This is a 10 chapter adventure that takes Claire around the world looking for parts to a space based weapons system that gets her into all kinds of erotic peril. It along the way introduces her to several women who come back in other stories and end up playing a prominent role in future events.
A House Divided
Chapter One: Time and Tide
A woman can have many looks fetching, seductive, playful, demure, right now Claire Baxter, C.O.I.L. Agent was using cool beauty as she entered the main room of the auction house. Her entrance send a chill over the room as far as the ladies present were concerned, the men, however had the opposite reaction as their eyes followed every move she made. Mundane items came up for bid, which she causally regarded, she was after one item and when it came up for auction it gave the men in the room a chance to turn their attention back to her as she opened the bidding. The amateurs quickly fell away as the bidding and price intensified; soon it was between Claire and two gentlemen. To and fro went the bidding each party raising it a little, testing the waters to search out the resolve of the other, the two men were clearly annoyed that her resolve did not seem to be weakening. Claire, normally very patient had seen enough, she was tired of the tit for tat game they were playing and decided to end it now! Casually she called over the Auctioneers Aid and whispered in his ear.
“The bid is now $300, 000.00 from the lady,” the auctioneer said after having the message relayed to him from the floor. That was more than double the current offer! A wide Cheshire cat smile appeared on her face as she turned toward her adversaries. “$300,000 to you sir, do I hear $310,000, no, very well then $300,000 once, twice and sold to the lady for $300,000 pounds.”
Claire elegantly and triumphantly exited the Auction room. She again noticed the male population watching her with far off eyes, except for her two defeated foes whose eyes never left her and instead of dreams they had malice in theirs. Escorted in the Counting Room Claire called her bank and arranged for the transfer of funds, once confirmed the Sung Dynasty vase, packed in its carrying box was placed in her awaiting cab and she was on her way back to her flat in Kensington a mornings work completed.
Placing the box on the Dining Room table she decided to reward herself with a nice long relaxing soak in the bath. Minutes later she was deep in relaxation, letting the bubbles do there magic when the door to the bathroom swung open and there stood one of her bidding quarry from the auction house.
“I don’t like to lose, not even to a pretty lady, such as you,” he said.
Claire adjusted herself in the tub; the sudden movement produced a gun from his pocket.
“Don’t worry you have me at enough of a disadvantage, that,” she said, pointing to the gun, “Is just overkill. I assume you mean to take the vase, very well up have the upper hand, please be good enough to close the bathroom door on your way out so I can finish my soak in peace,” she said in a dismissive way.
“As I said I don’t like to lose and I don’t leave loose ends around so they can talk either!” he said motioning with the gun.
“Do you mind if I finish my bath first, then either of you, I assume your colleague is here as well, can kill me,” her cool manner and seductive tones were winning the day.
The second man appeared at the door, he was much larger than her first visitor, and she saw he already had the box. Clearly still mulling over the request the two turned to have a conference, a short while later they turned back to her and her first caller picked up the conversation.
“You’ve got 5 minutes and since I owe my friend here a favour he gets the pleasure of doing you…in!”
That said he turned and left with the box leaving his partner the spoils, namely Claire. He never left her as she finished her bath, taking a towel she had previously place on the floor she stood up bring the towel with her as she did carefully and frustratingly shielding her body from his view! Stepping out of the tub and tying the towel in place she retrieved another and proceeded to pad herself dry. Once completed she took her Egyptian cotton body shirt and turning her back to her future assassin placed her arms in the sleeves covering back and then let the damp towel fall away from her body. The frustration at not seeing anything was clearly written all over his face as she whisked past him into hallway an out into the large living room. “Come on,” she said over her shoulder.
He pulled out a gun from his holster and went to affix the silencer.
“No sense disturbing other people over this,” he said casually.
“Why don’t you a least give me a chance?” she asked.
“What kind of a chance do you want?”
“You and I in a fight to the death and just to make it interesting let’s tangle with each other naked, much more erotic wouldn’t you say.”
Her seductive tone appeared to be working however to completely hook him she started to undo the cotton shirt. After the last button was released she slowly pulled it off, stopping at the nipples for just a brief second to increase the tension. Off it came after that wonderful split second of delay and Claire let it fall to the floor. Her magnificent body fell under his gaze as his eyes traveled up and down. The lovely thin ankles that supported the perfectly shaped calves to the taut hardness of her tights up in her curvaceous waist on to her perfectly rounded breasts up to her wonderful thin neck and onto that beautiful face; he was convinced in a flash.
“You want it that way lady, so be it,” as he undressed in a hurry.
In a matter of seconds he was naked and erect before her.
“That’s only part of the deal if you defeat me,” she cooed pointing to his genitals.
It only served to arouse the animal passion in him all the more, but before he could do anything about it she stepped forward close to him and said.
