The Mystery of the Missing Taxicabs

By Elizabeth Bent

Canadian super spies Agent Diamond and Charming Guy are back, this time to try to save New Year's Day. The evil genius Dr. Sinister has stolen the Psycho-Cab-O-Meter, a device for psychically summoning taxicabs, and has re-engineered it so the cabs will never come. It's up to Diamond, Guy, eccentric inventor Ardrich Tentgong and Vancouver detective Lt. Hui to infiltrate the New Year's Eve cocktail party where the device will be tested and put a stop to Dr. Sinister's nefarious plans. Will they be able to blend in with the regular guests? Will they be able to foil the plans of enemy agents? And most importantly of all, will Dr. Sinister's online 'Biology for Artists' course allow him to create giant telekinetic, telepathic jellyfish that will float about the city in bubbles of water, terrorizing the locals?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elizabeth Bent
• Release date: Jan 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310008184

Elizabeth Bent

Elizabeth Bent has a PhD in soil microbiology and has worked as a postdoctoral researcher from 2001-2020. Currently she is consulting, helping businesses and labs write grants. Her fiction writing reflects both her whimsical sense of humor and her interest in the human psyche. She has written one science fiction novel, Infinity, and two science fiction novellas, Anagama and Perigee (all three still to be published; Perigee was in print but was removed from publication for an in-progress cover redesign) and is currently working on several other novels. She also writes comedy, fantasy and science fiction short stories.

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The Adventures of Agent Diamond and Charming Guy: The Mystery of the Missing Taxicabs

A short story by Elizabeth Bent

Published by Elizabeth Bent at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 Elizabeth Bent

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Acknowledgements

I began to write this story in 2002 and put it aside; I finally finished it just now. It was inspired by a fun New Year’s Eve during which the characters of Agent Diamond and Charming Guy were invented. I dedicate this story to my friend Richard, who was the inspiration for Ardrich Tentgong, and without whom this story would not have been possible. I also dedicate it to my Muse, to whom I dedicate all my written works.

Seth Schwartz designed the cover, with input from me. If it’s a little plain, it’s because we aren’t able to draw telepathic, telekinetic giant floating jellyfish. Thanks, Seth!

Elizabeth Bent

January 4, 2014

And for ‘oom, the maitre’d asked with a frosty grimace and a thick French accent, "is de reservation for?" He peered suspiciously down his long nose at the lanky, handsome man in the black suitcoat who stood before him.

The man in the black suitcoat smiled winningly.

The name is Guy, he said in a melodious voice. Charming Guy.

The maitre’d thawed instantly.

"Yes, of course, Monsieur Guy! I did not recognize you wid dat ‘aircut! Such a long time since you been ‘ere! We will ‘ave your table set up right away! For two, non?"

Charming Guy nodded. I will be joined shortly by Agent Diamond, he said, stroking his chin.

"Oui, monsieur, the maitre’d said, a trifle breathlessly. The private booth in back—it is acceptable?"

Charming Guy nodded politely, and watched as the maitre’d bustled off, rubbing his hands together in an anxious manner.

One wall of the reception area was mirrored, and Charming Guy paused to examine his reflection in it. Wide blue eyes stared back at him from under carefully sculpted locks of wavy brown hair. He swiped irritably at his coiffure. If only his hair would do today what it had done yesterday, he thought morosely. Yesterday he had had sexy hair.

The maitre’d returned.

Your table is ready, he said, importantly.

Charming Guy followed the maitre’d to his usual booth, where a waiter hovered anxiously. Charming Guy smiled brightly at them both. There was an audible sigh from a nearby table.

Bring me a white Swiss hot chocolate, with extra vanilla cream, would you? he asked as he seated himself.

Enjoy your meal, the maitre’d beamed, and bustled off.

Right away, sir, the waiter practically saluted before hurrying off with his notepad.

Charming Guy slouched languidly in the comfortably padded seat of the booth, pausing to give a friendly nod to a pair of blondes that were giggling and glancing coquettishly in his direction. That sort of thing happened all too frequently in the superspy business, he reflected. He yawned, and amused himself by studying the menu, where appetizers were classified as misdemeanours and entrees felonies.

A steaming mug of hot chocolate, topped with a mountain of