Disclaimers: The copyrights to John Steed and Emma Peel are licenced to A&E Television. The Raven is copyright to Davis/Panzer Productions. No infringement of copyright is intended.The story plot is original and copyright to the author, Neil Burns.

PARIS RENDEZVOUS
by Neil Burns

A semi-sequel to THE RAVEN AND THE AVENGERS by Maril Swan

It was a beautiful afternoon and Basil was standing on the balcony of his apartment looking over the Champs-de-Elyesse, a serene smile on his face. He set Amanda up with the London job and left afterwards. Unfortunately, he heard through the Thieves' Grapevine that she was caught. "Shit!" he exclaimed to himself. "She probably wants my head."

However, three months had past and no sign of his most prized thief nor did the Grapevine provide further information. She either managed to escape and pull off more challenging heists or she was rotting in some prison. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Room service," a woman's voice cooed.

"Room service?" Basil opened the door and saw a tall striking brunette sporting a very chic short fur coat-leather jumpsuit ensemble. Dark glasses camoflagued her eyes.

"Amanda!"

"Hello, Basil," Amanda hugged her friend/contact warmly while kissing his cheek. "How's Paris treating you?"

"It's delightful. How's London?"

"Wonderful. Speaking of which---" Amanda walked over to the bar and poured two glasses of burbon and gave one to Basil, a sweet yet predatory smile on her face. Thought you could hide from me. A friendly arm coiled around Basil's shoulder a little too close to his neck. "---I thought you said the woman would be gone a fortnight."

"My contacts told me. They are never wrong."

"Well, this time they are. She wasn't gone even twenty-four hours."

"I see."

"However, I must have a Patron Saint of Thieves because I wasn't arrested."

"You weren't?" A mixture of pride and surprise in Basil's voice. He knew she could easily avoid the police, but at times she cut it awfully close. "I got to play agent with the owner and her charming partner, John Steed. I even housesat for her while she was gone for three months."

"No wonder I didn't hear from you."

"Of course, I wasn't idle."

"Good girl!" "A few dinner sets, some baubles. these," Amanda removed her jacket to reveal the jumpsuit top being zipped down to just below her navel. A thick diamond necklace glittered around her neck. She turned her head one way and the other to reveal diamond earrings.

"Fabulous! I AM impressed!"

"And a little present for you." She gave him a small thin box with PHILLIP PATAKI written in gold. Basil gasped as he saw a gorgeous sold-gold thick watch. As he put it on, Amanda kissed his cheek and stroked it. "So," she purred. "Given I was so successful these three months. Given I didn't spend a day in jail or even arrested. And given I am such a charitable and loving person---" Basil's eyebrows arched ceilingward at the obviously bogus statement. Amanda could not have known charity if it came up and bit her in her shapely bottom. "---I'm going to forgive this fuckup. However," Basil found himself staring down the point of Amanda's sword, "if there are any more fuckups, your head will sit on my mantle. Capisce?"

"Capisco."

"Good. C'mon. Finish your drink. The Moulon Rogue starts in half an hour."

"I gather you were in the Moulon Rogue?"

"My dear," Amanda chirped proudly. "I was the chief dancer. 1912-1928."

The two left the apartment humming the can-can unaware they were being watched. The man in the Saville Row suit and bowler turned to his leather-clad companion and smiled. "So here is where our naughty little thief lives."

"I knew it was a mistake to trust her, Steed," the woman growled.

"Come, Mrs. Peel. You know the story of the scorpion and the turtle?"

"Yes. An American told me. The scorpion stings the turtle because it's in its nature."

"Well, it's obvious thieving is in our friend's nature."

"I say we wait then make her give back what she has stolen." John Steed pointed his umbrella at the door and a laser melted the lock. He and Emma Peel them entered and decided to make themselves at home while waiting for their "ally" to return and to settle accounts.

THE END

©Paris Rendezvous - Neil Burns - March 2001

Please send your comments on this story to the author, Neil Burns