Title: The Dry Run
Fandom: Spooks (MI5)
Rating: G
Length: 886 words
Summary: Pamela asks Lucas to go with her as she visits a retirement property

Lucas had been surprised when Pamela had called him. He had suggested she accompany him to a local housing development which his department wanted to look into. His initial thought when she called had been that she had changed her mind and no longer wanted to help. Instead it had been to suggest they have a dry run and she had asked him if he could come the following day.

Accordingly, he had driven over to her house, and she had invited him inside.

“We need to establish your cover story,” she began.

“Umm, I thought…”

“I am going to look at a property I have already visited once and am therefore already established in my role. You, however…”

“I was thinking I could be your nephew, Auntie.”

Pamela glared at him. “Sylvia is coming and will be very surprised if I turn up with an unexpected nephew. I was thinking more of one of my cousin’s sons, which is suitably vague, and will do for both visits.”

“What should I call you?”

“You may either call me Aunt Pamela…”

Lucas tried to control a smile, but failed and Pamela gave him another glare. It was, Lucas felt, a bit like being Bertie Wooster meeting his Aunt Agatha.

“or simply Pamela, which is probably the safer option. You are coming with me because, like Sylvia’s stepson, who I gather will also be present, you know about these things. Now, do you have any further questions, or shall we be off?”

Lucas drove to the development, which was bigger than he’d expected. He spotted an older lady who he assumed to be Sylvia, who was pointedly looking at her watch as they parked.

He and Pamela walked across to join Sylvia and the man with her, and Lucas said, “Sorry if we’re a few minutes late, I had an important meeting which ran on and then the traffic was heavier than usual. It’s always the way, isn’t it?”

Pamela added, “I’m so grateful to Lucas for sparing the time. He’s my cousin’s son, you see, and I thought it best to bring an expert with me.”

Lucas caught the glimpse of mischief in Pamela’s eyes as she said this, and the flinch of the other man at the implication that he wasn’t good enough.

They entered the main building and were greeted by a representative of the sales company. He set off towards one of the other blocks, followed by Sylvia and her stepson. Lucas felt Pamela tug at his sleeve and slowed down.

“No need to hurry,” Pamela said. “They’ll have to wait for me.” When they reached the others, she remarked, “It’s a shame the grounds aren’t more interesting.”

“But very easy to maintain, which I’m sure will be a bonus,” Ian, the stepson said.

“Although having flowers around has been shown to lift the spirits,” Lucas countered. Ian’s mouth twitched but he said nothing.

They entered a flat and Sylvia said, “I think it would be perfect for you, Pamela. Nice and compact, just what you need.”

Lucas came out of the small kitchen and said, “There’s no character, if anything it seems somewhat institutional.”

“That will change as the ladies move in,” Ian replied.

“Oh, is this where you’re planning on moving to, Sylvia?” Pamela asked. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“Certainly not,” Sylvia snapped. “I’m looking for a bungalow, there are some lovely ones near where Ian lives.”

“What? You gave me the impression you were thinking of moving here,” Ian said. “If you’re not, I have no intention of wasting any more of my time. If you come now, I’ll give you a lift home, if not, no doubt your good friend will do so.”

Ian stormed off, with Sylvia following him bleating that he’d completely misunderstood her.

“Oh dear,” Pamela smirked, “was it something I said?”

The sales assistant, who had watched the drama with some surprise, gave himself a shake and said, “Whatever their views may have been, I think we can agree this would be the ideal accommodation for a lady like yourself. Do you have any further questions?”

“Yes, could you tell me how easy it is to get into the centre of the town from here?”

“Just ten minutes by car. We are very close.”

“And by bus?”

“There is a bus stop in the main road – it’s about two minutes away. But most residents drive.”

“Unfortunately I don’t. It would be really helpful if you could show me the bus stop. Maybe you could come with us and then we can drop you off there and you could walk back.”

“Certainly, madam.”

Lucas wondered what Pamela had in mind, but happily followed the sales assistant’s directions, dropping him off at the bus stop. He laughed at the man’s expression when he got out of the car.

“It’s two minutes by car,” Lucas said, “but I reckon it’ll take him ten minutes to walk back.”

“Such a shame,” Pamela said. “And for someone like me that’s nearer fifteen minutes.”

“And how did the dry run go? Apart from giving you some entertainment?”

“I think it worked very well. We now have somewhere we can both safely talk about if necessary and I think I can be forgiven for indulging in a little mischief of my own.”