Headquarters.

The big, windowless room buzzed with activity. At a row of computers, people were working in front of big screens, others telephoned or walked purposefully to and from desks. On her way out from Malone’s office Tina Backus was stopped by Spencer. "Backup, when do Curtis and Keel arrive? The FBI have a question regarding the locomotive they used when they freed Carson’s kidnapped daughter in LA. ! It is damaged and the Feds want to know: Was it damaged before or did it happen in action?" Before Tina could answer, they were interrupted by the voice of a security guard, coming out of the loudspeaker: "Ehm... I think, we have a - situation here... can anyone come down? That suspicious foreign woman is back. She’s standing at the entrance – I have her on the control screen. I repeat: can anyone come down?"

Spence and Tina looked at each other. Then Backus walked to the nearest computer, pushed a button and spoke into a microphone.. "Can you give me a picture?"

"Sure. Here it is". The screen suddenly came to life and showed a slightly blurred picture of the entrance area, where clearly visible stood a large figure in a nice turquoise jacket with a big black handbag. "Yes. That’s her. Wait a minute!" She hurried back to Malone’s office.

"Sir!" Malone looked up with his usual bad-humored expression and replaced the telephone receiver.

"What is it now, Miss Backus?"

"The Dollinger woman we just talked about - she is here."

"Here? What do you mean with 'here'?" He looked ostensibly around him.

Tina bit on her lower lip. "At the entrance, Sir"

"Oh. Well. That might explain why I couldn't get her on the telephone," he answered with a slightly sarcastic undertone. "Well, now that she is 'here', why don't you bring her up?"

Backup took a deep breath as if she was about to say something and then thought better of it. Turning on her heel, she left Malone’s office.

back.