“I see,” Tina answered. “So if I get this correctly, it is actually hard to prove Ms. Peabody is indeed the person you think she is. How will you ever be able to find out Ms. Porter?”

“Well I assure you, we, the agency and I, have some kind of plan,” Bette answered, suddenly staring at Tina. ‘She’s quite pretty’ Bette thought.

“Ms. Porter? Oh, Ms. Porter?”

Bette suddenly was brought back to reality. “Uh, please excuse me. I got distracted for a moment. You were saying? Oh, and please, I must remind you, call me Bette.”

“I was asking you about your plan, Ms. Porter, I mean, Bette,” Tina repeated, growing self-conscious when she noticed the agent’s stares.

“Oh, yes, my plan. Well, it will involve working very closely together, Ms. Kennard. May I call you ‘Tina’?

“Yes, of course,” Tina replied, beginning to suspect some personal interest on the agent’s part.

“Yes, of course I may call you ‘Tina’? Or, yes, of course, I may count on working cooperatively and closely with you?” Bette inquired with a smile.

“Both,” Tina answered, becoming mesmerized by Bette’s charm.

“Good. Now. As for Ms. Peabody,” Bette began, “here’s the plan.”

Tina finally seated herself behind her desk. She folded her hands in front of her. “I’m all ears.”

“Well, not exactly all ears,” Bette grinned.

Taken slightly aback, Tina replied, “Why Ms. Porter! Should I assume that you are of the same sexual persuasion that I am?”

“If it’s the same as your lovely cousin’s,” Bette swiftly answered, smirking.

“Yes, as a matter of fact she is indeed gay. And so am I. Apparently you’ve done some research, but I don’t understand what she…”

“I was thinking, as she has already caught Ms. Peabody’s attention, we could use her help and ask her to befriend Ms. Peabody. Then maybe we could find out how she operates. Do you think your cousin would want to help us out, Ms. Ke…rather, Tina?” Bette asked hopefully.

“Oh, I honestly don’t know Ms. Po…rather, Bette. You know my cousin, how do I have to put this…well, she isn’t exactly the right person for this job,” Tina said, smiling at Bette.

“She isn’t? And why is that, Tina?”

“Well our Alice is kind of a big mouth. She can’t keep a secret even if her life was threatened,” Tina laughed.

“Damn! That might indeed be a problem,” Bette said, as she stood and started pacing back and forth across the office, apparently trying to devise another option.

“But we can always give it a try,” Bette heard Tina say. “Knowing Alice, she might even find it thrilling, knowing she’s working undercover. You want me to page her for you?” Tina asked.

“Yes, please, that would be kind of you,” Bette replied.

A little after Tina had paged her, Alice stumbled into the room, making quite the entrance.

“What in God’s name is so urgent I have to leave the most gorgeous woman on earth and be summoned up here in your office? Well, helloooo, Babycakes. What are you doing in my cousin’s office?” Alice asked, grinning widely when she noticed Bette.

“Alice, this is Ms. Porter, an agent from Interpol,” Tina said sharply. “She would like to have a word with you.”

“Me?” Alice shrieked. “What on earth did I do to have Interpol coming after me?”

“Don’t you worry. Alice, you haven’t done anything wrong,” Bette tried to calm the young woman. “I just need your services.”

“Oh now if that’s all you need, Babycakes, I’m all ears,” Alice said playfully. “Tell me what I can do to help you, Beautiful.”

“Alice! Can’t you be serious for once in your life,” Tina reprimanded.

“Alright! Alright! I’m listening!” Alice looked at the brunette sitting in front of her.

Bette quickly gave Alice the same details she shared with Tina earlier.

“And, Alice, that’s where I need your help.  It seems like Ms. Peabody has developed an interest in you and that might come in handy. If you could befriend her and try to find out the tactics she uses we could just be able to nail her.”

“That should be a piece of cake,” Alice answered very excitedly.

“Yes, but, Alice, don’t forget this must all happen very discreetly,” Bette explained. “Nobody is to know who I am and why I am actually here. You got that? This is an undercover operation, you can’t blow it.”

“Don’t worry, Babycakes. You can count on me!” Alice replied giggling.