“One final request and this is it.” She reached up and kissed him. The kiss lasted awhile; pulling away too late he realized he’d made a mistake. “Oh, don’t worry I’m not wearing poisoned lipstick I just wanted you to feel some pleasure before I kill you, shall we begin.”
Claire assumed her stance and up on the balls of her feet she danced around the floor just out of reach. Flat footed he lurched after her waiting for his chance, one good connection with his fist would do her in and then he would have her, or so he thought. Speed and agility were on her side and she used them to maximum effectiveness. She’d dart in close force him to miss and stealthfully deliver a punch or a kick before moving out of range again. “Little stings, but they add up after time,” she thought. For a while it was like trying to catch quicksilver, she was too fast and agile. He missed with a kick and Claire executed a flying forward summersault kicking him in the head in mid air. After 10 minutes of silent one-sided combat he started to learn. Feinting a punch that Claire moved to block with her arm he closed his hand around her arm and spun her into a Full Nelson. It should have been the end of the battle as his power would have crushed her, but Claire slipped out of the hold with ease. Grabbing her free arm he went to Judo toss her to the floor and she slipped out of his grasp.
“I’m a hard woman to hold onto,” she said with a laugh as she delivered a kick to his mid section that sent him doubled over in pain.
She immediately followed up with a crouching spin kick taking out his legs and sending him crashing to the floor. Sweating profusely and hurting in pain as well as pride he felt her lie down beside him.
“My bath oil is silicon based a very slippery lubricant that makes me very difficult to hold on to. You didn’t think I was going to fight fairly did you?”
He snapped an arm around her and quickly locked it in place with his other pinning her to him. Claire weaseled her slippery, flexible body about his. She slithered about her adversary easily deweaseling herself from his attempts to hold her. Slowly she began to scorpion his body with her nails, each nail delivering countless stings to his anatomy. He felt the stings of her nails everywhere but he found himself unable to respond to the bites. Sliding about his body her nails continued to deliver their lethal strikes, several minutes later she’d stung him silent. He lay still on the floor looking into her face.
“Those quick strikes from my nails were targeted at certain pressure points, the result if done correctly is total body paralysis for about 20 minutes,” she said softly as she bent over him. “I’m sorry darling you lost and now its time to say goodbye.”
Rolling him onto his stomach she bent both his legs up at the knees and crossed them. Standing up at a 90-degree angle to her defeated foe she turned so her back and his were facing each other. She hooked the tops of her feet into his calves below the cross of his legs. Then falling backwards her calves pinned his legs in the crossed position as she reached out and locked her hands under his chin her body arched over his. He was helpless in her death grip; she pulled up with her arms arching his back in away it couldn’t bend for long. Her face was right next to his only upside down, his bathed in pain hers in complete concentration to the task at hand. Claire arched him farther back until she heard the tell tale crack of his neck, only then did she release her hold. Replacing her discarded cotton shirt she made her way to the den and her laptop. Her apartment a warren of hidden digital cameras had recorded the entire affair and she now prepared to download the data to C.O.I.L.’s London office for analysis. She also knew the street facing cameras had picked up the car and the license plate for immediate tracking. The message sent she got some water from the fridge and when to relax on the balcony until the office called.
She’d had to wait two long boring, frustrating days of inactivity until COIL called. She arrived at the London office the next morning, the building a 4 story Victorian granite structure was nothing special from the outside, the inside however was something altogether different. Four levels of access were required to gain entry to the inner sanctum of the organization. First a standard keycard access followed by respectively voice, fingerprint and retinal scans. Once past she made her way down a long corridor lined with offices on each side, her heels resounding a staccato beat throughout its length. Coming finally, she thought to the office she wanted she placed her hand on the doorknob, pausing for a second she allowed herself a selfish thought.
“Please let it be a woman and a former agent this time.”
Resuming she turned the handle and walked in. Fortune or luck or perhaps a bit of both smiled on Claire this time as across the table sat Catherine Wycliffe. Claire didn’t hate men, quite the contrary, but there are times went a woman does a better job than a man in a briefing session especially with an assignment of this potential magnitude. A smile and a hug later they were seated and discussing details of the mission.
“We were able to track and capture your assailant. After a little persuasion he agreed to talk. We now have the locations of the remaining 10 pieces and we want you to go after them,” Catherine explained.
“Just what is so important about these pieces of art, surely it’s something bigger than the monetary value?” Claire asked.
“Have you ever heard of the “Ra Project”? Catherine asked.
“Something to do with solar power about ten years ago wasn’t it?” Claire answered.
Catherine continued. “It started out that way however one of the project leaders in charge of hardware chip development discovered that it was really about producing a giant laser gun for space deployment. The chip he designed was so advanced it would have made the system virtually secure from attack or sabotage if it had been installed. Realizing that such a system if it fell into the wrong hands would have devastating world consequences he decided to take matters into his own hands and scuttle the project. He destroyed the chip, but he also copied the design schematics onto pieces of art and distributed them about the planet so that no one organization or country could obtain the chip. You need all the pieces to solve the puzzle and that’s where you come in.”
