Title: Adam's Doubts
Fandom: Spooks (MI5)/Miss Marple
Rating: G
Length: 670 words
Summary: Adam and Lucas are working with Miss Marple, but Adam has serious doubts about the wisdom of their operation

Adam Carter solicitously escorted Miss Marple into the park and found her a bench to sit on.

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?” he asked.

“Yes, dear.  I think I am quite capable of sitting on a bench for half an hour, admiring the flowers and watching the people walk past.  I don’t suppose anyone will pay any attention to me at all.  And then at the end of the half hour either you or that nice Mr North will come and join me to escort me back out of the park.  I really don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”

“If you’re sure.  I still think it’s risky.”

“I think it’s very unlikely that a Russian spy will take exception to an insignificant elderly lady having a rest on a park bench and decide to eliminate her – I believe that’s the correct term.”

Adam shook his head.  “I’d be happier if you would let me give you one of our phones.”

“My dear, I would look far more out of place if I were seen using one of those smartphones.  No, I shall be quite safe.”

Reluctantly Adam walked away and joined Lucas, who was watching from a gardener’s hut, temporarily taken over by Section D.

“Everything okay?” Lucas asked.

“She’s happy, but I’ve still got my doubts.  What if something goes wrong?”

“You worry too much.  The worst that will happen is that the drop off point will be too far away for Miss Marple to see it properly.  But there’s nothing we can do about that.  This way we’ve got a better chance of spotting what they’re doing.”

“I know, I know.  But what if she gets hurt?”

“That’s for Harry to worry about, not you.  Despite appearances she’s well aware of the potential risks and has agreed to do it.  Believe me, maiden aunts when they get to her age, are surprisingly resilient.”

They’d be waiting for about twenty-five minutes and Adam was about to suggest that one of them could go and collect Miss Marple, when Lucas said, “He’s here.”

They both watched intently as the man walked past Miss Marple, paying no attention to her, and then continued without stopping.

Adam swore.  “We got the drop off point wrong.  Oh well, better go and get Miss Marple.”

“No, wait,” Lucas replied.

They saw Miss Marple stand up and apparently begin to follow the man.

“What’s she doing now?” Adam exclaimed.  “She knows she’s supposed to remain on the bench.”

“You’d better follow her but be discrete.  I’ve got an idea.”

Adam followed Miss Marple at a safe distance, worried that if he got too close, he would draw attention to her, as she slowly made her way to the lake.  There she stopped and looked around vaguely, as if she was seeking somewhere to sit down.

Then, to his surprise, he saw Lucas heading towards her, carrying too ice creams, and heard him say, “There you are, Aunt Jane.  Sorry to be so long, there was a queue for the ice creams.”

Adam saw with relief the man they had been after was now heading out of the park, so he went to join the other two who were happily eating their ice creams.

“I’m afraid I didn’t get you an ice cream,” Lucas said.  “It would have looked rather obvious.”

“And I know exactly where he left his parcel, if you’d like to pick it up,” Miss Marple said.

Adam listened to her description, and then exchanged the parcel for one of his own.  He would phone the details through to Ros and she and Jo would keep watch for whoever went to make the pick up.

When he returned, he said, “While I’m very grateful to you, Miss Marple, you did have me worried.  You didn’t need to follow him.”

“I was simply going to have a look at the ducks while I waited for my nephew to buy our ice creams.”  She winked at Lucas, who grinned back at her.