to say to you . . . or ask, I should say.”

“What?” 99 sighed in irritation.

“Why?”

“Why? That’s it? Why WHAT?”

“Why did you ever marry 86? And have his kids?”

99 stared angrily at him. “What’s your problem?”

“You’re a beautiful and intelligent woman. You could have done a great deal better.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Anyone would have made a much better partner for you than that silly, stupid fool. He’s made you into nothing more than his baby-making slave.”

“Baby-making slave?” 99 laughed. “Yeah, right . . . . and the Easter Bunny gives Santa a break over the Easter Islands at Christmas.”

Carlson glared at her. “Why can’t you see reason?”

“Reason? What reason?? You don’t even know what you’re talking about! I love Max. I always will. I love my children. Nothing will ever change that. Max has always been very supportive of my work at Control. We love working together . . . we work well together. You’ve been cooped up in your lab too long, sniffing vapors. You know what? You’ve always hated Max because he usually destroys your fabulous contraptions. Well, I’ll tell you what, most of those so called great contraptions of yours usually failed in the field.”

“They did not!!“

“They did. Ask anyone.”

Carlson took several steps toward 99. “Take that back!” He warned.

“Do you actually think I’m afraid of you?” 99 jeered.

“Your hubby isn’t here to protect you this time, Mrs. Smart.”

99 stood with her arms crossed. “Just what do you plan to do, Professor Carlson? And I use that term lightly. Got one of your 'silly, stupid' devices up your sleeve?”

Carlson lunged at her. 99 stepped to the side, and the good Professor landed in a heap on the floor. He immediately jumped up . . . only to be caught by an upper cut to the jaw by 99, who by this time was completely livid.

“Come on . . .” 99 said, motioning with her hands, “You’re so tough and intelligent and perfect . . . get up!”

Carlson got up slowly. He ran a hand across his mouth and it came back bloody.

“Why you little *****! All right you asked for it!” He said. He grabbed a floor lamp and swung it at her, which she easily ducked.

“Oh, fighting dirty! Aren’t you quite the gentleman!” She landed another perfect punch, this time to his stomach. As he doubled over, she landed another punch to the jaw, flattening him. He lay on the floor, staring up at her for a moment. Then he got up, even more slowly than before. All at once, he lunged at her . . . but 99 wasn’t fooled. She jumped nimbly onto the desk and Carlson dove headlong into the wall. He pulled himself to his feet again and turned around. He saw her standing on the desk. He charged again . . . managing to make a half decent grab at her leg. But 99 gracefully leaped out of his clutches and aimed a well placed kick right into his nose, knocking him out.

At that point, Max nonchalantly entered the office, hands in his pockets, to help 99 pack. He eyes took in the astonishing vision of 99 standing on the desk and Carlson unconscious and bleeding on the floor.

“What happened? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” 99 said, jumping down. “He came in here with his usual speech on how silly and stupid you were and how I was, as he put it, your ‘baby-making slave’. I told him how inspired his fabulous contraptions were and how well they worked in the field. That’s when he got mad and lunged at me . . . “ 99 continued, telling Max the whole story.

“Well . . . I venture to say he won’t be bothering you again. Hmmmm . . . maybe we better call for some help, “ Max said, leaning over Carlson. “He is still breathing.”

“You call them,” 99 said.

He picked up the phone and called Control’s Emergency Medical Team, which was down to one man. He told him to bring a gurney, someone was unconscious. The man showed up about ten minutes later, pulling the gurney behind him. The three of them flopped Carlson on it. As the man was strapping him down, he woke up and looked groggily up at Max. Max leaned over and whispered to him, “If you EVER come near 99 again, I’ll give you much worse than she did, I promise. Not only that, I’ll call the CIA and tell them not to hire you. Get my drift, Professor Carlson?”

Carlson nodded his head. The Paramedic gave Max and 99 a questioning look, shrugged and wheeled Carlson out of the room. Max and 99 watched from the doorway as Carlson was wheeled away.

“Well . . . I can’t say it’s been a pleasure working with you,” he hollered after him.

Max and 99 looked at each other and started laughing. They continued to snicker in hysterics as they packed up the rest of the office, as they drove home and as they ate dinner. And it kept them laughing for a long time after . . .