“I assume the remaining 10 pieces are all in DOOM’S hands?” Claire asked already knowing the answer.
“Yes,” Catherine said.
“What kind of resources and intelligence can I expect?”
“We’ll give you everything we have,” came Catherine’s vague response.
“You know what I mean, other agents!”
“I..I mean we think its better you do this alone, the fewer people who are involved the better,” Catherine said as she leaned forward across the table hoping Claire would take her meaning.
“How many agents have you lost trying already?”
A long silent pause filled the room, which was only broken with a more demanding.
“How many!”
“Ten,” came the almost inaudible response.
For the second time in as many seconds the room grew quite again.
“Then I guess I’m lucky number 11,” came Claire’s answer.
Catherine clearly relieved rose from the table came around to face Claire. Quietly she said.
”Your our best agent I know you’ll succeed, as I said I’ll support you with all you need and to that end Grace Pak is expecting you in the lab.”
The rest of the briefing consisted of locations of the items and the DOOM agents who had them. How she got them back was up to her. Before she left for the lab Catherine gave her one final piece of advice.
“When I started in this game all I got was a gun and some self defense training. You have a wonderful array of weapons available to you, you’re going to need to use them if you’re to be successful, be ruthless, your opponents will be!”
Claire left with a smile and headed for the lab-women’s division. There as promised was Grace Pak, weapons designer and a former agent herself.
“What wonderful new devices do you have for lucky number 10,” Claire said derisively, the emphasis being on the lucky part and not on Grace’s ability.
“We’ll start with this,” Grace said holding up a hair comb.
“Helps to hold your hair in place, they come in different designs and shapes all are decorative, but more importantly deadly.” Holding up the comb so each come see it she continued, “The teeth are hollow needles they can be loaded with a poison or drug of your choice and injected into the victim simply by pushing down on the needle. The teeth can also be fired as a dart up to a range of 30 feet. The edges of the teeth are Teflon coated and razor sharp useful for cutting. This end has a pull out strangulation wire that automatically rewinds back into the unit and finally the other end has a retractable emery board for your nails. What do you think?”
Claire’s smile conveyed it all, Grace clearly happy with the result continued on.
“This isn’t knew just an addition. Two black bracelets for your cat suit, both have a sliding knife blade and strangulation wire built into them, here and here. Next you’re new pearl necklace and bracelet.”
“What’s new about them?” Claire asked.
“If you detach the pearl next to the clasp the strand contracts to cover up the missing pearl.”
“Which I assume is poison or drug that dissolves in water,” Claire interrupted before Grace could finish.
Now it was Grace’s turn to smile.
“Exactly. This I’m really proud of!” Grace continued holding up a pair of earrings. “You turn the base this way and the structure locks together. You now have a skeleton key that can open almost any lock, you turn it back it becomes loose again. You pull off one of the tiny spikes and place it somewhere in a room and it acts as your microphone. You take the other earring and place this part of it in your ear and it becomes the receiver. The range is up to a mile. Finally if you detach the star and scratch the skin of your target the film on the star will break and again a poison or drug of your choice will invade the body. The come in several styles. There that’s all I have I hope it helps?”
“They’re terrific, but I have two questions? Where do you get your ideas from and who does the field testing?” Claire asked.
“I look at all the jewellery, cosmetics and accessories a typical woman has and I then let my imagination run wild! As for the field-testing I do it all, only I test them on my husband. I find it keeps our marriage, well, interesting and that keeps me inventing,” Grace said as she smiled and gave Claire a look.
“I’ll be sure to put them to good use,” Claire said as she thanked Grace and left the lab.
Later that day in her flat she looked over her travel schedule. Ten pieces in ten separate cities, those places being: Acapulco, Durban, Singapore, Calcutta, Brazzaville, Ankara, Kyoto, Cairo, Lisbon and Bangkok. Looking over the intelligence COIL had provided gave her the formidable list of DOOM agents she was up against. The men she could handle, it was the female agents that concerned her! Since almost all her opposite numbers were near the top the DOOM’s most deadly list. The odds against her success were as long as she had been warned they were and that was exactly the way she liked it as the more impossible the odds the best in her came out. Claire decided that Acapulco would be the first stop and she would work back finishing up in Kyoto. That decided by 8pm she was on a flight to Mexico, the long flight gave her a chance to review her adversaries. Ramon Vasquez was according to COIL intelligence a low level functionary, basically he acquired information pasted it on and ran the local rackets to help finance his operations. Vivian Long was another story, intelligence painted her as a deadly assassin and a ruthless adversary, constantly suspicious and always on the alert. She’d be the challenge. They lived in a villa on the edge of the ocean up on the cliffs. Entrance to the villa from anything but the road seemed impossible. Since infiltration was out of the question it would have to be an inside operation, luckily she had the equipment to get inside, herself. Her plan was to ingratiate herself to Ramon and Vivian, well Ramon anyway and get herself invited to their home. She was staying at a beach club they liked to frequent and Claire was sure a not so accidental meeting would happen soon. After landing she rented a car and drove to the beach club resort. After checking in and getting to her room she opened her suitcase and pulled out her first weapon of choice.
