The Case of the Mad Scientist

Chapter 5: Why is Blaze so Good?

“I just don’t understand it.”

“What don’t you understand?”

The speakers were Dr. Justin Hancock, Deputy Administrator for Technological Analysis, and Calvin Grudge, Section Chief for Eastern European Affairs. Both men held positions in the Central Intelligence Agency, often simply called “the Company”. They were in Dr. Hancock’s office in the Langley, Virginia headquarters. With them was Agent Mark Paulson, recently promoted to “Third Assistant Chief of Field Operations”.

“This agent, Blaze,” the doctor told Calvin. “She has been on three assignments and come back from all three with objectives totally accomplished. Yet, from these reports, she did not, repeat NOT, follow agency guidelines in any of the assignments. She’s barely passed most of the courses you’ve given her, gotten very bad comments from her instructors, and doesn’t really understand the spy game at all. James Bond is her shining example of what a spy should be. Worst of all, her IQ is only slightly higher than my dog’s! How do you account for this?”

“Dumb luck?” Calvin grimaced as he said it. “But you can’t deny that she’s getting the job done. And she did score the highest score ever in handgun marksmanship. Boy, can she shoot!”

“Dumb luck?” the doctor repeated in a disbelieving tone. “Dumb luck! Our agents are the most highly trained agents in the world. They all have college degrees before we hire them, then we train them constantly until there is very little they do not know, from hand to hand combat to space technology. And even with all this, we still lose too many in the field. How does she do it?”

“Maybe there is a God who protects fools and little children,” muttered Mark Paulson. He wanted to defend Blaze, but the truth was that he agreed with the doctor. He had been with her on those missions, and even he still did not understand how she always landed on her feet and defeated the bad guys. Maybe “dumb luck” was the real answer.

It did not help matters that he was passionately in love with that not-too-bright but sexy-as-hell agent.

“I’m sure she’ll become a more disciplined agent… eventually.” Mark did not want the agency to drop Blaze from the ranks of its agents. She was so in love with being

have to. I have to assign agents for a relatively minor matter, and we’re a little short right now. Budget cuts,

the minor matter?” Mark asked, hoping that if he got this

to call in some civilians to assist in this assignment,” he continued, ignoring Mark’s question. “And you know how much I hate to do

Nobody in the agency liked to have to depend upon civilians. But sometimes they had to. That was how Blaze had become an agent in the first place. She was a civilian who

tapped his finger

backup copies of this material; apparently he erased everything before he disappeared. We need to find out what has happened to Dr. Sorren. And get that research material back.

Calvin said. He held out his

already listed the names of two civilians who can assist us in this endeavor. You’ll find all the

up the folder and they

Calvin’s office, Mark breathed a sigh of relief.

shook his head. “I know that you’re shacking up with agent Blaze,” he said, “Which is not a good idea. Don’t let your feeling for her override common sense. Agents

his

the folder and began reading the first sheet of paper. It was the list of personnel Dr. Hancock had picked for the assignment. As he read, his eyes widened. “Wow! Blaze is going to like this.” He looked up as his boss handed him a cup of coffee. “One of the

artist?” Calvin said as he sat

Tokyo, Japan. And that is where Dr. Sorren was last traced to. A man matching his description boarded a plane for Tokyo three days ago. Dr. Hancock assumes that her show can act as a cover for inserting a team into Japan