Cal sat in a café in Paris. At least the location of this mission was nice, even if she was completely alone. She didn't know what Aidan wanted from her. She didn't know anything about James Walker, no one did. So what was she supposed to do? She sipped her doppio espresso and sighed a little. She was posing as a French Model, very fun as well. In fact she actually got to do some shoots. She moved her sunglasses up to rest on top of her head, holding back her black hair. She began to doodle on her napkin, bored.


"Mind some company?" A voice asked from behind her.


Cal turned, looking up. "Bonjour." She greeted. "Go ahead, take a seat." She said, with a slight French accent to her words.


"Thank you." He smiled and did so.


"And what is your name sir?" She asked, looking over the man. He was indeed very attractive. Obviously American by his accent.


"James Richardson. And you are?"


"Brigitte. Brigitte Tavernier." She replied with a smile. "You are American, non?"


"Yes, I am."


"It is nice to meet you." She smiles. "Is this your first time in Paris?"


"No, I've been here before. It's always beautiful."


"Oui. Toujours belle." She smiles a little. "Are you here on business?"


"Yes. I work with a computer company. They haven't told me how long I should plan to be here, but it's going to be a while."


"Ah. Computers. I find them to be very much difficult." She laughed.
 
"Sometimes they are," he agreed, smiling. "I guess I'm used to them."


Cal glanced at her watch. "I must be going soon..." She had a shoot in a few minutes, the photographer was suspected to be one of Spencer's cronies. "But it was nice to meet you..."


"We might run into each other yet." He smiled. "A bientot."


"J'espere..." Cal laughed and went off.


~*~


"We found her, Boss," James greeted.


"So they know we may be in Paris. Lovely."


"According to her assignment, she's looking for me. But they have no information on me."


"Which one is it? Which agent?"


"Johnson."


"The one Callahan's been fucking right?"


"Yes."


"Hmm...interesting."


"I've introduced myself. Not as James Walker, of course."


"What's your name to her?”


"James Richardson."


"Interesting. You can go for now, keep me posted, send Cass in here."


James did so, and Cassidy entered a moment later. "Hi."


"Tell me what you know about Calliope Johnson.  Please." He added.


"She operates pretty much the same way I did."


"Meaning?"


"She gets around. She likes men. I don't think she's ever attached herself to one."


"She's here." He said. "In Paris."


"Huh."


"Looking for Walker."


"They don't know enough, they won't find him."


"How serious are she and Callahan?"


"I don't really know. I know they screw. More serious than I've been with anyone save you."


"Interesting." He said.


"What's going on?"


"Trying to figure out how to use this to my advantage."


"Don't hurt her? She's the closest I've ever had to an actual friend."


"I won't."


"Thank you."


"But I can't just let her go free..."


Cass nodded, understanding, and sat down in a chair near his.


"Ideas?"


"Not really. I was just trying to think of a way to make her want to be here, but I don't see that happening."


"I want to use her to hurt Aidan."


She nodded. "Aidan... doesn't attach himself to women he sleeps with."


"So he won’t feel a thing if we take Johnson?"


"I wouldn't say that. I'd say he cares as much for her as he ever has anyone. He'd feel the loss of the agent and that would leave his unit down to three. And I do think he'd miss her.  He'd keep going, is all."


"Cass, I want to ask you something that may piss you off."


"Okay."


"How did James get you in bed?"


"Pardon?"


"James. How did he get you to fuck him?"


"Oh. That's how I worked when I was off-duty. Mooch off the nearest rich guy, put out and keep him happy until it was time to go. He was posing as the nearest rich guy."


"Could he get Cal in bed?"


"Maybe..."


"You seem hesitant."


"I don't know. I don't know what exactly she looks for. And I know she'd find out eventually."


"But maybe she could join us."


"She might. She joined the IMF to keep out of jail."


"I think Callahan underestimates her."


"He does."


"I wouldn't."


"Don't sell to me, sell to her."


"Could we make her fall for James?"


"You could certainly try."


"Then that's what I'll try."


Cassidy got up to kiss his cheek but tripped and landed in his lap. "Well, for an accident that turned out well for me."