The afternoon crowd had gathered around the pool for drinks, sun and contact. Well-established people sat around tables drinking tall cool drinks and talking deals.
“I tell you it looks Aztec to me and if it is its very rare!”
“Then I think you should acquire it,” said the woman as she glanced over her sunglasses at the auction catalogue trying to show interest.
Picking up on her lacklustre response he tried harder.
“Just look at those lines and the classic shape, Aztec if ever I’ve seen it,” his voice rising with the excitement.
“Actually to me it looks more Mayan,” came a voice from behind him.
Standing up Ramon was able to take in the full stature of the bikini clad Claire. Elevator eyes scanned her thoroughly before finally coming to rest with her face although somewhat reluctantly even at that.
“What makes you think its Mayan, Miss?”
“The shape of the rim and the base clearly demonstrate Mayan pottery techniques as does the colour of the glazing, it’s far too deep a blue for Aztec pottery,” Claire answered.
Seeing the somewhat dazed look on his face she continued.
“Oh, I’m sorry Claire Baxter I’m the purchaser for the Garfield Arlington Museum of Ceramic Art and I’m here for the auction as well.”
Recovering as best he could Ramon picked up her end of the conversation.
“Please sit down and join us Miss Baxter, this is my partner Vivian Long,” he said making a gesture towards her.
Continuing the conversation he began. “You clearly know a great deal about ceramics and pottery do you mind if I pick your brain for a few minutes with regard to the objects up for auction,” Ramon asked eagerly.
“It will be my great pleasure to assist you in any way I can,” she said a delightful smile crossing her moist lips.
For several minutes the two discussed the pictures in the catalogue, Claire actually enjoying it as it gave her the chance to put her formal education to effective use. Vivian also spent the time studying only she concentrated on Claire her mind clinically dissecting the woman before her. She gathered, processed and stored the data for possible later use. After 10 minutes or more she interrupted politely.
“Ramon the auction is several days away, don’t wear yourself out before the big event, besides I would like another drink and isn’t that Vicente Escobar across the way and you did promise to talk to him, didn’t you?”
“Yes I did,” came the response from a clearly disappointed Ramon as it meant leaving the company of this delightful and beautiful woman.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep Miss Baxter entertained.” Vivian’s voice twisted.
After Ramon had left Vivian studied Claire for a few more seconds.
“So you’re here for the auction and anything else?” Vivian asked a hint of a threat in her voice. “No just to acquire a few pieces for the museum,” Claire answered nonchalantly.
“That’s good, see to it that’s as far as it goes!”
“That sounds like a warning or a threat,” Claire answered coolly.
“You can take it any way you want Miss Baxter, I just offer the advice. You’re playing in my parlour at the present and I assure you a false step in any direction will entangle you in my web and I don’t let anything escape from it! I’ll be leaving now!” Getting up Vivian moved towards Ramon.
Claire watched the two discuss matters. Ramon started to walk towards her and Claire rose to her full glory in her floral print bikini to greet him.
“This is our address I would love for you to come to a party we are having tonight and I can show you some more of my collection.”
“I’d love to spent more time with you and your collection,” she said adding and your collection part after a noticeable pause.
“Just ask the manager he can give you the directions to our place,” Ramon said in a schoolboy happy voice.
Claire smiled and turned to walk away giving Ramon the other view of her body that he hadn’t seen. What Ramon saw held his gaze but with her back turned Claire didn’t see Vivian talking a waiter and pointing at her! Claire got the directions from the manager and then returned poolside to enjoy a little sun.
“Senoreita I didn’t get a chance to make up your room, do you mind if I do it now I won’t be long,” the maid said as Claire opened the door to her room the sun tan now completed.
“No please come in, but hurry I have an appointment I can’t afford to miss,” Claire said as she went into the bathroom.
Emerging a few minutes later she was grabbed by the arm and flung across the room landing on her back roughly.
“I was wondering how long it would take,” she said gazing up at the maid now devoid of her cleaning uniform clad only in a black string bikini.
