Chapter T

CHAPTER THREE

DISCOVERING

GETTING BACK TO WORK

CONTROL HEADQUARTERS

Max sighed as he stared at 99's closed office door. He wondered if she had arrived yet. If she had closed her door to keep him out. If this closed door in front of him – was her way of saying 'stay away Max, for good.' He was just debating with himself if he should just chance it and knock on the door.

His hand raised to the knob – while his other one raised to knock. He slowly put his fist against the wood of the door – not allowing any knock to come. His head gently lowered, her face came to his mind. Not the face of his dreams and fantasies. No, the last expression of her face before she left the Chief's office the previous day.

He had to respect her wishes. Sooner that he did, than sooner she would return to him. As his friend – his best friend. He had to allow her to work through her emotions. It was best that he just stayed away from her – expect when it was absolutely necessary. She told him that he could only see her when it involved work. Only work. He had to respect her wishes.

His hands dropped to his sides. His eyes lifted and he just stared at the wooden door.

He didn't have to like it.

Turning to the right he walked away from her closed office door.

CHIEF'S OFFICE

The chief sighed as he hung up the phone. He hated doing this – especially to 99 but he just had to. This case just had to be handled in the special care of Max and 99. Only these two agents could manage to take care of what needed to be taken care of. He just hated to cause 99 and Max even more pain.

It was still too soon. It was only two days since Max broke 99's heart.

But business called. The well fare of the entire United States was at stake here.

He pushed the button, "Please send Agents 86, and 99 in here please." Lifting his finger he waited.

The door slid open and Max strode in. "Hello Chief." He sighed deeply as he sat down in the left hand chair. His right hand went to into his left side of his jacket. Pulling out his cigarette case. Opening it he re-withdrew a cigarette. After replacing the case into his pocket he put the stub end in his mouth. Grabbing a match from the match case – he struck it. Lifting it to the cigarette he lit the end. Tossing the match into the trash can.

The Chief kept a close eye on the agent in front of him. Looking over at the trash can – he was actually surprised that it didn't burst into flames. Usually when Max sent a match – even a burnt out match at that – the trash can insistently burst up in flames.

"Max, as soon as 99 gets here, than I'll tell you why I have called you." The chief said with a sigh.

Max just drew on his cigarette.

"Max how are you?" The Chief asked. "42 told me about the bar -"

"What I do on my own time, is my own business." Max said with a snare.

"I'm sorry Max. You are right. I was out of line." The Chief nodded his head in understanding.

"Chief."

The Chief pushed down the button. "Yes."

"99 hasn't arrived yet."

"What?" The Chief said in shock. His jaw clenched. "Well when she does arrive please tell her that I wish to see her."

"Yes Chief."

"99 is never late." The Chief said as he looked at Max. "Never. Even when she is sick, she's always here on time. Early."

Max silently frowned.

"This isn't like her." The Chief said more to himself than to Max. Matter of fact he quite forgot that he was even in the room. "If she's not here in ten minutes -"

Max stood to his feet and walked from the office.

99'S OFFICE

Max turned the knob and opened the door. Walking over to her desk he frowned as he tapped his fingers absentmindedly on her desk. This wasn't like her – not one bit. No matter how upset she is; she always came to work when scheduled.

Something didn't feel right. His head turned swiftly as the door opened.

"Hello Max." Hymie said as he strolled into the office with his body stiff. "The Chief has asked me to get something from 99's desk."

Frowning darkly, "What is it?" Max barked.

"You." He replied in a robotic tone.

"I'm not going. I'm staying right here until 99 comes in." Max said. His fingers had hit the desk harder and rougher with each word.

Hymie sighed deeply. "The Chief wants to go to 99's apartment. To check on her. Make sure she's not sick or anything. The Chief wants you to go with him. 99's land lady knows you – so she won't think it weird if you two have to break down the door."

"Break down the door?!" Max asked in a high pitched incredible voice.

"Yes." Hymie simply said. "If 99 doesn't answer the door after a minute of knocking. Than the Chief wants to break down her door. Just to make sure she's not truly ill."

"She's not ill, Hymie." Deeply sighing. "Her heart is just broken is all."

"Than she must go to the hospital. Allow the doctors to put the heart back together." Hymie said.

"It's not broken that way." Max replied softly.

"I don't understand." Hymie turned his head and looked at Max, waiting for his human friend to explain.

"You wouldn't understand." Max said. Without another word he turned, and left 99's empty office.

Hymie just turned his head and stared after Max.

THE CHIEF'S OFFICE

"Max." The Chief said with a tight nod of his head.

"Ready to go, Chief?" Max asked not moving from the door.

"Yes Max. We'll take your car." The Chief said, and followed the agent from his office. It was time to find out why 99 didn't even brother to call in. Something was amiss with his top favorite female agent.

99's APARTMENT

Max walked silently beside the Chief down the hall towards 99's apartment. He stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of her door. Something was wrong. He felt that something terrible was on that other side of the door. His heart slowed beyond belief. Licking his lips he forced his feet to move forward once more.

No matter what was to be found on the other side of the door. He was the one whom had to take the lead and knock. Lifting his hand and knocking.

Twice firmly.

Pausing with his hand still on the door's wood.

No answer.

Twice again.

Pause.

Still no answer.

Licking his lips he lowered his hand to the knob. Turning it – surprised beyond belief that it was turning. This wasn't normal. 99 always kept her door locked. Even when she was home. She knew better about the world too throw caution to the wind.

Pausing.

His right hand and rested opened palm against the door. Taking a deep swallow breath he pushed open the door.

What he saw took the breath right out of his mouth.

"Oh my God." The Chief whispered next to him.

The apartment was trashed beyond belief.

Max found his feet moving – slowly at first – than faster – towards the bedroom. The bedroom wasn't any better than the living room. Worse in fact. Max quickly searched and couldn't find 99. He looked everywhere – the closet, the bathroom, behind the drapes. Underneath the bed.

Nothing.

He still couldn't get his breath. All because she wasn't in the apartment – still didn't mean that she was dead. She must have been taken somewhere – where they want to dump her body. He stood to his feet with the support of the bed. His hand felt the winkle of a piece of paper.

Slowly holding the paper up – the words were just a blur in front of his eyes.

The words slowly came into focus.

Maxwell Smart – Agent 86 of CONTROL:

We have Agent 99. We have beaten her and raped her. She is still alive and well. If you want her back – alive – than you must obey our orders. To the T. We will send you more evidence that prove that Agent 99 is still alive and breathing.

KAOS

A hand covered his own, and gently removed the paper from his lifeless fingers. "Oh my God, Max." The Chief breathed in his ear.

"We have to find her. We have to get her back. Home. Where it is safe." Max backed away from the bed.

"She's better off dead." Max said in a emotionless tone.

"Max don't say that." The Chief looked shocked at his agent.

Turning to look at the older man, "She's been raped, beaten. She's better of dead. Than at least she wouldn't have to live with the memories. Or the fear."

"She's strong, Max, she'll find a way to get past this." The Chief put a gentle hand on Max's back. "She has to. She has much to live for."

"After we found Mr. Big; I should have walked away from her." Max shook his head and moved passed the Chief. He stopped and knelt down on the floor. Putting his hand on the wood. "She was raped here first." A single tear rolled down his right cheek.

"Max, we'll find her. We'll make the people whom done this to her pay. Pay dearly." The Chief said.

Max just stood to his feet, and turned and left the bedroom.

END CHAPTER THREE