"I think you did it on purpose."


"Could be."


"I think so."


She smiled. "Complaining?"


"Not at all." He kissed her softly.


She kissed back.


~*~*~

 

Cal smiled and walked through Les Tuilleries.  She stopped to tie her shoe, bending over.  God that had been fun.  She could do that model stuff.


Someone picked up her purse and handed it to her as she stood.  "Don't forget this."


Cal stood and turned, seeing the man from the café.  "Merci."  She smiled, taking it.  "It is nice to see you again."


"Nice to see you."  He smiled.


"What brings you over here?"  She asks.


"Just enjoying some time off."


"Tres bien."  She smiled.  "Care to take me to dinner?"


"I was just about to ask you if I could."


"Mais oui."  She laughed.  "The question is, do you remember my name?"


"Of course, Brigitte Tavernier."


"I'm impressed."  She laughed.  "Most don't.  Come.  We will eat."


He offered his arm.


She took it with a smile.  "So how was your day?"


"Good.  Productive.  Yours?"


"Bien.  I worked.  Just got off.  It was enjoyable."


"Good.  Your day should be enjoyable."


"It many times is not."


"That's a shame."


"Well tonight is one of the few nights I *can* eat."


"I can't imagine doing that."


"You cannot imagine eating?"


"Not eating."


"Well it's integral to my job in a way."


"What do you do?"


"I am a model."  She laughed.  "I was at a shoot just now..."


"You look like one, but I didn't want to assume."


"Should I choose where we eat?"


"You should."


She decided to lead him down the street a ways to a small place near the Louvre.  "Do you like art?"


"Quite a bit, actually.  It's part of why I love Paris."


"Moi aussi."  She smiled at him.  "Tell me about you."


"About me.  Well, I'm from New York originally, but I travel all over the world with my job.  I'm vice president of a computer company."


Which made him rich.  Very nice..."And where is your favorite place to visit?"


"Well, I've always been partial to France.  Also Italy and Spain.  I guess I just like Europe."


"Ever been to Russia?"


"Once or twice, but never for an extended trip where I get to explore."


"It's beautiful."


"I'll have to try to get there."  James smiled.


"I think it is one of my favorite places.  Ma mere was Russian."


"It must feel a little bit like home, then."


"In a way, yes."


"I was born in Barcelona, but my parents were both American.  I grew up in the US."


"Why were they in Barcelona?"


"My father was on business, he brought my mother with him."


"Have you been there since?"


"Yes.  It's lovely."


"I agree.  Do you speak Spanish?"


"Yes.  Fairly well, I'd like to think."


"I speak a little bit.  I've done some shoots there...very nice.  The beaches in Spain are lovely."


"They are," he agreed. 


"The worst beaches are the ones in America.  They make you wear tops."


"I have to say I've never understood that."


"It ruins your tan line.  But it is fine because I just got offered a job down in Cannes for a bathing suit shoot."


"Sounds like fun."


"I leave tomorrow..."


"That's... not so much fun for me."


"And why not?"


"Because I was hoping to spend a little bit more time with you, if you didn't object."


"I do not.  But maybe you can convince them to let you come down for two days."


"I bet I could."


She smiled.  Aidan wanted her to check out stuff in south France and she had no objections, she'd love to see it.  And there just happened to be the perfect cover with this shoot.  "Fantastique."


He smiled.


She scribbled down her room number at the hotel.


"I'll be by," he promised.


"Good."


~*~


"So she's going to Cannes and I'm planning to follow her," James finished.


"Cass, what do you think about this?"  Garrett asked.


"I think one of you is leading the other around by the nose, but I haven't decided who's leading who yet."


"What?"


"Them.  I think either he's doing exactly what you hoped or she's playing him like a fiddle."


"Do you think she knows?"


"No."


"Then I think it's him doing exactly what I hoped."


"Well then congrats."


"Soon you may have a friend here, Cass."


She nodded.  "That'll be nice, if it works."


"It will work.  Right James?"


James nodded.  "I certainly hope so."

 

To The Next Part