Claire brought her leg up fast to kick her opponents head as she leaned over her, normally an excellent offensive move, however the woman was waiting and caught her leg and held it fast over Claire’s prone body. She tried snapping the other leg to make contact with her adversary and the same result now both her legs were held defenseless. The would-be maid now bend the legs in on each other at the knee, she then inserted her legs into Claire’s captured crossed legs and fell forward. Claire followed her motion and rocketed up and over the maid’s body. Her assassin now encircled her hands around the back of Claire’s neck locked them in place. With her legs pushing up and her hands pulling down she proceeded to finish the COIL agent. Claire knew the hold was fatal, but only if the applicant had the strength to hold it. For several minutes it held Claire, but she could sense a weakness in her foe. Claire’s hands now dropped under her maid’s neck and locked there. With a quick turn of her torso she reversed the position. Her opponent now securely in her tie struggled frantically until Claire brought her still. She pulled and pushed her captive assailant over several minutes the thrashing stopped and several minutes later she ceased to move at all. She’d been expecting a move now it was her turn to go on the offensive.
The drive to the estate took only 20 minutes. Surrounded by a large stone and iron fence, completely electrified, she noticed, sat an impressive Spanish villa complete with archways and traditional terra cotta red tiles on the roof. She pulled in through a large iron gate and drove up to the front entrance. A valet opened the door for her, she handed him the keys and then made her way to the front door. Once inside Claire’s eyes darted all over the large open concept villa as she mapped in her mind the layout. Stairs on either side of her ran up to the second floor. The open hallway ran around the entire length of the second floor, a typical villa design. Ramon looked up and spotted her at the door. The bikini had been alluring without being seductive; the open plunging V-neck black cocktail dress she was wearing was the perfect combination of the two, seductive and alluring. Ramon made his way across the marble floor as Claire came down the steps to meet him. Claire spotted Vivian out of the corner of her eye watching carefully as she took Ramon’s hand in greeting, she gently leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. The effect was twofold in design, it stirred Ramon’s blood and started Vivian’s to boil, exactly the effect she had hoped for!
Ramon got Claire a drink and they made the usual rounds of introductions and small talk. Claire or her dress or most likely a combination of both held sway with all she met. Her revealing neckline and sensuous legs created more than a few elongated stares from both men and women! After several hours of meeting and talking to some very interesting people, all of whom she concluded were completely unaware of their host’s real identities Claire caught Ramon’s eye from across the room, excusing herself from a small gathering she made her way toward him.
“You promised me a tour of your collection, now would be as good a time as any, don’t you agree?” she said as she slipped her arm into his.
Producing a key from his pocket he led her towards a door. Opening the door he motioned her inside to a room about 20 feet by 30 feet filled with museum quality display cases that were in turn filled with pottery and ceramics.
“This is extremely impressive,” she said as her arm tightened around his while they made the rounds of the display cases.
She made small talk regarding the pieces and again found it interesting to stretch her mind and she also found Ramon interesting simply because of his passion for his collection. The final case contained the object she was after.
“This is strange I don’t recognize the designs on the piece,” she said completing the deception perfectly.
“I have never found anybody, who can properly identify it, I was hoping that you might have been able to?” Ramon answered her back.
“I keep it in its own case for just the reason until I find out were it belongs it has to stand alone from the other pieces.”
“And what about you?” Claire said turning to face him. “Do you stand alone or are you and Vivian a matched set?” she said seductively as she twinned her arms around his neck.
She tilted her head side to side each time delivering a gentle kiss, with each turn of her head the kisses grew longer and more passionate, she could feel his excited member against her. She would have killed him right their but just as she as started to pull the strangulation wire from her bracelet she heard the door open.
“So there you two are, people were staring to talk! Ramon let me have Miss Baxter for a while, the guests have been asking about you.”
Ramon still flushed from excitement reluctantly departed the room leaving the two women alone.
“You may want to fix your make-up Miss Baxter before you rejoin the world, no sense advertising your dalliances to the guests. Here come with me and we can get to know each other better.”
Vivian led Claire up the stairs and into a large room with a vanity for two in the corner that both spies presently sat down at to touch up their faces. Vivian pulled out a compact and pushing the catch twice opened it up, Claire produced her lipstick.
“I warned you about stepping into my web Miss Baxter. My venom is quite poisonous and my intentions are always fatal!”
Claire didn’t say a word; she just stared ahead into the mirror her lipstick poised for application. Vivian clearly satisfied with her results closed the compact and rose making her way to behind the seated COIL agent. Leaning over and putting her cheek next to Claire’s they stared at each other in the mirror, Vivian then reached out and took the still unused lipstick out of Claire’s hand.
“I told you my venom was quite poisonous, at least the venom in my compact is. It sprays a fine mist that completely paralyzes any person who happens to inhale it! Now my dear, back to the task at hand, what to do with you? Your much to dangerous a plaything for Ramon, or any other male for that matter! But again, what to do with you?”
As she spoke their cheeks parted and Vivian came to her full height behind Claire resting her hands on the frozen agent’s shoulders. Her gestures mimicking her words she continued.
“Should I wrap my arms around your head and break the lovely neck of yours or should I finish the job the way my associate wasn’t able to earlier today? Ah, I have it, I’ll give you a close up view of what everyone comes to Acapulco for!”
Having decided the agent’s fate she went over to the intercom and pushed a button. Several minutes later Claire was being carried down the servant’s stairs and out the back of the house towards the cliffs! For a brief second Claire thought she was going to be thrown off the cliff to the rocks below, but after a heart stopping second her transport started descending a pathway to the water below. After what seemed a long time the came to the water. Millennia of crashing water had recessed a cave out of the rock face it was here in the early evening sunlight that she saw the fate that awaited her. Chains attached to manacles had been secured into the cave floor. The servant placed her on the floor and shackled her in place.
“From here my dear Miss Baxter you will be able to watch the tide come in and see the spectacular crashing of the surf against the rocks! The tide should start coming in a half hour from now after several hours this cavern is completely flooded for the next twelve hours. Goodbye Miss Baxter!”
Claire lay there immobilized as her assailants departed. The drug would wear off, but when? She couldn’t even move a muscle to try and get her adrenaline going to counteract the drug. The spray was hitting her already as the breaking surf crashed ever closer to her helpless form. Another 10 minutes and the water was washing over her, her body was getting cold, a combination of the water and the damp cave. Wave after wave started to drown her for 20 seconds at a time, obtaining enough air between wave intervals was near impossible as the surf crashed around her. She counted 7 waves in and one out and then the cycle repeated itself. The chains had enough slack to allow the person to stand. It was insidious as the driving surf picked up the person and tossed them first forward with the wave and then back with its recoil landing her hard on the rock floor. The constant battering by both water and rock was started to take its toll as Claire’s body started to shiver and convulse.
“Good,” thought Claire the feelings starting to return.
To expedite the process she began to bang her arms against the rock the help speed the flow of adrenaline to her extremities. Still keeping track of the wave sequence she watched the 7th wave retreat. She was again roughly deposited on the rock quickly removed her earring she turned the base to lock it in position, just in time as in came the next pattern of surf. Between each wave lull she used the lock pick earring to remove one of the 4 shackles. She held on to the chains as the 5th wave came in and with all the strength she could compel held on against the tidal force that sought to dash her against the rock face. As the wave departed so did Claire letting go the chains to be carried out to the sea. Swimming towards a large rock outcropping she waited behind it as the next wave crashed over her. By employing this method she was able slowly make her way around the cove in carefully planned manoeuvres. Five exhaustive hours of watery struggle later a final wave drove her ashore on a sandy beach. Claire had never before been so spent both mentally and especially physically, yet she had to move on. Her deprivation training now kicked in to high gear as she willed her body to continue the fight, getting up she began to struggle along the beach back to her hotel room.
The security measures she’d put in place to prevent unwanted intruders entering her room during her absence were still active. Switching them off she stripped out of what was left of her dress and collapsed on the bed, but not before pulling her Walther PPK Mk II and releasing the safety. 15 rounds of hollow pointed Teflon coated greeting would await anyone who tried to enter, that accomplished she fell lightly to sleep.
Many hours later she was faithfully doing her Yoga. This usually had the effect of relaxing her and getting her thoughts in order, but today her minds was going other places. She was sore and lighted bruised from the beating she’d taken and her body let her know it in no uncertain terms. This was worrisome, but not as much so as the thought that kept playing across her mind. This was her first mission of 10, would she be able to survive at all and how much of a beating could she absorb and still be effective. Claire didn’t like doubt or failure clouding her mind, but it was nonetheless there and she had only herself be blame for it. She should have finished Ramon earlier in the room instead of letting herself get caught up in the emotion of the moment! Catherine’s words came back to her with a stabbing clarity.
Be ruthless, your opponents will be. Studying her reflection in the mirror she said.
“Well girl what’s it going to be?” She knew what she had to, must do, still despite all her efforts doubt and failure hung in the corners of her mind and wouldn’t let go.
Renting another car she waited until dark then drove to within a short distance of the mansion, but still out of site just around a curve in the road. Taking off her earring and placing the receiver in her ear she listened for any conversation the microphones she’d placed covertly around the villa would pick up.
“Lionheart would be furious with us if he found out about your little escapade with Miss Baxter! What in the hell were you thinking showing her the vase! Never mind I don’t want to know. Luckily for you I took care of the situation. From now on this room will stay off limits, only I will be able to countermand that order. Is that clear!”
“You’re over reacting as usual! Never mind let it be as you wish, life is simpler that way I suppose,” Ramon answered, resignation registering in his voice.
“Good, besides you have more important business to deal with, namely Vicente Escobar, he needs to be dealt with, have you decided on that yet?”
“Yes, the trap has been set and soon Mr. Escobar will be out of the way and we will have complete control of the area,” Ramon answered.
“When will this happen?” Vivian asked.
“Tomorrow night at a party he is throwing, an occasion we will not be attending, but I’m sure the Federalies will be!” Ramon laughed as he spoke.
Claire smiled as she listened to the conversation; she now had the plan to help her finish the job, it was just a matter of convincing a third party to handle part of it. Starting the car and turning it around she headed back to the city.
It wasn’t hard to locate the mansion of Vicente Escobar and getting to see him proved easier than she thought. Then again what was she going to do with 6 or so bodyguards all with Uzi’s standing around poolside watching her carefully?
“Your story is a bit fantastic Miss Baxter and yet you know a great deal more than you are letting on! If I am to trust you with my life I need more information,” Escobar answered.
Claire knew it would come to this, she was backed into a corner, and she needed his help. So for better or worse she would have to tell him.
“I work for an organization, a very secret organization and I would like to keep it that way. They have something that I want and in the course of my mission I discovered it. I don’t care what kind of criminal activities go on around here I only came to Acapulco for this one item and if we can help each other get what we want, why not?” she stated.
He studied Claire for a long time; years of deals with less the upright people gave him an excellent eye and a sound judgment of character.
“Very well we have a deal. Ramon has been a pain in the ass for too long now and your information only confirms my suspicions. I’ve seen a lot in my line of business, but this will be the first time I’m helping out a spy and a beautiful one at that! Tell me though, what of the woman, Vivian? Do you want me to take care of her as well? I might as well rid myself of the two of them; I think I would sleep better at night.”
“No, leave her to me, I want that pleasure for myself,” Claire said with a predatory smile as she got up to leave.
The radio, newspapers and television all called it a tragic accident. After all how many times had he driven those roads without incident in the past? The car was found at the bottom of a 200-foot cliff. He must have been going to fast and lost control; the police could find no trace of foul play.
“And nor would they!” Claire thought if she was any judge of Mr. Escobar. He’d done his part, now it was her turn!
The villa was too closely guarded for her to gain entry from the road, even at night it would be impossible that left only one way in, the way she had escaped. The timing would be crucial in order to avoid the crashing surf she would have to go in at high tide. Claire spent the rest of the day purchasing the equipment she needed, a wet suit and a power board to pull her along and save her energy for Vivian.
A little after midnight the following night she slipped out of her room with her equipment and down to the deserted beach. Stripping out her shorts and tee shirt revealed a dark blue one-piece bathing suit. From the backpack she removed her jet-black wetsuit. Slipping her body into its neoprene embrace and pulling up the hood she was ready for action! What had taken 5 hours to escape from only took 20 minutes to get to this time, the sea being calm and the power board easing her efforts. Coming into the cove she steered towards the partially underwater stairs.
Switching off and then letting go of the board she swam the remaining short distance to the steps in the rock face and securing her footing began the climb of about 150 feet to the ledge above. The wetsuit blended perfectly with the poor light from the partial moon and the shadows as she stealthily made her way across the yard to the back of the villa. A quick observation thru a window revealed an empty first floor as far as she could tell. A quick turn of the door handle revealed what she had expected it was locked; however reaching to the other arm of the wetsuit Claire produced a professional lock pick.
“Sorry Grace,” she thought.” But earrings don’t go with a wetsuit.”
The door gave way under her skilful manipulations and she immediately made her way to the vase room all the while cautious for voices or movement. Another locked gave way and she was inside carefully closing, but not locking the door behind her. The lighted cases illuminated her way and in a matter of minutes she had the object of desire in her hands as she exited the room closed the door and waited. Vivian apparently wasn’t to grief stricken by Ramon’s death to avoid going out these past nights to parties around town. Claire heard her car pull up about 30 minutes later; laying the vase down carefully beside her she got up and moved into the dark.
“I was beginning to think it might be a late night,” Vivian heard from a corner of the large main room.
Pausing on the stairs she answered her unknown caller in a menacing tone.
“It’s never too late to kill, come out from the shadows and its play a while.”
Claire moved into the pale light as Vivian came down the stairs.
“Another victim to add to my tally, that will make two so far and weeks not over yet!”
Claire removed her wetsuit hood letting her hair fall around her shoulders.
“I think you’d better count again!”
“Miss Baxter you certainly are all DOOM’s made you out to be, I was right the first time I just should have snapped that pretty neck of yours. Oh well no time like the present,” Vivian answered as she stepped toward Claire to enjoin her in combat.
Slipping out of her heels she quickly spun a kick at Claire’s head. Missing she continued her rapid fire spin kicks across the floor, Vivian a whirlwind of motion against her retreating and dodging opponent. That cyclone that was Vivian continued employing the Brazilian martial art of Capoetta she kept the COIL agent on the defensive. Vivian was fast, arms and legs flew into Claire with blinding speed it was all she could do to block the blows and wait for an opportunity to counterattack. Vivian’s body was a rhythm of motion as it spun and kicked, high and low, towards its target, she moved to a Samba beat and with a Cobra’s quickness, Claire parried the blows as best she could, but a few struck home and then a few more, finally a she was lifted off her feet, spun round in the air and landed hard on the floor from a kick. Dazed she struggled to her feet only to be met with more of the same as Vivian took the measure of her foe.
“No escape this time Miss Baxter; I had hoped you would put up a better fight though.” Claire hurt and dazed lunged forward awkwardly trying desperately to land a punch, Vivian sidestepped her vain effort and quickly removing her long beaded necklace wrapped it twice around Claire’s neck and pulled it tight.
“Time to die Miss Baxter,” Vivian said into her ear as she cinched the necklace even tighter around Claire.
The pressure increasing rapidly, Claire could feel her legs weakening under the constant constriction; she knew if she fell escape would be impossible. Clearly enjoying her imminent triumph Vivian pulled tighter little by little the band of death around Claire’s neck, Claire however had other plans and proceeded act upon them. Swiftly her left leg kicked up the length of her body and caught her captor square with a blow to the face, no sooner had her leg returned to the floor that the right ones followed the same pattern as the left. Vivian forced to release her prey from the blows fell backward as Claire quickly removed the instrument of strangulation from around her neck. Vivian both eyes still locked on Claire reached down and quickly undid the belt around her waist; rapidly removing the buckle from the chain belt she deftly unfolded it to reveal a knife in her left hand and the chain in her right.
“Two weapons for the price of one,” she said eyeing Claire’s reaction.
The spinning chain made a sound reminiscent of a swarm of bees as it cut into the air under Vivian’s skilful tutelage. Too much concentration on one instrument would leave her open to attack from the other but maintaining this balance was proving harder with each passing second as Vivian changed the speed and attack patterns, Claire barely had time to adjust to one set of rhythms when other would take it’s place. Several times her evasive actions were not fast enough and the chain found its mark. Wincing in pain she somehow managed to keep her balance and composure, but for how much longer she didn’t know. The bright gleam of the metal knife blade flew past her face at a dangerously close range, Claire jerked her head back at the last second, her ears picking up the knifes drone as it cut the still air. Needing to disarm her opponent she decided to concentrate on the knife and make it her priority. Claire slowed a little and let Vivian step in a little closer.
“That’s it, step into the trap, she thought, a little closer.”
The COIL agent could not avoid all the blows from the chain, but the was part of the plan she just had to rely on Vivian to supply the willingness for the other part of the plan. Claire started to concentrate more on the knife than the chain waiting and hoping it would strike sooner than later as her body told her she couldn’t absorb too many more raps from the chain! Finally the DOOM agent parried and slashed with the blade towards Claire’s chest, with quicksilver reactions Claire’s right arm came up just inside Vivian’s left wrist to stop the thrust, her left hand then secured itself around Vivian’s wrist and turned it to the left. Her right arm now slide up and locked around Vivian’s elbow and pulled back. Claire’s arm lock forced Vivian to rotate around thus trapping her arm behind her back. Claire turned her adversary’s wrist upward and the knife fell helplessly to the floor and away from the two combatants as Claire gave the dislodged weapon and kick that sent it flying away from them. The move was executed so fast and with such precision that Vivian barely realized what had happened before it did. The DOOM agent, recovering quickly though tried to snap the chain across Claire’s back in order to break the lock, however the COIL agent energized from her success released Vivian’s entangled arm and caught the other arm as it started its upward motion from her side. Claire stealthily brought the arm back stepped inside it rotated her own body 360 degrees to draw Vivian into an arm bar, a rapid upturn of Vivian’s wrist and the chain was rendered the same fate as the knife. Several machine guns like kicks the Vivian’s mid section and an overhead scissors kick sent her adversary to the floor. Claire circled in behind her waiting for the moment to pounce. As Vivian rose to her knees Claire attacked with her claws! Placing her knee at the base of Vivian’s neck she tilted her head back and applied pinpoint pressure with some of her nails while gently massaging other parts of the neck with her fingers in a circular motion. Vivian slowly succumbed to the nerve and muscle manipulation and after a short time collapsed unconscious under Claire’s skill.
“Did you enjoy your time in Acapulco?” the airline employee asked.
“Yes, thank you I had a wonderful time. Do you happen to have the time?”
“Just past six Miss, my favourite time of the day, the setting sun and incoming tide are a wonderful combination, not to be missed! Did you get a chance to experience it?”
“Yes, just once but I’m sure my friend is enjoying it as we speak,” Claire said as she took her boarding pass and walked down the jet way to her plane a smile playing across her lips.
THE END
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